In February, MBW broke the information that Ole Obermann was leaving his position as World Head of Music Enterprise Improvement at ByteDance after 5 and a half years.
Our sources advised us that he had lined up a giant position at Apple Music.
At this time (April 29), we will verify that Obermann has certainly joined Apple, in a newly created position in music centered on technique and innovation.
MBW understands that Obermann has taken up a joint management place at Apple Music alongside Rachel Newman as the brand new Co-Heads, Apple Music, reporting into Oliver Schusser.
In response to an inner announcement despatched out this afternoon, and obtained by MBW, as the brand new Co-Heads, Apple Music, Obermann and Newman will assist “lead the service into its subsequent part”.
Los Angeles-based Rachel Newman is an Apple veteran who has spent greater than 16 years on the firm.
Newman has stepped as much as the co-leadership position from her earlier position as World Head of Content material and Editorial on the music streaming platform.
The exec initially joined Apple in 2009. Initially, she labored because the iTunes Australia/New Zealand Supervisor, Music.
Obermann was beforehand accountable for driving ByteDance/TikTok’s music technique.
Obermann initially joined TikTok in 2019 as Vice President, World Head of Music. It was later confirmed that Obermann’s position had expanded to turn into World Head of Music Enterprise Improvement and IP at ByteDance.
Previous to becoming a member of TikTok/ByteDance, Obermann served in numerous senior digital roles at Warner Music Group and Sony Music Leisure.
Following Obermann’s departure from ByteDance on the finish of March, Tracy Gardner was appointed as the corporate’s new World Head of Music Enterprise Improvement.
Apple’s inner announcement at present referred to as Obermann a “well-respected chief within the music business” who “negotiated landmark offers throughout his tenure” at TikTok.
A key occasion throughout Obermann’s tenure at TikTok was the return of Common Music Group‘s recorded music and publishing catalogs to the platform after a licensing dispute resulted in UMG pulling its music from TikTok in January/February final 12 months.
Common and TikTok struck a brand new licensing deal in Could 2024, together with “improved remuneration” for UMG artists and songwriters, in addition to a dedication to develop AI instruments responsibly.
Obermann can be credited with closing what TikTok describes as “a first-of-its-kind artist take care of Taylor Swift” to function her catalog on TikTok in help of her record-breaking Eras Tour and The Tortured Poets Division album launch.
The Add To Music App function was additionally launched throughout Obermann’s tenure. In response to TikTok, Add To Music App has already resulted in over a billion observe saves and streams on its accomplice DSPs (Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and Melon).Music Enterprise Worldwide
