Warner Music announced YouTube’s Robert Kyncl as its next CEO

Warner Music Group named departing YouTube business Chief Robert Kyncl as its next CEO three months after announcing Steve Cooper would step down from the helm of the world’s third-largest record label.

The two men will serve as co-CEOs in January, and then Kyncl will assume the position solely and take Mr.Cooper’s board seat on Feb 1.

Kyncl’s move from YouTube to Warner Music—the label behind Madonna, Ed Sheeran, and other stars—speaks about the music industry’s search for revenue beyond streaming, and the company’s strategy of hiring an executive with a business background rather than a music insider for the top role.

Kyncl has spent the majority of his career at YouTube, where he led creative and commercial partnerships and helped launch a subscription service, and Netfilx Inc., where he was part of the team that introduced Netflix’s original streaming programming.

Kyncl will now be on the other side of the table, trying to get the best deal for artists and Warner in negotiations with streaming services and finding opportunities to build on the industry’s digital growth.

Warner Music’s assets include Atlantic Records, Warner Chappell Music, and Warner Records. Top artists include Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, and Dua Lipa.