Lyor Cohen Named Global Head of Music at YouTube

Lyor Cohen has been named the new head of global music at YouTube. The media company made the announcement on Wednesday (Sept. 28). 

Lyor is a 30-year veteran to the music industry. He is currently CEO and co-founder of 300 Entertainment, an indie record label which he formed in 2012 with other ex-WMG executives, whose artists include Fetty Wap and Young Thug. From 2004 to 2012, he served as president and chief executive officer of Warner Music’s recorded music operations, responsible for all worldwide recorded music including U.S. label groups Atlantic Records and Warner Bros. Records.

He was president of the Island Def Jam Music Group from 1998 to 2003. Prior to that, Lyor was president of Def Jam for 10 years, after working at Rush Management where he managed rap groups including Run-D.M.C., DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, the Beastie Boys, Eric B and Rakim and LL Cool J.

In the new role, Lyor will oversee the video giant’s relations with record companies and artists, as well as the development of the YouTube Music app.

With his hiring, YouTube is aiming to build bridges with the music industry. Music execs and artists recently have criticized YouTube, arguing that it doesn’t pay fair royalty rates and that it doesn’t do enough to fight piracy on the service.

“I hope that together we can move towards a more collaborative relationship between the music industry and the technologies that are shaping the future of the business,” Lyor wrote in an open letter to YouTube after the announcement of his hiring.

Lyor will continue to run 300 until Dec. 5, when he officially joins YouTube. After that, the company’s management “will transition Lyor’s day-to-day responsibilities to the leadership team within the company.”