Rob Stringer To Become New CEO Of Sony Music

Rob Stringer

Sony Music announced on Tuesday that Rob Stringer would take over next year as chief executive, while Doug Morris, the company’s chief since 2011, would become chairman, according to The NYTimes.

The 54-year-old  Stringer is currently the head of Columbia Records, one of Sony’s flagship labels, and is known as a hands-on operator who pursues artist deals aggressively. During his tenure, Columbia has become the leading label by market share, with hit albums by Adele, Beyoncé, Daft Punk, One Direction and David Bowie. Stringer is the younger brother of Howard Stringer, the former chairman of the Sony Corporation.

Sony said that the change would come in April, when Mr. Stringer would take on operational responsibility for Sony’s labels, which in addition to Columbia include RCA, Epic, Sony Classical, Legacy, Masterworks and many others.

In his new position Mr. Stringer is to report to Michael Lynton, the chief executive of Sony Entertainment. The company did not say who would take over at Columbia.

Sony is the world’s second-largest record company, after the Universal Music Group, with an estimated 23 percent of global market share, according to industry estimates.