Warner Music Group Invests in Saudi Arabian Label Rotana
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Warner Music Group has announced an investment in the Arab world’s largest independent record label, Rotana Music, which is part of Rotana Group, widely considered the largest entertainment company in the region. According to the announcement, “the deal will expand WMG’s presence in the rapidly growing Middle East and North African region, while driving cross-cultural opportunities for the label’s renowned repertoire.”
Owned by Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, the company is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with branches in Jeddah, Dubai, Kuwait City, Beirut, and Cairo.
Former Warner Bros. Records Chairman/CEO Russ Thyret Dies at 76
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Variety has learned. He was 76.
Over the course of his 30-year career with the label, Thyret climbed the ranks from sales, marketing and promotions posts eventually heading all three departments culminating in a run as chairman/CEO from 1995 to 2001. Warner was the only record company Thyret ever worked for.
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The famously bald and bearded executive signed Prince to the label (after being brought a demo by his then-manager Owen Husney and local Minneapolis promotion man Clifford Siegel) and was also a noted early champion of Madonna.