Warner Music Group suspends operations in Russia

All three major record companies have now suspended operations in Russia amid the invasion of Ukraine.

Warner Music Group announced today (March 10) that they will be temporarily shutting down their activities here.

WMG’s announcement follows news from earlier today that Sony Music Group was suspended its operations in Russia.

On Tuesday (March 8), Universal Music Grouplargest copyright holder in the world, ban all operations in Russia and have closed offices in the country.

In a statement released today, a spokesperson for Warner Music Group said: “Warner Music Group is temporarily suspending operations in Russia, including investment and development projects, promotional and marketing activities. as well as manufacturing all the actual products.

The statement added: “We will continue to fulfill our agreed obligations towards our people, artists and musicians as best we can as the situation unfolds. We remain committed to supporting humanitarian relief efforts in the region. ”

All three majors also have donations for organizations focused on the Ukrainian people.

On Friday, March 4, Warner Music Group‘S Management sent an internal email to employees worldwide to reveal that the company has matched employee contributions to International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

WMG also publicly confirms its support for ICRC via social media.

The third largest music rights holder in the world, Warner Music Group (WMG) runs its global operations from its headquarters in Manhattan, New York.

The company’s top record label family includes Atlantic Profile (hometown of Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, Bruno Mars, 21 pilots and many others), as well as Warner Records (Neil Young, NLE Choppa) and Music group Elektra (Tones & I, Panic! At The Disco).

Warner Music Group is also the headquarters of the world’s third largest music publishing company, Music Warner Chappell.

In May 2011, Warner Music Group was sold for $3.3 billion to its current owner Access industriescontrolled by billionaire Len Blavatnik.

In June 2020, Warner Music Group put a part of your company on the stock exchangethrough an IPO on NASDAQ.

In March 2021, Warner Music Group buying The famous Russian independent film studio is Zhara Music, co-founded by artists and entrepreneurs EMIN and Bahh Tee. As a result of the agreement, the label was renamed to Atlantic Profile Russia.

Warner Music Group is the latest entertainment company to suspend operations in Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine invasion.

Living country announced that it will not do business in/with Russia, while Netflix Yes pull its serviceand TikTok also shrink its background in the country.

Also, earlier this week, UK collection organization PRS for Music, representing the rights of more than 160,000 musicians/composers and Music publishers around the world, disclosure that it has been “officially suspended, effective immediately,” its rights representation agreement with its Russia-based partner, the Russian Authors Association RAO.

United States-based Collectors Association BMI – including there has long been an international reciprocal agreement with PRS – also issued its own statement on relations with the Russian RAO: “BMI suspended payments representing royalties to RAO, the Russian association for the collection of musical works.

More BMI: “Also, we are working with CISAC on a broader effort that will help benefit creators in Ukraine and surrounding regions, while providing humanitarian aid to those in dire need.”

The Italian association of authors and composers, SIAE, also decided to stop paying RAO last week.Worldwide music business