Aaron Bay-Schuck on Zach Bryan, Warner Records' resurgence, and why you 'can't microwave artist development'

On this Music Business Worldwide Podcast, MBW founder, Tim
Ingham, interviews Aaron Bay-Schuck, the CEO and
co-Chairman of Warner Records in Los Angeles.

Right now, Warner Records is on fire like no other time in
its recent history. It's seeing blockbuster success from several
artists who, according to Bay-Schuck, are all true artist
propositions – in this industry for the long-term, rather than
just a quick streaming or TikTok hit.

These artists include the likes of Teddy Swims, Benson
Boone, Dua Lipa, and – not least – country star
Zach Bryan, whose No.1 US single, I Remember Everything
(feat. Kacey Musgraves), continues to bounce around the Top 10 of
the Billboard Hot 100... despite being released last
summer.

Alongside his fellow co-Chairman, Tom Corson, Aaron
Bay-Schuck last year led Warner Records to become the
fourth biggest frontline record company in the US. According to
Billboard, Warner Records 'current' US market share jumped
by 110 basis points in 2023, up to 5.96% from 4.86%
in 2022.

Bay-Schuck's industry story before Warner was an
interesting journey – from being a junior at the A&R team of
Atlantic Records, where he signed Bruno Mars, through to
becoming President of A&R at Interscope, where he worked with
the likes of Imagine Dragons, Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani, and
Selena Gomez.


For Bay-Schuck, his more recent success with Zach Bryan
and co. isn't evidence of Warner Records suddenly
becoming a ‘hot’ label. 

In his eyes, it’s evidence of a patient, long-term, and
consistent A&R strategy…