Facebook has poached a senior Warner Music Group executive to join its fast-expanding music licensing team, MBW has learned.
Perry Bashkoff is SVP, Global Content & Revenue Development at WMG in New York.
He has worked for the major for over 15 years, and is understood to be joining Facebook in the new year.
At Warner, Bashkoff (pictured) handles the major’s content strategy – generating new IP through original programming, while developing short and long-form content based around artist storytelling.
He works closely with brands in industries such as fashion, food, sports, and more.
Bashkoff’s move to Facebook comes after fellow WMG exec Jeremy Sirota left for the social media giant last month.
Sirota (pictured inset) previously held the role of SVP, Head of Business and Legal Affairs for Warner’s WEA and ADA divisions.
He is now responsible for label music business development at Facebook, having worked for WMG for over eight years.
One connection to both Bashkoff and Sirota is Tamara Hrivnak – the respected exec poached by Facebook from Google/YouTube back in January.
Now leading Facebook’s global music strategy, Hrivnak previously spent nearly eight years at Warner Music Group – in roles including Vice President, Digital Business Affairs & Strategy for Warner/Chappell – before joining Google in 2011.
MBW has been keeping a close eye on Facebook’s recruitment drive in music this year.
At various points, Mark Zuckerberg‘s company has been hiring for a Legal Director of Music Licensing, a North America Music Publishing Business Development Lead and an International Music Publishing Business Development Lead.
That’s in addition to a vacancy for a Label Music Business Development Lead – the role now taken by Sirota.
Facebook is currently recruiting for a Strategic Partnerships Manager, Music role based in New York. It’s also looking for a Commercial Music Publishing Partnerships Manager for EMEA based in London, as well as a Commercial Label Partnerships Manager based in NY or Los Angeles.
The social media company has recently been busy agreeing multi-year licensing deals with major music companies, both in the US and internationally.
These agreements are understood to be video-focused, and based on a ‘quick fix ‘advance of hundreds of millions of dollars, alongside a pledge to build a more robust copyright identification system.Music Business Worldwide
