investor relations

Matt Signore Named Chief Financial Officer at WEA Corp.

08/18/05
Former CFO and General Manager at Island Def Jam Will Join Warner Music Group's Sales and Retail Marketing Co.

NEW YORK, NY, Aug 18, 2005 -- WEA Corp., Warner Music Group's (NYSE: WMG) U.S. sales and retail marketing company, today announced Matt Signore has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Signore will be based in New York and report to WEA Corp.'s President and Chief Executive Officer, John Esposito.

Signore replaces Gillian Kellie, WEA's former CFO, who has been appointed to the newly created position, Senior Vice President, Finance at WMG corporate.

Signore has more than 14 years of financial management experience in the music industry. Most recently, Signore served as the CFO and General Manager of Island Def Jam (IDJ). Prior to IDJ, he served in various senior finance positions at Island Records.

"I am very excited to have Matt come aboard at WEA to oversee all aspects of the company's financial planning and forecasting," said Esposito. "I've known Matt for over 10 years. Having worked with him for many of those years, I know he will be a fantastic strategic partner for me and for all of WEA. With his lengthy background in the music industry and his appreciation for music, Matt is the perfect individual to take the financial reins at WEA."

"John Esposito has been a mentor and a friend throughout my career in the music business," said Signore. "I am honored to have the opportunity to join the exceptional team of executives at WEA and the Warner Music Group."

About WEA Corp.

WEA Corp. was the first major music distribution company in the U.S. and has continued to set the standard for sales and marketing in the music industry for more than thirty years. In addition to the Warner Bros., Elektra and Atlantic labels, WEA distributes audio and video releases from Rhino Entertainment, Asylum Records, Word Entertainment, Time-Life Music, Warner Music Latina and Curb Records, as well as several other labels. WEA Corp.'s E-Commerce department works with online and traditional retailers for all commercial, digital and wireless transactions on behalf of WMG's U.S. labels. The department develops and delivers sales and marketing programs to promote WMG's artists to online retailers and other partners.

Headquartered in New York, WEA Corp. has regional offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York and Minneapolis.

About WMG

Warner Music Group (WMG) became the only stand-alone music company to be publicly traded in the United States in May 2005. With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Atlantic, Bad Boy, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word. Warner Music International, a leading company in national and international repertoire operates through numerous international affiliates and licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group also includes Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide.