WEA Corp. Names Ariel Taitz, Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs
In his new position, Taitz will implement and execute business and legal affairs strategy for WEA Corp. and will serve as the lead negotiator for the company's agreements in the areas of production and distribution, licensing and technology. In addition, he will work closely with Warner Music Group's legal and business development teams as well as WMG's recorded music labels.
In making the announcement, Esposito said, "As our company continues to evolve across a number of strategic platforms, Ari's wealth of experience makes him an ideal choice to help identify new and exciting business opportunities and navigate the often complex legal landscape of our industry."
Taitz said, "WEA Corp. continues to move forward in new and exciting directions and I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and innovative team."
Taitz joined Warner Music Group in September 2005 as Vice President and Assistant Counsel, where he reviewed, negotiated and drafted a wide variety of agreements related to WMG's distribution companies (WEA and ADA) as well its labels, including, Atlantic, Warner Bros. and Rhino.
Previously, Taitz served in a number of increasingly important roles within the Business and Legal Affairs department of Atlantic Records. He joined Atlantic as Director in 2000 and was subsequently promoted to Senior Director and then Vice President in January of 2005, where he was primarily responsible for negotiating and drafting agreements with recording artists, labels, new media, technology companies and film companies.
Prior to working for Atlantic, Taitz was an associate for the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis in the Transactional Intellectual Property department from 1998 to 2000.
Taitz graduated from the George Washington University Law School with honors and served as Articles Editor for The George Washington Law Review. He received his B.A. degree with high distinction from the University of Michigan.
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 35 years. WEA Corp. distributes audio and video content for all Warner Music Group labels, including Atlantic, Warner Bros. and Rhino Entertainment, as well as for third-party film, television and video game companies across an array of physical and digital platforms including online, mobile and wireless networks. Since 2004, WEA Corp. has been recognized by a number of national conservation and advocacy organizations for its industry-leading environmental efforts.
Headquartered in New York, WEA Corp. has regional offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minneapolis.