DAVID BITHER NAMED CO-PRESIDENT OF NONESUCH RECORDS

19 November 2015 - Press release

20-Year Label Veteran To Become Sole President In 2017
 
Warner Music Group (WMG) today announced that longtime Nonesuch Records senior executive David Bither has been named Co-President of the iconic label, effective January 1, 2016. Bither, who joined Nonesuch in 1995 as Senior Vice President, has played an instrumental role in guiding the label’s A&R direction and forging its distinctive culture. Among his signings to the label are such notable artists as The Black Keys, Emmylou Harris, Wilco, Laurie Anderson, Rhiannon Giddens and the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Youssou N’Dour and Robert Plant.  He was also instrumental in bringing the World Circuit label to Nonesuch in North America, just before that label’s release in 1997 of the bestselling world music album, Buena Vista Social Club.
 
The move comes in the wake of the announcement at the end of September that current Nonesuch President Bob Hurwitz will be gradually stepping away from the day-to-day running of the company. Once the transition is complete in 2017, Bither will become sole President, with Hurwitz serving as Chairman Emeritus, continuing to work with selected Nonesuch artists as an executive producer.
 
WMG CEO Steve Cooper said, “I am thrilled that David will be assuming the Nonesuch presidency as Bob transitions into his new role. David has been involved with the label for more than 30 years, and we are truly fortunate to have someone with his deep knowledge and experience take over the helm. A passionate artists’ advocate, David is greatly admired throughout the music community. The combination of his unique sensibility with the label’s tradition of outstanding artistry and quality ensures that the company will be in very good hands for many years to come.”
 
Warner Bros. Records Chairman & CEO Cameron Strang said, “David is one of the most accomplished and devoted executives in our business, with great ears and impeccable taste. Among his many achievements over the years, David has been responsible for broadening Nonesuch’s musical scope, signing a number of seminal artists and shaping the label’s musical point of view. I know he will take on his new post with a skill, grace, and dedication that will maintain Nonesuch’s special place in our industry, while continuing to expand its borders.”
 
Bob Hurwitz said, “I have worked closely with David Bither for the last 30 years, and throughout that time he has been a terrific friend and colleague. He has made deeply meaningful contributions to Nonesuch and has been an integral part of our culture. Now that we have arrived at this moment, there is no-one more suited to take Nonesuch into the future. I’m delighted that our artists, team and label will be in his hands.”
 
David Bither said, “I have had the privilege of working next to Bob Hurwitz for more than three decades.  Much of what I know about the business – and even more, what I believe a record label can accomplish – comes from the daily conversations that Bob and I have had over the years. I take on this new responsibility with the single-minded intention of carrying on the tradition that has taken root here over the years. This is possible because of the colleagues whom I salute not just for their dedication to Nonesuch, but also for their unwavering commitment to the artists with whom we are so fortunate to work. I am also grateful to our friends at Warner Bros. and the Warner Music Group for their steadfast faith in Nonesuch.”
 
Bither’s involvement with Nonesuch extends back to the mid-1980s, when – while at Warner Communications, Nonesuch’s parent company – he began serving as an advisor to the label’s newly appointed President, Bob Hurwitz. In 1986, Bither moved to Warner’s Elektra Records division – where he first served as Vice President, International, followed by stints as VP, Marketing, and Senior Vice President/General Manager. During Bither’s tenure at Elektra, Nonesuch was an Elektra subsidiary, allowing him to become increasingly involved in the label’s development.
 
Prior to joining the Warner Music family, Bither had experience as a musician, music journalist, and arts administrator. He holds a BS in Journalism from the University of Illinois-Urbana and an MA in Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.