Ayla Owen appointed European VP of Sync and Creative Services at Warner Chappell Music
22 January 2020 - Press releaseANDREW HOWELL NAMED UK HEAD OF SYNC
Ayla Owen has been appointed Vice President, Sync & Creative Services for Europe at Warner Chappell Music, the global music publishing arm of Warner Music Group. Coordinating the company’s Sync and Creative Services operations in Europe, she will be based in London and report to Rich Robinson, the publisher’s EVP and Global Head of Sync.
Owen joins from leading global advertising agency BBH, where she was Head of Music and launched Black Sheep Music, the company’s dedicated music division.
During her 15 years at BBH, she pioneered an approach that saw the agency develop long-term music partnership strategies for high-profile clients. A key part of this approach involved the integration of consumer-facing editorial via platforms such as The Most Radicalist, an emerging music tastemaker blog featuring the brightest rising stars from around the world, which Owen launched in 2014.
A prime example of how implementing an authentic music strategy can elevate brand communications are the Audi UK campaigns of recent years, where Owen developed the ‘classic songs with a progressive twist’ strategy to reflect the iconic, ‘classic’ nature of Audi with its cutting edge, ‘progressive’ brand positioning. Contemporary versions of timeless songs created for Audi UK campaigns include a reimagining of Stephen Sondheim’s ‘Send In The Clowns’, performed by Faultline featuring Irish singer-songwriter Lisa Hannigan, and more recently a version of Lerner and Loewe’s ‘I Could Have A Danced All Night’, performed by Margate-based artist JAKL.
Prior to her time at BBH, Owen worked as a music supervisor for various television production companies such as UK indie Princess Productions and Jonathan Ross’ Hot Sauce TV Ltd. She started her career as a London-based recording studio assistant and then worked as label manager for independent record companies.
Ayla Owen says: “I’m very excited to be joining a company that’s determined to reinvent the role of music publisher. We’re here to help build songwriters’ stories, to breathe new life into catalogues and put the spotlight on songwriters and composers. There is enormous potential at WCM and I’m hugely energised by the creative and commercial opportunities that lie ahead for the business.”
Rich Robinson adds: “Ayla’s an amazing talent who I’ve had the pleasure of working with for many years. She’ll bring a fresh perspective into the company and help us as we shake up the music publishing business.”
Owen will be supported by Andrew Howell, who has been promoted to the new role of UK Head of Sync. Howell joined the Warner Chappell Music team in 2016 after a career that has seen him rise through the ranks at Universal Music Group, Sony/ATV, RocNation and the Ministry of Sound.
Andrew Howell says: “I’m so pleased to be working with Rich and Ayla in this new role. Our team is well-placed to help match the ever-evolving needs of our clients with one of the greatest songbooks in the business. It’s such an exciting time to be involved.”
The team will also be boosted by the arrival of Laura Willoughby as Global Senior Creative Brand Manager. She will be working with Ashley Winton, SVP, Creative Services, with teams globally to help develop and expand their creative resources and output.
She moves over from Warner Music UK, where she has been part of the Sync team for more than four years, introducing various creative initiatives and placing music in a wide range of advertising campaigns. She grew up a classical musician and composer, playing in various orchestras and writing music for up and coming filmmakers.
Laura Willoughby says: “I’m delighted to join the team at Warner Chappell Music. I can’t wait to get to work with our teams around the world to creatively pitch our amazing songwriters’ hugely diverse range of music in new and innovative ways.”
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