Elektra Entertainment strengthens leadership team, unveils three key promotions for label group 11 May 2023
Chris Brown promoted to EVP and Co-Head of Roadrunner Records
Katie Robinson elevated to Head of Marketing, Elektra Entertainment
Johnny Minardi upped to SVP and Head of Fueled by Ramen/Co-Head of Roadrunner Records
Today, Elektra Entertainment unveiled a series of promotions, strengthening the label group’s first-rate leadership team. Effective immediately, Chris Brown has been upped to EVP, Elektra Entertainment and Co-Head of Roadrunner Records while Katie Robinson has been named Head of Marketing, overseeing campaigns for the entire Elektra Entertainment roster. Rounding out the trio of promotions is Johnny Minardi who has been promoted to Head of Fueled by Ramen and Co-Head of Roadrunner Records. Minardi – who has also been elevated to SVP of A&R, Elektra Entertainment – will look after Fueled by Ramen’s roster of alternative powerhouses like Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco, and twenty one pilots, and, alongside Brown, Roadrunner’s award-winning hard rock acts such as Turnstile, Gojira, and Slipknot. Robinson and Minardi will remain based in Los Angeles and Brown in New York, all reporting to Elektra Entertainment’s President Gregg Nadel.
“Elektra’s fierce commitment to artist development is only equaled by our dedication to executive development, and it’s been a privilege to watch Chris, Katie, and Johnny grow into their own as leaders. Elektra wouldn’t be what it is today without them. They’ve all individually made such a strong, tangible impact and delivered exceptional results that have elevated our artists on the global stage,” said Nadel. “In addition to bringing passion and creativity to everything they do, they have inspired and empowered their teams to do the same. These much-deserved, new posts will give them the opportunity to continue to lead, nurturing and promoting our remarkable talent, while helping shape the future sound and direction of Elektra.”
Chris Brown most recently served as Head of Marketing for Elektra Entertainment where he spearheaded the marketing campaigns for Slipknot, Turnstile, Panic! at The Disco, Fall Out Boy, and more as well as overseeing the label group’s overall marketing strategies. Prior to taking on that post in 2018, Brown spent over 12 years at Roadrunner Records where he worked his way up to SVP of Marketing for Roadrunner/Fueled by Ramen.
Katie Robinson rejoined the Warner Music Group family in 2019 as VP of Marketing for Elektra Entertainment, being named SVP in 2022. Robinson, who was honored as one of Billboard’s Top Women In Music 2022, previously worked with the Atlantic Records and Fueled by Ramen rosters from 2006 to 2013 including Bruno Mars, Paramore, and Fun. During her current tenure, she’s overseen campaigns for the likes of twenty one pilots, Maisie Peters, jxdn, A Day To Remember, Alec Benjamin, and more. Prior to Elektra, Robinson held marketing roles at Red Bull Records and Interscope, working with The 1975, Madonna, and others.
Johnny Minardi previously served as Vice President of A&R for Elektra Entertainment and prior to that was Senior Director, A&R. Among his notable signings to the label, Minardi has inked artists such as Tones and I, Fall Out Boy, The Band CAMINO, Grandson, nothing,nowhere., and played a key role in bringing Travis Barker’s DTA Records into the Elektra fold. Minardi’s extensive A&R experience includes posts at Fueled by Ramen and Atlantic Records as well as a brief stint at Equal Vision Records. At just 18 years old, Minardi founded his own indie label, Little League Records.
Launched in 2018, Elektra Entertainment (formerly known as Elektra Music Group) comprises Elektra, Fueled By Ramen, and Roadrunner Records as well as key strategic partnerships and alliances with some of the most influential music makers in the world. Elektra Entertainment was born out of the iconic Elektra Records label, originally founded by Jac Holzman in 1950. Today, that same entrepreneurial, independent spirit is the driving force behind each of the group’s unique labels, inspiring creative innovation and culture-defining art. Across its subsidiaries, Elektra Entertainment’s dynamic and diverse roster consists of Brandi Carlile, Fall Out Boy, Fitz and the Tantrums, Gojira, The Highwomen, KALEO, Panic! At The Disco, Slipknot, Tones And I, Turnstile, twenty one pilots, Bailey Zimmerman, and others. Elektra Entertainment is one of the pillars forming 300 Elektra Entertainment (3EE), the frontline label group bringing together the multi-genre power of 300 and Elektra under Chairman & CEO Kevin Liles.
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THE HEADLINES
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‘AI and intellectual property — a pivotal moment for the UK’s creative industries’ (see Opinion)
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How economic volatility will impact US labels’ fandom monetisation push (see Comment)
Spotify is said to be raising its subscription prices across Europe and Latin America (see Digital)
Culture Secretary to review the Music Export Growth Scheme (see News)
The music industry wants solutions. But do listeners see problems? (see Comment)
The next generation of independent music tastemakers (see Features)
BPI survey confirms music consumers believe human creativity is fundamental to music (see Reports)
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Meet the editors crafting some of Spotify’s top playlists (see Features)