Warner Bros. sets its Urban & Rhythmic Promotion

Warner Records has completed the revitalization of its Urban & Rhythmic Promotion Department under the leadership of EVP of Promotion Mike Chester. Since joining the company nearly two years ago, Chester has overseen the growth and fortification of Warner’s entire promo team.
Among Chester’s moves was the promotion earlier this year of Wilt Wallace (left) to SVP/Head of Urban Promotion, based in Atlanta. This followed the hiring late last year of Brannon Scales (right) as SVP of Rhythm Promotion, based in Los Angeles.

The team’s latest additions, both of whom joined the label this month in New York, are VP of Urban Promotion Ron Stewart (left) and VP of Rhythm Promotion & Lifestyle Leah Bekele (center), while Chicago-based Leroy Johnson (right) was promoted this spring to Sr. Director of Urban Promotion.
In making the announcement, Chester commented, “The past couple of years have seen a complete revamping of our promo team across every format and platform. On the urban front, we have an amazing and growing artist roster, so we’ve been on a mission to build the best urban and rhythmic team in the business. Wilt, Brannon, Ron, Leah, and Leroy bring an outstanding depth of industry experience and knowledge to their new posts. Reflecting the incredible diversity and range of the Warner artists and music they represent, they are a truly cross-country team, from New York to Atlanta, from Chicago to L.A. I’m thrilled to have such a stellar group of promo visionaries on board.”
The Warner Records Urban & Rhythmic roster includes Saweetie, NLE Choppa, Wale, and YFN Lucci, to name a few, as well as artists who are part of the OVO Sound family, including DVSN, PartyNextDoor, Roy Woods, and Popcaan