RHINO GETS GORED AT WMG

Warner Music will announce today that Kevin Gore has been promoted to President/CEO of Rhino Entertainment. In his new role, Gore will oversee all day-to-day operations of Rhino and direct its strategy, including growth of its global digital sales, innovation in its new product initiatives, expansion of recorded music licensing opportunities, stewardship of its brand licensing division, which includes management of the Grateful Dead's intellectual property, and feeding the in-house rhino.

Gore will also serve as Co-Chairman of Frank Sinatra Enterprises, WMG's joint venture with the Sinatra family, along with Robert Finkelstein, who could pass as Italian, which cannot be said of Gore.

Since 2006, Gore has served EVP/GM of the label, overseeing day-to-day operations for the company's new release, reissue, catalog management, web properties and licensing businesses, while contributing to the relaunch of Rhino.com, which provides limited-edition runs of out-of-print audio and video content for sale on the Internet.

Among Rhino's key releases during Gore's tenure include Emotion & Commotion, Jeff Beck's first studio album in seven years, which was released this year, as well as the Grammy-winning and platinum-certified soundtrack to the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, the gold-certified movie soundtrack, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and Rhino's first #1 album, the soundtrack for Juno.

Said Lyor Cohen: "Kevin is a superb executive who embodies the business creativity and passion for music that is absolutely essential for anyone leading a record company today. We've worked hard to instill a philosophy of change and innovation throughout WMG, and Kevin has embraced that philosophy completely. He's been a great asset in helping to push Rhino beyond the traditional boxed-set business upon which its tremendous reputation is built and into promising new opportunities. I'm confident he will deliver even greater results in this important new role."

Commented Gore: "It's a really great experience to have been here during a time of such dramatic transition and to have played a role in reinventing this incredible company as we worked to find fresh new ways to share its legendary catalog of music. I'm humbled to now have this chance to take the reins and thrilled to continue working in this new capacity with the great Rhino team, all of whom share with me the unwavering commitment to Rhino's core mission of creating the best, most informative, innovative and fun music products."

Gore joined Rhino in 2002 as EVP Sales & Marketing, coming from his position as President of Universal Classics. His prior experience includes roles as SVP/GM of Polygram Classics & Jazz, and VP Jazz Promotion & Marketing for Columbia.

He began his career working in record retail while in high school before becoming one of the pilot college reps for CBS Masterworks while attending Northwestern University, whose illustrious alumni also include Michael Wilbon and Scott Byron (but not Byron Scott).

Gore succeeds Scott Pascucci, who, during his nine-year tenure at Rhino, led the company through numerous successes, including winning the NARM award for Label of the Year seven out of the last eight years, as well as racking up 17 Grammys and four Emmys.