Annie Christensen appointed VP, Catalogue at Warner Chappell Music UK
Warner Chappell Music UK has appointed Annie Christensen as its new Vice President, Catalogue, bringing two decades of A&R experience to the publisher. She will report to WCM UK President Shani Gonzales and take charge of catalogue acquisition and rights management, working to identify valuable music assets and build relationships with songwriters, estates and rightsholders. The move reflects Warner Chappell's push to expand its back-catalogue business alongside its frontline signings operation.
Christensen spent 20 years at Island Records, rising from a work-experience placement to co-Head of A&R, working with artists including Keane, McFly and The Fratellis, and signing acts such as Hozier, Mumford & Sons, FLO and Sigrid. Since 2023 she has worked as a freelance A&R consultant on projects including Self Esteem's "A Complicated Woman" and a new venture with ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus. The hire, announced on Thursday 10 September, follows a series of senior appointments and publishing deals at Warner Chappell in recent months, including promotions for Gabz Landman and David Goldsen and a new deal with France's Kidding Aside.
In short
- Annie Christensen becomes VP, Catalogue at Warner Chappell Music UK
- She joins after 20 years in A&R, mostly at Island Records
- Move follows several recent Warner Chappell hires and publishing deals
Explained simply
Warner Chappell Music is a music publisher: it helps manage the rights to songs and collects income when they are used. Its work includes supporting current songwriters and artists, as well as looking after older songs, known as its catalogue.
Annie Christensen has worked in music A&R, the part of the industry that finds and develops artists and songwriters. She spent 20 years at Island Records and later worked as a freelance consultant. At Warner Chappell UK, she will focus on acquiring and managing song rights and building relationships with songwriters, estates and other rights holders.
A song catalogue can generate income over many years through uses such as recordings, broadcasts and performances. Publishers seek to expand and manage these rights as part of their business, alongside signing new talent.
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