Former WMG CEO Stephen Cooper Joins Board of Directors for Web3 Company OneOf
Written by djfrosty on February 15, 2023
Former Warner Music Group (WMG) CEO Stephen Cooper has joined the board of directors for Web3 company OneOf, it was announced Wednesday (Feb. 15).
“I am excited about how technology can reshape the future of music, entertainment and business models for many industries,” said Cooper in a statement. “OneOf has a stellar team and deep expertise in providing next generation Web3 technology to enterprises and brands. I look forward to serving on OneOf’s Board of Directors to help guide and accelerate their growth.”
During Cooper’s time as WMG CEO, the company became the most aggressive of the three major labels in embracing Web3 and the metaverse. Under the guidance of chief digital officer/executive vp of business development Oana Ruxandra — who Cooper first brought to WMG in 2012 and who returned in 2018 following a two-year stint at UMG — the company forged partnerships with and/or invested in NFT platforms like Blockparty and The Sandbox, avatar tech company Genies, immersive tech company Wave, blockchain startup Dapper Labs and OneOf, which signed a deal with WMG in January 2022 to create exclusive NFTs for the company’s artists.
In addition to its B2B pursuits, OneOf has a consumer-facing Web3 marketplace, OneOf.com, which is home to digital collectibles for artists including Doja Cat, The Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston.
Cooper’s tenure as WMG CEO lasted from August 2011 to January 2023, when he was succeeded by former YouTube chief business officer Robert Kyncl. Prior to WMG, Cooper served as CEO of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), CEO of Hawaiian Telecom, executive chairman of Blue Bird Corporation, executive chairman of Collins & Aikman Corporation, CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and CEO/chief restructuring officer at Enron Corporation.
“We are thrilled to welcome Steve to join our board and leadership team,” said OneOf founder/CEO Lin Dai. “Web3 will revolutionize how brands connect with the consumers of the future. Steve’s expertise across music, entertainment, and consumer brands is the perfect addition to OneOf’s leadership team. With his guidance, we look forward to advancing our mission to lower the barriers to entry into Web3 for enterprises and consumers alike.”