Jon
Platt

With arguably two of best “ears” in the music business, publishing veteran Jon Platt has played a key role in shaping the sounds emanating from R&B and hip-hop in the 90s through today’s highly competitive pop landscape.

A former DJ and local entrepreneur in his native Denver, Platt was introduced to the business by rapper Chuck D, who inspired Platt to move to Los Angeles. Once settled on the west coast, he went to work acquiring publishing rights – securing a remix of 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up” and later, the TLC’s smash “Waterfalls.” Platt was recruited by EMI Music Publishing in a creative role, and in turn, brought in Jay-Z following the rapper’s seminal 1996 album “Reasonable Doubt.”

In a move that would catapult Warner/Chappell’s standing in the publishing race, Platt would come in as president in 2012 and be named chairman in 2015. Under his watch, Warner/Chappell has seen its market share rise significantly (it’s now behind Sony/ATV), and in August, had interest in the top songs on five different charts, including Urban and Rhythmic (for DJ Khaled and Rihanna’s “Wild Thoughts”), Alternative (for Portugal. The Man’s “Feel it Still”), Top 40 (Shawn Mendes’ “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”), and Adult Contemporary (Imagine Dragons’ “Believer”) as well as co-writes on the monster hit by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber, “Despacito.”