Eric Wong

President & CMO, Warner Recorded Music

Eric Wong is President & Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Warner Recorded Music. Wong serves as the head of worldwide marketing, spearheading a one-company mission to expand careers for global artists and elevate local artists to the global stage. A key member of Warner Recorded Music’s senior leadership team, he works closely with the company’s labels around the world to create and drive comprehensive marketing strategies, as well as overseeing Warner’s international A&R function, which helps achieve close collaboration across Warner’s network of local repertoire centers.

Wong was named to Billboard’s prestigious Power list in both 2019 and 2020. He was previously featured on Billboard’s list of “Forty Under Forty Power Players” in 2012 and 2015, and in 2017, 2018, and 2019 he appeared on the magazine’s “Branding Power Players” list. In 2018, he was featured in Variety’s “New Power of New York” list and Billboard’s “From the Desk of…” column.

Prior to joining Warner, Wong was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Island Records, where he oversaw operations, strategy, and marketing for the label’s entire roster, including artists such as Shawn Mendes, Bon Jovi, The Killers, Demi Lovato, Nick Jonas, Elton John, Jessie Reyez, and Fall Out Boy. Wong was promoted to COO in 2018 after spending four years as the label’s Executive Vice President/General Manager, leading the way in shaping a new identity for the company during a time of rapid evolution in the music industry.

Born in New York City, Wong grew up obsessed with music, and at age 16, went from devotedly studying the sales charts each week to an internship while still in high school. A summer position at Warner’s WEA Distribution (through Y.E.S., a program for minority high school students) led to another internship at Atlantic Records. Then, while attending New York University, Wong became a college rep for EMI Records. In 1997, while still in school, he was hired by V2 Records, where he was eventually promoted to product manager, overseeing artists such as Moby, Underworld, and Stereophonics.

In 1999, after graduating from NYU, Wong joined the Island Def Jam Music group (IDJ). As Vice President of Marketing, he developed campaigns for a diverse group of acts. In 2006, he was named to the dual posts of Chief Marketing Officer at Bad Boy Entertainment and SVP, Marketing at Atlantic Records, working closely with Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jay-Z, Janelle Monaé, and others. In this joint role, he was able to get more deeply involved in hip-hop while keeping a hand in the rock and pop he also loved. He founded Wong Management in 2009, with a roster that included Mariah Carey.

In 2011, Wong returned to IDJ as Executive Vice President of Marketing, launching creative marketing strategies for artists including Kanye West, Rihanna, Avicii, The-Dream, Fall Out Boy, The Killers, Toni Braxton, Babyface, and others. His responsibilities expanded to oversee the label group’s marketing, digital, creative, artist development, video promotion, and video production departments. In 2014, Wong assumed the role of Executive Vice President/General Manager of Island Records.

Wong, a previous board director for the Asian American Arts Alliance, was honored by the foundation in October 2007 for his support of the organization, which is committed to helping local Asian American artists and performing & visual arts groups access more funding and visibility for their work.

Wong holds an MBA in Marketing, is a certified life coach, and resides in New York City.

The Music Industry Advisory Board aims to ensure that students have access to a diverse set of successful music professionals, so they are aware that there is more to the industry beyond being on the main stage. Our mission is to close the gap for the next generation of music industry professionals to create a more inclusive and diverse future.