{"id":243421,"date":"2025-11-03T17:53:24","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T17:53:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/?p=243421"},"modified":"2025-11-03T20:49:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T20:49:32","slug":"warner-music-italy-boss-pico-cibelli-talks-ar-ma-italian-language-music-growth-and-the-companys-new-frontline-label-structure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicbusinessworldwide.com\/warner-music-italy-boss-pico-cibelli-talks-ar-ma-italian-language-music-growth-and-the-companys-new-frontline-label-structure\/","title":{"rendered":"Warner Music Italy boss Pico Cibelli talks A&R, M&A, Italian-language music growth \u2013 and the company’s new frontline label structure"},"content":{"rendered":"

MBW\u2019s World Leaders is a regular series in which we turn the spotlight toward some of the most influential industry figures overseeing key international markets. In this feature, we speak to Pico Cibelli, President of Warner Music Italy. World Leaders is supported by\u00a0SoundExchange<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Pico Cibelli’s life in music started in the most appropriate place imaginable: a record store named after him.<\/p>\n

“Music has been part of my life since the very beginning. I literally grew up in my family’s record store, named after me, Pico Disco<\/b>, which, looking back, feels almost prophetic,” the President of Warner Music Italy tells MBW.<\/p>\n

Cibelli has overseen significant growth at WMI since taking charge of the company at the end of 2022. He tells us that WM Italy’s annual revenue has increased by over 60%<\/b>, with weekly streams by WM Italy-signed artists rising by more than 80 million<\/b>.<\/p>\n

“Today, Warner Music is without a doubt one of the most attractive hubs for artists and the wider creative community in Italy,” claims Cibelli. “We’re not just a label, we’re a place where artistic visions are nurtured, challenged, and brought to life.”<\/p>\n

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Cibelli tells us that the company’s momentum has been driven by strategic signings and team restructuring.<\/p>\n

He’s brought in artists like Geolier<\/b>, who in 2024 became the first artist in Spotify Italy’s history to claim all three of the top year-end honors: most-streamed artist (1.4 billion<\/b> streams), most-streamed album, and most-streamed track.<\/p>\n

Other recent signings include Angelina Mango, Coez, Fedez, Frah Quintale, MACE, Rose Villian, Takagi & Ketra, and The Kolors.<\/p>\n

The company, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the market this year, also announced a major restructuring<\/a> of its frontline operations last week with the launch of two new flagship labels: Warner Records Italy <\/b>and Atlantic Records Italy.<\/b><\/p>\n

“These changes,” according to Cibelli, “will set up WM Italy for its next chapter.” Atlantic Records Italy will be led by Label Director Marco Masoli<\/b>, with Eleonora Rubini<\/b> appointed Label Director of Warner Records Italy in the market.<\/p>\n

“By dividing into two powerhouse teams \u2014 each with its own clear identity, strategy, and spirit \u2014 we\u2019re positioning ourselves to move faster, think bolder, and support our artists with greater creativity and precision,” says Cibelli.<\/p>\n

“The Italian market is in constant evolution.”<\/p>\n

Pico Cibelli<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Italy, Europe’s third-largest music market, cuts a striking figure in the global recorded music business. While some major recorded music markets, like the US<\/span><\/a> and India<\/span><\/a>, have seen a slowdown in revenue growth recently, Italy continues to surge.<\/p>\n

The market’s recorded music trade turnover rose 9.7%<\/b> YoY<\/b><\/span> to \u20ac208.1 million<\/b> in H1 2025, with paid streaming subscriptions jumping 12.7% YoY<\/b> <\/span>in the first half of 2025 as local acts dominated the charts.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the state of the industry, Warner’s Cibelli tells us that “The Italian market is in constant evolution”.<\/p>\n

He adds: “We operate in a context where urban music remains the cultural and commercial core, and yet we\u2019re seeing a clear revival of pop, with more and more tracks from that world gaining traction on the charts. It\u2019s a sign that the market is broadening, with different styles coexisting and speaking to increasingly diverse audiences.<\/p>\n

“Another key trend is the longer lifespan of hit songs. Tracks are sticking around much longer than they used to, which signals a more engaged and intentional kind of listening. Italy continues to be a domestic-centric market, and two seasonal moments shape the landscape: Summer and Sanremo.”<\/p>\n

Cibelli explains that a notable milestone for the company was its performance at the 2024 Sanremo Festival, the winner of which is invited to represent Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest.<\/p>\n

For the first time in the festival’s history, all Top 5 finalists were signed to Warner Music.<\/p>\n

WMI secured 13 of 27 places in the established artist category, with Angelina Mango<\/b> becoming the first Warner artist to win the main category since 2014, going on to compete at Eurovision.<\/p>\n

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