Who was named YouTube's Global Head of Music in 2016?

Lyor Cohen was named YouTube’s Global Head of Music in 2016.

YouTube recruited Cohen to strengthen its relationships with record labels, music publishers, artists and managers. The appointment drew attention because he had spent decades on the business side of hip-hop and popular music, rather than coming from a traditional technology background.

Cohen rose to prominence at Def Jam Recordings, later worked at Warner Music Group and co-founded the independent label 300 Entertainment in 2013. His experience made him a high-profile figure in negotiations over streaming royalties, licensing and artist development.

The title is sometimes confused with leadership roles at YouTube Music or Google’s broader entertainment businesses. Cohen’s remit was specifically global music strategy for YouTube and Google. He has continued to speak publicly about artist monetization, music rights and YouTube’s role in the music industry.