A&R Executive and Global Strategist

Executive, Artist, and Entrepreneur operating at the intersection of music, culture, and technology with a decade of experience at Warner Music Group, and an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management.

I aspire to build bridges between talent and opportunity in the global music industry.

David Stouck

About

I've spent the last decade building and leading teams at the intersection of music, culture, and tech — discovering artists, launching labels, and delivering creative projects to drive commercial value across the globe. My work was never just about finding stars; it's about understanding movements before they hit the mainstream, and building platforms that amplify voices with a message worth sharing.

At Warner Music Group, every role I served did not exist prior to me being hired to do it. I built ecosystems. From establishing the relationship between WMG and SoundExchange to founding Asiatic Records, I identified gaps and built networks to capitalize on the opportunity. One of my favorite projects was launching The Regionals — the first-ever pan-Asia hip-hop cypher series — in partnership with the Black Music Coalition at the Recording Academy. Bringing together grammy-award winning producers with up-and-coming Asian rappers did more than deliver chart-topping hits in multiple markets, it gave local legends a platform to share their story with the world. My approach is simple: find the signal in the noise, back artists with conviction, and build infrastructure that lasts.

I'm bilingual in English and Mandarin, which isn't just a skill — it's how I think. Eastern and Western markets don't need translation; they need people who can operate natively in both. Similarly, I'm an A&R executive with an MBA; I feel as comfortable in the studio as I do in the boardroom. I can produce a record, close a deal, and keynote a conference in the same week. I'm excited by the opportunity to contribute back to the culture that raised me, and I believe there's meaningful ways to make an impact without sacrificing the margins.

David Stouck

A&R Portfolio: Songs I've Developed

From discovering breakthrough artists to developing chart-topping hits across Asia, this playlist showcases the diverse catalog of music I've A&R'ed throughout my career at Warner Music Group. Each track represents artists I believed in, nurtured, and helped bring to the world stage.

Career

Warner Music Asia (Hong Kong)

Vice President of A&R

  • Led A&R strategy across Asia-Pacific region (Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam)
  • Managed cross-functional operations spanning finance, legal, marketing, and distribution; Set affiliate targets, prepared quarterly business reviews, annual budget presentations, and strategic OKRs for executive leadership
  • Led frontline negotiations; drove 3x increase in domestic signings and consecutive YoY market share growth
  • Synthesized Asia market performance data into executive-ready presentations for annual budget presentations
  • Developed technical solutions to meet shifting business needs - from AI-driven Artist Discovery apps to streamlined royalty accounting systems
  • Built strategic partnerships with regional platforms and stakeholders to drive audience development for artist and label partners
Warner Music Asia team

Warner Music Group (New York)

Senior Manager of Revenue and Repertoire Assurance

  • Managed Warner Music Group's SoundExchange account
  • Generated $14 million above company projections in first year of employment by identifying misallocated royalties at SoundExchange for Warner-owned copyrights on US digital radio services (e.g. Sirius XM, Pandora)
  • Led ownership dispute resolutions and claims on behalf of all WMG owned and distributed repertoire
  • Developed data-driven strategies for catalog exploitation and rights management
  • Implemented best practices for revenue tracking and reporting systems
  • Collaborated with cross-functional teams to maximize commercial opportunities
Ed Sheeran collaboration

Consulting & Speaking

Snafu Records, Songfund

MBA Summer Associate - Stockholm, Sweden
  • Led sourcing and negotiation of high-value back catalog and partnership deals, leveraging my global artist rolodex and rights-holder network to introduce key prospects and drive new revenue opportunities.
  • Deliver market entry roadmap for Asia by conducting competitive analysis, financial modeling, market research and evaluating partnership opportunities in an executive strategy report for CEO/Founder
Stockholm team

Recording Academy Member (Chicago Chapter)

  • Elected as professional member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYS).
  • Help lead annual lobbying efforts on behalf of performing artist community in Chicago — seen here meeting with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky from Illinois's 9th Congressional District on Music Advocacy Day 2025.
Recording Academy

Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) - Non Profit Board Fellow

  • Selected to serve as MBA board fellow on the board of directors for Chicago High School for the Arts.
  • Partnered with school leadership and professional Teaching Artists to craft strategic partnerships playbook on behalf of student community.
ChiArts logo

ESF Leadership Conference

Keynote Speaker - Hong Kong (2024)

Delivered keynote address at English School Foundation annual conference on music industry innovation and leadership in the digital age.

ESF keynote

SXSW Australia

Organized international artist showcases and moderated industry expert panels, facilitating cross-cultural music exchange between Asian and Western markets.

SXSW showcase

Wesleyan University

  • Co-Founded "Red Feather Studios" - Wesleyan's first and only student run recording studio (supporting 70+ commercial albums recorded and released to date)
  • Selected to teach full-credit course: "From Afrika Bambaataa to Azealia Banks: The Social Theory of American Rap Lyrics" - examining the cultural and sociological impact of hip-hop music.
Wesleyan artists

Skills & Expertise

A&R & Development

Talent scouting, creative direction, career strategy, and partnership building with a proven track record across multiple markets.

Music Matters panel

Strategic Planning

Market analysis, business development, revenue optimization, and cross-cultural collaboration in the global music industry.

Strategy session

Languages

English (Native)
Mandarin Chinese (Fluent)

International collaboration

Technical Tools

Cursor, Claude Code, Microsoft Excel, Logic Pro, Ableton, Pro-Tools, Google / Meta Ads, Executive Presentations

Studio work

Music

Latest Music Video

Shai Buren on Spotify

Stream my latest tracks and follow for new releases

Press

2026

Jun 2026

Received MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management

Graduated from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management with a Major in Finance.

2026

From Middletown to Hong Kong: Turning a Wesleyan Education into a Global Music Career

Invited by Wesleyan University to give the 2026 edition of the annual Vera Schwarcz lecture series to current college students.

In this year's Vera Schwarcz Lecture, David Stouck '15 shares how a double major in East Asian Studies and Sociology led to a decade-long career in the global music industry, culminating in leading A&R across Asia for Warner Music Group. He explores how cultural fluency, Jewish identity, and creative risk-taking shaped his work building artists and teams across Asia - and how curiosity and cross-cultural literacy can become a powerful professional edge.
Wesleyan Vera Schwarcz Lecture

2024

2024

Inside Warner Music Asia: What Does A&R Really Do?

An in-depth look at David's team at Warner Music Asia and the vital role of A&R in discovering talent.

"A&R is about discovering and nurturing talent, understanding cultural nuances, and building bridges between artists and audiences across Asia."
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2023

2023

Special Judge for Thailand National High School Band Competition

Served as special judge for the Power Band Project, Thailand's national high school band competition sponsored by King Power.

"Supporting the next generation of musicians in Asia is crucial for the future of the music industry."
Thailand band competition
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2022

Aug 2022

HipHopDX Asia Launches The Regionals: First-Ever Pan-Asia Cypher Series

Warner Music and HipHopDX Asia unveil The Regionals, celebrating hip-hop culture across Asia.

"The Regionals showcases the incredible diversity and talent within Asia's hip-hop scene, bringing together artists from across the region."
The Regionals
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2021

Oct 2021

Warner Music Launches Hip-Hop Label Asiatic Records

NME announces the creation of Asiatic Records with Ramengvrl on the roster.

"We really see an opportunity at Asiatic to amplify top-tier talent from across Asia and to provide a launchpad for their worldwide success," said Warner Music's vice president of A&R Asia, David Stouck.
NME Asiatic Records article
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2020

Feb 2020

Executive Turntable: Warner Music Asia Promotions

Billboard announces David Stouck's appointment in Warner Music Asia's executive team.

David Stouck has been named regional director, A&R at Warner Music Asia, the company was announced Friday (Feb. 21). In his new role, he will oversee A&R operations in 10 markets: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.
Billboard Executive Turntable
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Feb 2020

David Stouck Named Regional Director A&R at Warner Music Asia

Music Business Worldwide covers David's appointment as Regional Director of A&R.

"This role is an opportunity for me to fuse my lifelong passions for music and Asian culture, and to help build a bridge between the Eastern and Western modern music scenes," said Stouck in a statement. "Timing is everything, and I'm delighted to join Warner Music Asia at such a pivotal moment in the rise of Asian artistic movements around the globe."
David speaking at conference
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Let's Connect

Whether you're looking to collaborate on a project, discuss opportunities, or simply connect about music and innovation, I'd love to hear from you.