RAINMAKERS TWO aaron bay-schuck Tom corson &a cross-generational collaboration t was on Oct. 3, 2017, in just his Lousada explained, with Corson second day on the job, that Max running the label’s operations Lousada made his first bold move and Bay-Schuck heading creative, as incoming WMG recorded-music mirroring the Atlantic setup. head, detailing sweeping changes What Lousada was—and is— to Warner Bros. Records (which betting on is a combination of officially became Warner Records youth and experience, as he pro- in May 2019). Lousada con- claimed when announcing his firmed that Aaron Bay-Schuck, handpicked co-leaders. who was then Interscope President “At WMG, we’re building a of A&R, had accepted Lousada’s creative and entrepreneurial envi- offer to become Co-Chairman/ ronment where artists can change CEO of the Bunny, while, Tom culture and make music that Corson, President/COO of RCA, matters,” Lousada stated. “Tom would be Co-Chairman/COO. The and Aaron don’t just share our Iduo would function as partners, ambition; they both have it in their 27 DNA. That’s why they’ll be such an and we can easily imagine them talking inspiring duo at WBR, which is always “At WMG, we’re trash and battling for bragging rights on strongest when it’s at its most daring and the course at Bel Air. But when it comes unexpected. At the cutting edge of a new building a to 19th-hole adult beverages, Bay-Schuck generation of leaders, Aaron has impec- creative and undoubtedly knows enough to defer to cable taste and a rare ability to help dis- Corson, a renowned wine collector with a tinctive artists grow into global superstars. entrepreneurial rarefied palate. Visitors to Corson’s manse Equally, Tom has a super-driven, imagina- environment are typically treated to extraordinary tive approach to championing talent and selections from a wine cellar that is the mentoring executives, as well as a wealth where artists can envy of the industry. He’s also one of the of experience at both major and indie biggest non-Brit soccer fans in the biz; he labels. They’re a dynamic combination change culture used to play himself. that will bring in a fresh, new era at one of and make music Few executives can claim to have the greatest record labels of all time.” signed, developed and broken a superstar. There’s no template to navigating that matters. Few executives climb to a CEO position your way through the music biz, and the at a major label at such a young age. Co-Chairmen of WBR took entirely differ- Tom and Aaron But Bay-Schuck’s creative skillset was so ent paths to their shared destination. Bay- off the charts that Atlantic CEO Craig Schuck, 37, is currently the youngest execu- don’t just share Kallman and fellow next-gen executives tive to hold that title at a major label. Bay- John Janick and Mike Caren enthusiasti- Schuck was born in 1981, the year Corson our ambition; cally championed the young A&R during got his start in the biz, interning at I.R.S. the early stages of his career at Atlantic. Records. Corson brings a lifetime of experi- they both have “Aaron is one of the most honorable ence to the Bunny, deftly cruising his way and committed music executives I’ve through a career spanning four decades. it in their DNA.” known,” says Caren. “In a business that’s The partners share a passion for golf, – Max Lousada highly competitive and where the average Bunny legends Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin with their modern-day counterparts. “I first met Aaron 15 years ago, when we hired him at Atlantic as a 23-year-old A&R assistant. It’s been great to watch his growth and evolution into an industry leader. It was pretty obvious from the start that he Corson and Bay-Schuck with Justin Tranter, and Bebe Rexha at the 2018 City of Hope Spirit of Life Gala in Santa Monica had something sacrifice ethics for advantage, Aaron is one was Co-President at Atlantic’s Elektra label, special; of the few I’ve never seen compromise. where, in 2009, Bay-Shuck signed his first And yet he’s broken artists, made hits and artist, a writer/artist named Bruno Mars. he under- grown on his own terms, all while earning After being introduced to the young incredible respect from anyone he interfaces A&R exec by writing partner Philip with. Aaron puts music and relationships Lawrence in 2006, Bruno played the gui- stood ahead of all, and will create an environment tar and sang a few original songs for Bay- [at WBR] with true constructive engage- Schuck, who was quite naturally blown intuitively ment for both artists and executives.” away. Although his instinct was to sign In an industry filled with hungry cre- Bruno on the spot, it took three years for atives, Bay-Schuck has earned a reputa- Bay-Schuck to convince the powers that how great tion as an A&R exec with “impeccable be at Atlantic/Elektra to ink the future taste and a rare ability to grow artists into superstar. During that time, Bay-Schuck songs global superstars,” as Lousada put it. But utilized his creative savvy and kept Mars he’s been surrounded by creativity all his booked and busy writing songs and pro- life. His father is actor John Schuck, who ducing for the label’s roster. worked and had recurring roles in the 1970s series In the summer of 2009, Bay-Schuck McMillan & Wife and more recently in booked Mars, Lawrence and Ari Levine various iterations of the Law & Order (aka the Grammy-winning production how to help franchise, and his mother is former actress team The Smeezingtons) for a week Susan Bay, the cousin of film director of writing sessions with Lupe Fiasco, an artist Michael Bay. The couple divorced in B.o.B and Travie McCoy. Those sessions 1983, when Aaron was a toddler, and six birthed the hit “Billionaire” (McCoy years later, Bay married Leonard Nimoy f/Mars) and the #1 smash “Nothin’ on turn an idea of Star Trek fame, who helped raise his You” (B.o.B f/Mars); both were powered precocious stepson. by Bruno’s rousing chorus hooks, which ” Janick had a front-row seat to Bay- cemented Atlantic’s decision to sign the into a hit. Schuck’s creative development while he 24-year-old as a solo artist. – craig kallman 29 “Aaron is one of the most honorable and committed music executives I’ve known. In a business that’s highly competitive and where the average sacrifice ethics for advantage, Aaron is one of the few I’ve Bay-Schuck with writer/producer busbee never seen Bruno clearly had it all—rarefied studio first things I learned about breaking an compromise. chops, unforgettable vocals and a show- artist is that you first have to break him stopping live act. The next step of the within your own building. You need to And yet he’s development process was employing those make sure the people that are going to two songs to introduce Bruno’s voice to the be working this project really understand broken artists, world. “The final piece of the puzzle was who the artist is and what the direction is. not neglecting artist development,” Bay- I wanted them to be as passionate about made hits and Schuck recalled to HitQuarters. “Bruno’s Bruno as I was.” biggest passion is performing, and it’s His A&R instincts and the slow roll of grown on his where he feels most at home. We knew the diamond-certified blockbuster “Just hitting the road and touring underneath the Way You Are” catapulted Mars to the own terms, all these big Top 40 hits was going to be cru- Grammy-sweeping global superstar we cial to breaking Bruno as a ‘real’ artist. It have today. while earning gave fans a chance to see that there was a “Aaron and I have grown up in this incredible real star here, and it was not just about the business together and been through a lot songs they were hearing on the radio.” of ups and downs,” Brandon Creed, who respect from Bay-Schuck’s patience was put to the managed Mars from unknown to superstar, test after hearing “Just the Way You Are,” writes in an email. “He’s a loyal, honest and anyone he the lead single for Mars’ debut album. integral person who I’m grateful to have as “Once we knew we had the first single, a friend. And he’s pretty talented too.” interfaces with.” we took a breath,” he said. “One of the A year after Mars’ Doo-Wops & – mike caren 30 Hooligans debuted, selling 1.2m copies Grainge’s Santa Monica flagship as described as “the most iconic label of my in 2011 alone, Bay-Schuck was upped to President of A&R for IGA. generation,” Bay-Schuck began work- SVP of A&R at Atlantic. Interestingly, Bay-Schuck had begun ing with Lady Gaga, Imagine Dragons “I first met Aaron 15 years ago, when his career at Interscope. He was majoring and Gwen Stefani, and was most we hired him at Atlantic as a 23-year-old in political science at Columbia University closely involved in the making of Selena A&R assistant,” CEO Craig Kallman with plans to pursue a career in entertain- Gomez’s 2015 album, Revival, which recalls. “It’s been great to watch his growth ment law.