Popakademie alumnus becomes head of Warner's new full-service unit
05. March 2025
Warner Chappell Music is reorganizing its activities in the areas of Sync, Production Music and Music Collaborations. Tobias Brinkmann, who studied the Bachelor of Music Business at the Popakademie, will be the head of this “central full-service unit”. The two Popakademie alumni Stephan Janke-Kizhukandayil and David Schweikart are also part of the team.
Tobias Brinkmann started his career as Junior Creative & Licensing Manager at Warner Chappell Music in 2015. In 2019, he took on the role of Head of Licensing GSA and was promoted to Head of Sync GSA & Nordic Region in 2021. In his new role as Head of Music Licensing, Production & Collaborations, he is responsible for the strategic development and leadership of the nine-strong team. Stephan Janke-Kizhukandayil, a music business alumnus, also joined the Warner Chappell team in 2015 after working for BMG and Sony Music. In the new unit, he takes on the role of Director Music Licensing and manages all of the publisher's music licensing activities.David Schweikart studied a Master's degree in Music and Creative Industries at the Popakademie and has worked as Creative & Licensing Manager at Warner Chappell since 2020. In 2023, he was promoted to Senior Creative & Licensing Manager and takes on the role of Senior Manager Music Licensing in the new department. With the new unit, Warner Chappell Music aims to “strengthen its position as a strategic partner for brands, creatives and its own diverse roster of songwriters and artists with a holistic service approach”.