Warner Music Co-Chair Marshall to exit in 2026

Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) reports that Carianne Marshall will step down as Co-Chair and Chief Operating Officer of its subsidiary Warner Chappell Music, Inc., effective September 30, 2026.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Warner Music Group Corp. (WMG) reports that Carianne Marshall will step down as Co-Chair and Chief Operating Officer of its subsidiary Warner Chappell Music, Inc., effective September 30, 2026. She will remain employed through January 8, 2027 to provide transition and advisory services.

Under a Separation Agreement dated September 22, 2026, Ms. Marshall will receive a gross severance payment equal to eighteen months of her per annum salary rate as in effect on January 8, 2027, eligibility for a fiscal 2026 annual bonus and a pro-rated fiscal 2027 bonus, a lump-sum payment of $116,000, and a one-time equity award with a grant date value of $1,500,000 under the company’s equity compensation plan.

Filing Explained

The 8-K discloses Marshall’s separation terms, but not a complete dollar total: severance depends on her salary rate on January 8, 2027 and bonus amounts, while the agreement’s full text is deferred to the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

8-K Event Classification

Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers

1 item

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Key Figures

Effective date stepping down: September 30, 2026 Employment end date: January 8, 2027 Severance period: 18 months of per annum salary +4 more

7 metrics

Effective date stepping down September 30, 2026 Date Carianne Marshall will step down as Co-Chair and COO of Warner Chappell Music

Employment end date January 8, 2027 Date through which Carianne Marshall will remain employed for transition and advisory services

Severance period 18 months of per annum salary Gross severance payment based on salary rate as in effect on January 8, 2027

Lump sum payment $116,000 Additional cash payment under the Separation Agreement

Equity award grant date value $1,500,000 One-time award under Warner Music Group Corp.’s equity compensation plan

Fiscal 2026 annual bonus eligibility Annual bonus per existing agreement Eligible for fiscal year 2026 bonus under existing employment agreement

Fiscal 2027 pro-rated bonus Pro-rated annual bonus Eligible for a pro-rated annual bonus for fiscal year 2027

Key Terms

Separation Agreement, equity compensation plan, annual bonus, pro-rated annual bonus

4 terms

Separation Agreement regulatory

"have entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”)"

A separation agreement is a written contract that spells out the financial and legal terms when an employee and a company part ways, such as final pay, severance, continued benefits, confidentiality, and any release of claims. For investors, it matters because these agreements determine immediate costs, potential future liabilities, and whether departing staff are restricted from competing or disclosing information—factors that can affect a company’s cash flow, risk profile, and leadership continuity.

equity compensation plan financial

"a one-time award under the Company’s equity compensation plan"

A plan by which a company gives employees, directors or contractors ownership or the right to buy ownership in the company through stock, options or similar awards — think of promising slices of the company pie as part of someone's pay. It matters to investors because these awards can change the number of shares outstanding, affect reported profits and influence management’s decisions; large or generous plans can dilute existing holders and alter incentives over time.

annual bonus financial

"eligible for an annual bonus for fiscal year 2026"

pro-rated annual bonus financial

"a pro-rated annual bonus for fiscal year 2027"

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What executive leadership change did WMG announce at Warner Chappell Music?

Warner Music Group Corp. announced that Carianne Marshall will step down as Co-Chair and Chief Operating Officer of Warner Chappell Music, effective September 30, 2026, and will remain employed through January 8, 2027 to provide transition and advisory services.

What severance will Carianne Marshall receive according to WMG’s 8-K?

Under the Separation Agreement, Carianne Marshall will receive a total gross severance payment equal to eighteen months of her per annum salary rate as in effect on January 8, 2027, in addition to other compensation elements.

What bonus opportunities will Carianne Marshall retain under the WMG Separation Agreement?

Carianne Marshall will remain eligible for an annual bonus for fiscal 2026 in accordance with her existing employment agreement and a pro-rated annual bonus for fiscal 2027, as specified in the Separation Agreement with Warner Chappell Music.

What one-time cash payment is Carianne Marshall entitled to under the WMG agreement?

The Separation Agreement provides Carianne Marshall with a lump sum payment of $116,000, in addition to severance and bonus eligibility related to fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

What equity award will Carianne Marshall receive from WMG?

Carianne Marshall will receive a one-time award under Warner Music Group Corp.’s equity compensation plan with a grant date value of $1,500,000, as part of her Separation Agreement with Warner Chappell Music.

Where will full details of Carianne Marshall’s Separation Agreement be available for WMG investors?

Warner Music Group Corp. states that the full text of Carianne Marshall’s Separation Agreement will be filed as an exhibit to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

Available on EDGAR 09/22/2026 - 05:00 PM Accepted by SEC EDGAR 09/22/2026 - 05:00 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

NY false 0001319161 0001319161 2026-09-21 2026-09-21

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 22, 2026 (September 21, 2026)

Warner Music Group Corp.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware		001-32502		13-4271875
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1633 Broadway,

New York, New York , 10019

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

(212) 275-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock		WMG		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On September 21, 2026, Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Company”) announced that Carianne Marshall will step down as Co-Chair and Chief Operating Officer, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. (“Warner Chappell Music”), a subsidiary of the Company, effective September 30, 2026. Ms. Marshall will remain employed by Warner Chappell Music through January 8, 2027, during which time she will provide transition and advisory services as requested by Warner Chappell Music.

In connection with her departure, Warner Chappell Music and Ms. Marshall have entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) dated September 22, 2026. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Ms. Marshall will receive total gross severance payment representing eighteen months of Ms. Marshall’s per annum salary rate as in effect on January 8, 2027. In addition, Ms. Marshall will be eligible for an annual bonus for fiscal year 2026 in accordance with her existing employment agreement, a pro-rated annual bonus for fiscal year 2027, a lump sum payment in the amount of $116,000 and a one-time award under the Company’s equity compensation plan having a grant date value of $1,500,000.

The foregoing description of the Separation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Separation Agreement, a copy of which will be filed with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

						Warner Music Group Corp.
Date: September 22, 2026				By:		/s/ Paul Robinson
						Paul Robinson Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents

Other Documents

• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA 3.1 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE 16.8 KB
• EX-101 XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE 10.5 KB