Christoph Behm has been named the new CEO of Sony Music Germany, Switzerland and Austria (GSA), replacing Patrick Musatchi-Karebawho is leaving the company at the end of August.
Berlin-based Behm, who began his career at Sony Music in 2011 and has worked in several senior roles for the label over the past decade, including head of streaming and director of digital sales, will report to Daniel Lieberbergpresident of Sony Music Continental Europe and Africa.
In a statement announcing Behm's promotion, Lieberberg said the newly appointed CEO's “deep understanding of our DSP partners and creativity as a leader will serve him well in his new role.”
“Christoph has been instrumental in building and expanding our business in this region during the streaming era,” said Lieberberg. “He has worked closely with our artists to bring their music to new fans in innovative ways and has embraced the industry's constant change to create opportunities despite rapidly changing paradigms and business models.”
Sony Music did not provide details on Musatchi-Kareba's departure from the label. The outgoing CEO has been leading Sony Music's operations in the GSA region since 2018, when he joined the company from Universal Music Germany. Before that, Mushatsi-Kareba spent eight years at Apple, where he was responsible for overseeing the tech company's music business in several European markets, including Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.
Although Sony Music GSA has enjoyed significant commercial success over the past six years, sources with inside knowledge of their relationship say Bulletin board that Musatchi-Kareba and Lieberberg did not always see eye to eye.
Prior to his promotion to CEO, Behm held the role of senior commercial representative for Sony Music GSA, where he oversaw a large team, including the company's family-owned entertainment business. Over the past two years, Behm's responsibilities have grown to also include overseeing the catalog, sales and streaming departments in the region.
Sony's top selling artists in the GSA market include Apache 207, Nina Chuba, Rap Larue and Reezy.
“I am filled with pride to now lead the company that I have served in various roles for so many years,” Behm, who takes over as CEO on Sept. 1, said in a statement. “We are at another exciting time for our industry and I look forward with great confidence to this next chapter for Sony Music GSA,” he added.
Germany is the world's fourth largest recorded music market in the IFPI's annual ranking behind the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom.
