World Wrestling Entertainment announced the launch of the WWE Music Group, a company designed to link WWE with popular music performers in its various media endeavors, in a press release Monday.
Neil Lawi was named the group’s general manager. Lawi, who is credited with securing “Big Time” as the WrestleMania theme and for heading the effort to make John Cena a successful recording star, will work with WWE music director Jim Johnston.
According to the press release, the new group will work with WWE, its in-ring talent and established recording artists to create new WWE TV and PPV themes, WWE Superstar albums, entrance theme collections and more.
“This is an outstanding opportunity to merge the brand and talents of the WWE with a wide variety of music applications,” said WWE’s Kevin Dunn. “Neil has established meaningful relationships with music industry personnel, including record labels, artist management teams, and publishers. His music industry experience provides a vital and essential element in expanding the reach of the WWE’s musical sensibility.”
One of Lawi’s first priorities is to expand WWE’s relationships within the music industry.
“My focus will be to expand the talent pool from which the WWE draws to include the widest possible range of music while providing artists maximum opportunity and exposure to music purchasing audience segments via the WWE brand,” he said.
WWE has existing music relationships with talent that includes Kid Rock, Korn, Staind, Fat Joe and P.O.D.
