Warner Music and Doğan Music are expanding their artistic partnership with a new deal that will see them build a domestic roster together.

The move involves the opening of Warner Music Turkey, a new affiliate that will work with Doğan to build the international careers of top domestic artists and develop a stronger presence for Warner’s international repertoire in Turkey.

Samsun Demir, CEO, Doğan Music Group, says:

“We’re very pleased to announce our partnership with Warner Music in Turkey. We believe this relationship will have a sustainable impact on Turkey’s music industry and will be a big step in achieving a greater worldwide presence for Turkish artists who will explore creative opportunities without limits and contribute to our partnership in years to come. We’re also very excited and confident that, through the contributions of Warner’s global network and Doğan’s strong presence in Turkey, we will continue to deliver great success for our artists together.”

Alfonso Perez-Soto, Warner Music’s EVP, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, adds:

“We’re hugely excited to step-up our presence in Turkey and partner with Doğan on artist campaigns that’ll have an impact here and around the world. This is a historic moment for Warner Music - a real return to the country of Ahmet Ertegün, the legendary founder of Atlantic Records.”

Gülce Özyeşilpınar has been named as General Manager of Warner Music Turkey. She will report to Alfonso Perez-Soto.

Özyeşilpınar says: “I’m so proud to be the first leader of Warner Music Turkey. I look forward to working with our friends at Doğan to turbocharge our global support for our joint roster. And I also can’t wait to increase our promo support both creatively and strategically for Warner’s international stars in Turkey. Every day, we engage with the most passionate music fans in Turkey and I’m very excited to connect them even more with our amazing artists and brilliant catalogue. We’re here to create, share, support and inspire.”

She began her music industry career working for independent label Pasaj Müzik as a production assistant. A series of content creation and management roles followed, before she joined Sony Music’s Istanbul office as Digital Marketing Manager in 2014. Three years later she founded Witch Brew Works, which manages all of Warner Music’s marketing operations and accounts in Turkey.

Turkey is a fast-growing emerging market, with more than two million people already paying to use a music streaming service. Streaming accounts for some 60 per cent of industry revenues in Turkey, according to figures from trade body IFPI, and the market increased in value by almost 15 per cent last year to more than US$42 million.