Sony Promotes Mottola to CEO of Global Music

Following months of domination of the world music market, Sony Corp. on Thursday elevated Thomas D. Mottola to chief executive of its global music division.

Mottola’s promotion comes shortly after Sony unseated Warner Music Group as the No. 1 record company in the United States in market share. Sony, whose “Titanic” soundtrack album has sold nearly 8 million copies since its December release, has cornered a 21.1% share of the domestic market so far this year. “Titanic” is one of 26 albums that Sony has this week on Billboard magazine’s top 200 chart.

Mottola, a former artist manager, took over as president of CBS Records Group in 1988--about three years after the company ended its two-decade reign as the dominant force in the pop world. When Mottola joined Sony, it was perceived as a stodgy corporation living off such aging icons as Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand and Bruce Springsteen.

Over the last decade, Mottola has transformed the company’s image and performance with the help of his hand-picked management team. On his watch, Sony has bolstered its credibility in the rock, rap, R&B; and pop genres with such hit acts as Pearl Jam, Fiona Apple, the Fugees, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.

“I look at this new title as a recognition for what this team has been able to accomplish on a global basis,” Mottola, 47, said in a phone interview Thursday.

Mottola will continue to report to Sony Chairman Norio Ohga and President Nobuyuki Idei.