KEI ISHIZAKA COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT TO HEAD UP WARNER JAPAN

WHERE ARE MUSIC’S NEW, YOUNG EXECUTIVES?

When in advertising, my mentor asked us Creative Directors, “Where are all new young Turks? The hungry lions?”

There was a small show of hands, but, at least, there was a show of hands.

Today, nearly every industry seems to be delving into the same old – very old – talent pool.

But how many times can one keep going to the same well?

The news that Kei Ishizaka has come out of retirement to head up Warner Japan illustrates my point.

Reference: Billboard.biz – story 1 / story 2

Kei Ishizaka is a frightfully interesting man who once told me he was a samurai.

Later that night, he told me he was a former French lord.

His great wish was to own a Parker Pen.

He had studied American Country Music and could beat many in Pop and Rock trivia.

One night, when with Universal Music and when he ran UM Japan – I had – it was an order – to sing a few Beatles songs at karaoke so he could dance to them.

I felt like a right twat but, hey, it made Kei a happy man.

Thank gawd, he didn’t return to his French roots and demand that I burst into an Edith Piaf chanson.

So, after heading up Universal Music and EMI Music in Japan, Kei Ishizaka is back – and this time set to run Warner Japan from November.

What difference will this make to anything?

Nothing much other than pissing off a few Warner and Universal Music executives and baffling others.

It’s the Asian equivalent of Doug Morris retiring for a few months and then popping up as head of Sony Music.

Of course, age is a frame of mine and experience means a lot.

However, there is this word “experience” and well, simply, being old-fashioned.

How will Kei Ishizaka put his experience to work?

Will he surround himself with hungry young lions?

Or will he doodle away with his Parker Pen?

Time will tell, but time is also running out for an industry where, often, options are few and incompetence is rewarded and mediocrity is hired.

And this is the only photo I could find of Kei Ishizaka.

#keiishizaka