Warner Ax Swings At Nashville

03/26/1998 3:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Bruce Haring

(3/26/98) - Last week's round of layoffs at Warner Bros. Records also extended to the bunny's country and gospel music divisions. Nashville insiders were shocked to learn of the departure of five staffers, many of them long-time WB employees.

One of the biggest surprises was the axing of VP of A&R Doug Grau, a 14-year Warner/ Reprise employee who was instrumental in the careers of such acts as Travis Tritt, Little Texas, Jeff Foxworthy and Bill Engvall. Also getting pink slips were Video Development Manager Annie Price and A&R Manager Lisa Bradley.

Warner Alliance, the gospel division, lost VP of Promotion and MarketingChris Hauser and Executive Assistant Sandy Lee. Lee worked for recently-departed Warner Alliance President Neal Joseph.

Warner Alliance hasn't had much success in the gospel music division, with their biggest new artist being Jonathan Pierce. Jim Ed Norman, head of Nashville's Warner/ Reprise, said the company is re-examining the direction of its gospel division.