Mike Rittberg
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Mike Rittberg is an American music industry executive. He has held senior executive positions at Warner Bros. Records/Reprise Records, Universal Music Group's Verve Music Group, Big Machine Label Group, and HYBE America.
Early life and career
[edit]Rittberg grew up in Marietta, Georgia. He attended Florida State University, where he hosted a metal program on the university's campus radio station, WVFS in Tallahassee.
In 1994, Rittberg joined A&M Records where he was VP Rock Promotion.[1]
In 1997, Rittberg joined Warner Bros. Records as VP Rock Promotion. He worked with Linkin Park, Tom Petty, Michael Buble, Disturbed, My Chemical Romance, Stevie Nicks and Eric Clapton.[2]
Trade publications documented his progression at Warner, including positions in rock promotion and rock formats.[3] Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter also covered his departure from Warner in 2011 and identified him as Senior Vice President of Promotion at Reprise.[4]
In 2012, Rittberg joined Universal Music Group's Verve Music Group as Vice President of Artist Development and Promotion and was subsequently promoted to General Manager in 2015. Verve's releases included projects from artists including Diana Krall, Andrea Bocelli, Mark Knopfler, and other artists on the label's jazz. Rittberg was involved in the worldwide launch campaign for Rod Stewart's Merry Christmas, Baby.[5] Rittberg left Verve in 2016 after four years with the label.[6]
He joined Big Machine Label Group in Nashville in 2017 as Chief Marketing Officer.[7][8] In 2024, Big Machine promoted Rittberg to Chief Operating Officer.[9][10]
In 2025, Rittberg subsequently moved into an executive role at HYBE America, the U.S. arm of South Korean entertainment company HYBE.[11][12][13] Rittberg was appointed as President of Global Distribution.[14][15][16][17]
References
[edit]- ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1994-04-16.
- ↑ Halperin, Shirley (2011-09-09). "Amid Layoffs, Is Warner Bros. Records Abandoning Rock Music?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-08-31.[failed verification]
- ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2003-06-28.
- ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2006-06-03.
- ↑ Billboard, Keith Caulfield (2013-08-12). "Donna Summer Remix Album Due in October". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ Ingham, Tim (2016-06-06). "Mike Rittberg exits Universal's Verve after 4 years". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ "Big Machine hires Mike Rittberg as Chief Marketing Officer". Music Business Worldwide. 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ "Big Machine Label ups Mike Rittberg to COO, Clay Hunnicutt to EVP, Label Operations".
- ↑ Cantrell, LB (2024-01-30). "BREAKING: Big Machine Label Group Promotes Mike Rittberg & Clay Hunnicutt". MusicRow.com. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ Nicholson, Jessica (2024-01-30). "Big Machine Label Group Promotes Mike Rittberg to COO, Clay Hunnicutt to EVP of Label Operations". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ kevincarter (2025-10-06). "HYBE Launches HYBE LABEL SERVICE". RAMP - Radio and Music Pros. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ Schneider, Marc (2025-10-06). "HYBE America Launches Global Label Service and Promotes Ryan Noh to Chief Business Officer". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ "MEET THE HARD WORKING RECORD COMPANY (WE, MEANWHILE, ARE HARDLY WORKING)". www.hitsdailydouble.com. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ Hahnen, Madison (2025-10-06). "HYBE America Launches HYBE Label Service, Appoints Mike Rittberg President Of Global Distribution". MusicRow.com. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ Stassen, Murray (2025-10-07). "HYBE takes wraps off US-based services arm with a global focus… and it's working with independent artists and labels". Music Business Worldwide. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
- ↑ Flanagan, Thania Garcia,Andrew (2025-10-10). "Music Industry Moves: Kid Harpoon Named First Producer in Residence at Abbey Road Studios". Variety. Retrieved 2026-08-31.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Hill, David (2026-07-27). "Mike Rittberg Seeks Next Opportunity After HYBE Departure". Barrett Media. Retrieved 2026-08-31.