By Isabelle Speerin
Long before he built a career in music publishing at Warner Chappell Music Canada, Ricardo Chung was a teenager in Pickering, Ontario, watching something remarkable unfold around him. His local high school had become an unexpected incubator for musical talent. Producers and artists like Boi-1da, T-Minus, Matthew Burnett and Jordan Evans had already found success, proving that a career in music was not just aspirational, but attainable. “High school was my first introduction to the music industry,” Chung said. “There was a level of success we could actually see, and it inspired a lot of us.”
Today, he helps shape the next generation of creators as an A&R representative at Warner Chappell Music. Part talent scout and part connector, he brings established and emerging songwriters and creators together, helps build collaborative opportunities and supports them as they take the next steps in their careers. But Chung’s own path to music publishing was anything but linear.
After high school, he studied business administration and soon found himself drawn to the business behind music. At 19, he began managing an aspiring artist and learned the fundamentals of artist development, networking and day-to-day management on the fly.
Looking to sharpen his skills, he joined The Remix Project, a Toronto-based arts program for young people pursuing careers in the creative industries. There, he found mentors and became part of a community of ambitious young creatives who shared his passion for music. Looking back, Chung describes The Remix Project as the turning point that gave him the confidence to believe a future in the music industry was possible. “The Remix Project definitely changed my life,” he said.
The program also opened doors. Through The Remix Project, Chung landed an internship with ICE H2O Records and Last Gang Records, where he learned from managers and executives working with some of Canada’s most notable artists. At one point, he was juggling artist management, creator consulting, record label internships and shifts at St. Joseph’s Health Centre to pay the bills. “I was working in the emergency room to survive in this business,” he said.
Chung had spent years building relationships and learning the business from multiple angles when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented itself. He joined Drake’s OVO team as a tour manager, supporting live touring operations for four months across Europe while gaining insight into the business behind major international tours. “It was a really cool experience,” he said. “I got to see parts of the world that I probably never would have seen otherwise.”
Soon afterward, a recommendation from Last Gang co-founder Chris Taylor led to a contract scouting role with the label division at Warner Music Canada. “When I arrived at Warner, I finally got to see how a machine worked, with a marketing team and a radio team,” he said. For someone who had spent years building a career independently, the experience was eye-opening. When an A&R position later opened on the music publishing side, Chung applied and successfully landed the gig, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his career.
Six years later, Chung is still working as Warner Chappell Music’s A&R, where no two days are ever the same. One day may involve pairing writers for sessions, pitching songs or coordinating studio schedules; another might be spent searching for emerging talent and building relationships with managers, lawyers and creators. “Every day is different, and that’s what keeps it exciting,” he said.
Chung credits much of his growth to the mentors and colleagues who opened doors, offered guidance and trusted him with new responsibilities. Among them was former Warner Chappell Music managing director Vivian Barclay. “Vivian was the first person to give me a full-time job in the business,” he said. “She also inspired me personally because of what she’s accomplished in this industry.”
For Chung, the support he received comes with a responsibility to pay it forward. His advice to aspiring music professionals reflects the philosophy that has shaped his own career: work hard, be reliable and stay open to the unexpected. As part of the music industry’s new wave of leaders, he knows firsthand how saying yes can change the course of a career.
