Warner Records was the label honoree at the 2026 Grammy Hall of Fame Gala, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Friday (May 9). Accepting the award, Aaron Bay-Schuck, co-chairman and CEO of the Warner Records Group, recalled a lunch he had, shortly before starting the job, with legendary Warner executive Mo Ostin.
“I asked him how he so successfully kept Warner as the most exciting label in the world decade after decade, hoping he’d give me a cheat code, but instead he said, ‘There is no secret. Create the environment where your artists feel supported and protected, give them the space to experiment, to succeed and to fail, and create a culture at the company where people feel inspired, collaborative and proud to represent.’ So, to receive this honor tonight feels like confirmation that we have indeed done that, and I can’t tell you how proud and gratifying that is for me and our Warner family.”
This is the third year in a row that the Grammy Hall of Fame event has included a label tribute. Atlantic Records and Republic Records were the label honorees at the two previous galas. Warner artists Teddy Swims and Josh Groban each performed two songs as part of the salute.
Bay-Schuck opened his remarks by thanking his partner at the label, Tom Corson, co-chairman & COO of Warner Records Group. “Tom my brother. It’s been the greatest gift being on this journey with you as my partner.”
Bay-Schuck spoke eloquently about taking over one of the industry’s most respected labels. “When we took over the leadership of Warner Records in 2018 we knew we needed to reposition the company for the future, but we wanted first to approach that by acknowledging the past. After all, this is the home to Prince, Madonna, Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neil Young and so many more. These superstars were fearless, unapologetically themselves. They took risks. They dared to be different, and they stood for something. Whatever shape this new era of Warner Records was going to take, we knew one thing had to remain true. In a time where data and algorithms were sending people in the direction of quick wins and fleeting moments, we were going to demonstrate that talent, quality and vision still mattered the most, that the patience to wait for greatness, rather than settling for good, was the right strategy, and that artist development should still be a top priority, and a value that we as a major label must provide.”
Corson, who spoke before Bay-Schuck, also honored the label’s heritage. “This award belongs the entire Warner family, everyone at Warner Records Nashville, Warner UK, and across the Warner Music Group worldwide, as well as generations of executives, creatives and artists who built this label long, long before us. We’re standing on the shoulders of giants tonight. We truly appreciate it. Most importantly, thank you to our artists. Everything begins and ends with them, and we’re especially proud to have two extraordinary representatives of our label here tonight.”
Corson, who was an executive at IRS Records, A&M, Capitol, Columbia, J Records, Arista and the RCA Music Group before joining Warner, said it was always his dream to work for Warner. “I always wanted to work at the label. It took me a long time to get hired there, and I’m glad I did. It’s been amazing. But it’s a team sport, right? And to all our team over there, give yourselves a hand.”
Swims and Groban both paid tribute to the label during their performances. Groban thanked the label for taking a chance on “a shy kid with a big voice” that other labels didn’t know what to do with.
Swims performed “Mister Know It All” and his Billboard Hot 100-topping breakthrough smash “Lose Control.” Groban performed two songs from his album Cinematic, which was released that same day (May 8): “Brucia La Terra,” a Sicilian-language rendition of “Love Theme From The Godfather” (sometimes known as “Speak Softly, Love”), and “Stand by Me,” featured in the film of the same name. Take 6 joined him to sing the latter song, which closed out the event.
