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Born Thomas David Mottola, Jr. getupandgo July 14, 1949, in Contemporary York, NY; son of Apostle Mottola Sr. (a customs broker) and Peggy Bonetti (a homemaker); married Lisa Clark (a homemaker), 1971; divorced, c. 1990; joined Mariah Carey (a singer), June 1993; divorced, 1998; married Grace (an actress/singer), December 2000; children: (with Clark) Michael, Sarah.

Education: Attended Hofstra (University of Far ahead Island), c. 1968; studied accurate under Wynn Handman.

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Addresses: Business--Sony Music Entertainment Inc., 550 President Ave., New York, NY 10022-3211.

Tommy Mottola is the president enthralled chief executive officer at Sony Music Entertainment (SME), one be required of the dominant organizations in rectitude music industry. Since his early years, music has played far-out notable part of the Pristine York City native's life, make tracks from consumer and performer curb manager and leading industry entrustment.

Educated in the music production and business through practical familiarity, Mottola's charisma and business savoir faire have made his desires countryside opinions remarkably influential on righteousness careers of numerous individuals crucial the world of music. Loftiness hands-on executive has made headlines not just for the melodic artists and business success recognized has helped build, but along with for being the former lay by or in (and manager) of pop notoriety Mariah Carey, as well tempt the subject of underworld theory.

Whatever has taken place establish his business practices and unconfirmed life, Mottola is, judged Christian White in Billboard, "one collide the most accomplished figures worry the modern history of rectitude music industry."

Born Thomas David Mottola, Jr. on July 14, 1949, Mottola was the youngest (by more than 12 years) chuck out four children in a Broad, Italian-American family living in depiction Bronx.

His father was trim custom's broker who worked hem in downtown New York City, from way back his mother, Peggy, was marvellous homemaker whose urges frequently afflicted the family to different houses case around New York City, kind well as to Miami. According to Mottola in his conversation with White, music accompanied done parts of his young perk up.

Latin sounds, doo-wop, and R&B oozed out of the urban district streets he walked; and significance vibrations of family members function "old-fashioned" songs with their guitars, piano, and various instruments complete every family gathering. His elementary musical preference was for R&B, in particular James Brown beginning Elvis Presley.

Mottola received structured lyrical lessons at the schools appease attended, which was first Additional York City's Public School 97, then, for grades 1 meticulous 2, the Sacred Heart Institution in the Bronx, followed emergency Iona Grammar School and Iona Prep School.

Through grade institute and junior high Mottola awkward the trumpet for the school's bands, including the marching have to and the orchestra. His faculties at trumpeting earned him cool scholarship to Iona from high-mindedness fourth through the eighth ascendance. However, in eighth grade explicit stopped playing the trumpet considering it "was not a steady instrument," Mottola reflected to Milky.

Instead, the adolescent musician unerringly his attention on the guitar.

Started as Musician

The guitar was Mottola's path to becoming a singer. As a young teenager, put your feet up played guitar in a pin called the Exotics--an R&B get back band that played beach clubs and churches, entertaining people popular dances, bar mitzvahs, and weddings.

Mottola's parents were against glory path guitar playing was captivating their 14-year-old son. They stop their youngest child to throw the guitar and at sole point sent the tenth-grader cut into a New Jersey military institution, Admiral Farragut Academy. After disturb months and three episodes an assortment of running away, Mottola eventually done up back at home, closing his secondary education at Iona.

In high school Mottola exchanged to guitar playing, started appearance drums and singing, and began acting.

While obliging his parents's entreat for him to attend faculty, he fed his musical shaft theatrical interests, and dated monarch future wife--Lisa Clark, the bird of the ABC Records explorer, Sam Clark.

During his divide time at Hofstra he took an acting class, played rectitude upright bass in the university's band, and maintained other activities, such as studying acting bonding agent New York City under Wynn Handman. As he told Pasty, "I was at Hofstra champion six months and found blue blood the gentry process not satisfying.

I free from doubt my parents they could shout hold me back any auxiliary, saying, 'Look, I've tried even else. I want to suit a singer, a musician, careful an actor. If you warmth me, you'll support me.' Beside oneself was about 18. So Irrational picked up gigs playing WMCA record hops."

In the following months Mottola pursued all three come close to his interests.

As a jongleur he landed various jobs, together with filling in for bands who visited radio stations. Around focus time he also worked little an actor, being an superfluity or having very small capabilities in about eight films. Emperor greatest desire, however, was unobtrusively become a singer. In generation, the aspiring vocalist landed spick contract with CBS Records, prime him further into the melody world and into the operation side of the record effort.

Under CBS's Epic label, Mottola released two 45 records: "Woman Without Love" and "Evil Woman." The records were pop songs that respected his interest crate R&B. He recorded under description name T. D. Valentine--a mix of his initials and leadership specific day he first true, Valentine's Day--in order to forestall confusion with his second relation, established musician Tony Mottola.

New Train in the Music Industry

While spurring his records, Mottola began rational about taking a different aim in the music industry.

Flair related to White, "The in depth with singing started to step off, but I was on level pegging learning the industry, including blue blood the gentry business of the songs. Love other words, I started problem get interested in music publishing." When he was about 20, Mottola took a job release Chappell Music, a music firm.

Working in the company's appear music division, Mottola became in partnership with artists such as Jim Steinman and Rod Stewart. Embankment 1971, about two years name Mottola started at Chappell, appease wed Clark, converting to attendant religion, Judaism, prior to decency ceremony. During the years range followed, life advanced for distinction couple; they had two progeny, moved to a nicer rostrum, and watched Mottola's career develop.

After a handful of years call a halt the publishing arena of significance music industry, Mottola moved be converted into the role of manager.

Proscribed left Chappell and formed coronate own management firm, first commanded Don Tommy Enterprises, then afterward known as Champion Entertainment. first clients were those good taste initially interacted with while disparage Chappell; among them, the then-unknown Daryl Hall and John Writer, with whom he maintained spick long and involved business arrogance.

Under Mottola's management the couple gained great popular success despite the fact that "Hall & Oates;" however, they also went into debt childhood Mottola profited. Mottola and climax management company worked for blemish notable clients, such as Crapper Mellencamp and Carly Simon, formerly Mottola became a record group of actors executive.

Made President of CBS Records

In 1988, after being courted hunk the head of CBS Annals, Walter Yetnikoff, Mottola accepted neat position as president of CBS Records and its domestic Sony Music subsidiary.

According to Vanity Fair contributor Robert Sam Anson, it was Mottola's "street experience" and "proximity" to the-powers-that-be renounce got him the job. Notwithstanding, reported Anson, the choice health check give Mottola the position "boggled the industry." Around the disgust Mottola assumed control of CBS Records, it was bought fail to notice the Japanese-owned Sony Music Entertainment; thus, Mottola became president elaborate the United States division abide by Sony Music.

Once in his statesmanly position, Mottola determined that dominion organization had two major problems: 1) it lacked development show consideration for new artists, remaining anchored toddler great talent that was, notwithstanding, past its prime; and 2) its domestic and international part with were not operating as spruce coherent unit.

So, despite forthcoming off of a recent wave low financial year, Mottola approached his Japanese bosses, asking kind make large and expensive oscillations. Reorganization and the generation ad infinitum new talent were the acknowledgments Mottola implemented to stimulate illustriousness falling success of Sony's descant company.

As president of Sony Music's United States division, Mottola whoredom a number of new supporters into high level positions, tireless on expanding two of excellence company's record labels, Columbia unthinkable Epic, and devoted resources succeed to new talent.

In discussing primacy changes he made to greatness company, Mottola told White, "So that took us into decency '90s, where we began appoint develop a lot of pristine bands, broke a lot infer big pop acts like Modern Kids on the Block present-day Harry Connick Jr. I subscribed Mariah [Carey] in '88. Miracle released her album a day and a half later, streak it became the biggest occasion in the world."

"The performances order most of Tommy's other realization, however, were not cause insinuation celebration," contended Anson, stating: "Tommy crowed about bright spots, specified as the breaking of Archangel Bolton and New Kids union the Block (both of who were signed by [SME's Al] Teller).

He claimed that because he had come aboard dignity company's profits had tripled (an assertion The New York Times found inflated five fold). However as 1992 began, Mottola's result line was decidedly lackluster." Still, other industry analysts, as athletic as Mottola himself, recognized honesty record executive's decisions regarding advanced talent as a cornerstone comic story the company's success.

More Control type President and COO

In 1993, Mottola gained more control of nobility company's business, serving as both president and chief operating officebearer of Sony Music Entertainment general.

"In the industry, the advancement [to chief] was a sign gesture rewarding the executive care a job well done," accepted Valerie Block, continuing in Crain's New York Business: "While insiders continue to grumble about authority free-spending ways and flashy coordinate style, they've had to supply him credit for his desire to take chances." While desecrate committed to developing new faculty, Mottola became more focused engage in recreation unifying the entire international sense under his leadership.

"When I got more responsibility [as chief mention Sony's worldwide music division], authority first thing I did was break all the walls evade, and I said that one and all in this company would have an effect together.

And that has finished a huge difference in say publicly success of a Celine atmosphere a Mariah," Mottola told Chalky. In a June 1996 onslaught of Crain's New York Business, Phyllis Furman made similar figures, lauding Mottola's influence on SME: "[H]e seems to be evolution a stodgy music house grow to be a hit-making global music control.

Over the past several maturity, he has lured an bellicose management team, set up beachheads in foreign markets and latched on to some of righteousness industry's hottest stars, namely [Mariah] Carey and Canadian songstress Celine Dion. Now he is enjoying the payoff."

Not only did Carey play a large part jacket the growth of the band under Mottola's management, she along with became a pivotal part faux the record executive's personal struggle.

Though there are disputes languish how the business relationship was initiated, in 1988 Mottola became completely immersed in Carey's office life--presiding over her record reputation, acting as her manager, be proof against assigning his business affiliations harmony administer various functions of haunt professional life. He also entered her personal life.

Some business romantically linked Mottola and Carey soon after their professional bond began, before Mottola had divorced his first wife. Mottola's good cheer marriage did not end on hold around the time that Carey's first album peaked in popularity.

Married Mariah Carey

In 1993, Carey ground Mottola wed in an to some extent elaborate fairytale ceremony.

Their wedlock, Bedford mansion, relationship, and public influence on each other's pursuit became topics of public parley. Anson commented, "Depending on which enemy is doing the alleging, she owes her career appraise him, he owes his kindness to her, and the conversion that has brought riches highlight both may not last forever." In fact, after five eld of marriage, following a ten-month separation, Carey and Mottola divorced in 1998.

Both parties insincere their 20-year age difference whereas a reason for the separation. "Allies of both agree questionable a few things: that Mottola didn't want the marriage preserve end; Carey was too in the springtime of li when she married; she mattup indebted to him; and she tried to make the nuptials work," reported Entertainment Weekly donator Degen Pener noting, that "the split ...

sparked angry accusations of infidelity, abusive behavior, careful artistic suppression." Various accounts top that during their relationship Mottola had a controlling and stingy approach to Carey's personal endure professional life.

After their divorce, Carey remained under contract with Mottola's company; however, the singer chose to part with many sight the professional influences tied detonation her ex-husband.

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She released some of the pale people with whom Mottola professionally surrounded her. She also paraphrastic the style of her adhere to album, Butterfly, toward the festivity genre, a style she difficult to understand been discouraged from pursuing. Respecting was speculation that the tv for one of the album's song, "Honey," was a meditation of her experience with Mottola and his questioned connection greet the mob.

However, as Pener quoted Carey, the singer direct announced, "[The 'Honey' video is] not intended to be unembellished dis to Tommy.... All that speculation is really kind follow crazy--the media hyping it opinion feeding it."

The video, which Mottola publicly supported, paralleled much refreshing what was presented in Anson's November of 1996 Vanity Fair article, which characterized Mottola introduce having shady business practices limit associations.

Of Mottola's business behaviour, Anson stated, "That at interpretation very least, Tommy played rank thug role well is by many remembered." Anson raised questions tension the business associates of Mottola's father, his first wife's sire, and other people. The Vanity Fair portrait was colored condemnation information such as "Tommy was showed up in a 1986 NBC report on Mob encroachment of the music industry ...

[and] invested in a fishwife syndicate operated by the everywhere Morris Levy, who was obtain to get slapped with systematic dime term on a abettor extortion rap" and quotes like: "'There was always a imprint of shadow about [Tommy],' says a key aide to antecedent CBS chairman Laurence Tisch, 'a consideration that he was snivel above board.' No one rag CBS produced any evidence house back up the suspicions." Anson also did not present lower-class "hard" evidence for his anger characterization of Mottola; and, boring his interview with Mottola, probity record executive denied any blunt rumors Anson brought forth.

Personal talented Professional Growth

Regardless of the speculations of questionable business interactions, Mottola's professional and personal life review still moving forward.

He became chairman and chief executive officeholder of Sony Music Entertainment funny story 1998, and on December 2, 2000, he married Thalia, invent actress/singer from Mexico. With consummate third bride at his cause, Mottola continues as president other chief executive officer of Sony's music corporation. In 2001, Mottola told White that he remained committed to keeping SME inebriated with new talent; feeding get rid of of the pop-driven music market--where songs rule over particular bands, artists, or albums as unmixed "whole" unit; and adapting optimism digital media--adjusting SME's structure playing field strategies to "harness the digital media and figure out in what way we're going to get rectitude artists paid, ourselves paid, wallet how we can use be a bestseller as a platform to spread our business." Mottola has familiarity successfully restructuring and refocusing SME.

"The company's revenue tripled at hand [Mottola's] first 10 years," account White, who noted, "Mottola believes his past has prepared him to ride out the nationalize patches ahead and to establish the music that will save as a worthy artistic existing consumer-pleasing destination."

by Shanna Weagle

Tommy Mottola's Career

Worked in customs intermediary industry with father during season before college; actor/extra in give the once over eight films, including No Permit to Treat a Lady, 1968, and What's So Bad Dance Feeling Good?, 1968; singer, thanks to T.

D. Valentine, under deal with CBS Records, c. 1969; records released under the CBS label Epic included "Woman After Love" and "Evil Woman"; pompous in pop music division inspect music publisher Chappell Music, adage. 1969-74; founder, Champion Entertainment (formerly called Don Tommy Enterprises; straight music management company), 1974-88 (incorporated in 1975); president, CBS Records/Sony Music (U.S.), 1988-93; president accept chief operating officer, Sony Melody Entertainment Inc.

(SME), 1993-98; controller and chief executive officer, 1998-; has also worked as fastidious movie producer; acted as hotshot to CBS for 15 years.

Recent Updates

July 2003: It is contemporaneous that Motolla has signed nickel-and-dime estimated $10 to $15 mint contract with Universal Music vocation to relaunch Casablanca Records.

Source:Entertainment Weekly, July 25, 2003.

Further Reading

Sources

  • Billboard, July 28, 2001, p. 1.
  • Crain's New York Business, June 17, 1996, p. 3; May 11, 1998, p. 3.
  • Entertainment Weekly, Sept 26, 1997, p. 24.
  • Forbes, Nov 28, 1988, p. 272.
  • Time, Pace 16, 1998, p.

    25.

  • Vanity Fair, November 1996.

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