Rob Stringer
Rob Stringer CBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | Robert Adrian Stringer 1962 (age 61–62) Aylesbury, England |
| Nationality | British, American |
| Alma mater | Goldsmith's College |
| Occupation(s) | Producer, record producer, executive, entrepreneur, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Employer | Sony Music |
| Organization | Sony Music Group |
| Board member of | Sony Group Corporation |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Howard Stringer (brother) |
| Website | sonymusic |
Robert Adrian Stringer CBE (born 1962) is a British record producer, executive, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who is Chairman of Sony Music Group and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.
Stringer was listed fifth in Billboard magazine's 2018 "Power 100" ranking of persons influential in the music industry.[1] He also is a director of Luton Town F.C. and is the younger brother of Sir Howard Stringer.
Early life
Stringer was born and raised in the town of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and attended Aylesbury Grammar School.[2]
Growing up in Aylesbury, Stringer had the opportunity to see a number of touring bands. In 1976, at the age of 14, he saw The Clash at one of their earliest shows.[2] He went on to spend his teenage years watching punk bands at Aylesbury's rock venue Friars where he got a job during his school holidays. The job furnished him with the opportunity to “sneak in to watch the soundchecks”, and he would later say of his time at the club that he “saw the cultural side, but the business side rubbed off on me too.”[3]
After leaving school, Stringer studied sociology at Goldsmith's College in South London; he was also a student entertainment manager.[3]
Career (1985–2017)
During school holidays, Stringer visited his brother Howard (then the President of CBS) in New York, which resulted in the opportunity to assist with CBS television coverage at Republican and Democrat conventions in the 1980 and 1984 elections.[2] In 1985, Stringer joined CBS Records as a graduate trainee.[4]
Stringer's progression in the music industry continued with roles at Epic Records [5] and Sony Music UK. At the latter, Stringer had a role in signing Welsh rockers the Manic Street Preachers.[6] Stringer, who remains close with the band, said: "I speak to all of them at least once a week and have done for 15 years. We've had lots of ups and downs."[2]
He went on to work at Columbia Records,[3] with artists signed during Stringer's tenure at Columbia including MGMT, One Direction and Adele.
Sony Music Entertainment (2017–present)
After a decade at Columbia Records, Stringer became the CEO of Sony Music succeeding Doug Morris in April 2017.[7]
In his first year as CEO, Stringer oversaw a 12.2% increase in recorded music (up to $4.03 billion). This included an improvement of streaming revenues, which went up 37.3% to $1.8bn, and improvements in physical sales, which increased by just under $10m.[8]
In August 2019, Stringer was named as the Chairman of Sony Music Group, in addition to his role of CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.[9]
He was reported to have "an artist-friendly reputation, working closely with modern icons including Adele, Beyoncé, Bob Dylan, Harry Styles, and many others".[9]
In 2021, Stringer implemented the company’s Artists Forward and Songwriters Forward programs to create more earnings opportunities for artists and songwriters.[10]
In his role as Chairman he is credited as driving the creation of a $100 million fund to "fight racism around the world".[11]
Honours
Stringer was named Music Visionary of the Year in 2013 by the UJA-Federation of New York's Music and was presented the award by Adele.[12]
In 2014, he received the “Strat” Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement from Music Week.[13]
Stringer received the 2016 Clive Davis Visionary Award from Billboard magazine.[14]
In 2017, he received the Music Industry Trusts Award, which was presented by close friend Nicky Wire of the Manic Street Preachers.[15]
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to UK creative industries, social justice and charity.[16]
He was awarded the 2022 GRAMMY Salute To Industry Icons award.[17]
Stringer appeared at #2 on the Billboard Power 100 in 2022. [18]
Personal life
Stringer is married, has two children and lives in New York.[1] He is a lifelong Luton Town supporter [19] and is currently a director at the club.[20]
References
- ^ a b "No. 5: Rob Stringer - Power 100". billboard.com. 25 January 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Rob Stringer: One of the most powerful figures in the music business". independent.co.uk. 6 March 2006.
- ^ a b c JIM ARMITAGE (29 June 2018). "Business interview: Sony Music's chief executive Rob Stringer on bringing in the ch-ch-changes". standard.co.uk.
- ^ Mark Beech (13 June 2017). "Adele, Beyoncé's Sony Boss Rob Stringer Gets Top Music Award". forbes.com.
- ^ DORIAN LYNSKEY (31 October 2017). "Rob Stringer: 'The number of artists that make that much difference is less than ten'". gq-magazine.co.uk.
- ^ Mark Sutherland (7 November 2017). "More zingers from Rob Stringer as Sony CEO is a hit at the MITs". musicweek.com.
- ^ Mark Sutherland (5 November 2017). ""Music is coming from everywhere": Sony Music CEO Rob Stringer on the digital transformation of the biz". musicweek.com.
- ^ Tim Ingham (27 April 2018). "IN ROB STRINGER'S FIRST YEAR IN CHARGE, SONY MUSIC REVENUES JUMPED 12% TO TOP $4BN". musicbusinessworldwide.com.
- ^ a b "Rob Stringer". Music Business Worldwide. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Sony Music Group boss Rob Stringer to receive 2022 Grammy Salute To Industry Icons award". Music Business Worldwide. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ Staff, Billboard; Staff, Billboard (28 January 2021). "Billboard Change Agents: Leaders Stepping Up In A Year of Turmoil". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ Hampp, Andrew; Hampp, Andrew (21 June 2013). "Rob Stringer Named UJA Visionary Of The Year As Adele, John Mayer, Doug Morris, Others Pay Tribute". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "2014, a Stringer odyssey: revisit Rob Stringer's Music Week Strat Award-winning year". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ Gensler, Andy; Gensler, Andy (14 June 2017). "Sony Music's Rob Stringer to Receive U.K.'s Music Industry Trusts Award". Billboard. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ "Rob Stringer receives the 2017 Music Industry Trusts Award". sonymusic.co.uk. 7 November 2017.
- ^ "No. 63571". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 2022. p. N26.
- ^ "Rob Stringer To Receive "Salute To Industry Icons"". GRAMMY.com. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- ^ Staff, Billboard; Staff, Billboard (26 January 2022). "The 2022 Billboard Power List Revealed". Billboard. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
- ^ Simon Duke (29 October 2017). "Rob Stringer interview: Streaming saved us, but it's still a fight to stay top of the charts". thetimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Club Officials". lutontown.co.uk.