Alex Wilhelm

Last updated
Alex Wilhelm
Alex Wilhelm.jpg
Alex Wilhelm for Billboard Magazine in 2021
Occupations
  • Music executive
  • A&R representative
Years active2008–present
Labels

Alex Wilhelm is a German-American music executive, A&R representative, and the owner of 16 Entertainment, a music company dedicated to artist development. To date, 16 Entertainment has generated 5 billion streams by offering an empowering alternative to independent-minded artists. Prior to founding his own company, Wilhelm held senior A&R positions at major record labels including Warner Records, Capitol Records, and Atlantic Records/APG. He has signed multiple multi-platinum selling artists, served on the Grammy Awards Committee, and has been featured on Billboard's "Indie Power Players" and "40 under 40" lists. [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Crazed Hits

Alex Wilhelm started his career by founding influential independent A&R company Crazed Hits out of his bedroom in Germany, through which he discovered a variety of major recording artists, including LMFAO, Drake, Imagine Dragons, The Weeknd, Nicki Minaj, Owl City, Brantley Gilbert, Mike Posner, Jessie J, Odd Future, and others. [3] [4] [5] During his time at Crazed Hits, Alex Wilhelm also discovered the hit song "If I Were A Boy", which was later recorded by Beyoncé. [6] [7] [8]

Warner Bros. Records

In October 2012, Alex Wilhelm became the Director of A&R at Warner Bros. Records, where he was involved in signing and/or A&R'ing artists such as Passenger, Jason Derulo, and Bebe Rexha. [9] [6] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]

Capitol Music Group

In September 2014, Alex Wilhelm joined Capitol Music Group, where he was promoted to Senior Director of A&R. [9] [16] [17] [18] At Capitol, Alex Wilhelm signed multi-platinum recording artist Calum Scott, who scored international hits with his singles "Dancing On My Own" and "You Are The Reason." Calum's platinum-selling debut album, "Only Human," has generated over 6 billion streams to date. Wilhelm also brought pop rapper Silento to Capitol who scored an international hit with his debut single "Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)", certified six-times Platinum in the United States. [9] [19]

Atlantic Records/APG

In September 2017, Alex Wilhelm joined APG and Atlantic Records, where he was promoted to VP of A&R and ran the A&R Research Department. Additionally, he was the lead consultant at Warner Music Group for Sodatone, a machine-learning and AI-driven A&R Data Platform. WMG acquired Sodatone in 2018. [20]

48 Hours Entertainment

In April 2021, Wilhelm co-founded 48 Hours Entertainment together with former Rolling Stones and Garbage manager Steve Moir, who now manages John Mayer, The Black Keys and Mickey Guyton. [20] [2] [21]

In August 2021, Wilhelm was named one of the 40 most powerful music executives under the age of 40 by Billboard magazine. [2]

In January 2023, Wilhelm's client Hotel Ugly peaked at #22 on the Spotify U.S. Chart and entered the Billboard Hot 100 with their hit single "Shut Up My Mom's Calling." The song, which was released independently, generated over 400 million streams globally. [22] [23]

16 Entertainment

In 2022, Wilhelm established 16 Entertainment, a music company designed to offer an empowering alternative for independent-minded artists. Since its inception, 16 Entertainment has generated 5 billion streams and offers a range of services including artist development, streaming strategy, label services, and distribution for independent artists. Wilhelm has signed and worked with a variety of artists during this period, including Hotel Ugly, TV Girl, and Violent Vira and was named to Billboard Magazine's prestigious Indie Power Player list for his contributions to the independent music sector. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Rys, Dan (2024-06-10). "Indie Power Players 2024 List". Billboard . Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  2. 1 2 3 Cirisano, Tatiana (2021-08-26). "Inside 48 Hours Entertainment, the Company Brokering Deals for Breakout Artists". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  3. ↑ "The Back to Business Re-Up". The Irish Times . 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  4. ↑ "Start the Week with a Wrap". The Irish Times . 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  5. ↑ "Musikindustrin". Archived from the original on 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
  6. 1 2 Rys, Dan (2012-11-13). "Alex Wilhelm, Crazed Hits Blogger, Named Warner Bros. Director Of A&R". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  7. ↑ "Think You Have a Hit? Send Your Music To This Guy". Archived from the original on 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  8. ↑ "Decorated Youth Magazine Issue #3". Issuu. Archived from the original on 2016-08-09. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  9. 1 2 3 Pajer, Nicole (2018-03-15). "As Calum Scott Soars, A&R Exec Alex Wilhelm on Signing Him to Capitol & Finding Hidden Gems When 'Goosebumps Meet Data'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  10. ↑ "#FF Follow Friday for 11/15/2012 by @Sobechi299". web.archive.org. 2012-11-18. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  11. ↑ "The Top 40 Music Industry Social Media Influencers Of 2015". Synchtank. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  12. ↑ "Music Industry News & Moves from the A&R Registry". MyNewsletterBuilder. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  13. ↑ "Driven Music Conference Archives - Cliché Magazine". Digital Online Fashion Magazine | Free Fashion Magazine | Best Lifestyle Blog. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  14. ↑ "A&R | News | February 22, 2013". MubuTV . Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  15. ↑ "The Daily Swarm - 'Crazed Hits' Blogger is Warner's New Director of A&R..." web.archive.org. 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  16. ↑ GRAMMY.com - Alex Wilhelm, The New A&R
  17. ↑ "GRAMMY PANEL PROBES "THE NEW A&R"". www.hitsdailydouble.com. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  18. ↑ Gensler, Andy (2015-02-07). "Grammy Week Dispatch: Don Was' Star Turn with Al Pacino; Us The Duo on A&R; Midem at Soho House". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  19. ↑ Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (2015-02-07). GRAMMY Connect: The New A&R | GRAMMYs . Retrieved 2025-02-14– via YouTube.
  20. 1 2 "About - Alex Wilhelm". Alex Wilhelm. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  21. ↑ Newman, Melinda (2021-10-13). "The Black Keys Sign With Steve Moir & Irving Azoff for Management". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  22. ↑ Zellner, Xander (2023-01-11). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Hotel Ugly Checks In With 'Shut Up My Moms Calling'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
  23. ↑ "48 HOURS BOOKS AN EXTENDED HOTEL STAY". www.hitsdailydouble.com. Retrieved 2025-02-14.
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