Larry Jackson (music executive)

Last updated
Larry Jackson
OccupationMusic executive
Known forFounder and CEO of Gamma (media company)
Websitewww.thegamma.com

Larry Jackson is an American record executive and technologist who co-founded gamma. in 2023. Prior, he served executive positions at Interscope Records and later Apple Music. Billboard included Jackson on its "40 under 40" list, [1] and the "Power 100" list. [2]

Contents

Biography

Jackson got his first break at KMEL radio station, where he started apprenticing at eleven years old. [1] He became the station's youngest ever music director at sixteen years old. [3] Music industry legend Clive Davis discovered Jackson at KMEL and began mentoring him. [4] Jackson worked with Davis in A&R at RCA Music Group and Sony Music. [5]

After Jackson left Sony in 2010, his friend Jimmy Iovine offered him a job at Interscope. [6]

Jackson co-launched Beats with Dr. Dre in 2006. [7] In 2013, he co-launched the streaming service Beats Music. He joined Apple Music after it merged with Beats in 2014, [5] and worked to rebrand Apple Music into something at "the intersection of all things pop-culture. To make it more than just a utility." [8] The platform also launched the Beats 1 radio station with DJ Zane Lowe. [9]

As head of content at Apple Music, Jackson also oversaw the production of music videos, advertisements and documentaries. [10] He launched a successful ad campaign showcasing music from different artists on Apple Music and network television in 2016. [11] [12]

In 2015, Jackson brought artists including Drake to the platform under exclusive early release deals. Under one such deal, Drake's albums ‘’Views’’ (2016), and ‘’More Life’’ (2017) was promoted through platforms like Drake's 2016 album Views was promoted through Beats 1 and OVO Sound. Jackson also co-wrote the accompanying short film ‘’Please Forgive Me’’ for Views. [8]

Jackson has produced with artists including The Weeknd, Drake, Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj, [13] Whitney Houston, Future, Aretha Franklin, [14] Frank Ocean, Chance the Rapper, Travis Scott and DJ Khaled. [2] He signed Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Chief Keef, [14] and Lana Del Rey. [5] He is a Cartier ambassador. [15]

Gamma

In March 2023, Jackson launched Gamma (stylized as gamma.) a company that produces and distributes multimedia content, with a special focus on Black music and culture. [16] Jackson has stated his intention to promote diversity, equity and inclusion through Gamma and "to run Gamma with a closer focus on — and more sensitivity to — Black culture than the major labels, while structuring deals that help artists retain ownership of their work and build generational wealth." [7]

The company launched with US$1 billion of capital from billionaire investors like Todd Boehly and Apple, Inc. [17]

Gamma competes with major music labels, and acquired the technology platform Vydia in 2022 to facilitate its distribution of music and other media. [18]

The company has signed artists including Usher, Rick Ross, Snoop Dogg, Sexyy Red and French Montana. [19] [20] [21] [22] Ross and Maybach Music Group announced a partnership with Gamma in 2023. [23]

Awards

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For music from a year in the 2020s, go to 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24

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References

  1. 1 2 "40 Under 40: Music's Top Young Power Players Revealed". Billboard. 2016-10-20.
  2. 1 2 "No. 67: Larry Jackson & Bozoma Saint John". Billboard. 2017-02-09.
  3. ↑ Ju, Shirley (2020-06-12). "Inside Lil Wayne's Young Money Radio With Apple Music's Larry Jackson and Manager Mack Maine". Variety.
  4. ↑ "Larry Jackson". Meditative Story. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  5. 1 2 3 Halperin, Shirley (2022-09-15). "Larry Jackson Exits Apple Music". Variety. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  6. ↑ Santosuosso, Michelle. "A TASTE OF RAINMAKERS: LARRY JACKSON". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  7. 1 2 "Apple Veteran Larry Jackson Launches Gamma, Bringing 'Unprecedented' Private Equity to Frontline Music Business". Billboard. 2023-03-08.
  8. 1 2 McAlone, Nathan. "How Apple is taking a page out of the Netflix playbook with its Apple Music strategy". Business Insider.
  9. ↑ "Apple's Stream Team: Zane Lowe, Bozoma Saint John, and Larry Jackson Are Taking Music to the Future". Complex.
  10. ↑ Leswing, Kif. "Apple is bankrolling videos from stars like Drake, Taylor Swift, and Eminem". Business Insider.
  11. ↑ Beer, Jeff (April 18, 2016). "Why The New Taylor Swift Apple Spot "Isn't A Toothpaste Ad"". Fast Company .
  12. ↑ Coscarelli, Joe (2016-12-22). "Apple Music: Platform? Promoter? Both". The New York Times.
  13. ↑ McAlone, Nathan. "Apple is leaning away from a music strategy that's disliked by labels and Kanye West". Business Insider.
  14. 1 2 "Gamma founder Larry Jackson & UK president Ben Cook - The Music Week Interview". Music Week. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  15. ↑ "LARRY JACKSON IS IN THE MAISON". HITS Daily Double.
  16. ↑ Leight, Elias (August 8, 2023). "With Gamma, Larry Jackson Is Putting $1 Billion to Work for Black Culture". Billboard .
  17. ↑ "Appes Money and Snoop Dogg's Songs Back this 1 Billion Startup". Bloomberg. 8 March 2023.
  18. ↑ Fazelpoor, Matthew (April 17, 2023). "After acquisition, what's next for Vydia?".
  19. ↑ "Maybach Music Group Strikes Partnership with Gamma". Sheeshmedia.com.
  20. ↑ Brown, Ann (August 30, 2023). "Apple, Larry Jackson, And The $1 Billion: The Machine Helping Program Sexxy Red". Moguldom.
  21. ↑ "Larry Jackson Launches New 'Gamma' Music Company with Usher and Rick Ross". Variety.com. 8 March 2023.
  22. ↑ "FRENCH MONTANA INKS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH LARRY JACKSON'S $1BN-BACKED GAMMA". August 11, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Rick Ross, Maybach Music Group Announce Partnership With Gamma". Variety. September 29, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Apple - Taylor vs. the treadmill". Clios. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
  25. ↑ "Larry Jackson - GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2024-04-06.
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