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Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948)[2] is an American businessman, record executive, television producer, theater producer, film producer, investor, and serial entrepreneur. Mottola is the chairman of Mottola Media Group, co-founder of Ntertain Studios, and founding partner of Range Media Partners. He served as chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, parent company of the Columbia label, for nearly 15 years.[3] Since 2000, he has been married to Mexican actress and singer Thalía.
Tommy Mottola | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas Daniel Mottola July 14, 1948[a] The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Former chairman & CEO, Sony Music Entertainment |
| Title |
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| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
| Honours | Hollywood Walk of Fame, Recording (2019) |
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Mottola was born in The Bronx, New York City, to a middle-class Italian-American family.[2] He graduated from Iona Grammar School in 1962 and Iona Prep in 1966. After a brief period in military school, he attended high school and later Hofstra University on Long Island. However, he dropped out of Hofstra to pursue a music career as a guitarist and singer with The Exotics, an R&B cover band.[4]
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Mottola entered the music industry in the mid-1960s as a recording artist for CBS Records, performing under the name "T.D. Valentine." When his recording career did not achieve commercial success, he transitioned into music management. He began working for Chappell Publishing, where he connected with various artists, and later established his own management company, Champion Entertainment Organization.
One of Mottola’s early successes was managing Daryl Hall & John Oates, helping them secure a record deal and several lucrative endorsements. His innovative promotional strategies, including the use of music videos and tours, contributed significantly to their rise in popularity.
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Mottola successfully managed the black rock group Xavion, leveraging new media formats such as music videos and promotional tours to boost their visibility.[5]
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In 1988, Mottola was hired by Sony Music Entertainment (then known as CBS Records) by Walter Yetnikoff to run its U.S. operations. In 1990, he succeeded Yetnikoff as chairman and CEO of the newly renamed Sony Music. During his tenure, Sony Music expanded its operations to over 60 countries and became the first major music company to offer digital downloads commercially. By 2000, Sony Music's annual revenue exceeded $6 billion.[6]
Mottola is widely recognized for signing and promoting artists such as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Destiny's Child, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Shakira, and the Dixie Chicks. He also oversaw the release of digitally remastered compact discs of classic recordings by artists including Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Andy Williams, and Pink Floyd.[7][8]
Mottola also worked closely with Michael Jackson during the production and promotion of Jackson's Dangerous album. However, their professional relationship deteriorated during the promotion of Jackson's 2001 album Invincible. Jackson publicly accused Mottola of exploitative practices and labeled him a "racist who exploited black talent." Jackson further alleged that "recording companies really, really do conspire against the artists."[9]
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Mottola served as the head of Sony Music Entertainment until January 2003. Following his departure, he established a new entertainment company encompassing recorded music, television production, theater, fashion, and branding management. The company was involved in reviving and managing the careers of artists such as Marc Anthony and Lindsay Lohan.[10] Later, Mottola expanded his roster to include artists such as Cassie Ventura and Mika.[11]
In a joint venture with Universal Music Group, Mottola revived the iconic Casablanca Records. Under this venture, he signed artists including Lindsay Lohan and Mika.[12]
In January 2013, Mottola published his memoir, Hitmaker: The Man and His Music, co-written with Cal Fussman. The book offers insights into his career, the music industry, and his relationships with artists.[13]
Mottola Media Group
After leaving Sony in 2003, Mottola founded Mottola Media Group, which has produced various projects across theater, television, and music. Among its notable productions is the musical adaptation of Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale. Palminteri credited Mottola with realizing the project and bringing it to fruition, stating that Mottola "put the musical on his back" while partnering with Dodger Properties.[14] The production premiered on Broadway in December 2016 and ran until August 5, 2018. A national tour commenced in October 2018 at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles.[15]
In collaboration with Dodger Properties, Mottola Media Group also produced several other musicals, including Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2017), Jersey Boys (Off-Broadway, 2004), and Groundhog Day (2016).
In 2018, Mottola Media Group signed a multi-year first-look deal with eOne, now part of Lionsgate, to develop scripted and unscripted television projects.[16]
Mottola also created and produced documentaries for HBO, including The Latin Explosion: A New America (2015) and 15: A Quinceañera Story (2017), the latter of which earned a Directors Guild of America (DGA) nomination.
Ntertain Studios
In March 2021, Mottola co-founded Ntertain Studios with Neon16 CEO and co-founder Lex Borrero, alongside representation firm Range Media Partners. Ntertain is described as "an entertainment and media company that creates, develops, and produces content across multiple mediums, highlighting Latino stories and representing Latino talent, brands, and culture."[17]
Ntertain's notable productions include:
Los Montaner for Disney+, which was renewed for a second season.[18] Thalía's Mixtape: El Soundtrack de Mi Vida for Paramount+. La Firma (The Signing) and Neon for Netflix. In 2023, Ntertain partnered with Audio Up Media to launch original Latino podcast programming and other multimedia projects.[19]
Based in Miami, Ntertain is led by Mottola and Borrero in collaboration with Peter Micelli, CEO of Range Media Partners.[17]
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- City of Hope Spirit of Life Award (1990):[20] Recognizing his philanthropic efforts and contributions to the City of Hope's mission.
- Billboard Power Player of the Year (1993): Acknowledging his influence and leadership in the music industry.
- TJ Martell Foundation, Humanitarian of the Year: Honoring his commitment to supporting cancer, leukemia, and AIDS research.
- National Italian American Foundation, Honoree:[21] Celebrating his achievements and contributions as a prominent figure of Italian-American heritage.
- Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2019):[22] A testament to his enduring impact and legacy in the world of entertainment.
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- Hall & Oates' song "Gino (The Manager)", from the duo's album Daryl Hall & John Oates (1975), was written about Mottola.[23] The record jacket insert reads: "And introducing Tommy Mottola as 'Little Gino'".[24]
- In the 1976 song "Cherchez La Femme" by Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Mottola is namechecked at the start of the song.
- The character of Gene Balboa, in the Channel 101 Internet TV series Yacht Rock, is loosely based on Mottola, in particular his time as Hall & Oates' manager.[25]
- Mariah Carey wrote a song called "Petals" on her album Rainbow (1999), which addresses her marriage to Mottola. In the song, Carey refers to Mottola as "Valentine"— alluding to his former stage name, T.D. Valentine. She later addressed her marriage to Mottola in detail in her 2020 memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey.
- In the television series Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Mottola is portrayed by Ryan O'Nan.
- Australian alternative rock band Regurgitator’s third album ...art (1999) features a song entitled "I Love Tommy Mottola".
- Ghostface Killah's song "Cherchez La Ghost", track 18 from his studio album Supreme Clientele (2000), mentions Tommy Mottola in the song's intro.
- Fugees' song "How Many Mics", track 2 from their studio album The Score (1996), mentions Tommy Mottola in Wyclef Jean's second verse.
- Wyclef Jean's song "Columbia Records", track 1 from his studio album The Ecleftic 2 Sides II a Book (2000): mentions Tommy Mottola in the opening skit.
- In The Sopranos season 4 episode 2, No Show, Janice says “Tommy Mottola at Sony, looks like he's gonna offer us a deal." Later in the same episode Tony states "That Tommy Mottola is one slow motherfucker"[26]
- In JAY-Z's song "Success" featuring Nas, track 12 from his studio album American Gangster, Nas mention's "Mottola" in the last line of his third verse. "Up your catalog, dog, mine's worth too much. Like Mike Jacks ATV pub, Mottola can't touch. Let this bitch breathe! (Ha heh)"[27]
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- Mottola, Tommy, A New America: How Music Reshaped the Culture and Future of a Nation and Redefined My Life (Celebra, 2016) ISBN 0451467787.
- Mottola, Tommy with Cal Fussman, Hitmaker: The Man and His Music (New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2013) ISBN 978-0446585187.
- Tosches, Nick, Dangerous Dances: The Authorized Biography (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984) ISBN 0283991895.
- Sources differ on when Mottola was actually born – but the majority state July 14, 1948.[1]
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