Tommy Mottola

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Tony Mottola.

Tommy Mottola
Born
Thomas Daniel Mottola

(1948-07-14) July 14, 1948 (age 75)[a]
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Businessman
  • record executive
  • television producer
  • theater producer
  • film producer
  • investor
  • entrepreneur
Known forFormer Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Entertainment
Title
  • Chairman, Mottola Media Group
  • Cofounder, Ntertain Studios
  • Founding Partner, Range Media Partners
Spouses
Lisa Clark
​
​
(m. 1971; div. 1990)​
​
​
(m. 1993; div. 1998)​
​
(m. 2000)​
Children4
HonoursHollywood Walk of Fame, Recording (2019)

Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948)

Sony Music Entertainment, parent of the Columbia label, for nearly 15 years.[2] Since 2000, he has been married to Mexican actress and singer Thalía
.

Early life

Mottola was born in

R&B
cover band. Hitmaker: The Man and His Music.

Mottola entered the music scene in the mid-1960s as a recording artist for CBS Records, under the name "T.D. Valentine". After his attempt to become a recording star himself failed, Mottola started working for publishing powerhouse Chappell Publishing and started his own management company, Champion Entertainment Organization. His role at Chappell put him in touch with many artists, and soon he signed his first successful management clients, Daryl Hall & John Oates. Mottola helped Hall and Oates land a record deal and several high-profile endorsements.

Mottola managed the black-rock group Xavion successfully using new media for promotion, such as music videos and corporate sponsorship for music tours.

Sony/Columbia

In 1988, Mottola was hired by Sony Music (then known as CBS Records) by Walter Yetnikoff to run its US operations. In 1990, he replaced Yetnikoff as Chairman CEO of the newly named Sony Music. While Mottola was at Sony Music, Sony expanded its businesses into over sixty countries and became the first major music company to make commercial digital downloads available. By the year 2000, Sony had over $6 billion in annual revenue.[3]

He is well known among music industry professionals for signing

compact discs of older recordings made by Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Andy Williams, Pink Floyd among others.[4][5]

He also worked with

Janet Arvizo, mother of a Jackson accuser.[7] Al Sharpton told the New York Post shortly after that, "I have known Tommy for 15 or 20 years, and never once have I known him to say or do anything that would be considered racist." He admitted he was "taken aback and surprised" by Jackson's remarks. "In fact, he's always been supportive of the black music industry," Sharpton said. "He was the first record executive to step up and offer to help us with respect to corporate accountability when it comes to black music issues."[8]

After Sony

Mottola was the head of

Sony Music Entertainment until January 2003. Since leaving his post as chief of Sony Music, Mottola has been building a new entertainment company, complete with recorded music, television production, theater, and fashion, alongside a branding and management company that had recently launched. He was instrumental in re-launching the various careers of such artists as Marc Anthony and Lindsay Lohan.[9] Later signings included Cassie Ventura and Mika.[10]

Mottola, in a joint venture with Universal Music Group, revived the fabled Casablanca Records, signing such diverse artists as Lindsay Lohan and Mika.[11]

Mottola published a book titled Hitmaker in January 2013, which he co-wrote with Cal Fussman.[12]

Mottola Media Group

Under Mottola Media Group, founded in 2003 after his departure from Sony, Mottola has gone on to produce several project, including the recent musical adaptation of

Pantages Theatre.[14]

Mottola alongside Dodger Properties produced several other musicals such as Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2017), Jersey Boys (Off Broadway) and Ground Hog Day.

In 2018, Mottola's Mottola Media signed a multi-year first look deal with eOne to develop scripted and unscripted TV.[15]

Mottola created and produced documentaries for HBO entitled The Latin Explosion: A New America (2015) and 15: A Quinceanera Story, which garnered a DGA nomination.

NTERTAIN Studios

In March 2021, Mottola, along with Neon16 CEO and Co-founder Lex Borrero, and representation firm Range Media Partners formed NTERTAIN Studios – an entertainment and media company that creates, develops and produces content across multiple mediums, highlighting Latino stories and representing Latino talent, brands and culture.[16]

Current productions include Los Montaners for Disney+ (renewed[17] for a second season), Thalia's Mixtape: El Soundtrack de Mi Vida for Paramount+, La Firma (The Signing) and Neon for Netflix.

Recently, a strategic partnership[18] was established with Audio Up Media. This collaboration is focused on developing and acquiring original content across various media verticals, with an emphasis on Latino podcast programming.

NTERTAIN is based in Miami with Mottola and Borrero heading the company in partnership with Peter Micelli, CEO of Range Media Partners.[16]

Personal life

Mottola has been married three times. He converted to Judaism to marry his first wife, Lisa Clark, daughter of ABC Records head Sam Clark, in 1971. The couple divorced in 1990, after having two children.[1]

On June 5, 1993, Mottola married his second wife, Mariah Carey. They announced their separation on May 30, 1997,[19] and later divorced on March 5, 1998. He married his third wife,

St. Patrick's Cathedral.[20] Their daughter was born in October 2007,[21] and their son was born in June 2011.[22]

Awards and Recognitions

  • City of Hope Spirit of Life Award (1990):[23] 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:[24] Celebrating his achievements and contributions as a prominent figure of Italian-American heritage.
  • Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2019):[25] A testament to his enduring impact and legacy in the world of entertainment.

In popular culture

  • Hall & Oates' song "Gino (The Manager)", from the duo's album Daryl Hall & John Oates (1975), was written about Mottola.[26] The record jacket insert reads: "And introducing Tommy Mottola as 'Little Gino'".[27]
  • 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.[28]
  • 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 indie pop 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's 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 mother fucker"[29]
  • JAY-Z's song, featuring Nas, "Success", 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)"[30]

Written works

Notes

  1. ^ Sources differ on when Mottola was actually born – but the majority state July 14, 1948.[1]

References

  1. ^
    FYI / A&E Networks). Archived from the original
    on March 20, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  2. ^ "Sony picks NBC president to replace Tommy Mottola". USA Today. Associated Press. January 10, 2003. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  3. ^ Thompson, Simon. "Tommy Mottola And His Plans To Do For Latino-Focused TV What He's Done For Latin Music". Forbes. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  4. ^ Eaton, Phoebe (February 21, 2003). "Tommy Mottola Faces The Music - Nymag". New York Magazine. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  5. ^ Staff, Billboard (August 5, 2004). "Mottola To Build 'The Wall' On Broadway". Billboard. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (July 8, 2002). "Michael Jackson Shocks Al Sharpton By Calling Tommy Mottola A Racist". VH1. Archived from the original on December 24, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  7. ^ "Uri Geller, Shmuley Boteach are on Michael Jackson's 'list of enemies'". Haaretz. September 18, 2009.
  8. ^ MacIntosh, Jeane (July 8, 2002). "Jacko Got Off-Tracko, Rev. Al Says". New York Post. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "Lohan to testify in mother's case". ContactMusic.come. WENN. August 4, 2006. Archived from the original on June 24, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  10. New York Observer
    . January 29, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Hautman, Nicholas (June 21, 2019). "Lindsay Lohan Signs Record Deal, 'Already Finished a Few Songs'". Us Weekly. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Tommy Mottola on Relationship With Mariah Carey: 'Absolutely Wrong and Inappropriate'". Billboard. January 31, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  13. Wall Street Journal
    . August 26, 2015. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  14. ^ "A Bronx Tale Closes on Broadway August 5". Playbill.com. August 5, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  15. ^ "Tommy Mottola Inks First-Look Deal With eOne, Sets 'Harlem High' At Freeform". deadline.com. October 23, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Villafañe, Veronica. "Music Execs Lex Borrero, Tommy Mottola And Rep Firm Range Media Partners Launch Ntertain To Create Latino-Themed Content". Forbes. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  17. ^ "NTERTAIN'S LOS MONTANER PICKED UP FOR SEASON 2". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  18. ^ Garcia, Thania (May 22, 2023). "Ntertain Studios Partners With Audio Up to Launch Original Latin Podcast Programming and More (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  19. ^ Doughterty, Steve (June 16, 1997). "Swan Song". People. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  20. ^ "Thalía is pregnant!". People en Español. June 12, 2007. Archived from the original on November 6, 2009. The couple was married on Dec. 2, 2000 in New York. The article appears in English. NOTE: The U.S. edition of People gives the wedding date as October 11, 1997: Silverman, Stephen M. (October 13, 1997). "Music Mogul Marries". People. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  21. ^ "Thalía and Tommy Mottola welcome daughter Sabrina Sakaë". People. October 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  22. ^ "Thalía Welcomes Son Matthew Alejandro". People. June 25, 2011. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  23. ^ Pollack, Marc. "NO DOUBTING THOMAS". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  24. ^ "Robert De Niro, Sophia Loren & Tommy Mottola Honored at the NIAF 27th Anniversary". The National Italian American Foundation. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  25. ^ Trakin, Roy (October 10, 2019). "Tommy Mottola: From the Bronx to the Boardroom to the Hollywood Walk of Fame". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  26. ^ "Hall & Oates smdAlbums". starpulse.com.
  27. ^ "Mottola and Music". Los Angeles Times. March 4, 1990.
  28. ^ "Yacht Rock". Yacht Rock. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  29. ^ That Tommy Mottola, he's one slow motherfucker., retrieved January 26, 2024
  30. ^ "Up your catalog, dog, mine's worth too much / Like Mike Jacks ATV pub, Mottola can't touch / Let this bitch breathe!". Genius. Retrieved January 26, 2024.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tommy_Mottola&oldid=1219570490"