Who is Tommy Mottola?
Tommy is a prominent American music executive and producer, probably best known for being the former chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, where he played a crucial role in shaping the careers of many successful artists, including Mariah Carey and Jennifer Lopez.
Tommy Mottola Wiki: Age, Childhood, and Education
Thomas Daniel Motola was born on 14 July 1948, in New York City, USA. He grew up in The Bronx in a middle-class American family, and went to Iona Grammar School, from which he matriculated in 1962, and then entered Iona Prep, which he finished in 1966. He even went to a military school for some time before returning to high school. He enrolled at Hofstra University, but dropped out to pursue a music career – he was a member of the R&B cover band The Exotics as a guitarist and singer.
Career Beginnings
In the mid-1960s, Mottola made his entry into the music scene as a recording artist for CBS Records, adopting the stage name “T.D. Valentine”. However, his aspirations of becoming a star in his own right didn’t materialize as expected. Undeterred, he redirected his focus and joined the esteemed Chappell Publishing, a prominent player in the music publishing industry; his role at Chappell allowed Mottola to forge connections with numerous artists, setting the stage for his career as a successful music manager. Simultaneously, Mottola established his own management company called Champion Entertainment Organization.
One of his earliest triumphs was signing the talented duo Daryl Hall & John Oates as his management clients, playing a crucial role in securing a record deal for Hall and Oates, as well as high-profile endorsements for them.
Tommy was the manager of the first African-American rock group to appear on MTV, Xavion. His management of Xavion received recognition within the industry,
particularly for his innovative use of new media and promotional strategies.
Rise to Prominence
In 1988, Tommy Mottola was recruited by Walter Yetnikoff to oversee the US operations of Sony Music, formerly known as CBS Records. By 1990, he’d assumed the role of Chairman and CEO, propelling Sony Music to become one of the most successful global music companies, his strategic leadership leading to expansive growth, establishing Sony’s presence in over 60 countries, and assembling a formidable management team. He resurrected Sony Music’s publishing division through notable acquisitions such as the Beatles catalog and pioneered the commercial availability of digital downloads, making Sony the first major music company to do so.
Throughout his 15-year tenure, Mottola’s signings included iconic artists such as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Jessica Simpson, Destiny’s Child, Anastacia, Shakira, and the Dixie Chicks. He also facilitated the release of digitally remastered albums by renowned acts Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Andy Williams and Pink Floyd, among others. Mottola played a significant role in the rise to stardom of Sony artists Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and Marc Anthony in the late 1990s.
Collaboration with Michael Jackson
Mottola worked closely with Michael Jackson, starting from the time Jackson began recording his “Dangerous” album. However, their professional relationship deteriorated during the promotion of Jackson’s “Invincible” album in 2001 – Jackson publicly accused Mottola of engaging in corrupt practices, and referred to him as a “racist who exploited black talent.” Jackson claimed that recording companies conspired against artists, and he believed Mottola was part of this conspiracy. Jackson reportedly maintained an “enemy list,” which included Mottola’s name along with other individuals. However, civil rights activist Al Sharpton, who had known Mottola for many years, expressed surprise at Jackson’s accusations and defended Mottola, stating that he had never witnessed any racist behavior from him. Sharpton noted that Mottola had been supportive of the black music industry, and had been proactive in addressing corporate accountability in relation to African American music issues.
Career After Sony
After leaving Sony Music Entertainment in January 2003, Tommy Mottola embarked on establishing his new entertainment company, which encompassed recorded music, television production, theater, and fashion. Additionally, he launched a branding and management company.
Mottola played a significant role in reviving the careers of artists like Marc Anthony and Lindsay Lohan and went on to sign new talents such as Cassie Ventura and Mika. He acquired the rights to Casablanca Records, breathing new life into the diminished label and signing Lohan and Mika under its banner.
In January 2013, Mottola co-authored a book entitled “Hitmaker” with Cal Fussman, wherein he shares insights into his successes, the drive that propelled him to the top of the music industry, as well as the challenges he faced along the way.
Mottola ventured into theater production, and was involved in the musical adaptation of Chazz Palminteri’s “A Bronx Tale”, playing a pivotal role in bringing the project to fruition, and collaborated with Dodger Properties as a producer. The show had its previews at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2016, and eventually opened on Broadway in December of the same year. After a successful run, it closed in August 2018, with plans for a national tour commencing in October of that year.
In 2018, Mottola’s Mottola Media inked a multi-year first-look deal with eOne (Entertainment One) to develop scripted and unscripted TV projects, expanding his reach into the television industry.
Recent Projects
In March 2021, Tommy Mottola, Lex Borrero (CEO and Co-founder of Neon16), and representation firm Range Media Partners joined forces to establish ENTERTAIN, headquartered in Miami. This entertainment and media company focuses on creating, developing, and producing content across various media, with a specific emphasis on showcasing Latino stories, representing Latino talent, brands, and culture. The concept for ENTERTAIN arose from the realization that there was a lack of high-quality content that authentically portrayed the Latino culture and experienced both in the US and on a global scale. The founders, Borrero, Mottola, and Iván Rodríguez (Head of Creative at NEON16), and in collaboration with Peter Micelli, the CEO of Range Media Partners, identified this gap, and sought to fill it by providing compelling content that truly represents the rich diversity of Latino voices.
Net Worth
According to authoritative sources, Tommy Mottola’s net worth is estimated at $540 million, as of mid-2023.
Personal Life, Married, Wife, Children
Tommy Mottola has had three marriages- he first married Lisa Clark in 1971 after converting to Judaism. Lisa, the daughter of Sam Clark, who was the head of ABC Records at the time, and Tommy had two children together, but divorced in 1990.
In 1993, Mottola entered his second marriage with renowned singer Mariah Carey; they began dating during the recording of Carey’s self-titled debut album – their lavish wedding ceremony at Saint Thomas Church in New York City reportedly cost $500,000. The couple settled into a custom-built mansion in Bedford, New York, on a sprawling 51-acre estate. Carey referred to the residence as “Sing Sing,” actually a jail, a nickname that hinted at her feelings of being trapped in the relationship.
Life was so simple.. just a year ago.. up in the mountains camping.. Who knew what was coming❓ enjoy every precious day we have‼️‼️👍🏼🙏🏼 #countyourblessings #faithfoodfamilyfun https://t.co/f3EiBRidNx pic.twitter.com/Sg4sEEozCA
— Tommy Mottola (@TommyMottola) February 7, 2021
Following the release of her highly successful album “Daydream,” Carey shifted her focus to her personal life, which was fraught with challenges at the time. The couple’s relationship began to deteriorate due to growing creative differences concerning Carey’s music, as well as Mottola’s reportedly controlling nature. The strain on their marriage led to their separation announcement on 30 May 1997, with the divorce finalized in 1998.
Mottola married a third time on 2 December 2000, to Thalía, a Mexican singer and actress. the ceremony held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The couple welcomed a daughter in October 2007, followed by the birth of their son in June 2011.
Appearance and Body Measurements
Tommy Mottola has brown hair and brown eyes. He stands at a height of 5ft 8ins (1.73m), while he weighs approximately 160lbs (72kgs). His vital statistics are unknown, but he has average figure.
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