Neil Portnow
Encyclopedia
Neil R. Portnow is the current president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(NARAS). Portnow was formerly the vice-president of the West Coast division of Jive Records
.
and graduated from The George Washington University in 1971. He started out as a record producer and music supervisor. He worked with RCA Records
, Arista
& EMI
. He started working with Jive Records
in 1989. He oversaw the expansion of their West Coast operation, making Jive a groundbreaking, successful label. Jive thrived under his leadership as Vice-President of the West Coast division and spearheaded the careers of some of the biggest acts of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He worked alongside Jive's president Clive Calder
who ran Jive's parent company, the Zomba Label Group.
Portnow worked as music supervisor on three films: Permanent Record (1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
(1989), and Wired
(1989), in which he also appeared briefly as a bandleader.
, he made his first Grammy night address as president. He is considered more diplomatic, analytical, and strategic than his predecessor. The president is also noted for his calmness in his attitude when it comes to issues facing the music industry.
Portnow has worked with the Academy and within the music industry to secure the future of modern recordings, not to mention the fight against illegal downloading and piracy. He also led efforts to help musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina
through the Academy's "MusicCares Foundation". He has also been at the forefront of the digital music revolution. Under Portnow's leadership he has been influential with making progress on capital hill for artist compensation rights. Recently the Performance Rights Act passed which requires artists to be paid for airplay on the radio. Also under Portnow's leadership the National Endowment of the Arts received further funding under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. During the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009, Neil spoke about the election of President Barack Obama
and encouraged his administration to add a cabinet level position for Secretary of the Arts.
On March 24, 2011 Portnow's contract as president of the Academy was extended for four years up until 2015.
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
(NARAS). Portnow was formerly the vice-president of the West Coast division of Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
.
Early career
Portnow grew up in Great Neck, New YorkGreat Neck, New York
The term Great Neck is commonly applied to a peninsula on the North Shore of Long Island, which includes the village of Great Neck, the village of Great Neck Estates, the village of Great Neck Plaza, and others, as well as an area south of the peninsula near Lake Success and the border of Queens...
and graduated from The George Washington University in 1971. He started out as a record producer and music supervisor. He worked with RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, Arista
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
& EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. He started working with Jive Records
Jive Records
Jive Records was a record label based in New York City, operating under RCA Music Group. Jive was primarily known for a string of successes with hip hop artists in the 1980s, and in teen pop and boy bands in the late 1990s. The word "jive" was inspired by Township Jive, a form of South African...
in 1989. He oversaw the expansion of their West Coast operation, making Jive a groundbreaking, successful label. Jive thrived under his leadership as Vice-President of the West Coast division and spearheaded the careers of some of the biggest acts of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He worked alongside Jive's president Clive Calder
Clive Calder
Clive Calder is a South African-born and UK based record executive and businessman primarily known for co-founding the Zomba Group and its subsidiary Jive Records. The relocation of Warner Music Group Chairman Edgar Bronfman Jr...
who ran Jive's parent company, the Zomba Label Group.
Portnow worked as music supervisor on three films: Permanent Record (1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child
A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child is a 1989 American slasher film and the fifth film in the Nightmare on Elm Street series. It was directed by Stephen Hopkins. The film's general tone is much more gothic and dark than the films before, and used a blue filter lighting technique in most of...
(1989), and Wired
Wired (film)
Wired is a 1989 film biography of John Belushi directed by Larry Peerce, adapted from the book Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi . It starred Michael Chiklis as Belushi. Wired was both a critical and a commercial failure...
(1989), in which he also appeared briefly as a bandleader.
Presidency of NARAS
In November 2002, Portnow became the President of NARAS (aka The Recording Academy) -- replacing the controversial C. Michael Greene who served as President since 1988. At the Grammy Awards of 2003Grammy Awards of 2003
The 45th Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2003. Musicians accomplishments from the previous year were recognized. Norah Jones was the night's big winner winning five awards including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Pop Vocal...
, he made his first Grammy night address as president. He is considered more diplomatic, analytical, and strategic than his predecessor. The president is also noted for his calmness in his attitude when it comes to issues facing the music industry.
Portnow has worked with the Academy and within the music industry to secure the future of modern recordings, not to mention the fight against illegal downloading and piracy. He also led efforts to help musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
through the Academy's "MusicCares Foundation". He has also been at the forefront of the digital music revolution. Under Portnow's leadership he has been influential with making progress on capital hill for artist compensation rights. Recently the Performance Rights Act passed which requires artists to be paid for airplay on the radio. Also under Portnow's leadership the National Endowment of the Arts received further funding under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. During the 51st Annual Grammy Awards in 2009, Neil spoke about the election of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and encouraged his administration to add a cabinet level position for Secretary of the Arts.
On March 24, 2011 Portnow's contract as president of the Academy was extended for four years up until 2015.
See also
- National Academy of Recording Arts and SciencesNational Academy of Recording Arts and SciencesThe National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
- Grammy Awards
- Gabriel AbaroaGabriel AbaroaGabriel Abaroa Jr. is the current president & CEO of the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences , which presents the Latin Grammy Awards. LARAS was established in 1997 and the first Latin Grammy Awards took place in 2000.-Career:...