Experienced music executive, Rob Waiter, talks about music business revenue, artist growth, and how he got to where he is today.
by A2IM
Rob Weitzner continues to deliver success for innovative artists, influential labels, and innovative startups in connection with music and technology. After a decade in artist management, eMusic hired him as Vice President of Business Development and Head of the NY Office, which helped lead the successful launch of the first digital music subscription service in 2000.
From there, he moved to TVT Records, where he led business development and digital strategy for a diverse range of artists including Nine Inch Nails, Snoop Dogg and Tha Eastsidaz, and Lil Jon.
Following this experience, Rob became head of the launch of trade body A2IM (American Association of Independent Music) as Founding Executive before moving to IODA as Head of Global Business Development. Rob’s impact on the independent sector pushed him to become Head of Business Development, Strategy & Partnerships for Consolidated Independent (CI), the digital supply chain company of state51 Music Group. Over the next decade, he built the franchise as a marketplace leader, securing partnerships and collaborating with culturally impactful indies including Beggars, Secretly Group, Reach, Redeye, Sub Pop, Hopeless Records, Cobalt, PIAS And many more.
In early 2022, Weitzner joined Artist Growth as Executive Vice President to drive the growth of the company’s product ecosystem including the industry -leading SaaS collaboration platform. Rob also spent eight years as an Assistant Professor in the Music Industry Program at Drexel University — named one of Billboard Magazine’s “Top 10 Music Industry Programs.” He is an active participant in the Music Business Association’s Education and Scholarship Committees. Rob holds a BA in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
How you started in the music industry, and how is it lead the work you are doing now?
I started in the industry by loving good music on the radio and then I was trying to figure out how I could get involved with it. I quickly discovered that being a “vicarious musician” would be the best path for me. So at the ripe old age of 13, I formed my first artist management company and managed a couple of friends who navigated booking gigs at the local YMYWHA. Throughout high school, I have been good at leaving and mostly hang out in the NYC offices of Aucoin Management running activities for KISS and other Bill Aucoin clients. For a few gap years before college, I worked as a tech for a variety of tasks, learning the ropes of life on the road.
After getting off the road and combining my educational life on the West Coast, the loud siren call of music keeps me back in her arms and I stay focused on the industry. I graduated, went back to the East, became a DJ at a local rock club, saw some artists in need of help and launched my second management company, Monster Management. It’s been an incredibly exciting and enjoyable decade working with many artists of all levels, including influential hiphop/metal pioneer Shootyz Groove who has relentlessly toured with the likes of 311 , The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, No Doubt, Killing Joke, WuTang and Slayer and more while putting on music by Mercury, RoadRunner and Reprise.
I then sold my interest in Monster and ran to Boston in search of “greener” pasture and an MBA. Of course, to mention Michael Corleone, “when I thought I was gone …” keeping in mind that it was the turn of the century, the perfect storm of creative destruction unleashed by Napster had “pulled me back.” So many amazing opportunities emerged from the malestrom of entrepreneurial invention initiated by Napster and I ended up at the very end of the fast-evolving digital side of the business, agreeing to head eMusic’s NY office and help architect of the industry’s first digital music subscription service in 2000. From that gig, I focused on pursuing and implementing ideas involving music and technology all with the goal of driving greater business efficiency and giving more. power the artistic expression.
Is there a success story or career milestone that you are most proud of?
I will put aside humility and share that I am proud to play an instrumental role in the successful launch of A2IM. I remember the summer day 17 years ago when we held our inaugural Label Conclave at the Maritime Hotel in NYC’s meatpacking district. We had approximately 125 label owners and principals in attendance and essentially established the “Declaration of the Independent.” I toured that day using a clipboard (it was 2005 after all) and collected signatures from those gathered who pledged their support and willingness to pay dues to show the collective perspective. It was incredibly exciting and the energy in the room was sizzlingly electric.
The original A2IM staff was me and Don Rose (the first President of A2IM and founder of RykoDisc) with great help from 7 amazing founding Board members Steve Gottlieb/TVT, Molly Neuman/Lookout, Glenn Morrow /Bar-None, Cess Wessels/Roadrunner, Tom Silverman/Tommy Boy, Peter Gordon/Thirsty Ear, and Lesley Bleakley/Beggars Group US). We have relentlessly met, worked endlessly, and continually traveled across the country to propagate the mission and message of the organization with the mantra “The market size of a copyright owner should not dictate market value of copyright ownership. ” We have developed regional chapters with the help of our enthusiastic member labels and taken on the largest global corporations in the industry with the goal of leveling the playing field and establishing a coordinated way to strengthen and advance concerns and challenge of the Indies. In our first 16 months, from being just a collective dream we have become a nationally organized and recognized worldwide reality; a trade association with, at the time, 180+ paid label members from 7 regional chapters. We’ve laid a solid foundation with the efforts of the entire Indie community-a true DIY success story that showcases the spirit of the amazing entrepreneurs who run the companies that make up the A2IM membership.
We then passed the baton to the team of Rich Bengloff, Jim Mahoney and Jen Masset who took a solid foundation and built a strong skyscraper. And of course, today’s great team guided by the thoughtful and strategic vision of the brilliant and capable Richard Burgess has led A2IM to higher heights and wider impact in the industry. I was amazed, amazed, and humbled at the timeless impact and success of A2IM – the power of individuals conducting a collective vision.
Outside of your music work, do you have other hobbies/specific areas of expertise/interests etc.?
Family, travel, cycling (racing and simple fun), pop culture, art, delicacy with great friends.
Are there any projects you’re working on or company updates that you’re most excited about?
After a decade of product evolution that has seen Artist Growth (“AG”) become the standard platform for real-time collaboration with the industry’s leading artist teams, we have completely redesigned and greatly expanded our offer and super strength to launch a new range of products in the next few months. Our entire goal-driven mission at AG is to be a company that exists to use technology to the benefit of the world’s artists and the teams that support them because we believe that human civilization must have a powerful artistic community to continue to thrive. Admit it, that is a lofty and daring ambition, but we all embrace it at AG and can’t wait for the entire industry to benefit from the next decade of AG’s offering. So stay tuned…
Will anything else be added?
Leave the world in a better place than you found it. Let fear be a tail, not a headwind.
Without music, life has no meaning. A willingness to embrace failure is necessary to succeed.
