Monte Lipman

Monte Lipman is an American music industry executive. He is best known as the founder of Republic Records, for which he is the current Chairman & CEO.

Lipman went to college at the University at Albany, where he served on the university's concert board. There he was in charge of finding acts to perform on campus and setting up concert events. He graduated in 1986 and began working at Arista Records after routinely being fired. After a few years he became a promotion executive for the EMI label SBK, where he was also fired.

First incarnation

In 1995 Lipman founded the independent record label Republic Records with his brother. They worked on the label in their spare time, working full-time in other positions. Their first client was the Bloodhound Gang, which they signed to a record deal. Their next client was Chumbawamba, which the Lipmans signed to their own imprint, a co-venture with Universal Records Group. The group's debut album sold more than ten million copies. This began their long-term relationship with Universal Music, being a part of Universal in one form or another from that point forward. Major acts signed by the label in its early years also included 3 Doors Down, and Godsmack.

Universal Republic Records

In January 2000, Universal Records named Monte Lipman president of the company, and bought out the brothers’ remaining interest in Republic Records. There he formed strategic alliances with other labels in order to cross-promote musicians, including Taylor Swift with Big Machine Records. Other artists Lipman has signed to the label include Jack Johnson, Amy Winehouse, Damian Marley, Enrique Iglesias, Florence + The Machine, Godsmack, Colbie Caillat, Owl City and India.Arie.

In 2006 Universal Records was merged into Republic, forming the label Universal Republic Records. By 2008 Hits Magazine wrote that it believed Lipman's success in the record industry with artist recruitment and hit song production made him the industry's "next great record man". Lipman has advocated for the use of music to help market other forms of media, such as film, having overseen soundtracks for movies including The Hunger Games. He has also partnered with television shows, such as The Voice and Saturday Night Live.

Return of Republic Records

In 2012 the company changed its name again back to Lipman's original moniker, Republic Records. In 2013 Lipman became the Chairman and CEO of Universal Republic Records. That year Lipman also delivered the commencement address at his alma mater University at Albany, the school from which he graduated in 1986. In 2013 Lipman was named #35 on the Billboard Power 100, up from his position the previous year, #17 in 2014, and #15 in 2015. According to Hits Daily Double, in 2013 his tenure was described as "a runaway win in frontline marketshare with 9.1%" in comparison to Republic's competitors. The publication also wrote that, "Republic’s year has been a case study in the mastery of fundamentals, as the label has consistently slammed home radio hits that have become best sellers in their own right while also setting up big albums. Florida Georgia Line is one prime example, Lorde is another. But to achieve such feats, you have to have records with a short fuse—records than will ignite and explode given a window of sustained exposure. On that score, Lipman’s nose, ears and fast-twitch muscles are the envy of the industry as he constantly taps his vast network of A&R sources for prime meat and follows his instincts without hesitation."

Lipman attributed part of the success of 2013 to the independent labels Republic worked with, stating, "We embrace the entrepreneurial spirit ... We really encourage these iconic record people to join forces with us and create these strategic alliances that can really empower the whole team." In an interview regarding how he claimed this level of marketshare that year, he stated that, "We call it common sense. We go into every situation with eyes wide open and pay attention to what the universe has to offer. If there are certain indicators in the marketplace, you’d be silly not to pay attention to those, whether it’s gate receipts, tour dates, independent sales, airplay or merchandise, or just different levels of activity in the social space. That’s all part of your responsibility of just being a smart record executive."

In 2015 Lipman will serve as producer on the upcoming film Rollin' Thunder.

In 2010 Lipman was the recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year award given by the TJ Martell Foundation, and sits on the foundation's board. He is also a board member of the Amy Winehouse Foundation. Additionally, he has been involved with the UJA-Federation of New York’s Young Entertainment Division, as well as the USO Entertainment Advisory Council.