Barry Weiss is an American music executive who has been involved in the music industry for over four decades.
He is the co-founder and sole owner of RECORDS, an imprint of Sony Music Entertainment focusing on young and emerging artists.
He is also the co-founder of SONGS, a publishing company that represents some of the world’s most influential musicians.
Weiss has collaborated with and nurtured some of the biggest pop, hip-hop and R&B names such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, NSYNC, Chris Brown, Backstreet Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, etc.
He is considered one of the most successful and visionary music executives of his generation.
File
- Full name: Barry Weiss
- Date of birth: February 11, 1959
- Age: 64 years old
- male
- Place of birth: New York, New York, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Music executive, record producer, businessman
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- Parents: Hy Weiss and Rosalyn Weiss
- Siblings: Not applicable
- Spouse: Not applicable
- Children: Jack Weiss and Lucy Weiss
- Relationship status: single
- Net worth: 30 million USD
Early Life & Education
Barry Weiss, who reaches 64 years old in 2023, was born on February 11, 1959, into a Jewish family in New York, New York.
His father, Hy Weiss, was a music executive who founded Old Town Records in the late 1950s. Old Town Records was a record label specializing in doo-wop, soul and rock and roll music and had artists such as The Earls, The Fiestas, The Solitaires and Arthur Prysock. On the other hand, his mother, Rosalyn Weiss, is relatively unknown.
Barry Weiss grew up in a musical environment surrounded by records and artists. He developed a passion for music at a very early age and began collecting vinyl records as a teenager. He attended Cornell University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1981.
While in college, he was a promoter for radio stations from his dorm room, sending them records and tapes by new artists.
He also interned at various record labels, including Atlantic Records and Arista Records. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University in 1986.
Personal life
Barry Weiss is a private person and does not share much about his life. He has never been married but has two children from a previous relationship.
His son, Jack Weiss, is a musician and producer who goes by the stage name JAWNY.
His daughter, Lucy Weiss, is a model and actress who has appeared in films such as The House Bunny and The Social Network.
Barry Weiss is close to and supports his children’s careers. He also enjoys traveling, collecting art and riding motorcycles.
Career
Barry Weiss began his career in the music industry in 1982 when he joined Jive Records, a record label founded by Clive Calder in South Africa.
Jive Records pioneered the urban music scene, signing artists such as Whodini, Kool Moe Dee, Boogie Down Productions and A Tribe Called Quest.
Weiss rose from a sales and marketing position to head of the label’s A&R (artists and repertoire) department.
He was responsible for discovering and developing some of the most successful pop artists of the 1990s and 2000s, such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Chris Brown, R. Kelly and Usher.
He also oversaw the careers of rock bands such as Bowling for Soup and Three Days Grace as well as country music artists such as Buddy Jewell and Phil Vassar.
Weiss was instrumental in creating the teen pop phenomenon that dominated the charts and culture in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He had a knack for spotting talent and creating hit songs. attracts many audiences.
He is also known for being loyal, supportive and hands-on with his artists, earning their trust and respect. In 2008, Weiss was promoted to president and CEO of RCA/Jive Label Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment that includes Jive Records, RCA Records, LaFace Records, Volcano Entertainment, Battery Records and GospoCentric Records.
He has expanded his roster to include artists such as Pink, Alicia Keys, Foo Fighters, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Ke$ha and Pitbull.
He also launched the careers of new stars like Jennifer Hudson, Mike Posner, Miguel and J. Cole. He continued to lead the label group to critical and commercial success, winning multiple Grammy and Billboard Music Awards.
In 2011, Weiss left Sony Music Entertainment to join Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company. He became president and CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group and Universal Republic Records Group, which includes labels such as Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, Republic Records, Cash Money Records and Mercury Records.
He oversaw the careers of artists such as Rihanna, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne, The Killers, Fall Out Boy and Florence and the Machine. He also signed new artists such as The Weeknd, Jessie J, Iggy Azalea and Psy.
He helped the record label group achieve record sales, streaming numbers, and global recognition and acclaim.
In 2015, Weiss left Universal Music Group to co-found RECORDS, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, with longtime collaborators Matt Pincus and Ron Perry.
RECORDS was conceived as a boutique label focused on developing young and emerging artists with fresh and innovative sounds.
Weiss brought his experience and expertise to the new venture as well as his connections and contacts in the industry.
He has signed artists such as Nelly, 24kGoldn, Noah Cyrus, B-Lovee, Lennon Stella, LSD, Matt Stell and Dax. He also partners with other labels and platforms, such as Columbia Records, Disruptor Records, and TikTok, to promote and distribute his artists.
In 2023, Weiss became the sole owner of RECORDS after buying out the shares of Pincus and Perry, who left to pursue other opportunities.
In addition to RECORDS, Weiss also co-founded SONGS, a publishing company that represents some of the most influential musicians in the world, such as The Weeknd, Lorde, Diplo, DJ Mustard and Desiigner.
SONGS was founded in 2004 to provide a more creative and flexible environment for musicians as well as a more transparent and fair compensation system.
SONGS has been involved in some of the biggest hits of the past decade, such as “Can’t Feel My Face”, “Royals”, “Lean On”, “Panda” and “Old Town Road”. SONGS was acquired by Kobalt Music Group in 2017 for a reported $150 million.
Net value
Barry Weiss has an estimated net worth of $30 million. He earned his wealth from his long and successful career as a music executive, record producer, and businessman.
He has been involved in some of the most lucrative and influential deals and projects in the music industry, owning and co-owning several record labels and publishing companies.
Social Media
- Instagram handle name: Not applicable
- Twitter name: Not applicable
