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 proprietor of RECORDS, an imprint of Sony Music Entertainment that focuses on young and emerging artists.

He is also the co-founder of SONGS, a publishing firm representing some of the world’s most influential songwriters.

Weiss has worked 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, and many more.

He is regarded as one of his generation’s most successful and visionary music executives.

Profile

• Full name: Barry Weiss
• Date of birth: February 11, 1959
• Age: 64 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: New York, New York, USA
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Music executive, record producer, entrepreneur
• Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
• Parents: Hy Weiss and Rosalyn Weiss
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: N/A
• Children: Jack Weiss and Lucy Weiss
• Relationship status: Single
• Net worth: $30 million

Early Life & Education

Barry Weiss, who clocked at 64 in 2023, was born on February 11, 1959, to 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 label that specialized in doo-wop, soul, and rock and roll music and had artists like The Earls, The Fiestas, The Solitaires, and Arthur Prysock. On the other hand, his mother, Rosalyn Weiss, was relatively unknown.

Barry Weiss grew up in a musical environment surrounded by records and artists. He developed a passion for music early on and started 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 to radio stations from his dorm room, sending them records and tapes of new artists.

He also interned at various record labels, including Atlantic Records and Arista Records. He earned his Master of Business Administration from New York University in 1986.

Personal Life

Barry Weiss is a private person who 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 like The House Bunny and The Social Network.

Barry Weiss is close to his children and supports their careers. He also enjoys travelling, collecting art, and riding motorcycles.

Career

Barry Weiss began his career in the music industry in 1982 when he joined Jive Records, a label founded by Clive Calder in South Africa.

Jive Records pioneered the urban music scene, signing artists like Whodini, Kool Moe Dee, Boogie Down Productions, and A Tribe Called Quest.

Weiss worked his way up from a sales and marketing position to the head of the label’s A&R (artists and repertoire) department.

He was responsible for discovering and developing some of the most successful pop acts 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 like Bowling for Soup and Three Days Grace and country artists like Buddy Jewell and Phil Vassar.

Weiss was instrumental in creating the teen pop phenomenon that dominated the charts and the culture in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He had a knack for spotting talent and creating hit songs that appealed to a wide audience.

He also had a reputation for being loyal, supportive, and hands-on with his artists, earning their trust and respect. In 2008, Weiss was promoted to the chairman and CEO of the RCA/Jive Label Group, a division of Sony Music Entertainment that included Jive Records, RCA Records, LaFace Records, Volcano Entertainment, Battery Records, and GospoCentric Records.

He expanded his roster to include artists like 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 commercial and critical success, winning multiple Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards.

2011, Weiss left Sony Music Entertainment to join Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company. He became the chairman and CEO of the Island Def Jam Music Group and the Universal Republic Records Group, which comprised labels like Island Records, Def Jam Recordings, Republic Records, Cash Money Records, and Mercury Records.

He oversaw the careers of artists like Rihanna, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Lil Wayne, The Killers, Fall Out Boy, and Florence and the Machine. He also signed new acts like The Weeknd, Jessie J, Iggy Azalea, and Psy.

He helped the label group achieve record-breaking sales, streaming numbers, global recognition, and acclaim.

In 2015, Weiss left Universal Music Group to co-found RECORDS, an imprint of Sony Music Entertainment, with his longtime associates Matt Pincus and Ron Perry.

RECORDS was conceived as a boutique label focusing on developing young and emerging artists with a fresh and innovative sound.

Weiss brought his experience and expertise to the new venture and his connections and relationships in the industry.

He signed artists like Nelly, 24kGoldn, Noah Cyrus, B-Lovee, Lennon Stella, LSD, Matt Stell, and Dax. He also partnered with other labels and platforms, such as Columbia Records, Disruptor Records, and TikTok, to promote and distribute his artists.

In 2023, Weiss became RECORDS’s sole proprietor after buying out Pincus and Perry’s stakes, who left to pursue other opportunities.

In addition to RECORDS, Weiss also co-founded SONGS, a publishing firm that represents some of the most influential songwriters 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 songwriters and 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 reportedly $150 million.

Net Worth

Barry Weiss has an estimated net worth of $30 million. He has earned wealth from his long and successful career as a music executive, record producer, and entrepreneur.

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 firms.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: N/A
• Twitter handle: N/A

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