Monte Lipman

Early life and education

Lipman grew up partially in Montclair, New Jersey and graduated from Montclair High School. He is of Jewish heritage. During their youth, the Lipman family encountered significant financial difficulties, which led them to rely on government assistance and food stamps. After high school, Lipman went to college at the University at Albany where he was 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 with a degree in communication and rhetoric.

Career

1986–2000: Career beginnings and first Republic Records run

After college, Lipman worked at a variety of record labels over the course of 9 years. In 1995, Lipman co-founded Republic Records with his younger brother, Avery. The first act they signed was Bloodhound Gang. KROQ in Los Angeles picked up the band's record, "Fire Water Burn". Their next client was Chumbawamba. After listening to a demo of the band's album, Tubthumper, the Lipman brothers immediately offered to sign them to a deal on their imprint, a co-venture with Universal Records. The band's album went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide. This began the Lipmans' long-term relationship with Universal Music in which they have held positions at the organization in one form or another since then. Other major acts signed in Republic's early years included 3 Doors Down and Godsmack (among others).

2000–2012: President of Universal Records and Universal Republic

In January 2000, Lipman was named the President of Universal Records, and Republic Records was folded into that company. Early in his tenure, Lipman oversaw Universal Records' first Billboard 200 number one album with Nelly's Country Grammar. In his first six years there, Lipman oversaw acts like Jack Johnson, Lil Wayne, Hinder, and Damien Marley along with Republic holdovers, 3 Doors Down and Godsmack (among others).

In 2006, Universal Records was merged into Republic, forming the label Universal Republic Records. Lipman became the President and CEO of that new entity. In that role, Lipman signed artists like Amy Winehouse, Colbie Caillat, India Arie, Mika, Enrique Iglesias, and Florence + the Machine by 2011. Lipman also formed strategic alliances with other labels in order to cross-promote musicians, including Taylor Swift and The Band Perry with Big Machine Records and Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne with Cash Money Records. In 2011, Lipman came across videos of Ariana Grande singing cover songs on YouTube and was so impressed by her vocals that he went on to sign her to a recording contract.

2012–present: Return to Republic name

In 2012, Universal return the company to its original name, Republic Records. Lipman helped produce the soundtrack for the film, The Hunger Games. By 2013, Lipman had added artists like Gotye, PSY, and The Weeknd to the Republic fold. In February 2013, Lipman signed another new contract to remain with Republic Records and was also given the new title of chairman and CEO of the company.

In 2014, releases from Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift along with a variety of soundtracks led Republic to become Nielsen's number 1 label in market share. In 2015, Lipman led Republic Records to topping Billboard lists for Top Label and Top Hot 100 Label (among others). The label was, in fact, named the Top Hot 100 Label by Billboard each year from 2014 to 2018. In July 2018, Republic held the top three spots on the Billboard 200 list, a feat that had not been accomplished in 15 years. Drake's Scorpion was number 1, Florence + the Machine's High as Hope number 2, and Post Malone's Beerbongs & Bentleys number 3. In November 2018, Lipman signed Taylor Swift to Republic Records. Her music had been released by Big Machine Records in partnership with Republic since 2007.

For 2021, for the first time, Republic Records was ranked number one on Billboard's three year-end label rankings: "Top Labels", "200 Labels", and "Hot 100 Labels". Billboard then featured Monte and his brother in a December 2021 cover story on Republic Records.

Philanthropy

Outside of music, Lipman is engaged in numerous philanthropic causes. He sits on the boards of the Amy Winehouse Foundation; the T.J. Martell Foundation (which honored him with the "Humanitarian of the Year" award in 2010); the UJA-Federation of New York (which named him 2015's "Music Visionary of the Year"); Robin Hood; and DKMS (Delete Blood Cancer). In 2016, Lipman and his wife Angelina were honored at the 10th Annual DKMS Gala for their contributions to the organization. Among other honors, Lipman also received the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's "Spirit of Hope Award" in 2017 and was one of four honorees at the 2018 Angel Ball.

References

References

1. "Dr. Angelina Davis and Monte Lipman during Saturn Sky Dinner hosted by Charlie Walk". Wiredimage.
2. "Monte and Avery Lipman, '86, '88 - A Shared Musical Passion". University at Albany.
3. (November 28, 2004). "Lipman-Davis". Tampa Bay Times.
4. Shabsie Saphirstein. (June 7, 2023). "Mayor Adams Celebrates Jewish Heritage Month at Gracie Mansion".
5. Michael Kaplan. (2021). "Monte Angelina Lipman at Home for the Holidays".
6. (June 25, 2015). "Dedicated Brothers, Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman, Honored at Music Visionary Luncheon". [[UJA-Federation of New York]].
7. Mason, Justin. (May 20, 2013). "Brothers share success with UAlbany's grads". The Daily Gazette.
8. "Monte and Avery Lipman,'86,'88 Run Universal Republic Records". University at Albany.
9. Taylor, Chuck. (January 15, 2000). "Lipman to Head Up Universal Records".
10. Dan Charnas. (2011). "The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop". Penguin Books.
11. Oppelaar, Justin. (January 7, 2001). "UMG labels Lipman as Republic prexy".
12. Crowe, Jerry. (October 19, 1997). "Po(p)litical". Los Angeles Times.
13. Pakinkis, Tom. (February 5, 2013). "Republic Records' Lipman brothers sign new agreement with Universal".
14. Hampp, Andrew. (December 15, 2014). "Corner Office: Republic Records Honchos Monte & Avery Lipman Discuss Jennifer Lawrence's 'Hunger Games' Smash and Defend 'The Voice'".
15. (December 1, 1999). "Chumbawamba's Pop Rocks". Daily News.
16. Philips, Chuck. (January 6, 2000). "Universal Records Gets New President". Los Angeles Times.
17. Conniff, Tamara. (August 18, 2000). "At No. 1, Nelly gives lesson in 'Grammar'". The Boston Globe.
18. Hochman, Steve. (December 8, 2002). "Grammy ads may result in a showdown". Los Angeles Times.
19. Paoletta, Michael. (August 19, 2006). "Seeing the Light".
20. Leeds, Jeff. (December 29, 2002). "After a Rocky Year, Time to Face the Music". Los Angeles Times.
21. (February 24, 2006). "Universal Music Label to Be Split Into Two". Los Angeles Times.
22. Walsh, Chris M.. (January 8, 2008). "Uni Republic taps Lipman co-president".
23. Mitchell, Gail. (January 26, 2012). "Billboard Power 100: Monte Lipman".
24. Morris, Chris. (January 4, 2011). "Monte and Avery Lipman re-up with UMG".
25. Halperin, Shirley. (January 4, 2011). "Universal Republic's Lipman Brothers Re-Sign With UMG".
26. (August 15, 2014). "Billboard Cover: Ariana Grande on Fame, Freddy Krueger and Her Freaky Past".
27. Smith, Ethan. (March 21, 2012). "'Hunger Games' Steps In to Save the Soundtrack". The Wall Street Journal.
28. Morris, Chris. (February 4, 2013). "Lipman brothers re-up with UMG".
29. Chepurny, Gabi. (February 5, 2013). "Universal Signs New Agreement With Republic's Monte and Avery Lipman".
30. Hampp, Andrew. (January 15, 2014). "Monte Lipman & Avery Lipman: The 2014 Billboard Power 100".
31. (February 5, 2015). "Avery Lipman & Monte Lipman: The 2015 Billboard Power 100".
32. (February 12, 2016). "No. 15: Avery & Monte Lipman {{!}} Power 100".
33. Halperin, Shirley. (November 21, 2017). "Hitmakers: From 'Despacito' to Post Malone, Republic Records Had (Another) Very Good Year".
34. (December 14, 2018). "The Year in Charts: Republic Records Is Top Label of 2018".
35. Caulfield, Keith. (July 12, 2018). "Republic Records Rules Top 3 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart, Led by Drake, Florence + The Machine & Post Malone".
36. Spanos, Brittany. (December 21, 2018). "Taylor Swift Signs With Republic Records and UMG, Her First New Home in 13 Years".
37. Caulfield, Keith. (December 2, 2021). "The Year in Charts 2021: Republic Is Top Label of the Year".
38. Lipshutz, Jason. (December 16, 2021). "How Monte and Avery Lipman Brought Republic Records From a Basement Apartment to the Top of the Chart".
39. (November 8, 2013). "Amy's Dad: Mitch Winehouse's Second Life".
40. Brandon Deroche. (November 5, 2010). "TJ Martell Foundation celebrates 35 years". [[Huffington Post]].
41. (June 25, 2015). "Dedicated Brothers, Avery Lipman and Monte Lipman, Honored at Music Visionary Luncheon". UJA-Federation of New York.
42. (September 14, 2023). "Board of Directors". Robin Hood.
43. (January 31, 2018). "DKMS - Leaders". DKMS.
44. (May 2, 2013). "Republic Records Founders Monte Lipman, '86 and Avery Lipman, '88 to Deliver 2013 UAlbany Undergraduate Commencement Address". University at Albany.
45. Grinnell, Sunhee. (May 9, 2016). "Ariana Grande Gives Big Love for DKMS's Celebrating 25 Years of Lifesaving Missions".
46. (August 16, 2017). "Tony Bennett to Perform at the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) Annual Fall Gala to Benefit Groundbreaking Cancer Research". Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.
47. (September 19, 2018). "Gabrielle's Angel Foundation To Host Angel Ball 2018 Honoring Dottie Herman, Monte Lipman, Avery Lipman And Harvey Spevak".