Neil Portnow

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Neil R. Portnow (born 1948, New York City) is the current president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Portnow was formerly the vice-president of the West Coast division of Jive Records.

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[edit] Early Career and Jive Records

Portnow grew up in Great Neck, New York and graduated from George Washington University in 1971.[1] He started out as a record producer and music supervisor. He worked with RCA Records, Arista & EMI. He started working with Jive Records in 1989. He oversaw the expansion of their West Coast operation, making Jive a groundbreaking, successful label. Jive thrived under his leadership as Vice-President of the West Coast division and spearheaded the careers of some of the biggest acts of the late 1990's and early 2000's. He worked alongside Jive's president Clive Calder who ran Jive's parent company, the Zomba Label Group.

Portnow worked as music supervisor on three films: Permanent Record (1988), A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child (1989), and Wired (1989), in which he also appeared briefly as a bandleader.

[edit] Move to NARAS

In November of 2002, Portnow became the President of NARAS (aka The Recording Academy) -- replacing the controversial C. Michael Greene.[2] At the Grammy Awards of 2003, he made his first Grammy night address as president. He is considered more diplomatic, analytical, and strategic than his predecessor.

Portnow has worked with the Academy and within the music industry to secure the future of modern recordings, not to mention the fight against illegal downloading and piracy. He also led efforts to help musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina through the Academy's "MusicCares Foundation".[3] He has also been at the forefront of the digital music revolution. On September 5, 2007 Portnow's contract as chairman of the Academy was extended for four years up until 2011.

[edit] References

  1. ^ GW Magazine profile, Spring/summer 2005
  2. ^ GW Magazine profile, Spring/summer 2005
  3. ^ MusicCares press release, Sept. 2005

[edit] External links