The authors

Kent Anderson

Having an allure and love for music was evidenced first in his elementary school music class, his desire to take-up piano, trumpet and eventually bass lessons, Kent Anderson has parleyed that passion for the artform into a lifelong career in the music industry. A musician, producer, con- sultant, lecturer and as an adjunct professor, Kent Anderson draws from his vast background and experiences in the music business in his daily responsibilities. He has held key positions within the industry at Virgin Records, GRP Records, N2K, Inc. and as President of A440 Music Group. He is an Adjunct Faculty member of the Columbia College Chicago Business & Entrepreneurship Department where he instructs the Business of Music, Entertainment Marketing, and Decision Making: Music Business.

He first began his career in the music business managing record stores for the nation’s largest music retailer – Trans World Music Corp. where he relocated to the Quad Cities, then Chicago then on to Short Hills, NJ and Greenwich, CT. Anderson was introduced to the founder of GRP Records and accepted a position in Chicago as the Mid-West Regional Sales Manager. After five-years in this position, Anderson was appointed to succeed his mentor, returning to New York to head-up the sales and marketing for the label alongside the esteemed Producer Tommy LiPuma. During his tenure at GRP the company was named the #1 Jazz Label in the world for five consecutive years, received more than 30 Grammy nominations and achieved annual domestic sales in excess of 25 million dollars.

Sharing in the vision of the integration of music and technology, Anderson served as Vice President under the tutelage of Phil Ramone at N2K, Inc. (NASDAQ). The company demonstrated the future of the distribution of music via the internet through the creation of the first digital download in the history of recorded music with David Bowie, built communities around genre related websites, operated one of the first e-commerce stores, developed perhaps the first online music delivery mp3 player and produced the first 5.1 surround sound DVD. While at N2K, Mr. Anderson’s sales and marketing efforts were recognized with Billboard magazine naming the label the #1 Independent Jazz Label of the Year, having the #1 Best Selling Contemporary Jazz Recording, and the #1 Traditional Jazz Recording (Dave Grusin Presents West Side Story).

While at Virgin, Anderson was responsible for all sales and marketing under the aegis of Virgin Associated Labels including: Narada, Real World, Luaka Bop and Higher Octave. In conjunction with the Music Business Association (formerly NARM), Anderson has produced four consecutive #1 Billboard Jazz & Blues chart compilation recordings.

As President and Executive Producer of more than twenty recordings, A440 was recognized with numerous accolades in the press, (Top 10 Jazz Album of the Year – Chicago Tribune, Best Female Jazz Vocalist of the Year – L.A. Times, Jazz Album of the Year – Swing Journal, Japan), a Grammy nomination and Best 5.1 Surround Sound Mix award. In 2005, Anderson has Managed and Produced recordings from artists as diverse as: Jackie Allen, Alice Peacock, Henry Johnson, New Soul Cowboys, Corey Wilkes, Steve Cole, and Carrie McDowell.

He grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Northern Iowa with a Performance Degree on Double Bass, (with additional studies at the Uni- versity of Iowa). He played professionally for ten years performing and touring with big bands, jazz ensembles, orchestras, pit orchestras, R&B, and rock bands. Anderson is a voting member of The Recording Academy [the Grammys] and is an Eagle Boy Scout. He resides in Chicago, is the founder of C Sharp Consulting, and continues to enjoy practicing and playing gigs on both upright and electric bass.