| Clarence Avant - Music Publisher  Interior Interior Clarence Avant is a music publisher, label executive, and longtime music-industry veteran who, aside from his personal accomplishments, has served as a mentor for people, among them producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. An industry legend, Avant had his first success running the Sussex Records label (to which he signed artists such as Bill Withers) and later Tabu Records. Later, in the 1990s, he became chairman of Motown, where he revived the label, overhauled its roster, and signed hitmakers like Boys II Men and 98 Degrees. Today, he runs a publishing company (Interior Publishing) which still owns the rights to several Bill Withers songs, including “Lean on Me” and “Ain’t no Sunshine.” |
| Robert Hilburn - Music Journalist Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Considered one of the most influential pop music journalists of all time, Robert Hilburn wrote for the Los Angeles Times from 1960 until his retirement in 2005. Along the way he championed new music of many kinds, from psychedelic to metal, and soul to rap. He was one of a generation of writers who elevated pop music journalism from teen magazine puffery to a (relatively) serious and respectable pursuit. |
| Julia Michels - Music Supervisor Format Entertainment Format Julia Michels currently works as an independent music supervisor on films like ATL and The Devil Wears Prada. Prior to this, she was an executive at Fox and MGM, worked as Director of Soundtracks for Capitol Records, and was an artist representative for film composers. She also owns and runs a soundtrack label. |
