By Christine Cole
To succeed in the music industry, Neil Portnow, B.A. ’71, says individuals need to be relentless, persistent, patient, unwavering and self-motivated.
“If at the end of the day this is what you’ve got to do,” he said, “keep going and don’t look back.”
This was just one piece of advice Mr. Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy -- the organization that hosts the Grammy Awards -- offered Tuesday night during the “How Do I Become a Music Industry Mogul” event.
Part of a series co-sponsored by the GW Alumni Association, Career Center and Class Council, the event brought a crowd of about 80 to the Marvin Center Amphitheater to hear about Mr. Portnow’s climb to the top of the industry.
Moderated by Frank Sesno, director of GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs, the casual discussion and question-and-answer session covered Mr. Portnow’s time as a GW student, his career trajectory, and the changing landscape and relevancy of the music industry today. It also included GW and music trivia questions; correct answers were rewarded with “Grammy swag.”
Mr. Portnow, who started playing guitar at the age of 7, came to GW with thoughts of law school and running for office. He was even elected student body president; however, his experiences at GW ultimately brought him back to music. “Once a musician, always a musician,” he said.
While Mr. Portnow played guitar and bass professionally after graduation, he wasn’t sure he’d make it in the music industry as a performer. “I thought, maybe there’s another way to stay connected to the industry,” he recalled. “I was a good bass player, but I was up for a great career.”
Not knowing anyone in the industry, Mr. Portnow knocked on a lot of doors and became accustomed to hearing “no” a lot.
But he persevered and went on to hold senior leadership positions with the Zomba Group of Companies (including Jive Records and Zomba Music Publishing), EMI America Records, Arista Records and 20th Century Fox Records. As a record producer and music publisher, Mr. Portnow has touched almost every aspect of the industry.
In addition to his position as president of the Recording Academy, he also serves as president and CEO MusicCares and the Grammy Foundation, and as chair of the board for the Grammy Museum.
GW senior Sam Lawrence said “it’s pretty amazing” to hear how Mr. Portnow’s time at the university changed his path and career goals.
Other advice Mr. Portnow offered the audience centered on relationships and partnerships, saying that there’s nothing better than having a mentor.
The discussion about the importance of finding an advocate resonated with Jason Steinhauer, B.A. ’02, a liaison specialist at the Library of Congress, who also is in a two-man band.
“That’s true in any profession,” Mr. Steinhauer said. “You need people who’ve been there and in the thick of it to be on your side, to see potential in you and to help you grow.”
One of the final questions Mr. Sesno threw at Mr. Portnow was, “what is the best investment people can make with their time at GW?”
While everyone has different passions, Mr. Portnow said it’s about getting involved in what interests you and the “ability to learn how to learn.”
“You look back at the bigger picture, and it’s about how you learn to deal with life,” he said. “Life gets interesting once you leave campus.”