Monte Lipman is the founder and CEO of Universal Music Group-owned Republic Records.
Lipman graduated from the University at Albany in 1986 and started his music industry career at Arista Records.
He later worked as promotions executive at SBK, an EMI label, and also went on to work at Atlantic Records.
In 1995 he started Republic Records with his brother Avery Lipman as an independent label with a budget of $800.
Republic’s first signing was the Bloodhound Gang and Monte and Avery Lipman soon signed British group Chumbawamba in a joint venture with Universal Records Group. Chumbawamba’s debut album Tubthumper has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
Other early Republic signings included Godsmack and 3 Doors Down.
In 2000, Monte Lipman was appointed President of Universal Records, after Universal Music Group acquired a controlling interest in Republic Records.
Lipman worked with the likes of Jack Johnson and Lil Wayne during his tenure as President of Universal Records.
In 2006, Lipman became the President and CEO of Universal Republic Records, a merger between Universal Records and Republic.
In that role, Lipman worked with artists such as Amy Winehouse, Enrique Iglesias, and Florence + the Machine.
In 2013, Universal Music Group signed new long-term agreement with Republic Records and its founders, which saw Monte Lipman appointed to the role of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Republic.
Lipman is also involved in a number of philanthropic causes outside of his career in music, sitting on the boards of DKMS (Delete Blood Cancer) the Amy Winehouse Foundation, the UJA-Federation of New York and the T.J. Martell Foundation.
Over the years, Monte Lipman and his brother Avery Lipman fostered many strategic alliances with independent labels including Cash Money Records (Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga), Big Machine (Taylor Swift), Brushfire Records (Jack Johnson), Republic Nashville (The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Florida Georgia Line), Lava Records (Jessie J, Black Veil Brides), XO (The Weeknd), American Recordings (The Avett Brothers), School Boy Records (PSY) and Loma Vista (Soundgarden), amongst others.Music Business Worldwide