Julie Greenwald was named Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Music Group in October 2022. Atlantic Music Group, a Warner Music Group company, is home to both Atlantic Records and 300 Elektra Entertainment.
In addition to her Atlantic Music Group role, Greenwald continues to run Atlantic Records alongside her co-Chairman at that label, Craig Kallman.
The New York native began her music career in 1992 at Def Jam Records, and just a decade later, she was named President of Island Records, becoming one of the rare women to hold that title at a major label.
After graduating from Tulane University in 1992 with a double major in Political Science and English, Greenwald joined Def Jam, where she rapidly rose through the company’s executive ranks, becoming General Manager of Promotion and later Head of Marketing, helping shape the company into an urban music powerhouse.
“You’re going to have to make serious choices if you want a career path like mine. It’s not about just being smart and resourceful. You have to be smart, resourceful and out-hustle everyone.”
Julie Greenwald, speaking in 2016
In 1998, with the merger of Island Records and Def Jam, Greenwald was charged with overseeing the entire combined marketing department, spanning genres from hip-hop to rock.
In 2002, she was named President of Island Records/EVP of the Island Def Jam Music Group.
Two years later she arrived at Atlantic Records, playing a central role in the re-architecting of one of the industry’s most iconic labels.
In an interview with MBW from December 2016, Greenwald said: “You’re going to have to make serious choices if you want a career path like mine. It’s not about just being smart and resourceful. You have to be smart, resourceful and out-hustle everyone.
“As you get older in life as a woman, and you want to have the family conversation, that’s where you come to a real challenge; oh sh*t, how do I balance it all?
“Then you wake up one day and realize – there’s no such thing as balancing it all. You just do the best job you can.
Greenwald has been ranked four times in the No. 1 position on Billboard‘s “Women in Music/Power Players” list and has also been featured as one of The Hollywood Reporter’s “Power 100 Women in Entertainment” as well as being named to Newsweek’s “Women In Leadership” roster.Music Business Worldwide