View source for Jac Holzman

{{short description|American businessman (born 1931)}}
{{infobox person
| image = JacHolzman copy 2.jpg
| name =  Jac Holzman
| caption = Jac Holzman in 2010
| birth_place = 
| birth_date = {{birth_date and age|September 15, 1931}}
| occupation = Record executive 
| title = Founder and former CEO of [[Elektra Records]]
| children = 3, including [[Adam Holzman (keyboardist)|Adam Holzman]]
}}

'''Jac Holzman''' (born September 15, 1931) is an American record executive. He is the founder of the record labels [[Elektra Records]] and [[Nonesuch Records]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/275444-Jac-Holzman|title=Jac Holzman|website=Discogs.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> Holzman helped commercially launch the [[CD]] and [[home video]] formats, as well as the pilot program which became [[MTV]].<ref name="RS Ingham 2020">{{cite magazine | last1=Ingham | first1=Tim | title=Five Crucial Lessons From Jac Holzman, Who Founded Elektra Records and Signed The Doors | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=2020-10-12 | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/elektra-records-the-doors-jac-holzman-1074071/ | access-date=2022-08-17}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 2011.

== Early life ==
Holzman was born to a [[American Jews|Jewish]] family, the son of a Manhattan doctor.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z1PoAgAAQBAJ&q=Jac+Holzman&pg=PA356|first=Gareth|last=Murphy|title=Cowboys and Indies: The Epic History of the Record Industry|page=356|publisher=Thomas Dunne Books|date=June 17, 2014|isbn=9781250043375}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bloom|first=Nate|title=Jewish Stars 3/18 |newspaper=[[Cleveland Jewish News]]|date=March 18, 2011|url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/jewish-stars/article_c8aa3fd0-d6ad-5f96-8494-5b53703376a0.html|access-date=January 5, 2018}}</ref>  He founded [[Elektra Entertainment]] as a small independent folk label in his [[St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe)|St. John's College]] dormitory room in 1950, with $600 (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|600|1950}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}).<ref>{{cite news|title= Jac Holzman: Weird scenes from inside the goldmine |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jac-holzman-weird-scenes-from-inside-the-goldmine-2125293.html |newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location= London|date=5 November 2010|access-date=12 June 2018}}
</ref> That same year, the first record released was ''New Songs'' by [[John Gruen]], initially a flop but a big learning lesson; 500 copies were pressed with fewer than a quarter of them sold.<ref name="RS Ingham 2020" /> He held amateur radio callsign K2VEH around this time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://culver.net/K2VEH/|title=Jac Holzman with Ham Radio Station|website=Culver.net|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> In 1968, he approved Elektra Records' Paxton Lodge, the experimental recording studio where [[Jackson Browne]] first recorded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.paxtonlodge.com/1968-69-the-recording-studio|title=A recording studio for musicians such as Jack Browne|website=Paxtonlodge.com|access-date=2018-05-28|archive-date=2018-05-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130011/https://www.paxtonlodge.com/1968-69-the-recording-studio|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 1957, Elektra was $90,000 in debt (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|90000|1957}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}), but finally found success with folk artist [[Theodore Bikel]].<ref name="RS Ingham 2020" />

==Career==
He signed such acts as [[the Doors]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]] (US only), [[Love (band)|Love]], [[Josh White]], [[Tim Buckley]], [[Carly Simon]], [[the Stooges]], [[MC5]], [[Harry Chapin]], and [[Bread (band)|Bread]] to Elektra and discovered folk singer [[Judy Collins]]. In 1964, Holzman served as executive producer for 13 [[stock sound effect]] libraries titled ''Authentic Sound Effects'' which generated $1.5 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1500000|1964}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) in sales giving Elektra further financial security;<ref name="RS Ingham 2020" /> that same year he also founded [[Nonesuch Records]] as a classical music budget label.<ref name="trib-1">[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/636594082.html?dids=636594082:636594082&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+16%2C+1983&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=MUSIC&pqatl=google] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025003708/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/636594082.html?dids=636594082:636594082&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jan+16,+1983&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=MUSIC&pqatl=google |date=2012-10-25 }}</ref>
In 1970, he merged his music interests with [[Warner Communications]] (then known as Kinney International) over a $10 million deal (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|10000000|1970}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) and continued his association with the labels he created for three additional years. While a part of the [[Warner Music Group]], Holzman helped to establish both the WEA Distributing Corp (Warner-Elektra-Atlantic Distributing Corp) and WEA International.

In 1973, Holzman was appointed senior vice president and chief technologist for WCI.<ref name="nyt-1">{{cite web|author=Brad Spurgeon|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/01/business/worldbusiness/01iht-wbspot02.2664533.html |title=Spotlight: Blast from the past seeks next big thing - Business - International Herald Tribune  |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2006-09-01 |access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref>  Holzman guided the company into [[home video]] and the first interactive [[cable television]] system, [[QUBE]]. Until 1972, he was a director of [[Pioneer Electronics]] Japan, helping that company, and Warner Bros., adopt the [[compact disc]] and [[Laserdisc]]. Holzman was a member of the board of [[Atari]], one of the first video game companies, which was acquired by WCI in 1976; during this time the revolutionary [[Atari 2600]] was released.

In 1979, Holzman became the nexus between ex-Monkee [[Michael Nesmith]] and John Lack of Warner Cable.  He persuaded Lack to meet with Nesmith who had been nursing an idea for a program he called ''[[PopClips]]''. Holzman thought that Nesmith's notion of building a TV structure around that idea made real sense.

In 1982, following the death of president and founder Robert Gottschalk, Holzman took charge of [[Panavision]], a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery and turned that financially troubled company around.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doorshistory.com/elektrahistory.html|title=Elektra History - Jac Holzman|website=Doorshistory.com}}</ref>

In 1986, he formed FirstMedia, an investment firm which acquired [[Cinema Products Corporation]], the maker of the Oscar-winning [[Steadicam]] camera stabilization system.

In 1991, through FirstMedia, Holzman acquired the Discovery, Trend and Musicraft jazz labels from the estate of Albert Marx, which was also acquired by Warner Music Group in 1993.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1179}}</ref>

After [[Edgar Bronfman Jr.]] and a group of investors acquired Warner Music Group from Time Warner Inc. in 2004, Bronfman brought Holzman back to WMG, reuniting him with the company that he had helped to found with [[Ahmet Ertegun]] and [[Mo Ostin]]. Although Holzman's work at Warner Music covers a range from mentoring executives and future planning, his first project was the creation of an on-line label, [[Cordless Recordings]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cordless.com/ |title=Cordless Recordings |access-date=2019-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231132529/http://www.cordless.com/ |archive-date=2005-12-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> introduced in late 2005. Cordless gave bands space to hone their art and grow without the expectations and cash outlays associated with a major label.

===Current===
In April 2016, [[Stephen Cooper (businessman)|Steve Cooper]], CEO of Warner Music Group, announced Jac Holzman as the Senior Technology Advisor to WMG: "a wide-ranging technology 'scout', exploring new digital developments and identifying possible partners."

In June 2018, Holzman launched a new venture named "Cosmic Ringtones & Sonic Realms... Your Universe Is Calling". Curated and produced by Holzman, the collection included a series of instrumental pieces composed, performed, and recorded by his son [[Adam Holzman (keyboardist)|Adam]]. The album was released on Holzman's FM Group Music label, distributed by [[Alternative Distribution Alliance|ADA]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/elektra-founder-jac-holzman-unveils-new-venture-cosmic-ringtones-sonic-realms-your-universe-is-calling|title=Elektra founder Jac Holzman unveils new venture, Cosmic Ringtones & Sonic Realms… Your Universe Is Calling|website=Musicbusinessworldwide.com|date=15 June 2018}}</ref>

==Awards and honours==
In 2008, Holzman received the NARAS [[Grammy Trustees Award]].

On December 15, 2010, it was announced that Holzman would be awarded the [[Ahmet Ertegun]] Award (along with [[Specialty Records]] founder [[Art Rupe]]) by the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVcjXV1DWginmpGBXIOV7Ic6IMuw?docId=9cc00899c46346ef9af87c0b8ba64bf3]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>

Holzman was inducted into the non-performer category of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 14, 2011, with the induction speech given by Doors member [[John Densmore]].<ref name="nyt goodman">{{cite news|author=Fred Goodman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/arts/music/06holzman.html |title=Elektra's Jac Holzman Heads to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame / Indie-Label Folkie to Rock Patriarch |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=2011-03-04 |access-date=2018-09-21}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Holzman is the father of [[Adam Holzman (keyboardist)|Adam Holzman]], a jazz-rock keyboardist who has played with [[Miles Davis]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/295061-Adam-Holzman|title=Adam Holzman|website=Discogs.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> Jaclyn Easton, a writer and Internet entrepreneur; and Marin Sander-Holzman,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1391488/|title=Marin Sander-Holzman|website=IMDb.com|access-date=15 September 2021}}</ref> an editor and filmmaker.

In 1973 he built a home in Hawaii, after  Elektra merged with Warner. The move was inspired by the film ''[[Holiday (1938 film)|Holiday]]'', where at that time he was mostly reading instead of listening to music.<ref name="RS Ingham 2020" />

== Works ==
* {{cite book |last1=Holzman |first1=Jac |last2=Daws |first2=Gavan |title=Follow the Music: The Life and High Times of Elektra Records in the Great Years of American Pop Culture |date=1998 |publisher=FirstMedia Books |location=Santa Monica, Calif. |isbn=9780966122114 |edition=1st |url=https://elektra70.elektrarecords.com/followthemusic.pdf}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=NOLL |first1=JOHN |title=Follow the Music: The Life and High Times of Elektra Records in the Great Years of American Pop Culture |url=https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/65/follow-the-music-the-life-and-high-times-of-elektr/ |website=tapeop.com |access-date=30 January 2022 |language=en |quote=REVIEWED BY}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Follow the Music]]
* [[Elektra Sound Recorders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Subject bar
 |commons        = yes
 |commons-search = 
 |d              = yes
 |d-search       = 
 |portal1        = Biography
 |portal2 = 
}}
* [http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WordPodcast/~5/R9EDxKa8CGM/dc614879-0a3e-6ad7-f387-d41639af17f9.mp3 Word 152 - 2010-10-21 - David Hepworth talks to Jac Holzman, on Elektra's 60th.]{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} [http://feeds.feedburner.com/WordPodcast RSS feed]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041204103005/http://www.followthemusic.com/whojac.html Who is Jac Holzman?]
* [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/01/business/wbspot02.php Blast from the Past Seeks Next Big Thing]
* https://web.archive.org/web/20121102123659/http://www.digitalmusicforum.com/west/speakers09.shtml
* [https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Elektra-Holzmans-Visionary-Record/dp/1906002290/ ''Becoming Elektra'', Elektra’s early years by Mick Houghton]
* [https://elektra70.elektrarecords.com/followthemusic.pdf Follow the Music - Holzman & Daws] ({{ISBN|0-9661221-1-9}}) (paperback, {{ISBN|0-9661221-0-0}}).
* [http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/audio.soundopinions.org/podcasts/sooppodshow275.mp3 Sound Opinions March 2011 interview with Holzman]

{{Warner Music Group}}
{{2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holzman, Jac}}
[[Category:American music industry executives]]
[[Category:St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe) alumni]]
[[Category:American record producers]]
[[Category:20th-century American Jews]]
[[Category:Elektra Records]]
[[Category:Nonesuch Records]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1931 births]]
[[Category:21st-century American Jews]]