# Cliff Burnstein

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American music manager and entrepreneur

Cliff Burnstein Born Clifford N. Burnstein July 1948 (age 77–78) Highland Park, Illinois, U.S. Education University of Pennsylvania (B.A., M.A.) Occupations Music manager Entrepreneur Record executive Years active 1973–present Organization Q Prime Known for Co-founder of Q Prime; managing rock bands including Metallica Awards Billboard Power 100 (2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) Website www.qprime.com

**Clifford "Cliff" Burnstein** (born July 1948) is an American music manager and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of [Q Prime](/source/Q_Prime), a [New York](/source/New_York_City)-based music management company that has represented prominent rock acts, including [Metallica](/source/Metallica).

Burnstein began his career at [Mercury Records](/source/Mercury_Records), where he signed [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)) to their first American record deal. He later worked with [Peter Mensch](/source/Peter_Mensch) at the management firm Leber-Krebs, which managed [AC/DC](/source/AC%2FDC) and other artists, before the two co-founded Q Prime.

## Early life and education

Burnstein was born in July 1948, and grew up in the [Chicago](/source/Chicago) suburb of [Highland Park, Illinois](/source/Highland_Park%2C_Illinois).[1] His father was a [tax lawyer](/source/Tax_law), and his grandparents were [Jewish](/source/Jews) immigrants from [Eastern Europe](/source/Eastern_Europe). Burnstein's maternal grandparents were [garment workers](/source/Clothing_industry), and his paternal grandfather arrived in the [United States](/source/United_States) "from [Russia](/source/Russia) when he was thirteen or fourteen." Without knowing any [English](/source/English_language), his grandfather learned how to [typeset](/source/Typesetting) for [Yiddish](/source/Yiddish) newspapers, eventually earning enough to relocate to Chicago.[2]

Burnstein attended [Highland Park High School](/source/Highland_Park_High_School_(Highland_Park%2C_Illinois)), where he competed in debate and found a passion for music.[3][4][5] He grew up listening to [soul](/source/Soul_music), [rock](/source/Rock_music), and [blues](/source/Blues) on [AM radio](/source/AM_broadcasting) stations from across the country, such as "[WBZ](/source/WBZ_(AM)) from Boston, [WLAC](/source/WLAC) from Nashville, [KAAY](/source/KAAY) from Little Rock, [and] [WABC](/source/WABC_(AM)) from New York."[6] In high school, he would send self-addressed envelopes to 20 or more radio stations each week to collect their local surveys, compiling them into his own crudely weighted Top One Hundred national survey. As Burnstein recalled, "'I was obsessed. And it was a tremendous amount of work. But I did this all through high school.'"[7]

Burnstein then attended the [University of Pennsylvania](/source/University_of_Pennsylvania), where he earned both a [B.A.](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) and [M.A.](/source/Master_of_Arts)[8][9][10] He continued into a [PhD](/source/Doctor_of_Philosophy) program in [demography](/source/Demography), but pivoted toward looking for jobs in the [music business](/source/Music_industry) as his [scholarship](/source/Scholarship) ran out and true love for music came into focus.[11][12]

## Career

### Mercury Records (1973–1980)

After sending out his resume to dozens of music companies, Burnstein received an interview from [Mercury Records](/source/Mercury_Records) in [Chicago](/source/Chicago). In 1973, he was hired into the label's finance department by its then-president, Irwin Steinberg.[12]

That same year, Burnstein was promoted to National Album Promotion Director within the label.[10] In this role, Burnstein [cold-called](/source/Cold_calling) every station on the *Walrus* [FM radio](/source/FM_broadcasting) tip sheet, a newsletter that tracked the most added and popular records of the previous two weeks. At the time, Burnstein was promoting bands such as [Bachman-Turner Overdrive](/source/Bachman%E2%80%93Turner_Overdrive), [Thin Lizzy](/source/Thin_Lizzy), and the [New York Dolls](/source/New_York_Dolls). When he called [Brandeis University](/source/Brandeis_University)'s [WBRS](/source/WBRS), the program director, [Peter Mensch](/source/Peter_Mensch), picked up. The two became fast friends, connecting over their shared music taste.[11]

In June 1974, Burnstein signed [Rush](/source/Rush_(band)) to their first American record deal. He had one business day to make the decision after their self-titled debut album, [*Rush*](/source/Rush_(Rush_album)), was submitted to Mercury. Burnstein said that [Moon Records](/source/Moon_Records_(Canada)), the band's Canadian label, was seeking to export the album after it began to receive traction in [Cleveland, Ohio](/source/Cleveland). Burnstein confirmed with Cleveland rock station [WMMS](/source/WMMS) that the record was gaining traction and convinced Steinberg to sign the band that same day.[11] Following their signing, Rush began to receive success, eventually becoming [Rock and Roll Hall of Fame](/source/Rock_and_Roll_Hall_of_Fame) inductees in 2013.[13]

By 1977, Burnstein had started a [punk rock](/source/Punk_rock) label under Mercury called Blank Records. He hired Peter Mensch as its general manager. The label signed and released the influential debut albums of rock bands [Pere Ubu](/source/Pere_Ubu) and [The Suicide Commandos](/source/The_Suicide_Commandos).[11]

In early 1979, Burnstein—having shifted into [A&R](/source/Artists_and_repertoire) at Mercury—pursued [German](/source/Germany) rock band [Scorpions](/source/Scorpions_(band)) for the label. After he learned that Scorpions were no longer with [RCA Records](/source/RCA_Records) in the United States, and their forthcoming album *[Lovedrive](/source/Lovedrive)* had been passed on by [Capitol Records](/source/Capitol_Records), Burnstein traveled to [Bremen, Germany](/source/Bremen) to see them perform. Burnstein was introduced to the band, and expressed his interest in releasing *Lovedrive* on Mercury in North America, which Burnstein said was "an exceptional album."[11] After signing with Mercury, the band brought on Mensch as their manager—who had just begun managing [AC/DC](/source/AC%2FDC) at [Leber-Krebs](/source/David_Krebs).

During the summer of 1979, Burnstein got hold of a copy of [Def Leppard](/source/Def_Leppard)'s debut, *[The Def Leppard E.P.](/source/The_Def_Leppard_E.P.)* According to Burnstein, he "fell in love with [the EP]." He pledged to "put out their first album simultaneously in the United States and England," as the band had signed with [PolyGram](/source/PolyGram) (which owned Mercury) for all territories except the United States. In September 1979, Burnstein and Mensch traveled to [Wolverhampton, England](/source/Wolverhampton) to see Def Leppard perform. The pair met the band, with Burnstein offering to release their record in America and Mensch offering them management and opening slots on AC/DC's tour the following December. The band agreed, signing a label deal with Mercury for North America and bringing on Mensch at Leber-Krebs for management.[14]

In addition to the aforementioned artists, Burnstein signed [Faith Band](/source/Faith_Band), [Roadmaster](/source/Roadmaster_(band)), and [The Brains](/source/The_Brains) during his time at Mercury.[12]

### Leber-Krebs (1980–1982)

In February 1980, Burnstein left Mercury to join Mensch at Leber-Krebs, moving to [New York City](/source/New_York_City) that same month. He later recalled that he "wanted to be unambiguously on somebody’s side," referring to the artists, or as he put it, "the side of the angels."[14] At Leber-Krebs, the pair managed AC/DC during their successful *[Back in Black](/source/Back_in_Black)* album, which sold over 50 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling rock album in history.[15][16][17] Together, the pair also managed Scorpions, [Michael Schenker Group](/source/Michael_Schenker_Group), and Def Leppard.[12] Burnstein and Mensch's work at Leber-Krebs ended in April 1982, at which point they started Q Prime.

### Q Prime (1982–present)

Main article: [Q Prime](/source/Q_Prime)

Cliff Burnstein co-founded [Q Prime](/source/Q_Prime) with Peter Mensch on April 1, 1982, launching the management company from their apartments in New York and London.[14] Their first client, Def Leppard, achieved commercial success with their 1983 album [*Pyromania*](/source/Pyromania_(album)), which sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. and contributed to Q Prime's early reputation.[18][19]

Since 1984, Burnstein has played a key role in managing [Metallica](/source/Metallica)—negotiating the band's major label deal with [Elektra Records](/source/Elektra_Records) and overseeing the release of *[Master of Puppets](/source/Master_of_Puppets)* in 1986, widely regarded as one of the most influential metal albums of all time.[20][21][22]

Over the decades, Burnstein and Q Prime have managed artists including [Red Hot Chili Peppers](/source/Red_Hot_Chili_Peppers), [The Smashing Pumpkins](/source/The_Smashing_Pumpkins), [Cage The Elephant](/source/Cage_the_Elephant), and worked with artists such as [The Rolling Stones](/source/The_Rolling_Stones), [Led Zeppelin](/source/Led_Zeppelin), and [Madonna](/source/Madonna).[10] Under Burnstein and Mensch's leadership, Q Prime has expanded internationally, establishing a total of four divisions between New York, [Nashville](/source/Nashville%2C_Tennessee), and London.[23][24] Artists managed by Q Prime have won dozens of [Grammy Awards](/source/Grammy_Awards) while under the company's representation, earned numerous *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_200)* [200](/source/Billboard_200) Top 10 Albums, and include two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

## Personal life

Burnstein is a longtime [baseball](/source/Baseball) fan, particularly of the [Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox), and has frequently attended [spring training](/source/Spring_training) games in [Florida](/source/Florida). He has also expressed a lifelong passion for film.[25]

In 2007, Burnstein made a $1.5 million gift to [Yale School of Medicine](/source/Yale_School_of_Medicine) to support cancer research led by Dr. Jeffrey L. Sklar, a former middle school classmate. Reconnecting decades later, Burnstein said the gift was inspired by trust in Sklar's intellect and integrity: "Jeff’s one of the highest-quality people I ever met in my life, and I’m backing him." The donation supported research that challenged long-held assumptions about how cancer develops at the chromosomal level.[3]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Clifford BURNSTEIN personal appointments"](https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/S4-DTiuQLDWcS32dS7ztrVlW26o/appointments). *find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk*. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Farr, Jory (1994). *Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music*. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 246. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-671-73946-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-671-73946-1).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["It's only rock 'n' roll, but it supports cancer research at Yale"](https://medicine.yale.edu/news/medicineatyale/article/its-only-rock-n-roll-but-it-supports/). *medicine.yale.edu*. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Deerfield Library Archives - 1965"](https://archives.deerfieldlibrary.org/items?page=18&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_field=added&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_dir=d&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_field=added&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_dir=a&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&amp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&amp%3Bsort_field=Dublin+Core%2CCreator&amp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&sort_field=added&sort_dir=d&output=omeka-xml). *Deerfield Library*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250629221356/https://archives.deerfieldlibrary.org/items?page=18&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_field=added&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_dir=d&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_field=added&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_dir=a&amp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&amp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&amp%3Bsort_field=Dublin+Core%2CCreator&amp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&sort_field=added&sort_dir=d&output=omeka-xmlhttps://archives.deerfieldlibrary.org/items?page=18&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_field=added&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_dir=d&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_field=added&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Bsort_dir=a&%3Bamp%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&%3Bamp%3Boutput=omeka-xml&%3Bsort_field=Dublin+Core%2CCreator&%3Boutput=omeka-xml&sort_field=added&sort_dir=d&output=omeka-xml) from the original on June 29, 2025. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Deerfield Review and Vernon Review - March 18, 1965"](https://archives.deerfieldlibrary.org/files/original/cec2852625bc23b855834ccbdf5b201f.pdf) (PDF). *Deerfield Library*. Deerfield Review and Vernon Review. March 18, 1965. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Farr, Jory (1994). *Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music*. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 270. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-671-73946-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-671-73946-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Farr, Jory (1994). *Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music*. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 247. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-671-73946-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-671-73946-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Academia – Q Prime"](https://qprime.com/academia/). Retrieved June 26, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["University of Pennsylvania - Partnerships"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120915231737/http://www.sas.upenn.edu/sasalum/newsltr/winter09/partnerships.pdf) (PDF). *www.sas.upenn.edu*. Archived from [the original](http://www.sas.upenn.edu/sasalum/newsltr/winter09/partnerships.pdf) (PDF) on September 15, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_10-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_10-2) ["Peter Mensch | Kennedy Center"](https://www.kennedy-center.org/artists/m/ma-mn/peter-mensch/). *The Kennedy Center*. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_11-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:2_11-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:2_11-4) ["BURNSTEIN & MENSCH, PT 1: THE HARD, ROCKY ROAD THAT LED TO Q PRIME"](https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/burnstein-and-mensch-pt-1-the-hard-rocky-road-that-led-to-q-prime). *Hits Daily Double*. November 17, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:3_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:3_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:3_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:3_12-3) Aswad, Jem (March 29, 2016). ["Q Prime's Burnstein And Mensch On Managing Metallica And Jimmy Page, Playing The Label Game, And Staying On Top For 33 Years"](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/q-prime-cliff-burnstein-peter-mensch-managing-metallica-33-years-7290324/). *Billboard*. Retrieved June 26, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Rush - Inductees"](https://rockhall.com/inductees/rush/). *Rock & Roll Hall of Fame*. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:4_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:4_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:4_14-2) ["BURNSTEIN & MENSCH, PT. 2: THE HARD, ROCKY ROAD THAT LED TO Q PRIME"](https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/rumor-mill/burnstein-and-mensch-pt-2-the-hard-rocky-road-that-led-to-q-prime). *Hits Daily Double*. November 18, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** Ma, Kai (June 6, 2011). ["Heavy Metal Under the Sea: Sharks Act Calmer When Listening to AC/DC"](https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/06/heavy-metal-under-the-sea-sharks-act-calmer-when-listening-to-acdc/). *Time*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20250421004357/https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/06/heavy-metal-under-the-sea-sharks-act-calmer-when-listening-to-acdc) from the original on April 21, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** McNamee, Gregory (August 24, 2010). ["AC/DC, "Back in Black" (Great Moments in Pop Music History)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140821051008/https://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/08/acdc-back-in-black-great-moments-in-pop-music-history). *Britannica*. Archived from [the original](https://www.britannica.com/blogs/2010/08/acdc-back-in-black-great-moments-in-pop-music-history/) on August 21, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Ó Caollaí, Éanna (November 19, 2012). ["AC/DC back catalogue goes digital"](https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ac-dc-back-catalogue-goes-digital-1.749607). *The Irish Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130618021545/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ac-dc-back-catalogue-goes-digital-1.749607) from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Farr, Jory (1994). *Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music*. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 254. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-671-73946-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-671-73946-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Chiu, David. ["Def Leppard's Joe Elliott On The Legacy Of 'Pyromania' 40 Years Later"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidchiu/2024/05/01/def-leppards-joe-elliott-on-the-legacy-of-pyromania-40-years-later/). *Forbes*. Retrieved June 17, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Christopher R., Weingarten; et al. (June 21, 2017). ["The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-100-greatest-metal-albums-of-all-time-113614/). *Rolling Stone*. Retrieved June 17, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Blabbermouth (March 18, 2011). ["METALLICA's 'Master Of Puppets' Is 'Top Metal Song Of All Time'"](https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-s-master-of-puppets-is-top-metal-song-of-all-time/). *BLABBERMOUTH.NET*. Retrieved June 17, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["500 Greatest Albums of All Time"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-156826/). *Rolling Stone*. May 31, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MusicRow_AF_expansion_23-0)** Cantrell, L. B. (May 4, 2023). ["Q Prime Joins Forces With Aaron Frank To Form New Division, Q Prime AF"](https://musicrow.com/2023/05/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-form-new-division-q-prime-af/). *MusicRow*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240625183932/https://musicrow.com/2023/05/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-form-new-division-q-prime-af) from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** King, Ariel (May 3, 2023). ["Q Prime Joins Forces With Aaron Frank To Create Q Prime AF - Pollstar News"](https://news.pollstar.com/2023/05/03/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-create-q-prime-af/). *Pollstar*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240914081311/https://news.pollstar.com/2023/05/03/q-prime-joins-forces-with-aaron-frank-to-create-q-prime-af) from the original on September 14, 2024. Retrieved June 15, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** Farr, Jory (1994). *Moguls and madmen: the pursuit of power in popular music*. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 268. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-671-73946-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-671-73946-1).

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cliff Burnstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Burnstein) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Burnstein?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.