{{short description|American businessman}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Edgar Bronfman Jr. | image = Edgar Bronfman Jr. (3016810069) (cropped).jpg | caption = Bronfman Jr. in 2008 | birth_name = Edgar Miles Bronfman Jr. | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1955|5|16}} | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | known_for = | education = | alma_mater = | employer = | occupation = Businessman, media executive, film producer, theater producer | title = | height = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | party = | boards = | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Sherry Brewer|1979|1991|reason=div}} * {{marriage|Clarissa Alcock San Román|1993}} }} | partner = | children = 7, including Benjamin and Hannah | parents = Edgar Bronfman Sr.<br /> Ann Loeb | relatives = Adam Bronfman (brother)<br /> Matthew Bronfman (brother)<br /> Clare Bronfman (half-sister)<br /> Sara Bronfman (half-sister)<br /> Samuel Bronfman (grandfather)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Bronfman_Sr. | title=Edgar Bronfman Sr }}</ref>{{Circular reference|date=February 2025}}<br /> John Langeloth Loeb Sr. (grandfather)<br /> Nicholas M. Loeb (cousin) | signature = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Edgar Miles Bronfman Jr.''' (born May 16, 1955) is an American businessman, film and theater producer, and media executive who is a managing partner at Accretive LLC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=654540&privcapId=13390528|title=Edgar Miles Bronfman Jr.: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2017-12-19}}</ref> He previously was CEO of Warner Music Group from 2004 to 2011, and was its chairman from 2011 to 2012. Bronfman was the CEO of WMG during its May 2011 sale to Access Industries. In August 2011, he became Chairman of the company.<ref name="billboard1">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110901024412/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/warner-music-ceo-edgar-bronfman-jr-and-chairman-1005322912.story Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. and Chairman Stephen Cooper Switch Jobs {{!}} Billboard]. Billboard.biz (2011-08-19). Retrieved on 2013-12-23.</ref> Bronfman previously was CEO of Seagram and vice-chairman of Vivendi Universal. Bronfman expanded and later divested ownership of the Seagram Company, and also worked as a producer, and songwriter<ref name=cigar-aficianos/> under the pseudonyms '''Junior Miles''' and '''Sam Roman'''. He is Executive Chairman of FuboTV.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2020-04-29 |title=Edgar Bronfman Jr. Named Executive Chairman of Streamer FuboTV |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/edgar-bronfman-jr-named-executive-chairman-streamer-fubotv-1292492/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Early life == Born in 1955, Edgar Jr. ("Efer" to friends)<ref name=cigar-aficianos/> is the son of Edgar Miles Bronfman and the grandson of Samuel Bronfman, patriarch of one of the wealthiest and most influential Jewish families in Canada.<ref>''Samuel and Saidye recognized the influence and responsibility that came with wealth.'' The Canadian Encyclopedia, "The Bronfman family"</ref> The Bronfman family gained its fortunes through the Seagram Company, an alcohol distilling company.<ref name=cigar-aficianos/> Edgar Jr. is the second of five children of Ann (née Loeb) and Edgar Miles Bronfman. His mother was the daughter of John Langeloth Loeb Sr. (a Wall Street investment banker whose company was a predecessor of Shearson Lehman/American Express) and Frances Lehman (a scion of the Lehman Brothers banking firm). His parents divorced in 1973.<ref name=NYT-AnnLBronfman-obit>{{cite web|title=Ann L. Bronfman: Obituary|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=150140174|work=Legacy.com|publisher=The New York Times|access-date=24 December 2013|date=April 10, 2011}}</ref>
== Business career == ===Film production=== Bronfman proceeded to a brief career in entertainment in the 1970s as a film and Broadway producer. The summer before his final year of high school, in 1972, he was a credited producer on the film, ''The Blockhouse''. He briefly had a production company, with Steve Sheppard, called Sagittarius. His Efer Productions company was signed by Universal Studios in 1977 to a three-year movie production contract. He produced the unsuccessful film ''The Border'' (1982), which starred Jack Nicholson.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}
===Seagram Company=== In 1982, Bronfman returned to the Seagram Company, before moving to London to become managing director of Seagram Europe. In 1984, Bronfman returned to New York as President of the House of Seagram, the company's U.S. marketing division. By 1994, he became the Chief Executive Officer, where he began a move away from the traditional liquor business and into entertainment. According to ''Cigar Aficionado,'' Edgar Jr. led the family on a series of disastrous business deals, ultimately losing the family's ownership of Seagram.<ref name=cigar-aficianos>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,176,00.html |title=Cigar Aficionado | People Profile | Edgar Bronfman Jr |access-date=2006-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709015412/http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,176,00.html |archive-date=2006-07-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The first step in this diversification was the widely criticised sale of Seagram's stake in DuPont. In 1981, Edgar Bronfman Sr. had sold Seagram's stake in Conoco to DuPont, in exchange for almost 25% of the chemical giant.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edgar-Miles-Bronfman|title=Edgar Miles Bronfman {{!}} Canadian-born American businessman and philanthropist|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2017-12-19|language=en}}</ref> This stake in DuPont, by 1995, represented about 70% of Seagram's total earnings. Nevertheless, Bronfman Jr., acting as Seagram CEO, approached DuPont about buying back its shares, a deal that DuPont wasted no time in closing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seagram-DuPont deal goes through - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/04/06/Seagram-DuPont-deal-goes-through/7115797140800/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sloan |first=Allan |date=1995-04-11 |title=FOR SEAGRAM AND DUPONT, A TAX DEAL THAT NO ONE WANTS TO BRANDY ABOUT |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1995/04/11/for-seagram-and-dupont-a-tax-deal-that-no-one-wants-to-brandy-about/b2301630-18ce-42f3-b8c9-779071157bc5/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Shapiro |first=Eben |date=1996-07-25 |title=Seagram Sells Back Warrants To DuPont for $500 Million - WSJ |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB838252066426185500 |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-06-21 |title=Edgar Bronfman Jr.: the man and his plan |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/edgar-bronfman-jr-the-man-and-his-plan-1.226974 |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>
With the proceeds of the $9 billion sale (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|9|1995|r=1}} billion in {{Inflation/year|US}}), Bronfman Jr. went on an expansion into the entertainment business, in music through the acquisition of PolyGram ($10.6 billion), and in film entertainment through MCA and Universal Pictures ($5.7 billion) from Matsushita .<ref>{{Cite web |last=Philips |first=Chuck |last2=Eller |first2=Claudia |date=1998-05-22 |title=Seagram Uncorks $10.6-Billion Deal to Buy PolyGram |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-may-22-mn-52474-story.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=1998-05-22 |title=INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS; $10.6 Billion Seagram Deal For Polygram (Published 1998) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/05/22/business/international-business-10.6-billion-seagram-deal-for-polygram.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=New York Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-05-11 |title=Seagram Set To Buy Polygram - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/seagram-set-to-buy-polygram/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=1995-04-10 |title=THE MCA SALE: THE DEAL; Seagram Puts the Finishing Touches on Its $5.7 Billion Acquisition of MCA (Published 1995) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/04/10/business/mca-sale-deal-seagram-puts-finishing-touches-its-5.7-billion-acquisition-mca.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=New York Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bates |first=James |last2=Eller |first2=Claudia |date=1995-04-10 |title=Seagram Signs Deal to Buy 80% of MCA : Hollywood: Firm agrees to pay Matsushita $5.7 billion for controlling interest. Future of Wasserman, Sheinberg remains unclear. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-10-mn-53050-story.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> However, the new entertainment conglomerate he created had a brief life, before needing a strategic partner. Bronfman Jr., then led Seagram into a controversial all-stock acquisition by French conglomerate Vivendi in 2000 for $34 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-06-20 |title=Vivendi takeover ends Seagram empire |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/vivendi-takeover-ends-seagram-empire-1.206131 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |last2=Sorkin |first2=Andrew Ross |date=2000-06-20 |title=A NEW ENTERTAINMENT GIANT: THE MERGER; FRENCH COMPANY AGREES TO A DEAL TO BUY SEAGRAM |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/20/business/new-entertainment-giant-merger-french-company-agrees-deal-buy-seagram.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=New York Times |language=en}}</ref> Bronfman Jr., became an executive at the new company, Vivendi Universal, but the Seagram company effectively lost control of its entertainment businesses. Meanwhile, the beverage division—the core of Seagram — was acquired by Pernod Ricard (39 per cent) and Diageo (61 per cent) for $8.15 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-01-29 |title=Seagram sale to boost Pernod Ricard profile |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/seagram-sale-to-boost-pernod-ricard-profile-1.254779 |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark |first=Andrew |date=2000-12-20 |title=Diageo buys Seagram portfolio |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2000/dec/20/9 |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In December 2001, Bronfman announced he was stepping down from an executive capacity at Vivendi Universal, but remaining as vice chair of the board.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-12-07 |title=A Year After Vivendi Deal, Seagram Heir Will Leave |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/07/business/a-year-after-vivendi-deal-seagram-heir-will-leave.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2002, Bronfman joined private investment firm Accretive LLC as General Partner.<ref>[http://www.accretivellc.com/team_members/edgar-bronfman-jr/ "Edgar Bronfman Jr."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914021803/http://www.accretivellc.com/team_members/edgar-bronfman-jr/ |date=2013-09-14 }} Retrieved 2013-07-25.</ref> The firm focuses on conducting deep market research and hand-selecting firms to back. Among its past projects are Accretive Health and Fandango (ticket service). Companies it currently backs include human resources firm AlphaStaff and small-business insurance company Insureon.<ref>[http://www.accretivellc.com/portfolio/ "Our Companies {{!}} Accretive LLC"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914021738/http://www.accretivellc.com/portfolio/ |date=2013-09-14 }} Retrieved 2013-07-25.</ref>
===Warner Music Group=== On February 27, 2004, Bronfman finalized the acquisition of Warner Music Group (WMG) from Time Warner with equity partners Thomas H. Lee Partners and Bain Capital for $2.6 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Chris |date=2011-05-06 |title=Blavatnik buys Warner Music Group |url=https://variety.com/2011/music/news/blavatnik-buys-warner-music-group-1118036526/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kirkpatrick |first=David D. |date=2003-11-25 |title=Time Warner Sells Music Unit for $2.6 Billion (Published 2003) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/25/business/time-warner-sells-music-unit-for-2.6-billion.html |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=New York Times |language=en}}</ref> He was chairman and CEO of the music company for the following seven years. <ref>{{Cite web |title=How Warner Music and Its Musicians Are Combating Declining Album Sales |url=http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/147/take-us-to-the-river.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426071850/http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/147/take-us-to-the-river.html |archive-date=2012-04-26 |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=www.fastcompany.com |url-status=live }}</ref> WMG held an initial public offering of stock in 2005 (NYSE: WMG), and was the only standalone major music company to be publicly traded. While the stock has fallen from a high in 2005 of over $30 per share, the company has nonetheless produced double-digit growth in its digital business, increased its market share, and delivered stable revenue performance despite a drastic music industry decline during the same period.<ref>Cox, Rob. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/business/25views.html "Warner Music Is Singing Again"], ''The New York Times'', 24 May 2009.</ref> In 2008, ''The New York Times'' reported that WMG's Atlantic Records became the first major record label to generate more than half of its music sales in the U.S. from digital products.<ref>Arango, Tim. [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/business/media/26music.html?_r=1&ref=business "Digital Sales Surpass CDs at Atlantic"], ''The New York Times'', 25 November 2008.</ref>
In May, 2011, WMG and Bronfman announced the company's sale to Access Industries for US$3.3 billion in cash. Access is controlled by Soviet-born billionaire Len Blavatnik, a former board member and still-substantial shareholder of WMG at the time of the purchase announcement. The sale, coming after a three-month bidding process, "serves the best interests of stockholders as well as the best interests of music fans, our recording artists and songwriters, and the wonderful people of this company," according to a statement released by Bronfman.<ref>Smith, Ethan, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703859304576306993963966516 "Deal Values Warner Music at $3.3 Billion"], ''The Wall Street Journal'', May 6, 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-06.</ref> CEO Bronfman would continue in his post in the transaction, though further job cuts were also foreseen. The investment group which has owned the company since 2004 was said to have received a positive return on its investment.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181215025937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/person-tells-ap-access-industries-buying-warner-music-group-for-13-billion/2011/05/06/AFL7607F_story.html "Warner Music Group being sold for $1.3 billion to Access Industries amid industry decline"], ''Associated Press'' via ''The Washington Post'', May 6, 1:38 PM EDT. Retrieved 2011-05-06.</ref>
In August 2011, Bronfman became Chairman of Warner Music and Stephen Cooper became CEO.<ref name="billboard1"/> He stepped down as chairman on January 31, 2012.<ref>[http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/updated-edgar-bronfman-jr-to-step-down-as-1005616802.story Updated: Edgar Bronfman Jr. to Step Down as Warner Music Group Chairman, No Successor Named {{!}} Billboard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226205629/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/updated-edgar-bronfman-jr-to-step-down-as-1005616802.story |date=2012-12-26 }}. Billboard.biz (2012-01-31). Retrieved on 2013-12-23.</ref><ref>[http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/video-edgar-bronfman-jr-says-warner-music-1006058352.story Video: Edgar Bronfman Jr. Says Warner Music Will Fight Universal-EMI Merger 'Tooth and Nail' {{!}} Billboard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203215525/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/video-edgar-bronfman-jr-says-warner-music-1006058352.story |date=2012-02-03 }}. Billboard.biz (2012-02-01). Retrieved on 2013-12-23.</ref> In February 2017, it was reported that Meredith Corp. and a group of investors led by Bronfman Jr. were considering pursuing Time Inc.<ref>{{Citation | last =A. Trachtenberg | first =Jeffrey | date =February 7, 2017 | title =Meredith, Bronfman Move Forward in Effort to Acquire Time Inc. | publisher =The Wall Street Journal | publication-place =New York City | url =https://www.wsj.com/articles/meredith-bronfman-move-forward-in-their-pursuit-of-time-inc-1486514427?tesla=y | access-date =February 8, 2017}}</ref> On November 26, 2017, it was announced that Meredith Corporation would acquire Time Inc. in a $2.8 billion deal.<ref name="Variety 2017">{{Cite web |last1=Nyren |first1=Erin |last2=Littleton |first2=Cynthia |date=November 26, 2017 |title=Meredith Corp. Acquires Time Inc. in $2.8 Billion Koch Brothers-Backed Deal |url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/news/meredith-corp-time-inc-acquisition-merger-koch-brothers-1202623214/ |access-date=November 27, 2017 |work=Variety}}</ref><ref name="NYT 2017">{{cite web |last1=Ember |first1=Sydney |last2=Ross |first2=Andrew |date=November 26, 2017 |title=Time Inc. Sells Itself to Meredith Corp., Backed by Koch Brothers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/26/business/dealbook/time-inc-meredith-corporation-koch-brothers.html |access-date=November 27, 2017 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>
Bronfman is currently the chairman of Endeavor, an international non-profit development organisation that supports entrepreneurs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Board of Directors |url=https://endeavor.org/about-us/global-board/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Endeavor |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=4-traders |title=Edgar Miles Bronfman, Jr. - Biography |url=http://www.4-traders.com/business-leaders/Edgar-Bronfman-05FLTC-E/biography/ |access-date=2017-12-19 |website=www.4-traders.com}}</ref>
===Waverley Capital=== In 2017, it was announced that Bronfman would be launching a new venture capital firm called Waverley Capital, alongside Luminari Capital founder Daniel Leff.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Hu|first1=Cherie|title=Former Warner Music CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. Launches VC Firm for Early-Stage Media Startups|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8022084/edgar-bronfman-jr-former-warner-music-ceo-vc-firm-media|access-date=30 March 2018|magazine=Billboard|date=October 31, 2017}}</ref> This firm would invest in "innovative and disruptive" companies within both technology and entertainment, with offices in New York and Palo Alto, California, with a Los Angeles office expected to open in the future.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=Edgar Bronfman Jr. Forms Media Venture-Capital Firm With Luminari's Daniel Leff|url=https://variety.com/2017/digital/news/edgar-bronfman-jr-waverley-capital-luminari-daniel-leff-1202602380/|access-date=30 March 2018|magazine=Variety|date=October 30, 2017}}</ref>
In 2020, Bronfman was named the Executive Chairman of sports streaming service FuboTV after the leading the merger of FuboTV with Facebank Group. Bronfman is both a direct investor in FuboTV and an investor through his firm Waverley Capital.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=2020-04-29 |title=Edgar Bronfman Jr. Named FuboTV’s Executive Chairman |url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/edgar-bronfman-jr-fubotv-executive-chairman-1234593290/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Music career== In 1973, Bronfman began a songwriting career under the pseudonyms Junior Miles and Sam Roman. He often collaborated with Bruce Roberts on songs like "Whisper in the Dark", which he gave to Dionne Warwick to record in thanks for introducing him to his first wife, Sherry. Bronfman also co-wrote "To Love You More", which was recorded by Celine Dion, and Barbra Streisand's "If I Didn't Love You".<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2018-01-13 |title=IF I DIDN’T LOVE YOU {{!}} SONG OF THE WEEK |url=https://www.fozfan.com/2018/01/14/middle-man-2/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Personal life == [[File:Edgar Bronfman, Jr.jpg|thumb|Edgar Bronfman Jr. celebrating Ralph Lauren's 40th Anniversary at the Conservancy Garden, Central Park, New York City, 2007]] Edgar M. Bronfman Jr., is the son of Edgar Bronfman Sr., the billionaire businessman and longtime president of the World Jewish Congress who died aged 84 in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/22/edgar-bronfman-seagram-boss-dies-84|title=Edgar M Bronfman, Seagram boss and 'titan of industry', dies aged 84|first=Associated Press in New|last=York|date=December 22, 2013|website=the Guardian}}</ref> He is the half-brother of Clare Bronfman, who as a 39-year-old was charged in 2018 in a NXIVM sex-trafficking case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44946059|title=Nxivm sex cult case: Seagram heiress among four women arrested|work=BBC News |date=July 25, 2018}}</ref>
In 1979, Bronfman married his first wife, the actress Sherry Brewer, in New Orleans. Bronfman's father did not approve of the marriage because Brewer was Black. "I very much wanted for him to end the relationship, because I told him, all marriages are difficult enough without the added stress of totally different backgrounds", Bronfman Sr. wrote in his memoirs. "Sherry offered to convert [to Judaism], which though well intentioned, was not the point."<ref>[https://archive.today/20120708112137/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_n17_v93/ai_21237697/ "Seagram chairman admits he never approved of son's marriage to a Black woman"], ''Jet'', March 23, 1998.</ref>
Bronfman and Brewer eloped and he and his father remained estranged.<ref>Auletta, Ken. [http://www.kenauletta.com/risingson.html "Rising Son"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106051125/http://www.kenauletta.com/risingson.html |date=2009-11-06 }}, ''The New Yorker'', 6 June 1994.</ref> The couple had three children before they divorced in 1991: Benjamin (born 1982), Vanessa, and Hannah (born 1987).<ref>[http://www.wwd.com/eye/people/hannah-bronfman-saves-the-world-5041901?full=true Women's Wear Daily: "Hannah Bronfman Saves the World" by Alessandra Codinha] August 8, 2011</ref>
In 1993 Bronfman married Clarisa Alcock San Román, a Catholic, the daughter of Frank Alcock Pérez-Matos, a Venezuelan oil executive of half British descent, and Dinorah San Román Strup.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000839/http://www.sologenealogia.com/gen/getperson.php?personID=I84109&tree=001 Solo Genealogia: Clarisa Alcock San Román]}} retrieved April 8, 2012</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130203225839/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/macleans/bronfman-sells-dupont Maclean's Magazine quoted by The Canadian Encyclopedia Historica: "Bronfman Sells DuPont"] April 17, 1995</ref> They have four children: Aaron, Bettina, Erik, and Clarissa.
== Insider trading conviction == On January 21, 2011, Bronfman was found guilty in French court of insider trading as Vivendi chief and received a 15-month suspended sentence and a €5m fine.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Financial Times|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b1fe91f6-2565-11e0-93ae-00144feab49a|title=Ex-Vivendi executives found guilty|access-date=2011-01-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=2011-01-21 |title=Edgar Bronfman Jr convicted in Vivendi case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jan/21/edgar-bronfman-jr-vivendi |access-date=2025-11-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Considering the jail sentences handed out to other executives for similar convictions, BNN reporter Michael Kane told CTV News "The fact that the judge suspended the jail time could be looked at as getting off lightly, perhaps."<ref>[https://www.ctvnews.ca/french-court-convicts-warner-head-edgar-bronfman-jr-1.598508 Bronfman Jr. convicted in Vivendi trial {{!}} CTV News] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123214349/http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110121/bronfman-financial-case-french-court-110121/ |date=2011-01-23 }}. Ctv.ca (2011-01-21). Retrieved on 2013-12-23.</ref> He appealed the decision in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Warner Music Group Digital Properties |title=Warner Music Group {{!}} News |url=http://www.wmg.com/newsdetails/id/8a0af8122d9dba3f012da8f5a5410106 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111436/http://www.wmg.com/newsdetails/id/8a0af8122d9dba3f012da8f5a5410106 |archive-date=2013-12-24 |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=www.wmg.com |language=en |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-01-21 |title=Edgar Bronfman Jr. to appeal French conviction in Vivendi insider-trading case |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/company-town-blog/story/2011-01-21/edgar-bronfman-jr-to-appeal-french-conviction-in-vivendi-insider-trading-case |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Stance on music copyright infringement == At the height of file sharing service Napster's popularity, Bronfman was a leading opponent of the illegal use of peer-to-peer technology. As CEO of Universal, he helped lead the music industry's opposition to Napster, likening it to slavery and Soviet communism.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/09/mann.htm|work=The Atlantic Monthly|author=Charles C. Mann|date=2000-09-01|title=The Heavenly Jukebox}}</ref>
In 2006, WMG was the first major media company to create a business model around user-generated content and, more recently, has been pushing for ways to monetise the popularity of P2P networks on college campuses.<ref>[http://globaltechforum.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=rich_story&doc_id=9388&categoryid=&channelid=&search=disclose Warner makes deal with YouTube]</ref><ref>[https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2008/12/warner-music-gr/ Three Major Record Labels Join the 'Choruss']</ref>
In late 2006 in an interview with Reuters, Bronfman caused a stir by admitting that his children have copyright infringing music.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20061204/003837.shtml|work=TechDirt|date=4 December 2006|title=Will The Recording Industry Sue Edgar Bronfman For Downloading?}}</ref> He claims to have delivered punishment for this but wants it to remain within the realm of the family.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/12/01/warner-music-boss-edgar-bronfman/ |work=Reuters |author=Adam Reuters |date=1 December 2006 |title=Interview: Warner Music Group boss Edgar Bronfman |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220015535/http://secondlife.reuters.com/stories/2006/12/01/warner-music-boss-edgar-bronfman/ |archive-date=2007-02-20 }}</ref>
Lately, Bronfman may have revised his judgement. During the GSMA Mobile Asia Congress, he told the audience that mobile operators should not make the same mistakes that the music industry has:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/11/14/warner-music-boss-we-were-wrong/|work=techcrunch|author=Duncan Riley|date=14 November 2007|title=Warner Music Boss: We Were Wrong}}</ref>
{{blockquote|We used to fool ourselves ... We used to think our content was perfect just exactly as it was. We expected our business would remain blissfully unaffected even as the world of interactivity, constant connection and file sharing was exploding. And of course we were wrong. How were we wrong? By standing still or moving at a glacial pace, we inadvertently went to war with consumers by denying them what they wanted and could otherwise find and as a result of course, consumers won.}}
In 2010 Bronfman changed his philosophy on the music industry's online business models, stating that he does not support free advertising supported models. He said that WMG will focus on promoting services that require payment, that will appeal to the population that already pays for downloads in stores such as iTunes.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8507885.stm|work=BBC|author=Ian Youngs|date=10 February 2010|title=Warner retreats from free music streaming}}</ref>
{{blockquote|The 'get all your music you want for free, and then maybe with a few bells and whistles we can move you to a premium price' strategy is not the kind of approach to business that we will be supporting in the future.}}
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
== Further reading == * McQueen, Rod. ''The Icarus Factor: The Rise and Fall of Edgar Bronfman Jr.'', 2004. {{ISBN|0-385-65995-4}} * Faith, Nicholas. ''The Bronfmans: The Rise and Fall of the House of Seagram'', 2006. {{ISBN|0-312-33219-X}}
== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716231500/http://www.wmg.com/management/edgarbronfmanjr Edgar Bronfman Jr.'s biography at WMG Corporate Site] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080807162812/http://us.macmillan.com/hopenotfear Official page for Bronfman's book about Judaism in America] * [http://edcorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?author=251 Speaking at Stanford] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430091817/http://edcorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?author=251 |date=2008-04-30 }} * [http://www.hollywood.com/celebrity/1122083/Edgar_Bronfman_Jr "Edgar Bronfman Jr." at hollywood.com] * Milner, Brian. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060709015412/http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,176,00.html "The Unmaking of a Dynasty"], ''Cigar Aficionado'' * [http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/assessment/1998/04/edgar_bronfman_edgar_bronfman.html "Edgar Bronfman, Edgar Bronfman: Overrated father, misunderstood son"], ''Slate'', 26 April 1998, by David Plotz * [http://www.endeavor.org Edgar Bronfman Jr. biography] at Directors of Endeavor * {{C-SPAN|54424}} * [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/bronfman-family The Bronfman family] at The Canadian Encyclopedia
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bronfman, Edgar Jr.}} Category:1955 births Category:Living people Category:American billionaires Category:American businesspeople in the online media industry Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent Edgar Bronfman Jr. Category:Family of Carl M. Loeb Category:Lehman family Category:Lewisohn family Category:Collegiate School (New York) alumni Category:Seagram Category:American mass media owners Category:American music industry executives Category:NBCUniversal people Category:Universal Music Group Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:American businesspeople convicted of crimes Category:American chairpersons of corporations