{{Short description|American music industry executive}} {{Infobox person | name = James Diener | image = File:MV5BYjJjODVkM2EtODk3OC00OTdhLWI1ZDMtZGY3YmI4NmMwNWJmXkEyXkFqcGc@. V1 FMjpg UX1000.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_date = | alma_mater = Johns Hopkins University | occupation = Entertainment & Music Executive | years_active = | known_for = }}
'''James Diener''' is an American entertainment and music executive.
He is the co-founder of Freesolo Entertainment,<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6397775/freesolo-label-publishing-management-james-diener-ben-berkman|title=Former A&M/Octone Execs Launch Hybrid Company Freesolo; Gavin DeGraw, Hunter Hunted Among First Signings|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref> an entertainment company consisting of Freesolo Music, a record label joint venture with Interscope Records/Universal Music Group; Freesolo Publishing, a joint venture with Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Freesolo Management, and a joint venture with Vector Management. Freesolo has represented artists such as Avril Lavigne, Gavin DeGraw, The Struts, Jazmin Bean, Hailee Steinfeld, Jharrel Jerome, Rachel Platten, and Pitbull.
He was the founder, CEO, and President of A&M Octone Records, which signed and developed platinum artists including Maroon 5, K'naan Hollywood Undead and Flyleaf.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
Diener conceived and formed, as1one,<ref name=Variety1>{{Cite journal|last1=Halprin|first1=Shirley|journal=Variety|date=2022-07-29|title=Israel's Music Business Has the Ears of the Majors|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/global/israel-music-industry-major-record-companies-1235329590/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=דור מאיר מועלם|journal=Mako|date=2022-10-26|title=האיש שגילה את מארון משקיע עכשיו בשישה ישראלים: "המטרה להיות הרכב הפופ הגדול ביותר |trans-title=Follow us:The man who discovered Maroon 5 is now investing in six Israelis: "The goal is to be the biggest pop group in the world"|language=Hebrew|url=https://www.mako.co.il/music-news/local/Article-3b9636a8907c481027.htm}}</ref> the first mixed Israeli Palestinian pop group. as1one is the subject of a 2024 Paramount+ 4-part docuseries,<ref> {{Cite magazine|last1=Flam|first1=Charna|last2=Franklin|first2=McKinley|last3=Scorziello|first3=Sophia|journal=Variety|date=2023-05-26|title=Apple TV+ 'Hijack' Starring Idris Elba Receives First Official Trailer (TV News Roundup)|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/heartstopper-season-2-first-look-release-date-netflix-1235621557/}}</ref><ref name=People>{{cite web |last=Wang |first=Jenna |title=as1one on How They 'Lift Each Other Up' as World's First Israeli-Palestinian Boy Band with Debut Single (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/as1one-as-worlds-first-israeli-palestinian-boy-band-debut-single-all-eyes-on-us-exclusive-8705297 |publisher=People |date=3 September 2024}}</ref> for which he is also Executive Producer.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Sanchez|first1=Flora|journal=Media Play News|date=2024-11-13|title=Paramount+ to Stream Documentary on Israeli-Palestinian Pop Group As1one|url=https://www.mediaplaynews.com/paramount-to-stream-documentary-on-israeli-palestinian-pop-group-as1one/}}</ref>
He was the co-founder of Alignment Artist Capital,<ref name="Robehmed">{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2015/04/07/blackrock-investing-in-musicians-through-alignment-artist-capital/|title=BlackRock Investing In Musicians Through Alignment Artist Capital|last=Robehmed|first=Natalie|work=Forbes|access-date=2018-08-13|language=en}}</ref> a New York–based specialty finance company created specifically for the entertainment industry<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Christman|first=Ed|journal=Billboard Magazine|date=2015-04-06|title=Industry Vets Launch Alignment...|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/6524232/james-diener-howard-lipson-alignment-artists-capital-blackrock|language=en-us}}</ref> in partnership with BlackRock.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schneider| first=Laura|date=2015-04-07|url=http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/04/music-entrepreneur-james-diener-and-veteran-private-equity-investor-launch-alignment-artist-capital-.html|title=Music Industry Veterans Launch Alignment Artist Capital|work=Hypebot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Newman|first=Melinda|journal=Entrepreneur Magazine|date=2015-12-03|title=Why This New Form Of Funding...|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/252266|language=en-us}}</ref>
He was the Executive Music Producer for Netflix's 2018 unscripted music series ''Westside''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/netflix-westside-interviews-1203006760/|last=Herman|first=James Partrick|date=2018-10-11|title=Netflix's 'Westside' Flips the Script on Music Reality|work=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life== Diener grew up in New York and attended The Fieldston School. His father, Steve Diener, was the president of ABC Records in the 1970s. He attended Johns Hopkins University and graduated in 1991 with honors.<ref name="LA Times">{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/la-mag-june072009-james-diener-story.html|title=Sounds Like a Long-Term Plan|last=Kornbluth|first=Jesse|website=Los Angeles Times|date=7 June 2009 |access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref>
==Career== Diener was the founder, CEO, and President of A&M Octone Records,<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Music Industry's New Biz Model |url=https://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/01/12/f_octone_record_music.fortune/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116051505/http://money.cnn.com/video/fortune/2010/01/12/f_octone_record_music.fortune/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 16, 2010 |work=CNN | date=2010-08-20}}</ref> a joint venture between Octone Records and Universal Music Group. A&M/Octone Records signed and developed platinum artists including Maroon 5, Hollywood Undead, Flyleaf and K'naan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2010/01/11/news/companies/am_octone_music.fortune/index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115085412/http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/11/news/companies/am_octone_music.fortune/index.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 15, 2010|title=A&M/Octone returns to music's roots - nurturing artists - Jan. 12, 2010|last=Kimes|first=Mina|website=money.cnn.com|access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|journal=Fast Company|date=2010-11-01|title=Portrait Of A Rapper...|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1693696/portrait-rapper-young-marketer-how-knaan-delivered-coca-colas-300-million-bet|language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last=Brady |first=Shirley |date=2011-01-27|title=Coke, K'naan & 2010 FIFA World Cup Campaign |url=https://www.brandchannel.com/2011/01/27/music-brands-coke-knaan-2010-fifa-world-cup-campaign/ |journal=BrandChannel }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Citation|title=James Diener's Downtown Club History 101|url=https://www.wsj.com/video/james-diener-downtown-club-history-101/E8F0B9C0-CB3C-43A5-9F22-A075E1EDBFCB.html|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref> After six years of operation, in September 2013, Octone initiated its buy/sell rights in the joint venture, resulting in Universal Music Group purchasing Octone Records' 50% interest in A&M Octone Records.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/interscope-geffen-a-m-acquires-644375|title=Interscope Geffen A&M Acquires Full Ownership of Label Home to Maroon 5|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=2018-08-13|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/21/arts/music/21maro.html|title=Maroon 5 Record Deal|last=Leeds|first=Jeff|work=The New York Times |date=21 May 2007 |access-date=2018-08-13|language=en}}</ref>
In 2000, Diener founded Octone Records, while simultaneously serving as Senior Vice President of A&R Marketing<ref name="Octone Records">{{Cite journal|journal=Harvard Business School Case Study |last1=Elberse|first1=Anita|last2=Ofek|first2=Elie|date=2007-06-29|title=Octone Records|url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=34707|language=en-us}}</ref> for Clive Davis<ref name="The Soundtrack Of My Life">{{cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Clive |last2=DeCurtis|first2=Anthony| date=2013-02-12 |title=The Soundtrack Of My Life |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=20phZjb8Tb4C&q=gavin+degraw+james+diener6&pg=PA466 |publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1476714783}}</ref> and the RCA Music Group.<ref name="LA Times" /> As part of that relationship, Diener negotiated a joint venture with Sony Music that gave Octone the ability to upstream successful acts in partnership with the RCA Music Group for further international marketing and promotion. While at RCA, Diener signed and developed singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw.<ref name="The Soundtrack Of My Life"/><ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=6 Questions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WCkEAAAAMBAJ&q=gavin+degraw+james+diener&pg=PA22 |magazine=Billboard | date=2007-04-28}}</ref>
Octone was also noted in the music industry for its private-equity financing model and is the subject of a 2007 Harvard Business School case study.<ref name="Octone Records"/> Upon Octone's original launch, Diener raised $5 million of private equity investment from BlackRock,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Schatzker|first=Erik|journal=Bloomberg Magazine|date=2017-04-18|title=Larry Fink Q&A|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2017-blackrock-larry-fink-interview/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Thomas|first=Lauren|journal=CNBC|date=2017-04-18|title=Blackrock's Larry Fink Helped Create...|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/18/blackrocks-larry-fink-also-helped-create-maroon-5.html}}</ref> The Blackstone Group,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bizit.io/post/music-to-their-ears-interview-with-james-diener-of-am-octone|last=Meoli|first=Daria|work=NY Enterprise Report|title=Music To Their Ears|access-date=2018-08-13|language=en}}</ref> Lazard Freres, Credit Suisse First Boston, MacAndrews & Forbes, Kelso & Company and Soros Fund Management.
Prior to Octone Records and RCA Music Group, Diener was Vice President of A&R and Marketing at Columbia Records,<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Executive Turntable |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cAgEAAAAMBAJ&q=james+diener+billboard+executive+announcement&pg=PA10 |magazine=Billboard | date=1999-09-25}}</ref> working with Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Roger Waters, Black Crowes, New Kids On The Block, Iron Maiden, The Jayhawks, Tony Bennett, Jesse Malin, D Generation, Clutch, Chris Whitley and Terence Trent D'Arby, among others.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Elberse|first1=Anita|last2=Ofek|first2=Elie|date=2007-06-29|title=Octone Records|url=https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=34707|journal=Harvard Business School Review|language=en-us}}</ref>
Diener is a record producer and member of both NARAS and the Academy of Magical Arts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://celebrityaccess.com/2019/05/31/the-secret-magicians-of-the-music-industry-part-7-james-diener/|title = The Secret Magicians Of The Music Industry|work=Celebrity Access|last=Reinartz|first=Joe|date=2019-05-31|language=en}}</ref>
He has been an invited guest speaker at New York University, Harvard Business School, Wharton School of Business, Berklee College of Music,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Fee|first1=Kerry|last2=Verdoorn|first2=Mia|journal=Berklee|date=2012-03-13|title=A&R In The Digital Age|url=https://www.berklee.edu/news/3224/james-diener-a-r-in-the-digital-age}}</ref> and the Benjamin N. Cordoza School of Law. Diener was also featured in ''Blockbusters'', a 2013 book on the business of entertainment<ref>{{cite book |last=Elberse |first=Anita | date=2013-10-15 |title=Blockbusters |url=https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780805094336 |publisher=Macmillan Publishers|isbn=9780805094336}}</ref> and a 2002 ''New York Times Magazine'' cover story on the pop music industry.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/04/magazine/who-s-that-girl.html|title = Who's That Girl?|work=New York Times Magazine|last=Hirschberg|first=Lynn|date=2002-08-04|language=en}}</ref> He delivered the Keynote Speech at the 2010 NARM Convention in Chicago.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=293774|title=HITS Daily Double: Rumor Mill - James Diener at NARM|work=HITS Daily Double|access-date=2018-08-13}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Diener, James}} Category:American music industry executives Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:Living people Category:1969 births