{{Infobox person | name = Thomas Hesse | image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing brackets --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per WP:DOB. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. --> | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) --> | death_place = | nationality = | other_names = | alma_mater = Oxford University and University of St. Gallen | occupation = Entrepreneur | years_active = 2002-present | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Thomas Hesse''' is a media and digital media executive and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Dreamstage Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dreamstage: Ticketed Live Streaming Platform Launched By Thomas Hesse, Scott Chasin & Jan Vogler|url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/dreamstage-ticketed-live-streaming-platform-launched-146316|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Pollstar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Finkel|first=Sarah|title=How DREAMSTAGE is taking live music streaming by storm, with global streaming service Deezer by its side|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/dreamstage-redefining-live-music-streaming-with-deezer-2021-5|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Business Insider|language=en-US}}</ref> and Consonance Investments LLC. He was previously the President of Global Digital Business & US Sales/ Distribution for Sony Music Entertainment and president of Corporate Development and New Businesses as well as Member of the Executive Board of Bertelsmann.

==Education== Hesse holds a BA and MA from Oxford University, an MSc from the London School of Economics and a Doctorate in Corporate Finance from the University of St. Gallen.<ref name=rtlpr>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtlgroup.com/www/htm/pressrelease_AD3B53FE4DA9468F976CE1CB32CCB680.aspx |title=17 March 2003 - New management structure at |publisher=RTL Group |date=2003-03-17 |accessdate=2010-08-22}}</ref> He studied as a concert pianist at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and the Hochschule für Musik in Düsseldorf, Germany.<ref>[http://press.sonybmg.com/2007/01/10/thomas-hesse-president-global-digital-business-sony-bmg-music-entertainment/ Thomas Hesse Adds Responsibility For U.S. Sales To Existing Role as President, Global Digital Business, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928034706/http://press.sonybmg.com/2007/01/10/thomas-hesse-president-global-digital-business-sony-bmg-music-entertainment/ |date=2008-09-28 }}</ref>

==Career== Hesse began his career in the media and entertainment industry as a corporate consultant at McKinsey & Company, In 2002, he was appointed as the EVP and chief strategic officer of BMG in New York. Prior to joining BMG, he held a number of executive positions at the company's television division RTL, including the secretary-general of RTL Television and CEO of RTL New Media.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Phil|last1=Gallo|accessdate=2020-08-06|title=Sony BMG sets vets|url=https://variety.com/2004/music/news/sony-bmg-sets-vets-1117911012/|date=27 September 2004}}</ref> He briefly held a position as restructuring CEO of Paddle8 Auctionata, a startup formed from the merger of New York-based Paddle8 and Berlin-based Auctionata.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2020-08-07|title=Auctionata Paddle8 Names New CEO|url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/auctionata-paddle-8-announce-new-ceo-630326|date=1 September 2016|website=artnet News}}</ref>

In his position as president and chief digital officer at Bertelsmann,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/29/sony-music-executive-to-rejoin-bertelsmann/|title=Sony Music Executive to Rejoin Bertelsmann|first=Ben|last=Sisario|date=Nov 29, 2011|accessdate=Aug 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/news/read/sony-digital-boss-to-join-bertelsmann/047478|title=Sony digital boss to join Bertelsmann &#124; News &#124; Music Week|website=www.musicweek.com|accessdate=Aug 5, 2020}}</ref> Hesse oversaw the company's worldwide corporate and digital development, as well as its music rights division BMG Rights Management and its venture capital arms, Bertelsmann Digital Media Investments and Bertelsmann Asia Investments. He was also responsible for the M&A team and the company's engagement in education venture fund University Ventures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2013/biz/news/thomas-hesse-to-exit-media-conglom-bertelsmann-1200899352/|title=Bertelsmann Digital Guru to Exit Media Giant|first1=Leo|last1=Barraclough|date=Nov 29, 2013|accessdate=Aug 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bertelsmann-digital-head-thomas-hesse-660721|title=Bertelsmann Digital Head Thomas Hesse Resigns|website=The Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=Aug 5, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bertelsmann.com/news-and-media/news/thomas-hesse-to-leave-bertelsmann-executive-board-at-his-own-request.jsp?atn=13411&abp=13411,15872,|title=Thomas Hesse to Leave Bertelsmann Executive Board at His Own Request - Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA|first=Bertelsmann SE & Co|last=KGaA (www.bertelsmann.com)|website=www.bertelsmann.com|accessdate=Aug 5, 2020}}</ref>

Hesse has been the president of Sony Music and he was the in-charge of Global Digital Business and US Sales & Distribution.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20029281-261.html |title=Sony to mSpot: Get off of my cloud &#124; Media Maverick - CNET News |access-date=2014-03-06 |archive-date=2014-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306171731/http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20029281-261.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10459568-261.html |title=Pandora spurs music sales; Spotify not so much &#124; Media Maverick - CNET News |access-date=2014-03-06 |archive-date=2014-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306154814/http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10459568-261.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also led Sony Music's digital direct-to-consumer efforts and was as co-founder of VEVO, the digital music channel, together with Universal Music and Abu Dhabi Media Company.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10459262-261.html |title=Lady Gaga generates 25 percent of Vevo's traffic &#124; Media Maverick - CNET News |access-date=2014-03-06 |archive-date=2014-03-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306155023/http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10459262-261.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Copy protection rootkit scandal== In 2005, asked about the Sony BMG Copy protection rootkit, Hesse's declaration to Neda Ulaby: "Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?" became famous and added prominence to the case to reporters and the general public.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4989260 |title=Sony Music CDs Under Fire from Privacy Advocates |publisher=NPR |date=2005-11-04 |accessdate=2011-06-20 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206200830/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4989260 |archivedate=2013-12-06}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Wikiquote|Thomas Hesse}} {{Wikinews|Sony faces class action lawsuits for DRM}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051124162651/http://blog.sonymusic.com/sonybmg/archives/007020.html THOMAS HESSE NAMED PRESIDENT, GLOBAL DIGITAL BUSINESS, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120126005714/http://www.bertelsmann.com/News/9362059/Thomas-Hesse-Appointed-as-New-Member-of-Bertelsmann-Executive-Board Bertelsmann AG]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesse, Thomas}} Category:Sony people Category:Living people Category:Mozarteum University Salzburg alumni Category:University of St. Gallen alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people)