Who is Tommy Mottola?

Tommy Mottola is a prominent American music executive and producer. Beginning with his musical journey and transitioning to the executive side of the business, he served as the president and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment from 1990 to 2003, overseeing the careers of numerous successful artists, including Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion.

Likewise, Mottola has produced several hit songs and albums and has been recognized for contributing to the music industry with various honours and awards.

Birthday and Zodiac

Education

Physical Stats

Net Worth

Family and Relationship                  

Social Media

Biography Timeline

He is a music executive and producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry. He is best known for his tenure as the chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment, overseeing the careers of artists such as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Jennifer Lopez. Mottola’s contributions to the music industry have earned him numerous awards and recognition throughout his career.

• 1948: He was born on July 14, in The Bronx, New York.
• 1967-1968: He attended Iona Prep in New Rochelle, New York.
• 1971: Began his career in the music industry as a recording artist, releasing two albums under the name “T.D. Valentine.”
• 1975: Joined CBS Records as a sales executive.
• 1988: He was named the president of Sony Music Entertainment, where he helped turn the company into a global powerhouse.
• The 1990s: Under Mottola’s leadership, Sony Music Entertainment dominated the music industry, with artists such as Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and Jennifer Lopez achieving massive success.
• 2003: Left Sony Music Entertainment to start his own entertainment company, Mottola Media Group.
• 2016: He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
• 2020: Released his memoir, “Hitmaker: The Man and His Music.”

Biography

Tommy was born “Thomas Daniel Mottola” on July 14, 1949, in The Bronx, New York City. He was raised in a middle-class family of Italian and Irish descent. Mottola’s father was a correcting officer, and his mother worked as a seamstress.

He attended Iona Grammar School and Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, New York. Mottola attended military school briefly before dropping out to pursue a music career. Mottola attended Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, for his higher studies but dropped out before completing his degree.

Professional Life of Sony’s Ex-Executive

Tommy began his professional career in the music industry as a recording artist and songwriter. He released several albums but did not achieve significant commercial success as a musician. In the late 1970s, he began working in the A&R (Artists and Repertoire) department at CBS Records, where he signed and worked with artists such as Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, and Billy Joel.

Mottola’s career took off when he was appointed president of CBS Records in 1988. He helped guide the label through its merger with Sony Music in 1988 and was later named CEO of Sony Music Entertainment in 1990. During his tenure, Sony Music became the world’s largest music company, and Mottola oversaw the careers of many successful artists, including Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and Celine Dion.

After leaving Sony in 2003, Mottola founded The Mottola Group, a private equity firm that invests in media, entertainment, and technology companies. He has also continued to work as a music producer and has served as a mentor on the television show “American Idol.” Mottola has also been involved in philanthropy and has established the Mottola Rancic-Terzian Chair in Music at the University of Southern California.

Marriage

He has been married thrice as of this writing. His first marriage was to singer-songwriter Carly Simon in 1971. The couple has two children: a son named Ben and a daughter named Sally. They divorced in 1990. The music executive married Mariah Carey in 1993, but their relationship became tumultuous, and they divorced in 1998.

There were reports of controlling behaviour on Mottola’s part, and Carey has spoken publicly about feeling trapped in their marriage. In 2000, Mottola married Mexican Singer and actress Thalia, whom he had discovered and signed to this record label. The couple has two children: a daughter named Sabrina and a son named Matthew Alejandro. They have been together for over 20 years and are known for their strong relationship.

Height, Weight and Physical Appearance

Tommu is a music executive standing 5 feet 9 inches and weighing approximately 72 kilograms. Regarding his physical attributes, Mottola has a medium build with a toned physique. He has dark brown hair, often styled in a classic slicked-back look, and his eyes are also dark brown.

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Net Worth

His net worth has exponentially increased, estimated at a whopping $540 million net worth.

Trivia

• He was born on July 14, 1949, in the Bronx, New York.
• He is of Italian and Irish descent.
• Started his career in the music industry as a songwriter for Chappell Music in the late 1970s.
• He signed Mariah Carey to Columbia Records in 1988, launching her successful pop superstar career.
• He has also produced films and television shows, including “The Jerky Boys” and “The Latin Explosion: A New America.”

Frequently Asked Questions