Tommy Mottola facts for kids

Thomas Daniel Mottola (born July 14, 1948) is an American businessman and music executive. He is known for his work in the music, television, and film industries. Tommy Mottola has helped many famous artists become successful. He was the chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment for almost 15 years. Since 2000, he has been married to the Mexican actress and singer Thalía.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Tommy Mottola was born in the Bronx, New York City. He grew up in a middle-class Italian-American family. After finishing high school, he briefly attended Hofstra University.

However, he left college to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He played guitar and sang in an R&B band called The Exotics.

Starting in the Music Business

In the mid-1960s, Mottola started his career as a recording artist for CBS Records. He performed under the name "T.D. Valentine." When his singing career didn't take off, he moved into music management.

He began working for Chappell Publishing, where he met many artists. Later, he started his own management company, Champion Entertainment Organization.

Helping Artists Succeed

One of Mottola’s first big successes was managing the music duo Daryl Hall & John Oates. He helped them get a record deal and many endorsement deals. He used new ways to promote their music, like music videos and tours. These ideas greatly helped them become popular.

Mottola also successfully managed the rock group Xavion. He used music videos and tours to make them more visible to fans.

Leading Sony Music Entertainment

In 1988, Tommy Mottola was hired by Sony Music Entertainment. At that time, it was known as CBS Records. He was put in charge of their U.S. operations.

In 1990, he became the chairman and CEO of Sony Music. During his time there, Sony Music grew to operate in over 60 countries. It was also the first major music company to offer digital music downloads. By the year 2000, Sony Music was making over $6 billion in revenue each year.

Working with Top Artists

Mottola is well-known for signing and promoting many famous artists. These include Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Destiny's Child, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Shakira, and the Dixie Chicks.

He also oversaw the release of classic recordings on new compact discs. These included music from artists like Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Andy Williams, and Pink Floyd.

Mottola also worked closely with Michael Jackson on his Dangerous album. However, their professional relationship became difficult later on.

After Sony Music

Tommy Mottola left his role as head of Sony Music Entertainment in January 2003. After leaving, he started a new entertainment company. This company worked in recorded music, television, theater, fashion, and brand management.

He helped artists like Marc Anthony and Lindsay Lohan with their careers. Later, he also worked with artists such as Cassie Ventura and Mika.

In a partnership with Universal Music Group, Mottola brought back the famous Casablanca Records label. Through this partnership, he signed artists like Lindsay Lohan and Mika.

In January 2013, Mottola released his memoir, Hitmaker: The Man and His Music. He wrote the book with Cal Fussman. It shares stories about his career and the music industry.

Mottola Media Group

After leaving Sony in 2003, Mottola founded Mottola Media Group. This company has produced many projects in theater, television, and music. One of its most famous productions is the musical version of Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale. This musical premiered on Broadway in December 2016.

Mottola Media Group also produced other musicals. These include Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (2017), Jersey Boys (Off-Broadway, 2004), and Groundhog Day (2016).

In 2018, Mottola Media Group made a deal with eOne (now part of Lionsgate). This deal was to create TV shows and documentaries. Mottola also created and produced documentaries for HBO. These include The Latin Explosion: A New America (2015) and 15: A Quinceañera Story (2017). The latter even received a nomination from the Directors Guild of America.

Ntertain Studios

In March 2021, Mottola co-founded Ntertain Studios. He started it with Lex Borrero and Range Media Partners. Ntertain is an entertainment company that creates content focusing on Latino stories and talent.

Ntertain has produced several notable shows. These include Los Montaner for Disney+, and Thalía's Mixtape: El Soundtrack de Mi Vida for Paramount+. They also produced La Firma (The Signing) and Neon for Netflix.

In 2023, Ntertain teamed up with Audio Up Media. Their goal is to launch new Latino podcast shows and other multimedia projects. Ntertain is based in Miami and is led by Mottola and Borrero.

Personal Life

Tommy Mottola married singer Mariah Carey on June 5, 1993. Their wedding was a big event in New York City. They later separated in December 1996 and divorced in March 1998.

Thalía and Tommy Mottola at her Macy's Thalía Collection event

Mottola married Thalía on December 2, 2000. The couple has two children, a daughter born in 2007 and a son born in 2011.

Awards and Recognitions

Tommy Mottola has received several awards for his work and contributions:

• City of Hope Spirit of Life Award (1990): This award recognized his efforts to support the City of Hope's mission.
• Billboard Power Player of the Year (1993): This award honored his influence and leadership in the music industry.
• TJ Martell Foundation, Humanitarian of the Year: He was recognized for supporting research into cancer, leukemia, and AIDS.
• National Italian American Foundation, Honoree: This celebrated his achievements as a prominent Italian-American figure.
• Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2019): This is a special honor for his lasting impact in entertainment.

Written Works

• Mottola, Tommy, A New America: How Music Reshaped the Culture and Future of a Nation and Redefined My Life (Celebra, 2016) ISBN 0451467787.
• Mottola, Tommy with Cal Fussman, Hitmaker: The Man and His Music (New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2013) ISBN: 978-0446585187.

See also

In Spanish: Tommy Mottola para niños