Boston, MA, February 28, 2008 Richard Blackstone, former Chair and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music Publishing, spoke at Berklee College of Music recently, delivering the 15th Annual Zafris Distinguished Lecture for Music Business/Management, titled “The Music Business in Transition: Disruption with Optimism.”
In a conversation with John Kellogg, interim chair of music business/management, Blackstone discussed his successful career as a leader in the music publishing industry and his thoughts on the new direction of the music business.
He talked about the time and energy spent developing performers and songwriters like Linkin Park, Macy Gray, and the Backstreet Boys; the transformation of the music business to an undetermined model; the ways in which copyright legislation is affecting the transition; and the interaction between publishers and performing rights organizations. Blackstone urged students in the audience to identify opportunities and know when to seize them.
At the conclusion, he was presented with a plaque, recognizing his outstanding contributions to music business education, by Kellogg and Don Gorder, chair of Berklee's Music Business/Management department, currently the largest major at the college.
