During the 1960s, Black musicians and executives still had a difficult time breaking into the mainstream of the music industry. Despite the commercial success of Black music produced by the independent labels major record companies (with the exception of Decca) did not invest in it.

However, a group of pioneering Black music industry executives, managers, disc jockeys, and promoters began opening new doors for African American artists.

dr westbrooks

Logan H. Westbrooks was one of these pioneering executives, and his personal collection — held by the Archives of African American Music and Culture at Indiana University Bloomington — reflects the state of the music industry from the mid-1960s to the 1980s, which is often described as the Golden Age for Black popular music. This podcast features highlights from the collection which illuminate the role and achievements of Logan H. Westbrooks as a music industry executive and promoter of Black music for both major and independent labels.

 

 

 

Logan H. Westbrooks is a former music executive whose resume includes Source Records, CBS, Mercury, Capitol and more. He has been instrumental in the careers of Sly and The Family Stone, Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers, Carlos Santana, The Jackson 5, Earth Wind and Fire, Miles Davis, Nelly and many more.

Testimonials

Jay King

“You can’t just say I want to make money. You’ve got to say, I love music.”

Jay King Artist, Producer, Label Owner Founder Club Nouveau

Jesus Garber

“The business is all about publishing.  It’s about ownership of songs; it’s ownership of product, that’s what it’s all about.”

Jesus Garber Marketing Promotions The Jesus Garber Company

Stephanie Spruill

“You have to stay in the game, because it changes all of the time.”

Stephanie Spruill Founder of Spruill House of Music School

Larry Blackmon

“I thank God for giving me what I wanted, and this is the closest thing to immortality you’re going to get.”

Larry Blackmon
Founding member of Cameo

Jonathon Butler

“You are your own CEO. Be diligent about your business.”

Jonathon Butler Singer, Songwriter & Guitarist

The Anatomy of the Music Industry embodies an unprecedented pool of experts from all aspects of the music business. The talent noted in the book have worked with Michael Jackson, Prince, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Whitney Houston, Elvis, Kirk Franklin, Tamela Mann, Mary J. Blige, Earth Wind & Fire, Peter White, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, India Arie and many more.

Other expertise in the book is shared by:
Angelo Ellerbee, Double XXposure Public Relations New York
Bill Speed, Music Video Programming Pioneer
Bishop Donald Hilliard, Pastor of Cathedral International
Clifford Russell, CEO of CR Marketing, Promotions & Media
Dan Weiner, V. P. Western Region at Pandora
David Wasserman, CEO of Latin Cool Recordings & Latin Cool Now
Dorie Pride, Singer, Songwriter, Musician & Author
Eunice Mosley, Freelance Associates Public Relations
Gary A. Watson, Esq., Entertainment Attorney
Gil Robertson, Journalist & Executive at African American Film Critics Association
Greg Coakley, Music Analyst & Consultant
Greg Savage, Sound Designer & Owner of DIY Music Biz
Jay King, Artist, Writer, Producer, Club Nouveau
Jazzy Rita Shelby, Entertainer and Media & Marketing Exec
Jesus Garber, Former Exec w/Motown, A&M, Zoo Ent & Hollywood Records
Jo Jo McDuffie Funderburg, Formerly of The Mary Jane Girls
Jonathan Butler, Artist, Writer & Producer
Kashif, Artist, Producer, Songwriter & Author
Kevin Ross, Publisher of Radio Facts Magazine
Larry Blackmon, Artist, Writer, Producer from Cameo
Logan H. Westbrooks, Music Executive, Author of Anatomy of the Music Industry
Marc Brogdon, N2U Creative Marketing Group
Maryann Johnson, VP of Fox Music Administration
Marquis Hill, Winner of 2015 Monk Institute International Jazz Trumpet Competition
Michael Brae, CEO of Hit Man Records, Inc.
Michael Corcoran, CEO of MusicSubmit.com
Michael Nixon, N5 Marketing, expert in Street Team Promotions
Michael White, Former Marketing Exec at Capitol Records
Paul McKinney, Instructor at Stax Music Academy
Ray Chew, Music Director Dancing With The Stars & American Idol
Rick Scott, Great Scott Public Relations
Stephanie Spruill, Singer, Songwriter, Artist Development Expert
Stephen Herring, Artist, Publisher and Instructor at Musicians Institute
Shannon Sanders, Grammy winning artist & producer, Music Director for India Arie
The Prophet X, Artist, Writer, Producer, Hip Hop Pastor
Thornell Jones, Fortress Marketing
Vicki Mack Lataillade, Founder of Gospo Centric Records, CEO of Lataillade Entertainment