Charlie Walk

Charlie Walk (born July 22, 1968) is an American music executive and entrepreneur. He was the president of Republic Records from 2016-2018, and the president of Epic Records from 2005-2008.[1] In 2018, he appeared as a judge on the FOX reality series The Four: Battle for Stardom.[2][3][4]

Charlie Walk
Walk in 2014
Born (1968-07-22) July 22, 1968
Alma materBoston University
Spouse(s)Lauran Walk

Early and personal life

Walk said he first wanted to work in the music industry when he was eight years old, when he listened to the Boston pop music station WRKO on an old transistor radio.[5] Walk started out in 1987 as a college marketing representative for Sony Music Distributions New England branch while he was attending Boston University's School of Management (Questrom School Of Business).[6] He graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.[7]

Walk married Lauran Miller Walk in 1997. The couple lives in Tribeca and Water Mill since 2003 and have four children, boys Jesse (2000) and Jagger (2001), and girls Jade (2005) and Jewel Summer (2007).[8]

Career

Columbia Records

Walk worked at Columbia Records in 1990 as a marketing and promotion manager covering the Northeast Region. His first job was to work with the New Kids on the Block over their first days on their local promotion, trying to break them into the mainstream.[9] Since 1994, he is Director, since 1997 Vice President in Pop Promotion.[7]

During his time at Columbia he became vice president for promotion at the label, and was profiled by The New York Times as one of the music industry's "young guns" in 1998.[10] At Columbia he worked with Destiny's Child and Beyoncé Knowles,[11] Will Smith, Maxwell, John Legend, Mariah Carey, The Fugees, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, John Mayer, Bruce Springsteen, and Aerosmith.[12]

He was named executive vice president, promotion, in 2000 from the position of senior vice president of pop promotion. In 2004, he was promoted to executive vice president of creative marketing and promotion at Columbia where he was in charge of developing strategies in non-traditional marketing areas, along with licensing.[13][14]

Epic Records

In December 2005, Walk became president of Epic Records.[15] Jessica Simpson moved from Columbia to Epic to follow Walk.[16] He also worked with the label’s established artists, including RedOne.[17]

Walk conceived of the first "personalized pop song," for Jessica Simpson and the first user-generated single for Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie." [18] "Hips Don't Lie" was first #1 hit for both Shakira and Wyclef Jean, who rapped on the track.[19] He also created a partnership with ABC to integrate Epic artists with their programming, which enabled viewers to purchase songs they heard on ABC television shows.[20] Walk also broke new artists at Epic including The Script, Sean Kingston, The Fray, Sara Bareilles and Natasha Bedingfield.[21] He was let go from the label in December 2008.[22]

JWALK

In February 2009, Walk started his own entertainment company CWE Media to create content for Endemol, with a talent management and strategic branding divisions.[7][23] Walk was executive producing the television content developed by the company.[20][24] The company was functioning until 2011.

Later in 2009, Walk co-founded RJW Collective, later known as JWALK.[25] The company's clients include the retailer Lacoste and the television broadcaster ABC.[12][26]

Republic Records

In 2013 Walk joined Republic Records as its executive vice president.[6] His position involves overseeing the marketing, PR and promotion teams for the label.[25][27][28] On July 2, 2014, Walk produced a one-off revival episode of Total Request Live on MTV entitled "Total Ariana Live".[29] He has also helped bring in John Varvatos Records.[30]

In 2014, Walk led Enrique Iglesias’ "Bailando" single campaign, which crossed the song over from Latin radio to Top 40 radio. The song has a blend of English and Spanish lyrics, and became the highest charting bilingual single since "The Macarena" in 1996.[31] Walk spearheaded Taylor Swift’s "Shake It Off" campaign which led Swift to become the first artist to have a single debut at number one on the pop music radio charts.[32] Additionally, Walk led the promotion for Lorde's quadruple platinum single "Royals". The Wall Street Journal wrote that Walk "is working on creating partnerships with radio stations, concert venues and music publications or blogs that will circulate her music without catapulting it into the mainstream. Instead of sending her music to KIIS, a famous top-40 Los Angeles radio station, they've turned to San Francisco's Live105 and Chicago's Q101, alternative stations."[33] Walk also signed Hailee Steinfeld to Republic.[34][5]

In February 2016, Walk was named president of the Republic Group, a newly formed grouping under the Universal Music Group, where he is charged with developing strategic partnerships with sister labels in addition to his role in charge of promotions and artist development.[35] In 2016 Walk co-founded Guess Music, after approaching Paul Marciano to discuss his expanding their partnership into a full-fledged label.[36] He also signed DNCE.[37]

Allegation of sexual misconduct

Walk was accused of sexual misconduct on January 29, 2018, an allegation he denied. On January 31, he was placed on leave by Republic, pending an investigation, and on February 1, 2018, he withdrew from The Four: Battle for Stardom where he was one of the four residing judges. In a prepared statement, he said: "Out of respect for the contestants, my fellow judges and everyone involved with the show, I have made the decision not to attend the finale of The Four. I do not want my presence to be a distraction. Needless to say this is very upsetting." [38][39]

Five women accused Walk of sexual misconduct over a period of decades in a lengthy piece published by Rolling Stone in February 2018.[40] In March 2018, following an internal review, Universal and Walk agreed to "mutually part ways."[41][42]

Since then, he worked for UnitedMasters as a consultant on radio strategy at the end of 2018.[43] On March 27, 2019 via social site Instagram was announced that Walk started a new music consulting service called Music Mastery.[44]

gollark: UTTER isocline.
gollark: I don't understand this process.
gollark: The impostor isn't evil, just misunderstood.
gollark: Sleep is unconsciousness too, probably maybe.
gollark: Excessive hedging.

References
  1. "Charlie Walk, Republic 'Agree to Part Ways' After Misconduct Investigation". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  2. Aswad, Jem (2018-01-31). "Charlie Walk Placed on Leave by Republic Records After Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Variety. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  3. "Charlie Walk to Be Fired From 'The Four,' Placed on Leave at Republic". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  4. "Republic Records Places Charlie Walk on Leave Following Sexual Misconduct Allegations". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  5. Shirley Halperin and Gary Trust (January 12, 2015). "Roundtable: Five Execs Examine Radio's Uncertain Future in the Streaming Age". Billboard. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  6. "Charlie Walk Named EVP of Republic Records". The Hollywood Reporter. January 28, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  7. "Profile Charlie Walk". Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  8. "New!! Our Summer 2012 Photo Diary: Lauran & Charlie Walk". Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  9. "Walk Sows Fifth Harmony".
  10. Monique P. Yazigi (August 16, 1998). "A Night Out With: The Young Guns; Working The Martini Shift". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  11. Roger Friedman (October 12, 2004). "Jacko Abandons Ailing 'Surrogate' Father". FoxNews.com. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  12. Billy Gray (September 12, 2012). "What's On My Desk: Jwalks's Charlie Walk". Haute Living. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  13. Phil Gallo (June 14, 2004). "Col takes Walk to exec VP". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  14. "Angry Young Men". Esquire. September 13, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  15. "Jessica Simpson Shifts To Epic". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  16. Stephen M. Silverman (March 27, 2006). "Jessica Switches Homes – for Her Music". People. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  17. Aida Alami (September 30, 2011). "Hollyworld: Meet Morocco's starmaker". Global Post. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  18. Mark Aspan (June 12, 2006). "For Shakira, First Came the Album, Then Came the Single". The New York Times. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  19. http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7408809/rewinding-the-charts-in-2006-shakiras-hips-dont-lie-hit-no-1-on
  20. "Charlie Walk's in Endemol pact". Variety. February 3, 2009. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  21. Callie Cunningham (December 11, 2008). "Charlie Walk's Time Runs Out at Epic Records". American Songwriter(subscription required). Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  22. "Charlie Walk: Top Music Executive Allegedly Preyed on Women for Decades". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  23. "Charlie Walk". Gawker. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  24. Noreen O'Leary (March 6, 2014). "This Agency Develops New Brand Categories JWalk also helps bolster the profiles of brands like DeLeon Tequila". Adweek. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  25. "Charlie Walk to Start Work as EVP of Republic Records as Soon as Monday: Sources". Billboard. January 23, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  26. Andrew Adam Newman (August 23, 2011). "Lacoste Recasts Itself in Its Own Prestige". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  27. Andy Greene (May 22, 2014). "How Ariana Grande and Max Martin Made 'Problem' the Song of the Summer". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
    - Andrew Hampp (December 19, 2013). "Austin Mahone Named Digital & Brand Strategist For Aquafina's FlavorSplash: Inside the 17-Year-Old's First Strategy Meeting". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  28. "Triple-Platform Push for Ariana Grande's Album - WSJ". online.wsj.com. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  29. Emily Blake (June 25, 2014). "Get Ready: Ariana Grande Is Bringing 'TRL' Back". MTV. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  30. Kory Grow (February 18, 2014). "Style Guru John Varvatos Launches Music Label to 'Nurture' New Artists". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  31. "Ask Billboard: How Has Enrique Iglesias' 'Bailando' Become Such A Big Hit?". Billboard. July 27, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
    - "Enrique Iglesias breaks Spanish barriers, making ‘Bailando’ a #1 hit". voxxi.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-24. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  32. "HITS Daily Double: News". hitsdailydouble.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  33. "New Zealand Pop Singer Lorde Makes Waves - WSJ". online.wsj.com. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  34. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/hailee-steinfeld-on-working-with-max-martin-following-up-love-myself-20151112
  35. "charlie walk president republic group". Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  36. "guess republic records guess music". Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  37. "DNCA". Retrieved April 2, 2019.
  38. "Suspended record exec Charlie Walk won't be in 'Four' finale". USA Today. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  39. Kiefer, Halle. "The Four Judge Charlie Walk Accused of Sexual Harassment in Open Letter". Vulture. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  40. "Charlie Walk: Top Music Executive Accused of Sexual Misconduct Over Decades". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  41. Halperin, Jem Aswad, Shirley (2018-03-28). "Charlie Walk Out at Republic Records (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  42. "Charlie Walk, Republic 'Agree to Part Ways' After Misconduct Investigation". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2018-03-29.
  43. Newman, Jason (2018-12-20). "Disgraced Record Exec Charlie Walk Resurfaces in Music Business". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-04-02.
  44. "Music Mastery. Get inspired. Get Mentored by the Masters of Music. Pre Enrollment starts April 18th. Limited availability. musicmastery.academy". Retrieved 2019-04-09.
Preceded by
Polly Anthony		 Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Epic Records
2005–2008		 Succeeded by
Amanda Ghost
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