Dan Charnas is an American journalist, author, and music executive. He is best known for his career in music journalism and his work as a record industry executive.
Charnas was born in New York City in 1962. He attended Brandeis University where he majored in English Literature. After college, he pursued a career in music journalism. He wrote for publications such as Spin and Billboard, and was an editor at The Source.
In the early 1990s, Charnas began working in the music industry. He worked as an A&R executive for Def Jam, where he was responsible for signing and developing artists such as Method Man and Foxy Brown. He then moved on to the position of Senior Vice President of A&R at Warner Music Group, where he signed acts such as D’Angelo and Erykah Badu.
In 2010, Charnas wrote a book, The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop, that was widely praised and praised by music industry professionals. The book chronicles the history of hip-hop from its origins in the 1970s to its current status as a global phenomenon.
Charnas currently serves as the executive vice president of A&R at Primary Wave Music, a music publishing and management company. In this position, he has signed artists such as T.I., Lil Wayne, and Black Eyed Peas.
Charnas is an outspoken advocate for music industry reform. He has written extensively on the need for a more equitable distribution of wealth in the industry and has spoken out against the exploitation of artists by major labels.
Charnas is a respected figure in the music industry and is considered an authority on the business of hip-hop. He has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and The Wall Street Journal, and has appeared on television programs such as The Boombox and MTV News.
Dan Charnas is a prominent figure in the music industry and a respected authority on the business of hip-hop. His career as a music journalist, record executive, and author has helped to shape the industry and has provided insight into the culture and business of hip-hop.
