Joshua Carl Gruss (born 14 March 1974), better known as Josh Gruss, is an entrepreneur, musician and songwriter based in New York City, United States.[1] He is a co-founder of Round Hill Music, an American music publishing company and co-owner of Quad Studios Nashville, a recording facility located on Music Row in Nashville, Tennessee.[2] He is also a guitarist and songwriter with the Boston-based band Rubikon. Currently, Gruss serves as the chairman and CEO at Round Hill Music.[3]
Josh Gruss | |
|---|---|
 Josh Gruss in 2015 | |
| Born | Joshua Carl Gruss March 14, 1974 New York City, United States |
| Education | Master of Business Administration |
| Alma mater | Columbia University • London Business School • Trinity College (Connecticut) • Berklee College of Music |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur • Musician • Songwriter • Music publisher • Record executive |
| Years active | 2010 - present |
| Organization | Round Hill Music |
| Label | Round Hill Music |
| Spouse | |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Joseph S. Gruss (grandfather) |
Early life
editGruss was born to Agneta Angel and Martin Gruss, in 1974, in New York City. His grandfather, Joseph S. Gruss, was a financier and a businessman. Gruss completed his high school education from Taft School in 1992 and joined Trinity College (Connecticut) where he graduated with a B.A. degree in 1996. In 2010, Gruss earned executive MBA degrees from Columbia University as well as from London Business School. He also studied music business and guitar at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.[1]
Career
editGruss began his career at Atlantic Records, followed by work as an analyst at Bear Stearns, worked as a risk arbitrage analyst at his family's family office, Gruss & Company. He was also in the United States Coast Guard Reserve for six years, including service after the September 11 attacks.[4][5][6][7]
In 2010, Gruss founded the music publishing company Round Hill Music with Richard Rowe and Neil Gillis.[8] The company was established as the first private equity group dedicated to music royalty investments, that brought capital to artists such as The Beatles and The Offspring.[9] In 2013, Gruss acquired the publishing rights to the song "Land of a Thousand Dances" by Chris Kenner which generated average royalties of $200,000 a year for the company.[10] The next year, Gruss and the songwriter Marti Frederiksen acquired and restored the Quad Studios Nashville.[2] The studio was originally opened in 1971 and located on Music Row in Nashville.[11]
In 2018, Gruss acquired the music publishing company, Carlin America and the rights to over 150,000 songs for $245 million, including the hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart" written by Jim Steinman.[12] Other acquisitions included the rights to the songs recorded by The Goo Goo Dolls, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Bruno Mars, Tim McGraw, Black Sabbath, Daughtry (band), Craig David, The Cult, Kiss, Limp Bizkit, Blues Traveler, and Skid Row.[13][14]
In May 2020, Gruss established Black Hill Records, a record label dedicated to rock music, and signed Austin-based duo Black Pistol Fire, Nashville-based blues and rock guitarist Jared James Nichols and British rock band The Cult.[15][16] In November 2020, Gruss led Round Hill Music in collecting $291 million for a new fund dedicated to investing in music rights. The Wall Street Journal reported that it was the third and the largest music royalty fund for the company.[17]
In January 2021, Gruss was included in the Billboard's Change Agents list for raising nearly $600 million for acquisitions, including $328 million with a public listing on the London Stock Exchange.[18][19] In May 2021, Gruss acquired the Swedish label Telegram Studios whose master recordings and catalogue included Estelle, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Throwing Muses, Ziggy Marley, and Surfer Blood.[20] Later that year, in August, he created a Round Hill Music Endowed Scholarship Fund of 1 million dollars to aid multiple students at Berklee College of Music on an annual basis with financial assistance in pursuing Music Business and Management degrees.[21] In January 2022, Gruss was also included in the Billboard Power List.[22]
Music career
editSince 2015, Gruss has been an integral part of the band Rubikon as a guitarist and a songwriter.[1] He has extensively toured with the band and opened for Buckcherry, Disturbed, Black Label Society, Sevendust, Shinedown, Nonpoint, The Cult, Tesla, Pop Evil, and Candlebox. "Blood on My Hands", co-written by Gruss, peaked at #37 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart in 2019.[23]
Gruss has been the Reissue Executive Producer on four of the London-based rock band Bush albums including The Science of Things, Deconstructed, Razorblade Suitcase and Sixteen Stone.[24] He was also the executive producer of the album Travelers Blues by Blues Traveler, which was nominated for the Best Traditional Blues Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022.[3][25]
References
edit- ^ a b c Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson An EMBA journey: From Wall St to music boss "Ft.com" Financial Times Oct. 21st, 2013
- ^ a b Nate Rau Quad Studio owners keep Nashville's musical heritage alive "Tennessean.com" The Tennessean Nov. 19th, 2015
- ^ a b Ed Christman Round Hill’s Josh Gruss Talks Publishing Boom, Rock’s Steadiness & How James Brown Beats Drake "Billboard.com" Billboard Oct. 25th, 2021
- ^ [1] Spring 2011
- ^ New York Times: "WEDDINGS/CELEBRATIONS; Shoshanna Lonstein, Joshua Gruss" May 11, 2003
- ^ Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (October 20, 2013). "An EMBA journey: From Wall St to music boss". Financial Times. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ Darren Paltrowitz,Rubikon’s Josh Gruss Talks New LP, Round Hill Music and Beracha Foundation "Jewishjournal.com" The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles Sep. 16th, 2019
- ^ Ben Sisario Boutique Music Publisher Invests in Six Early Beatles Songs "Nytimes.com" The New York Times Jan. 11th, 2012
- ^ David Benoit and Ethan Smith Baby, You're a Rich Man: Ex-Wall Streeter Owns the Beatles, Wants More "Wsj.com" The Wall Street Journal Aug. 14th, 2012
- ^ Nic Fildes Round Hill hopes to hit the right note with London IPO "Ft.com" Financial Times Oct. 13th, 2020
- ^ Nate Rau Famous Quad Studios to reopen in 2015 as Round Hill "Tennessean.com" The Tennessean Nov. 24th, 2014
- ^ Ed Christman Round Hill Finalizes $245M Acquisition of Carlin America, Home to Elvis Presley & AC/DC Catalogs "Billboard.com" Billboard Jan. 11th, 2018
- ^ Jem Aswad Round Hill Music Aims to Raise $375 Million for IPO Next Month "Variety.com" Variety Oct. 12th, 2020
- ^ Mischa Frankl-Duval and Lucy Harley-McKeown Investors in Search of Yield Turn to Music-Royalty Funds "Wsj.com" The Wall Street Journal Sep. 22nd, 2019
- ^ Jack Needham Sonya McKinley named Director, Production & Metadata at Round Hill Records "Musicbusinessworldwide.com" Music Business Worldwide Apr. 5th, 2022
- ^ Murray Stassen Round Hill expands recordings division with new rock label Black Hill Records Music Business Worldwide May 7th, 2020
- ^ Luis Garcia Round Hill Pulls In $291 Million for its Third Music Royalty Fund "Wsj.com" The Wall Street Journal Nov. 19th, 2020
- ^ Billboard Staff Billboard Change Agents: Leaders Stepping Up In A Year of Turmoil "Billboard.com" Billboard Jan. 28th, 2021
- ^ Simon Duke Hedge fund boss Josh Gruss set to bank $10m as Round Hill music fund aims for float "Thetimes.co.uk" The Times Oct. 26th, 2020
- ^ MusicWeek Staff Round Hill Music acquires Telegram Studios' master recordings "Musicweek.com" Music Week May 18th, 2021
- ^ Jack Needham Round Hill founder Josh Gruss establishes Berklee College scholarship fund with $1m Gift "Musicbusinessworldwide.com" Music Business Worldwide Aug. 10th, 2021
- ^ Billboard Staff The 2022 Billboard Power List Revealed "Billboard.com" Billboard Jan. 26th, 2022
- ^ Rubikon - Chart History "Billboard.com" Billboard Dec. 7th, 2019
- ^ Kyle McGovern Bush Are Reissuing Their First Four Albums "Spin.com" Spin Sep. 16th, 2014
- ^ 2022 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List "Grammy.com" Grammy Awards Nov. 24th, 2021