Andy Blackman Hurwitz

i don’t usually refer to myself in the third person, but my old intern larry wrote this bio for me a few years back and i like the way it flows: 

A graduate of Tufts University (1988) and the Washington College of Law  (1992) Andy Hurwtiz’s passion for music paid his way through college and law school in various capacities including: the music director for WFMU (Boston) and WAMU (Washington); the house DJ at Gothem (D.C); and, as the associate producer of Black Entertainment’s “Rap City” program.

Andy accepted his first “real” job as a music attorney in Philadelphia where he practiced  for three years specializing in artist contracts, music publishing and label deals.    With a desire to get back into he creative side of the business, Andy left the law in 1995 and accepted the position of General Manager of the Knitting Factory Record Group, a combination of four separate independent labels releasing over 50 records a year.  In 1997, he joined Sony Music Entertainment as the Director of Artist Development for Columbia Jazz where he took on the additional responsibility of managing the careers of developing jazz artists. Frustrated by Columbia’s refusal to release one of his projects (DJ Logic) Andy started ropeadope as a side-project simply to put out Logic’s record.   With the success that came from that release, Andy left Columbia to work on ropeadope full time.
 
ropeadope enjoyed the last of the major label glory days as it was subject to a bidding war and then finally signed a P&D deal with Atlantic records in 2000 which landed the fledgling label with offices in the heart of the Warner Music Group, employees and many other perks.  While ropeadope went on to sign and develop bands including Robert Randolph, Kid Koala, Antibalas and more, the label found a niche in the world of jazz and helped guide the careers of artists including Charlie Hunter, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Sex Mob, Christian Mcbride and in 2003 ropeadope received it’s first Grammy nomination for the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.  At the core of ropeadope’s business plan was the goal of establishing a brand that transcended music, and towards that end, and under the leadership of ropeadope partner David Wurtzel, the company was able to develop a highly successful line of branded clothing for itself and for other partners including Blue Note Records, Ninja Tune Records, Giant Step and others.  The website also became a highly trafficked destination and was one of the first to podcast, blog and serve daily content.
 
By 2004 the music industry’s slump turned into a crisis and as consolidation became the norm, ropeadope left WEA to avoid being sold off to Edgar Bronfman and entered into a 2 year deal with industry veteran Danny Goldberg and his Artemis records. In 2006 Hurwitz sold his majority share of the company to a new financial partner but remains with ropeadope as a consultant responsible for A&R, Marketing and Multimedia.  ropeadope continues to thrive in an industry where most have failed because of it’s commitment to excellence and ability to adapt - the label was the very first to become fully digital and is set to celebreate it’s 10th year anniversary in 2009 to much fanfare and celebration.

Hurwitz is also an award winning children’s author who has penned 9 music themed books for Penguin Publishing; an adjunct professor at Temple University where he teaches music & media marketing and is the cofounder of the international dance phenomenon baby loves disco.  He lives in Narberth, Pa with his 3 young sons and wife, Phyllis.