(CelebrityAccess) – Jay Frank, a digital music pioneer and UMG’s SVP/Global Streaming, passed away Sunday (Oct.13) following a long battle with cancer. He was 47.
Frank joined UMG in 2015 and went on to develop a number of industry-leading approaches to using data and analytics to maximize the performance of artists’ albums and songs on streaming platforms.
He began his professional career in 1994 as label manager of Ignition Records, and went on to serve as senior music director at the television channel The Box, VP of programming and label relations at Yahoo Music, and senior VP of music strategy for CMT, before founding the digital-only record label DigSin and digital music marketing company DigMark in 2011. Frank is also the founder of Futurehit Inc., a company designed to predict the commercial potential for songs.
Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman/CEO of UMG, said in a statement: “Jay leaves an immense legacy. He was a creative and tireless leader who made significant contributions to the evolution of our global marketing efforts. Many of the ways we market our artists and their music in the streaming era stems from Jay’s innovative work. But more than anything else, Jay was a loving father and husband. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We will miss him dearly.”
Frank is survived by his wife Linda and daughter Alex.
Information about a celebration of life will be announced shortly.
