Jeff Blue (born November 21, 1967) is a multi-platinum record producer, A&R executive, songwriter, lawyer, and best-selling author who is currently an A&R consultant for Atlantic Records. He has worked as Senior Vice President of A&R and staff producer for Warner Bros. Records, Interscope Records, Virgin Records, Capitol Records, Sony BMG, Jive Records, RCA Records, and J Records. He specializes in discovering, nurturing, teaching, developing, & signing unsigned artists, most notably Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Daniel Powter, and The Last Goodnight. In addition to signing Limp Bizkit and Korn to publishing deals, and executive producing and music supervising Aaliyah's Queen of the Damned soundtrack, he has written hit singles for artists such as Hoobastank, Syndicate, and The Last Goodnight.

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Biography

Blue graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He was a Communications Major focusing on Media Law and interning for Harvey Levin in the CBS TV News Department, reporting on legal issues. After passing the Bar, Blue worked as a music journalist for Billboard, HITS, and Entertainment Weekly, and eventually published his own magazine, Crossroads, which focused on discovering unsigned artists while he simultaneously managed, produced, and played drums in two signed major label bands while also working as an attorney for the law offices of Ross Schwartz. During this time, he also pursued a career in acting which led to him featuring in many national television commercials.

Zomba Music Publishing was impressed by Blue's versatility and hired him to do A&R in 1995. During his career with Zomba, Blue taught "Songwriting" and "Artist Development" classes at UCLA. Blue met student Brad Delson and hired him as his intern. Blue saw promise in Delson and his bandmate Mike Shinoda and signed their band, Xero, to a publishing deal on the night of their first performance. After developing Xero for two years, Blue decided to let go of the band’s lead singer, and a few months later, discovered a vocalist from Arizona named Chester Bennington. The band brought on Bennington as their new singer and changed the name to Hybrid Theory. Blue showcased them forty-four times. Unable to get them a deal, Blue negotiated his employment contract with Warner Bros. Records to include the signing of Linkin Park. Months later, they released their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which became the best-selling debut album of the 21st century.

Blue also developed and co-wrote with Macy Gray. After recording Gray's demos, Blue secured a deal for the artist with Epic Records and which led to him co-writing the top ten hit "Still" for Gray. During this time Blue also signed rock bands Korn and Limp Bizkit to publishing deals. Blue's discoveries and signings have helped shape popular culture for the last 20 years.

Blue personally signed as a writer to Warner Chappell Music Publishing and in addition to signing Linkin Park he worked, signed and developed and wrote for releases such as Queen of the Damned soundtrack, Beautiful Creatures, several compilations, and co-developed the artist, Daniel Powter.

Blue co-produced the 2005 Better than Ezra album, "Before the Robots" which spawned two top ten singles. In 2008 he developed, co-wrote, and co-produced the debut album for Roadrunner artist, Steadlur.

Blue is currently signed as a songwriter to BMG Music Publishing, formerly at Universal Music Publishing where he co-wrote the 2009 hit single "So Close, So Far" for multi-Platinum artist Hoobastank. Blue won a BMI Award for his songwriting on "Pictures of You" for The Last Goodnight. He additionally produced, A&R'd, and performed all the drums and percussion on the Virgin Records album which also spawned Australia's #1 song of the year, and "Stay Beautiful".

Blue created Jeff Blue Music and Century Park Entertainment in 2009 and the company has yielded 4 major label signings in its first three years, focusing on developing talent and teaming with Major Labels in the furthering of the artists' career. The company focuses on all genres including rock, country, hard rock, alternative, indie, pop, R&B, dubstep and electronic. His first signing was Emphatic which he immediately secured a major label deal for with Atlantic Records. Blue was Exec. Producer, co-writer, co-manager, and co- A&R. His song "Put Down the Drink" hit #1 for 3 weeks on Sirius Octane. Then Syndicate to Sony AUS, and Shoreline's End to Island Def Jam/Mercury. In addition, Blue Developed writers Shawn Hlookoff (EMI), Jared Lee (Universal)

In 2012 Blue signed, co-wrote, and developed WERM after discovering the band on Music Xray, creating a unique^{[citation needed]} blend of rock, dubstep, house, electronic, and alternative music. Three months after its creation, Blue signed the band to Universal Republic/Jeff Blue Music. In 2020 Simon & Schuster published, One Step Closer, From Xero to #1; Becoming Linkin Park, written by Blue. His docu-series on the history of A&R is scheduled for release in 2022.

References

External links

• Jeff Blue Music Official Website
• Jeff Blue @ IMDB.com
• Jeff Blue @ MSN Music
• Jeff Blue @ Artist Direct