Phil Guerini is the CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment, having taken the job in May after 28+ years at the Walt Disney Company, most recently as Disney Channels Worldwide VP, Music Strategy and Radio Disney Network GM.
Prior to Disney, Guerini launched his career as a staff writer for the Miami Herald, followed by radio jobs in Miami and Atlanta. On the record side, he has worked at MCA, A&M, Chrysalis and East West Records.
Check out this exclusive interview with Phil Guerini to learn about his storied journey through the music industry and get his view on the drive, self motivation, commitment and resilience that it takes for developing artists to achieve long lasting success!
LEG: Can you give us a brief career synopsis including how you were able to break into the music industry and what your first industry job was like?
I’ve been beyond blessed to spend almost my entire life in music and the entertainment business. What began as a love for music, at a very early age, developed into the foundation for what would become the common thread and soundtrack to my 35+ year professional career. After having performed and studied music for a few years, and not seeing a clear path forward, I took my first job in the industry answering phones at my local radio station Y-100 in South Florida. A number of years, jobs and stations later, having worked my way up to Program Director, I left the radio business to pursue a career in the record business as a radio Promotions Manager. During this time, I worked with and promoted artists from Tiffany to Elton John, Sinead O’Connor to Janet Jackson, Amy Grant to New Edition and EnVogue to Soundgarden. Following this experience I joined The Walt Disney Company in 1992 where I worked across three different divisions and five businesses. My most recent role was head of Music Strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide. I was named CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment in May of 2021.
LEG: You notably spent 25+ years leading, growing, and overseeing the Disney Channels Music Strategy and Radio Disney brands worldwide. What were some of the pros and cons of being a top level executive representing such an iconic brand?
The pros of working for The Walt Disney Company, to have been part of and lead a number of teams there, far outweigh any cons. The greatest pros were having the opportunity to work with the best people anywhere, across and with a countless number of complimentary brands and yet extremely diverse businesses. If there ever was a con, the scale of such a business, often doesn’t allow decisions x action to be taken quick and easily. This said, it often ensures a more thoughtful analysis process and potential longer term benefits.
LEG: What do you consider your biggest career accomplishment and what do you consider your biggest professional failure? How did you learn from the failure and overcome that challenge at the time?
My biggest career accomplishment has been being part of so many countless moments and opportunities with others that I could have never accomplished on my own. My biggest personal and professional failure is often not recognizing every God given moment, in the moment, as a gift. I’m still working on attempting to overcome this challenge.
LEG: You’ve played a key role in developing some of the most successful young talent in the business during your time at Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country including the Jonas Brothers, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Becky G, Sean Mendes, Miley Cyrus, Kelsea Ballerini, Camila Cabello and countless others. What makes those projects special to you and how do you identify that type of potential so early on?
What makes these projects so special to me are the individuals and having had the opportunity to be part of the earliest stages of their journeys. For me, it’s always been less about identifying the talent and more about recognizing the drive, self motivation, commitment and resilience that one must possess to achieve success.
photos courtesy for Phil Guerini Instagram
LEG: What would you say the three most important things are for a new developing artist to do early on to help grow their profile and be recognized by someone such as yourself?
1. Identify, define and showcase what’s unique about you as an artist.
2. Commit to growing your audience x community and genuinely engaged fanbase in any ways you can (socials, live shows, etc.).
3. Surround yourself with the best possible people and never give up.
LEG: What are some of your upcoming priorities in your new role as CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment? What developing artists are you currently working that you are most excited about in 2023?
Some of our most exciting upcoming priorities at Jonas Group Entertainment include new music from a number of our artists including, Levi Hummon, MaRynn Taylor, Franklin Jonas, Hello Sister, Tayler Buono, Harper Grace and The Band Light. In addition, our upcoming major announcements regarding the growth of our Music Publishing Co, additional artist signings and the opening of our first Nashville office on the famed Music Row.
LEG: How have social platforms (TikTok in particular) changed how you approach working with new and/or established artists?
Not much. TikTok is simply the latest and most recent platform addition to an ever changing landscape. While new outlets to showcase talent are nothing new (radio, American Bandstand, The Voice, etc.) the potential that this exposure presents for both new and established talent are limitless. The real challenge is how to take someone who has a viral moment, is featured to millions of people on a television show or even has a hit song and develop this into a career.
LEG: With over 25 years of experience in an industry that continues to evolve where do you see the pop format in particular heading within the next ten years? How do you think radio fits into that particular game plan?
The definition of the pop format (pop short for popular) is ever changing, as was always intended. Today’s audience and their playlists are much less defined by genre and if they are it’s only I like it or I don’t like it. As for radio, which I began my career in and have a deep affinity for, I see the need for its continued evolution to be much more reflective and responsive to its audience or its relevance to a younger audience will continue to erode.
LEG: If you could go back to your first day in the industry and give that Phil Guerini one piece of advice, what would that be?
Enjoy every minute of the ride, it goes by in a blink.