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Billy Mann | |
|---|---|
 Mann in 2021 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Isaiah Erlichman |
| Born | (1968-12-20)December 20, 1968 (age 56) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop,rock,dance,urban,country,world |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1989-present |
| Labels | |
William Hort-Mann (néIsaiah Erlichman; born December 20, 1968) is anAmerican record producer and songwriter. He is known for producing "3 Is Family" byDana Dawson in 1995 as well asBillboard Hot 100 top 40 hits such as "For You I Will (Confidence)" byTeddy Geiger, "Stupid Girls" and "Glitter in the Air" byP!nk, and "With You" byJessica Simpson.[1][2][3] He has co-produced or written albums forBackstreet Boys,Delta Goodrem,Kelly Rowland,Diana King,Ricki-Lee Coulter,Lauren Bennett, andCeline Dion, among others.[4]
He founded the music publishing company Green & Bloom/Topline in 2011, and the management firm Manncom in 2012.[5][6] In 2021, Mann co-founded Proof of Concept, a talent development and creative media services firm, and icons+giants, a record label in partnership withAlternative Distribution Alliance, both with Benton James.[7][8]
Mann was born inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,[9] as the youngest of three children.[10] He lived with his mother in Philadelphia’s inner city after his parents' divorce. In early childhood, he began experimenting with songwriting, guitar, piano,bass, harmonica,baritone horn, and flute.[10] By age 12, he had formed bands with other young local musicians, includingSteven Wolf,[11] Clayton Sears[12] and Adam Dorn (a.k.a.Mocean Worker).[13]
Mann attended thePhiladelphia High School for the Creative & Performing Arts (CAPA)[14] for Vocal Music, and received his diploma in three years. In 1989, he received his Bachelor’s degree fromHampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Mann began his professional career by living in a car for two years as a traveling musician.[15] After stops inLos Angeles,San Francisco,Miami andLondon, he landed inNew York, and met[16] producerRic Wake, facilitated by songwriter/performerGregg Wattenberg,[17] led to Mann being signed to Wake for publishing, to Wake’s production company, and to Wake’s imprint DV8 Records, distributed by A&M.[18]
This led to two solo releases: 1996’sBilly Mann[19] and 1998’sEarthbound.[20]Earthbound, co-produced by Mann andDavid Kershenbaum, featured co-writers with an appearance byCarole King.
Mann has written songs for artists across genres including pop, rock, dance, R&B, reggae, house, and country.[21] He has publishing credits withSony/ATV,Warner/Chappell, Verse and BMG Chrysalis.[citation needed] His songwriting collaborators have includedCarole King,Rudy Perez,Burt Bacharach,Desmond Child,Graham Lyle andWalter Afanasieff, and Christian Medice, David Spencer and Supah Mario.[citation needed]
Mann has a long-standing collaboration withP!nk, to whom he was introduced in 2002 by her co-managerCraig Logan.[citation needed] They have co-written songs including "God Is a DJ", "Stupid Girls", "Dear Mr. President", "Nobody Knows", "I’m Not Dead", "Crystal Ball", "Glitter in the Air", "Bridge of Light", "The Truth About Love" and "Beam Me Up".[citation needed] They have been nominated for Grammy Awards for "Stupid Girls" and "The Truth About Love".[22] In 2017, Mann co-wrote and produced "I Am Here" onP!nk's albumBeautiful Trauma.Variety profiled their partnership after the album's release.[23] P!nk and Mann continued their collaboration in 2019 onHurts 2B Human with "The Last Song Of Your Life."[24]
About.com named Mann one of the Top 10 Producers of 2006.[25] He has also worked withPeter Asher,Walter Afanasieff,David Foster andJames Stroud.
In the summer of 2021, Mann collaborated with Benton James, Clay Pecorin, Russell Geyser, Jason Halio, and Zak Tanjeloff to create Song House Live, a reality show featuring musical influencers/social media creators creating content and recording music to win a record deal withCapitol Music Group.[26][27] The experience was live streamed. Tyler Brash won. Mann is also a Consulting Producer ofThe D'Amelio Show (HULU, September 2021).
During theCOVID-19 pandemic, Mann created a podcast about failure featuring successful artists and celebrities. On April 26, 2022,Warner Music Group announced Mann's podcast, launching on their Interval Presents network.[28]
His podcast "Yeah, I F*cked That Up" launched July 11, 2023, with guests includingKelly Rowland,Steven Van Zandt, andRenée Elise Goldsberry.
In 2001, Mann founded Stealth Entertainment[29] in New York City'sgarment district. Stealth developed artists, songwriters, producers and mixing engineers includingAndy Zulla,Christopher Rojas,Teddy Geiger,[30]Esmee Denters,[31] and Pete Wallace. Mann is known for discoveringEmma Stone, Teddy Geiger, Jacob Whitesides,Charli D'Amelio andDixie D'Amelio.[32]
Stealth partnered withSeventeen Magazine,[33] Columbia Records, SonyBMG Special Projects, Target, Levi's and other brands. Stealth was acquired by EMI.
Mann has consulted forZomba Group,Sony Music Entertainment,Sony Pictures Television,Warner-Chappell,Red Bull Media House, BMG Chrysalis, Bliss Legal and BMG International. He has appeared on The Today Show.[34]
He advises Scenebot Stage[35][36][37] and is on the investor board of Angel Ventures, Mexico.
In November 2007, Mann joined EMI Music as creative advisor and operating board member.[38] He became chief creative officer.
His time at EMI included developing artists and partnerships, includingDavid Guetta,Pablo Alboran,Helene Fischer, Bebe,Juan Luis Guerra,Tiziano Ferro,Robyn, Panda,Paty Cantu, Belinda, Wind Up and Movic. He also developed artist management initiatives in Spain, Germany, Italy and the United States. He served as non-executive chairman for Stealth Entertainment.
Mann worked under four CEOs at EMI in three years. EMI CEO Roger Faxon announced Mann’s departure.[39]
In January 2011, Mann became president of creative, BMG North America.[40]
In late 2011, Mann founded Manncom Creative Partners and Green & Bloom/Topline (with BMG).[41] BMG later extended its investment in Green & Bloom. By 2019, Green & Bloom/Topline had success with lovelytheband,[42] Supah Mario,[43] Flawless, and Dani Poppitt.
