Lipman grew up partially inMontclair, New Jersey and graduated fromMontclair High School.[2][3] He is of Jewish heritage.[4][5] During their youth, the Lipman family encountered significant financial difficulties, which led them to rely on government assistance and food stamps.[6] After high school, Lipman went to college at theUniversity at Albany where he was on the university's concert board. There, he was in charge of finding acts to perform on campus and setting up concert events.[7] He graduated in 1986 with a degree in communication and rhetoric.[2]
Career
1986–2000: Career beginnings and first Republic Records run
After college, Lipman worked at a variety of record labels over the course of 9 years.[8][9][10] In 1995,[11] Lipman co-founded Republic Records with his younger brother, Avery. The first act they signed wasBloodhound Gang.KROQ inLos Angeles picked up the band's record, "Fire Water Burn".[2] Their next client wasChumbawamba. After listening to a demo of the band's album,Tubthumper, the Lipman brothers immediately offered to sign them to a deal on their imprint, a co-venture withUniversal Records. The band's album went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide.[7][12] This began the Lipmans' long-term relationship withUniversal Music in which they have held positions at the organization in one form or another since then.[13] Other major acts signed in Republic's early years included3 Doors Down andGodsmack (among others).[9][11][14][15]
2000–2012: President of Universal Records and Universal Republic
In 2006, Universal Records was merged into Republic, forming the label Universal Republic Records.[8][21] Lipman became the President and CEO of that new entity.[22] In that role, Lipman signed artists likeAmy Winehouse,Colbie Caillat,India Arie,Mika,Enrique Iglesias, and Florence + the Machine by 2011.[22][23][24] Lipman also formed strategic alliances with other labels in order to cross-promote musicians, includingTaylor Swift andThe Band Perry withBig Machine Records and Drake,Nicki Minaj, and Lil Wayne withCash Money Records.[23][25] In 2011, Lipman came across videos ofAriana Grande singing cover songs on YouTube and was so impressed by her vocals that he went on to sign her to a recording contract.[26]
2012–present: Return to Republic name
In 2012, Universal return the company to its original name, Republic Records. Lipman helped produce thesoundtrack for the film,The Hunger Games.[27] By 2013, Lipman had added artists likeGotye,PSY, andThe Weeknd to the Republic fold. In February 2013, Lipman signed another new contract to remain with Republic Records and was also given the new title of chairman and CEO of the company.[28][29][30]
In 2014, releases from Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift along with a variety of soundtracks led Republic to become Nielsen's number 1 label in market share.[31] In 2015, Lipman led Republic Records to toppingBillboard lists for Top Label and TopHot 100 Label (among others).[32][33] The label was, in fact, named the Top Hot 100 Label byBillboard each year from 2014 to 2018.[34] In July 2018, Republic held the top three spots on theBillboard 200 list, a feat that had not been accomplished in 15 years. Drake'sScorpion was number 1, Florence + the Machine'sHigh as Hope number 2, and Post Malone'sBeerbongs & Bentleys number 3.[35] In November 2018, Lipman signed Taylor Swift to Republic Records. Her music had been released by Big Machine Records in partnership with Republic since 2007.[36]
For 2021, for the first time, Republic Records was ranked number one onBillboard's three year-end label rankings: "Top Labels", "200 Labels", and "Hot 100 Labels".[37]Billboard then featured Monte and his brother in a December 2021 cover story on Republic Records.[38]
Philanthropy
Outside of music, Lipman is engaged in numerous philanthropic causes. He sits on the boards of theAmy Winehouse Foundation;[39] theT.J. Martell Foundation (which honored him with the "Humanitarian of the Year" award in 2010);[40] theUJA-Federation of New York (which named him 2015's "Music Visionary of the Year");[41]Robin Hood;[42] andDKMS (Delete Blood Cancer).[43][44] In 2016, Lipman and his wife Angelina were honored at the 10th Annual DKMS Gala for their contributions to the organization.[45] Among other honors, Lipman also received theMultiple Myeloma Research Foundation's "Spirit of Hope Award" in 2017[46] and was one of four honorees at the 2018 Angel Ball.[47]
