Introduction
Jennifer Blakeman is a musician and music industry executive. Blakeman was a keyboardist for multiple bands predominantly in the 80s and 90s, before starting a career in the Music Publishing industry.
Musical career
Blakeman started her musical career as a founding member of the band Private Life, a hard rock formation produced by both Ted Templeman, and Eddie Van Halen and released two records with this band on Warner Bros. Records titled Shadows (1988) and Private Life (1990). Later Blakeman worked as a touring keyboardist for British rock artist Billy Idol, the Australian pop rock band Savage Garden (most notably on the Affirmation album), British pop artist Billie Myers, American icon David Cassidy, and many other artists.
Business career
She later became an executive at Cherry Entertainment Group, Atlantic Records, Universal Pictures, Universal Music Group, and later Zomba Publishing. After the purchase of Zomba by Universal Music Publishing Blakeman continued working with the company as the Senior Vice President of Creative Affairs. In this function she was responsible for the publishing of artists including Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo, Skylar Grey, T-Pain, Anthony Hamilton and Linkin Park. Currently Chief Creative Officer at Atlas Music Publishing Group, she oversees a roster of top writers whose songs have been recorded by John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Beyonce, Miley, Sam Hunt, and hundreds of others.
She is an Adjunct Professor of Music Publishing at New York University. After serving as President of The Recording Academy's New York chapter board, she was elected to serve as Trustee on the national board of The Recording Academy, a position which she currently holds.