Creating Noise with Lee Dannay

With over 30 years as an A&R executive at Sony Music and Warner Chappell, Lee Dannay has guided the careers of platinum-selling artists including John Mayer, Brandi Carlile, and Train while fundamentally reshaping how the industry approaches artist development.
 
The heart of great A&R work, Lee reveals, lies not just in spotting talent but in building genuine trust. "At the end of the day, the music artists write is personal," she explains. "Every time an artist writes a song, it's like they're giving birth to a child." This perspective has made her particularly valuable when "inheriting" artists who feel abandoned after their original champions leave a label – a common industry occurrence that leaves creators vulnerable and mistrustful.
 
 Our conversation travels from the earliest days of songwriter camps (which Lee pioneered at Warner Chappell 15+ years ago) to her current role heading A&R at 30 Tigers, where artists maintain ownership of their masters. "We offer a lot of the services of a traditional label, but with a very different ethos," she notes. "We will work collaboratively with you and help you accomplish your goals, but you own your work." This shift represents one of the most significant evolutions in the music business, fundamentally changing the relationship between artists and their industry partners.
 
 As a woman who has navigated the male-dominated music industry for decades, Lee also offers candid insights about gender dynamics, mentorship, and the progress still needed. Her advice for industry newcomers? Be curious about everything – not just music but literature, film, global trends – because "music is shaped by and drives culture." This holistic approach has defined her career and continues to inform her work developing the next generation of music talent. 

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Many thanks to Anne Tello for her vocals on the theme song and to our sponsor 'Heard City'.

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