There’s simply no way around it. The music industry, with all its boundless nooks and crannies, will say farewell to many behind-the-scenes players over the course of 2024. From corporate executives of all stripes, to agents, managers and live promoters, to deal-making lawyers and policy-influencing lobbyists, and studio producers and other knob-twisters and songwriters, they are all part of the fabric of music.
To honor those who have passed on, we’re highlighting these often-unsung individuals who’ve left a lasting impression across every aspect of the business. In the early months of 2024, we’ve already lost important figures including label executive Bob Fead, MTV pioneer Gale Sparrow, consequential lawyer Leon Wildes, a pair of BBC Radio icons, an inventor of one of music’s weirdest devices and the Svengali-like figure who gave the world Milli Vanilli.
Here are the industry players we’ve lost in 2024:
