David Nathan is an acclaimed music executive who has worked with Columbia Records, Island Records, Republic Records, and Big Machine Records, before creating his own label, Happy Jack Records, to honor the legacy of his late son, Jack. He shares stories from decades in the industry and how his new label helps fulfill Jack’s dream of providing artists with mental health support. 

On this episode, David talks to Matt about:

• How he got started working in the music industry and went from radio stations to record companies.
• Helping to build Republic Records and being the go-between for Big Machine and Republic.
• Working with Taylor Swift at the start of her career and helping her cross over to pop.
• Witnessing stars like Amy Winehouse and Prince suffer from drug addiction.
• His son Jack’s struggles with mental health and Jack’s commitment to raise money for charities and support youth with mental health issues.
• Jack’s tragic death from an accidental overdose and David’s commitment to continuing his design company, Happy Jack, in his honor.
• Joining forces with DJ Sam Koch to realize Jack’s dream of creating Happy Jack Records, a label that focuses on developing and supporting artists who suffer with mental health issues.
• The importance of providing proper mental health services for artists in the music industry and beyond.

And More!

Follow @HappyJackRecords on Instagram or visit www.happyjackrecords.org to learn more about Happy Jack Records.

This episode is sponsored by The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers – one of the oldest residential drug and alcohol rehab programs. ARC is a non-profit and was hit hard financially as a result of COVID. For more information, and to donate or sign up for their quarterly newsletter, visit thechanceto.org.

About David Nathan

David Nathan is a well-known and respected veteran in the entertainment/music industry who has worked and developed the careers of multiple A-list talents throughout his career such as Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse, Ariana Grande, Florida Georgia Line, The Weeknd, Thomas Rhett, Shawn Mendes, and Cash Money, to name a few. With over three decades of experience and a contact list of elite and sought after names in the music, film, television, and sports industries, Nathan possesses the experience, skills, and connections required to successfully negotiate, secure and navigate the most desirable and highly paid deals. In 1996, Nathan was hired as the seventh employee at the new “start-up” label and spent 21 years there, rising through the ranks to SVP of Promotion and Artist Development. He was an intricate piece of building Republic Records into the #1 Record Label in the world. In conjunction with his promotion and marketing initiatives and responsibilities, he also worked on branding, marketing, social media and touring, allowing him to forge and build lasting relationships between diverse communities on behalf of his clients.