Born and raised in Bedford, Indiana, Brian Black's musical odyssey
started at an early age with exposure to his older sister's record
collection (Beatles, Carpenters, Cat Stevens, Chicago) which would
lay the foundation for his passion for popular music.
Brian's mother, Margaret, would prove to be the most important
catalyst in shaping his musical future. In sixth grade, he wanted to
play drums but his mother wanted him to learn the flute. In an odd
compromise, he chose the clarinet. Brian remarked, "I have an
overbite which makes it easier to play reeded instruments so I guess
it was a somewhat obvious choice". He would continue to play the
instrument in concert bands throughout junior high and high school.
Two years later, Margaret made him an offer. If he did not attend a
summer sports camp, she would buy him a guitar, amplifier, and
lessons. He chose the guitar which would end up being his main
musical focus during the 1980's. He played it in the high school's
Jazz/Rock Band and also in Pep Band during basketball games.
Later in the decade, as a student at Indiana University in Bloomington
Brian was exposed to many musical opportunities. As a freshman,
he joined three of his former high school classmates (who were still
in high school) to form the band Oxford Scholar, one of the first
alternative rock bands in town. The group disbanded then reformed
as Dreams of Reason which recorded two self-produced albums
(the self-titled debut and Hammer & Tongs).
In 1987, he made two important decisions. He chose to focus on the
music business as a career and to become involved with student
organizations ("I really felt the urge to give something back'" Brian
remarked). He joined the Concerts Committee at Union Board, IU's
largest student programming organization for which he served as
Marketing/Research Director for two years, promoting artists such as
Sting, UB40, REO Speedwagon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Al
Dimeola, and Chick Corea. During his Union Board days, he also
became an MTV College Marketing Representative coordinating
on-campus events for two years. Brian said, "Union Board was such
a vital part of my growth as a person. It was a tremendous
opportunity for me to build leadership skills."
After Dreams of Reason disbanded in 1990, Brian decided to
prepare to move to Los Angeles to pursue his music biz dream. In
1992, 6 months after his arrival, he got his first real taste of the record
business doing college radio promotions as an intern for Morgan
Creek Records.
After a 2 year diversion working for Western Federal Savings Bank, he
worked in the A&R and Marketing Departments at Geffen Records.
While at Geffen, Brian became the artist manager for the Los Angeles
pop group Spanish Kitchen (later known as Mystery Pop).
After Geffen, during his time at a financial software company, Brian
made an assessment that would start him on his most important
vocational journey to date. "If I were to continue in the music
business, stability was a key issue. So, I came to the conclusion that
there would always be a demand for music to be used in film and
TV." A little while later, Brian seized an opportunity. He worked in the
film and television department at Polygram (and later at Universal
Music Enterprises after the Polygram merger). Brian found his
calling. "I discovered that I had a true passion for what was involved
in this field. The research, the wheeling and dealing, the opportunity
to apply my musical knowledge. The excitement was definitely there."
The experience provided Brian with the licensing knowledge and the
desire. The question is: What to do with both?
The answer came a couple of years later. While attending a music
marketing class at UCLA Extension, a fellow student who owned a
record company spoke to Brian about his own licensing experiences.
"David told me that someone had used his music without his
permission and didn't compensate for the use. David asked me if I
would represent his catalog for licensing. That was the light bulb
moment when all the wheels started turning." In 2001, with the
untapped entrepreneurial spirit that he had possessed throughout
most of his life, Brian launched Zoophoria Music.
In his personal life, Brian is a passionate volunteer who believes in
being a vital part of the Los Angeles community. He has been
involved with Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles since 1998 as a
mentor. In 2001, he was named Big Brother of the Year for his work
in the High 5 Sports Mentoring Program. He was also involved in the
School Based Mentoring program at Palms Elementary where he
met his current Little Brother Levin Funes. Brian has also
volunteered for homeless programs during the holiday season at the
Salvation Army, the Los Angeles Mission, the Union Rescue Mission,
and St. Joseph's Center in Venice.
started at an early age with exposure to his older sister's record
collection (Beatles, Carpenters, Cat Stevens, Chicago) which would
lay the foundation for his passion for popular music.
Brian's mother, Margaret, would prove to be the most important
catalyst in shaping his musical future. In sixth grade, he wanted to
play drums but his mother wanted him to learn the flute. In an odd
compromise, he chose the clarinet. Brian remarked, "I have an
overbite which makes it easier to play reeded instruments so I guess
it was a somewhat obvious choice". He would continue to play the
instrument in concert bands throughout junior high and high school.
Two years later, Margaret made him an offer. If he did not attend a
summer sports camp, she would buy him a guitar, amplifier, and
lessons. He chose the guitar which would end up being his main
musical focus during the 1980's. He played it in the high school's
Jazz/Rock Band and also in Pep Band during basketball games.
Later in the decade, as a student at Indiana University in Bloomington
Brian was exposed to many musical opportunities. As a freshman,
he joined three of his former high school classmates (who were still
in high school) to form the band Oxford Scholar, one of the first
alternative rock bands in town. The group disbanded then reformed
as Dreams of Reason which recorded two self-produced albums
(the self-titled debut and Hammer & Tongs).
In 1987, he made two important decisions. He chose to focus on the
music business as a career and to become involved with student
organizations ("I really felt the urge to give something back'" Brian
remarked). He joined the Concerts Committee at Union Board, IU's
largest student programming organization for which he served as
Marketing/Research Director for two years, promoting artists such as
Sting, UB40, REO Speedwagon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Al
Dimeola, and Chick Corea. During his Union Board days, he also
became an MTV College Marketing Representative coordinating
on-campus events for two years. Brian said, "Union Board was such
a vital part of my growth as a person. It was a tremendous
opportunity for me to build leadership skills."
After Dreams of Reason disbanded in 1990, Brian decided to
prepare to move to Los Angeles to pursue his music biz dream. In
1992, 6 months after his arrival, he got his first real taste of the record
business doing college radio promotions as an intern for Morgan
Creek Records.
After a 2 year diversion working for Western Federal Savings Bank, he
worked in the A&R and Marketing Departments at Geffen Records.
While at Geffen, Brian became the artist manager for the Los Angeles
pop group Spanish Kitchen (later known as Mystery Pop).
After Geffen, during his time at a financial software company, Brian
made an assessment that would start him on his most important
vocational journey to date. "If I were to continue in the music
business, stability was a key issue. So, I came to the conclusion that
there would always be a demand for music to be used in film and
TV." A little while later, Brian seized an opportunity. He worked in the
film and television department at Polygram (and later at Universal
Music Enterprises after the Polygram merger). Brian found his
calling. "I discovered that I had a true passion for what was involved
in this field. The research, the wheeling and dealing, the opportunity
to apply my musical knowledge. The excitement was definitely there."
The experience provided Brian with the licensing knowledge and the
desire. The question is: What to do with both?
The answer came a couple of years later. While attending a music
marketing class at UCLA Extension, a fellow student who owned a
record company spoke to Brian about his own licensing experiences.
"David told me that someone had used his music without his
permission and didn't compensate for the use. David asked me if I
would represent his catalog for licensing. That was the light bulb
moment when all the wheels started turning." In 2001, with the
untapped entrepreneurial spirit that he had possessed throughout
most of his life, Brian launched Zoophoria Music.
In his personal life, Brian is a passionate volunteer who believes in
being a vital part of the Los Angeles community. He has been
involved with Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles since 1998 as a
mentor. In 2001, he was named Big Brother of the Year for his work
in the High 5 Sports Mentoring Program. He was also involved in the
School Based Mentoring program at Palms Elementary where he
met his current Little Brother Levin Funes. Brian has also
volunteered for homeless programs during the holiday season at the
Salvation Army, the Los Angeles Mission, the Union Rescue Mission,
and St. Joseph's Center in Venice.
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