John Strohm
Concord Music Group’s Rounder Records announced today that John Strohm has been appointed President of label. Strohm will oversee management of Rounder’s day-to-day operations in Nashville, reporting to Concord Music’s Chief Label Officer, Tom Whalley. Former Rounder president, John Virant will remain in a senior creative role, working closely with Strohm and the Rounder staff.
Strohm comes with deep experience as both a professional recording artist and music attorney. He joins from Loeb & Loeb LLP, where, as Senior Counsel in their Music Industry practice since 2011, Strohm played a leading role in developing the careers of clients Bon Iver, Sturgill Simpson, Alabama Shakes, Dawes, Julien Baker, The Civil Wars and many others. In his multi-faceted career in the music industry, Strohm brings a wealth of experience in music publishing, recording, distribution and emerging media.
Strohm’s career in music began when the aspiring songwriter and musician left his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana to attend Boston’s Berklee College of Music in the mid ’80s. After meeting fellow music obsessives Juliana Hatfield and Freda Love, Strohm formed the beloved college rock band Blake Babies, who released their 2001 album God Bless The Blake Babies for Rounder’s Zoë imprint. He went on to play drums and guitar in The Lemonheads and released a string of well-regarded solo albums. Strohm left professional music to attend law school, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2004 from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, where he served as Editor-In-Chief of the Cumberland Law Review.
Strohm commented, “As a 30-year veteran of the independent music community, it’s an unbelievable opportunity to be named President of a label that has produced many of my favorite records over its distinguished nearly 50-year history. I look forward to working with Tom Whalley, John Virant, and the label’s founders and staff to continue to build Rounder’s tradition of developing and promoting the works of groundbreaking roots artists.”
On making this appointment Tom Whalley said, “In addition to his rare experience as both a successful recording artist and a creative executive, John possesses impeccable taste and an inspired approach to championing talent. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Rounder family. For many years, John Virant has guided Rounder to great success with tremendous grace and skill. We’re grateful for his countless contributions and pleased that he will play an important role in moving the soul of Rounder into the future.”
