Rob D. Schwartz

Rob D. Schwartz is an entertainment executive whose career encompasses music distribution, television production, film, and live events. Schwartz began his career in the music industry at PolyGram Records, working with Island Records and ILS Distribution, before transitioning to Wall Street, where he spent a decade in risk management at firms such as Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, and JP Morgan. After witnessing the events of September 11 near the World Trade Center, Schwartz shifted his focus from finance to building a multimedia company rooted in hip-hop culture.

Schwartz is the founder of WHO?MAG Multimedia, which includes the flagship program "WHO?MAG TV." The show is recognized as a leading independent international hip-hop television program, featuring more than 3,000 celebrity interviews with artists including George Clinton, Run DMC, Pitbull, and Big Sean. "WHO?MAG TV" airs on 15 networks and platforms, reaching households across all 50 states and multiple countries. Schwartz also owns "iFame TV" and "Video Vision," and was the first to air urban music on OTT platforms with the launch of iFame TV on Roku. His broadcast portfolio includes "DMTV" (Dance Music TV) and a reboot of the FUSE TV show "Dancin' On Air."

As a music industry executive, Schwartz owns WHO?MAG Distribution, a Grammy Award-winning music distribution company operating through Sony's The Orchard. The company manages over 300 sub-labels, 1,000 artists, and 20,000 songs, including multiple Billboard-charting albums. Schwartz is also the co-founder and chief music officer of ACX1 Studios in Atlantic City, a 550,000-square-foot former mall at Caesar's Pier transformed into a movie production lot and music incubator. He serves as governor of the Recording Academy's Philadelphia Chapter and is a member of the Guild of Music Supervisors and Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia.

As a film director, producer, and music supervisor, Schwartz has worked on more than 23 movies and television shows. His documentary "WHO?MAG Hip Hop Document" won Best Documentary at the Pocono Mountain Film Festival, and his short film "Bullied" was nominated at the Philadelphia Independent Film Festival. Schwartz has served as music supervisor on films featuring Clint Howard, Bam Margera, and Tommy Davidson, and has contributed editorial work to network productions including "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "The Goldbergs" on ABC. He co-founded the PLAY Music Conference in Philadelphia and created Distro Fest, a music festival and conference.

Schwartz is an international speaker and advocate for the music industry, having addressed audiences at SXSW, Cinequest Film Festival, and the World's Largest Peace Conference in Seoul, South Korea. He has lectured at universities including Rutgers, Temple, Drexel, and Morgan State, and has spoken at conferences across Europe, Asia, and North America. Schwartz's experience in finance, entrepreneurship, and hip-hop culture positions him as a knowledgeable voice on the intersection of music, media, and business.