Philip Michael Quartararo

Philip Michael Quartararo, a veteran music executive who led EMI Records, Virgin Records and Warner Bros. Records, died Wednesday morning, November 22, 2023, in Los Angeles after a short illness. He was 67.

Quartararo, who was known as Phil Q., leaves a lasting legacy in the recording industry as one of the most respected and beloved executives of all time. An acknowledged leader in music promotion who advocated for artistic vision, he created powerful partnerships between artists and media to break careers and fight music piracy.

Quartararo first began booking acts while still in high school and got his first ‘real job’ as a college representative for A&M Records while still a student at the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Upon graduating, Phil moved to Buffalo to become the local promo representative for A&M, where he helped break artists including The Police and Bryan Adams. He went on to develop the careers of major recording stars, including Paula Abdul, Linkin Park and the Spice Girls. He introduced U2 to the United States in the early 1980s and also worked with Cher, Coldplay, Faith Hill, Green Day, Josh Groban, Norah Jones, Madonna, The Smashing Pumpkins and Wilco.

Quartararo held leadership positions in nearly every major label group during his 46-year career, including A&M Records, Arista Records, Island and RCA. In 1986, Richard Branson brought Quartararo on to launch Virgin Records’ American label. Quartararo soon rose within the organization, eventually serving as CEO/president. In 1997, he left Virgin to join Warner Bros. Records as president, remaining in this role until 2002, when he left to lead EMI Music’s distribution and licensing business.

In 2005, Quartararo began consulting with music industry enterprises, pursuing entrepreneurial ventures while serving as a manager for Japanese composer Yoshiki and the metal band X Japan. He became president of Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation Records in 2016, and in 2019 joined the Hello Group entertainment company as Chairman.

Quartararo served on the board of directors for Cedars Sinai, City of Hope, Fender Guitar Foundation, Gibson Brands, Grammy Foundation, Pacific Science Center, Recording Industry Association of America, T J Martell Foundation, State of California Board for Engineers and Surveyors, and the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Quartararo was named Billboard's Music Executive of the Year in 2001, received the City of Hope's "Spirit of Life" Award, Russell Simmons Award for Diversity and Equality, the Vincent Testaverde Award for Spinal Injury, Sons of Italy Award, and Syracuse University's 40 at 40 Award.

Quartararo was born in New York City to Dr. I.N. and Sally Quartararo, who predeceased him, and was raised in New York City and West Hempstead, NY. He graduated from Chaminade High School and received a Bachelor Of Science degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

He is survived by his four sons – Brandon (Candace), Philip, Lucca and Daniele; his fiancée Joanne Prewett; his three brothers Louis, Paul (Carol), Raymond (Lynn); his two grandsons, Liam and Pearson and his eight nieces and nephews who all adored their loving Papa Q and Uncle.

Family and close friends will gather together on Wednesday, November 29, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, at the Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, 5600 Lindero Canyon Road Westlake, CA, and for a Funeral Mass on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at St. Monica Catholic Church, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica, CA.

For those who are unable to attend in Santa Monica, a Mass of Celebration will be held in New York City in early January (details TBC).

A Celebration of Phil Q, a gathering of friends from across the music and entertainment industry, will be held in Los Angeles on Monday, Jan 29, 2024 at the start of Grammy week (details TBC).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Phil Quartararo to The Phil Q Memorial Fund at his alma mater, The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Donations may be made online at givetosu.syr.edu/philq or sent to Syracuse University, 640 Skytop Road, 2nd Floor, Syracuse, NY 13244. For more information contact Lynn Vanderhoek at [email protected]