Leonard B. Johnson

Leonard B. Johnson has a diverse and extensive work experience in the music industry. Leonard B. began their career in 1991 as the Senior Director of A&R at Fiction, a London-based independent record label and music publishing company. During their time there, they managed the New York City satellite office, overseeing A&R and general management duties and focusing on discovering new songwriters and artists for the Fiction Songs publishing roster.

In 1995, Johnson joined Krasnow Entertainment/MCA Records as the Senior Director of A&R. In this role, they headed the A&R department and was responsible for securing recording agreements, providing artist development, and managing record coordination and product management for artists and projects signed to the label. Notable releases during this partnership with MCA/Universal included Vanessa Daou's "Zipless: Songs from the works of Erica Jong," The Hookers' "Calico," and The NBA at 50: A Musical Celebration.

Johnson then moved on to TVT Records in 1997, where they served as the Vice President of A&R. Leonard B. played a crucial role in building and heading the A&R department of this NYC-based independent label and distributor, which launched the careers of Nine Inch Nails and Pitbull. During their time at TVT Records, Johnson discovered and signed Vancouver rock band Default, whose debut album "The Fallout" achieved RIAA certification.

From 2008 to 2021, Johnson worked at Union Entertainment Group as the General Manager of the Producer & Songwriter Division. Union Entertainment Group is a management company that represents various multi-platinum artists such as Nickelback, Mr. Big, and Cinderella. Additionally, Johnson managed artists like Kevin Costner & The Modern West, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, Default, Oleander, the Winery Dogs, Tom Keifer, Paul Gilbert, High Valley, Christopher the Conquered, and Thomas Wynn & the Believers.

Before their current role, Johnson joined The Mechanical Licensing Collective in 2021 as a Matching Support Consultant. The Mechanical Licensing Collective is a nonprofit organization based in Nashville, TN, responsible for administering blanket mechanical licenses to eligible streaming and download services according to the Music Modernization Act of 2018. Johnson's role involved providing support in matching and ensuring accurate licensing for digital service providers (DSPs).

Currently, Johnson serves as the Operations Manager at CMIT Solutions, LLC, starting in 2022. CMIT Solutions, LLC is a technology company where they oversee operations and management. Prior to this role, they held the position of Technical Specialist at CMIT Solutions, LLC from 2021 to 2022.

Overall, Leonard B. Johnson's work experience showcases their vast knowledge and expertise in the music industry, specifically in A&R, artist management, and music publishing.

Leonard B. Johnson completed their education at the Borough of Manhattan Community College from 2020 to 2021. During this time, they obtained certifications in CompTIA A+, Cisco CCNA, and AWS. The degree they earned was in Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Prior to this, it is unclear whether Leonard attended any other institutions as there is no information about start and end years. However, it is known that they studied Communication and Media Studies at Castleton University and completed the Audio Recording Program, Music Business and Record Production at the Institute of Audio Research. Additionally, Leonard pursued a field of study in Solar Plus Pro: PV (Photovoltaic) Installation at LaGuardia Community College, though the specific degree is unknown.

In addition to their formal education, Leonard holds various certifications from institutions such as ConnectWise, Datto, Cradlepoint, and Amazon Web Services (AWS). These certifications include Continuum Certified IT Expert, Continuum Recover Specialist, Datto Certified Deployment Specialist in Autotask PSA, Cradlepoint Certified Network Associate, Cradlepoint Certified Sales Associate, Continnum Command Specialist, Continuum Administration Specialist, and Continuum Help Desk Activation Specialist. Leonard also completed an Introduction to Microsoft Excel course through Coursera. Their most recent certifications were obtained in 2022, with the earliest certifications (CompTIA A+ Certification and CCNA) obtained in 2020.