R.I.P.: Jay Frank, Music Industry Veteran

Jay Frank

Music industry visionary, author and executive Jay Frank passed away Sunday following a battle with cancer that accelerated in recent weeks.

Frank was 47, according to USAToday.

Frank was senior vice president of global streaming marketing for Universal Music Group at the time of his passing. Previously, he founded the music-subscription service DigSin, music marketing company DigMark, penned books “Futurehit.DNA” and “Hack Your Hit” and managed Kane Brown.

“Professionally, Jay leaves an immense legacy,” said Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Music Group, in a statement to his staff. “He was a creative and tireless leader who made significant contributions to the evolution of our global marketing efforts. Many of the ways we market our artists and their music in the streaming era stems from Jay’s innovative work.”

Early in his career, Frank was senior music director at The Box, then vice president of music strategy and label relations at Yahoo Music for six years.

Veteran programming executive Brian Philips brought Frank to Nashville in 2007 when he hired him as senior vice president of music strategy for CMT: Country Music Television/MTV Networks.