Drew Thurlow [Mentor]

Drew is the founder of Opening Ceremony Media, where he currently provides consultation for music & music tech companies.

Previously, Drew was Senior Vice President of A&R at Sony Music, where he led a global team of creative professionals overseeing the Masterworks Division. 

Drew also spent six years as Director of Artist Partnerships & Industry Relations at Pandora, where he helped oversee Pandora’s growing role in the music business. 

His career started in music as a recording artist and in A&R at Warner Music Group. 

Drew is a member of ASCAP, the RIAA, a board member of both the Americana Music Association and TJ Martell Foundation, and guest lectures at NYU, Northeastern, The New School and Rutgers University. 

He has written for Billboard, CREEM, and other publications. 

His first book about music & AI will be released next year by Routledge.