In 1981, Robert Thompson enrolled at the University of South Florida to study music. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Music from the University of South Florida in 1984. In 1992, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) from the Eastman School of Music. He speaks German fluently.
Following graduation, he served as the Managing Director of Universal Edition, a European music label with headquarters in London, Vienna, and New York. Robert Thompson then founded Thompson Music Group, LLC to offer his production services. From 2007 to 2014, he worked at Purchase College as a Professor of Arts Management, and from 2008 to 2010, he served as Dean of the Conservatory of Music.
He worked at SUNY Purchase College's arts administration program, where he taught arts and entertainment law and music entrepreneurship, as well as serving as Dean of Music.
Robert Thompson was elected President of the Music Publishers Association of the United States of America, Inc. in 2020. Since 2013, he has also served as President of Wise Music Group, which encompasses G. Schirmer, AMP, Schirmer Theatrical, and Node Records. Schirmer Theatrical was created by Robert Thompson in 2015 as a subsidiary of the Wise Music Group and a division of Music Sales Corporation. Thompson created NODE Records in 2016.
His work with Wise Music Group has included representing, publishing, and producing a vast range of music for film, theater, and commercial music from a number of composers and artists. Heather Christian, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Jimmy Webb, Philip Glass, Missy Mazzoli, Eddie Money, John Corigliano, Jeff Beal, Jocelyn Pook, Bryce Dessner, and Tan Dun are among the artists with whom he has collaborated.
He has also shared the stage and traveled with a variety of performers, including The Moody Blues, Yes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett. He has conducted concerts with the Houston, Seattle, Detroit, Nashville, and Phoenix Symphonies.
Career at the moment
Robert Thompson is able to assist children in considering jobs in the performing and entertainment industries as a Kauffman Foundation advisor to the Eastman School of Music's Entrepreneurship in Music program. He continues to produce material through Wise Music, including high-profile theatrical works with Schirmer Theatrical.
He devotes a large portion of his time to promoting the local music scene and encouraging youth to seek professions in the performing and literary arts. He currently serves on both the ASCAP Board of Review and the ASCAP Concert Committee.
Robert Thompson has created a number of theatrical experiences through Schirmer Theatrical, including "REVOLUTION: THE BEATLES' MUSIC," "WOMEN ROCK," "GHOSTBUSTERS" (for Sony Pictures), "THE RED VIOLIN" (for Lionsgate), and "AQUAMAN" (Warner).
Thompson executive produced Stanley Clarke's "Halston," Marco Beltrami's "Free Solo" (for Nat Geo), Oscar-winner Rachel Portman's "Ask the River," and Brian Byrne's "Goldenhair" through NODE Records (featuring Julian Lennon and Glenn Close).
Philanthropy and Volunteering
Robert Thompson is devoted to exposing children to music. He has a personal connection to the delights of music creation and feels that all youngsters should be able to express themselves creatively. He has spent the last eight years assisting significant causes through his company. He has worked with a variety of NGOs, including Harmony Foundation, New Music USA, Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls, and Penny Lane Charitable Trust.
Robert Thompson is committed to giving back to the community through his work at Schirmer Theatrical. He donates the earnings from each performance to several local charities. His objectives include assisting struggling musicians, nurturing future generations of visionaries, and educating the public about music's stress-relieving properties.
He also works with kids and children who may be interested in pursuing a musical career. This includes serving as a mentor for students enrolled in the Eastman School of Music's Kauffman Foundation-funded Entrepreneurship in Music program.
Honors and Achievements
Robert Thompson has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. His extensive experience includes collaborations with numerous great musicians and the development of high-end concert experiences. He was a recipient of the University of South Florida's Distinguished Alumni Award. He got the SABRE Award for his contribution to business and public relations work.
He has been interviewed by Good Morning America and the New York Times as a result of his work in the publishing, film, music, and theatrical industries. He has also been featured in Variety, Billboard, and other publications.
Thompson's contributions to the music, theater, and publishing worlds continue to be recognized. He is currently working on a number of initiatives that are sure to grab public attention.
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