As Riptide Music’s Vice President of Operations, Richard Hellstern brings together his experience in finance, publishing, writing and producing to be an agile and effective head of daily operations for a growing company in a fast-changing music industry. He was previously Royalties and Finance Manager for the company.

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Hellstern got his start in music publishing and administration 14 years ago, after having spent 10 years in music production and performance. Previously at PEN Music Group, Inc., he has represented marquee catalogues like the Bob Marley estate and Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, artists including Olivia Newton John, Gina Schock of The Go-Go’s, and Don Felder of The Eagles, as well as platinum-selling copyrights by Christina Aguilera, Selena Gomez, Luther Vandross and many others.

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Hellstern has produced numerous musicals for the stage including The Full Monty, Into the Woods, The Burnt Part Boys, and others. He is also a published writer, having contributed celebrity interviews and cover stories, op-eds, and film and TV reviews for 6 years to a national magazine, Instinct.

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“Music has always been the dominant force in my life, whether playing the piano, producing a musical, recording in the studio or shepherding the career of another musician,” says Hellstern. “The most exciting thing for me about working at Riptide, is the chance to lead a team of talented professionals right as the music industry tips headlong into the technology space. We’ve seen a gradual trend over the last decade from physical product to digital product to streaming music; now the trend is sharing platforms, audience engagement and, in a way, a return to more intimate musical experiences for fans. I’m looking forward to shaping how Riptide becomes a leader in innovation in the decade to come.”