Wikipedia

Dan Pelson

Dan Pelson
Born1966 (age 58–59)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationColgate University (B.A.)
NYU Stern School of Business (M.B.A.)
Occupation(s)Media and entertainment executive
Known forCo-founding Word Magazine, Concrete Media, Bolt.com, uPlayMe; COO of AREA15

Dan Pelson (born 1966) is an American media and experiential-entertainment executive best known for co-founding a string of early internet ventures, including Word Magazine, Concrete Media, Bolt.com and the social-music network uPlayMe, and for later leading the immersive-retail complex AREA15 in Las Vegas as its chief operating officer.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

[edit]

Pelson was born in 1966 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[4] He earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from Colgate University and a Master of Business Administration in international marketing from New York University Stern School of Business.[5]

Career

[edit]

Pelson began his career in 1988 at Sun Microsystems, holding marketing, sales and product-development roles focused on media-industry clients.[5][6] In June 1995, Pelson joined writer Carey Earle and designer Tom Livaccari to launch Word Magazine, one of the web's first ad-supported multimedia webzines.[1][7] Seeing commercial potential in the nascent Internet, he and partners spun the editorial startup into Concrete Media in 1996.[1]

Under Concrete's umbrella, Pelson and illustrator Jane Mount launched Bolt.com in September 1996, an early social-network community for teens that by 1999 hosted three million registered users and 50,000 user-run clubs.[8][9] Pelson served as chairman and chief executive of both Concrete Media and Bolt during the first dot-com boom.[10]

In 2006, Pelson re-entered the music sector, co-founding uPlayMe, a desktop application that matched listeners in real time; Wired dubbed it an effort to make "music social again" without costly label licences.[11] In the same year, Warner Music Group appointed him senior vice-president for global consumer marketing, where he built direct-to-fan businesses across the label group; he left in mid-2008 to return as uPlayMe's chief executive.[12] He is also a co-founder of SunPress Vinyl, a record pressing plant.[13]

From 2009 to 2016, Pelson worked for Sony Music Entertainment and Sony Corporation of America. At Sony Music, he oversaw the Direct to Consumer global operations[14] and was the CEO of MyPlay, Sony's music video platform from 2008 to 2013.[15] He also served as an executive producer of The X Factor Digital Experience.[16]

In March 2019, Pelson became chief operating officer of AREA15, a 200,000 sq ft immersive retail and entertainment district west of the Las Vegas Strip.[2][17] Pelson oversaw operations, leasing and events as AREA15 welcomed nearly four million visitors in its first three years.[2] He resigned in November 2024 amid a restructuring that sought a Las Vegas-based COO; the company cited Pelson's preference to remain in New York with his family.[18][19]

Since 2020, Pelson has been a director and, from 2023, nominating-committee chair, of Urban Art (formerly Urban Arts Partnership), a New York nonprofit delivering technology-and-arts programmes in under-resourced public schools.[20][21] He has also served on the board of Teach For America.[5]

Personal life

[edit]

Pelson is based in New York City. He is married to Jenny Kwong and has three children.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "The New Old Media". New York Magazine. 24 March 1997. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "XLIST Council Spotlight: Dan Pelson". XP Land. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Social networking widgets could reshape music biz". Reuters. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  4. ^ "On a roll: Dan Pelson". Ad Age. 16 July 2001. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Dan Pelson". NYU Stern School of Business. 2002. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  6. ^ Moss, Wes (2008). Make More, Worry Less: Secrets from 18 Extraordinary People Who Created a Bigger Income and a Better Life. FT Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780132703949.
  7. ^ "Word". Deadword.com. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  8. ^ "IQ Interactive Special Report: Q &A with Bolt.com's Dan Pelson". Adweek. 1 February 2000. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  9. ^ Pasiuk, Laurie (2006). Vault Guide to the Top Internet Industry Employers. Vault Inc. p. 45. ISBN 9781581313840. dan pelson bolt.
  10. ^ "Dan Pelson: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Former Label Exec Sees Future Outside Music Distribution". Wired. 4 September 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Industry Moves: Pelson Leaves Warner Music; Back at uPlayMe Again". CBS News. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  13. ^ Rodriguez, Rene. "It's not all about digital music: An old vinyl record factory gets new life". Miami Herald. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  14. ^ "The Hot Seat: Dan Pelson, Executive VP, Sony Music Entertainment - Lars Brandle". Lars Brandle. 13 March 2012. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Dan Pelson's schedule for Music Biz 2016". Music Biz. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  16. ^ "The X Factor USA - The Webby Awards". www.webbyawards.com. Retrieved 8 May 2018.
  17. ^ "The comeback of the brick-and-mortar store". Retail Dive. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Las Vegas tourist attraction announces layoffs". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  19. ^ "AREA15 confirms layoffs, COO search". KVVU-TV. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Dan Pelson – Board of Directors". Urban Arts. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  21. ^ "The Urban Arts Yearbook 2024" (PDF). Urban Arts. 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  22. ^ "Las Vegas tourist attraction announces layoffs". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 17 May 2025.