John Strohm

John Strohm is an American musician, attorney, and music industry executive known for his work across multiple creative and professional fields. He first gained prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a guitarist and songwriter for influential indie rock bands like The Blake Babies and Antenna, and later as a member of the alternative rock group Lemonheads. Following his music career, he earned a Juris Doctor and became a leading advocate for artists' rights, serving as president of the Recording Academy and holding executive roles at companies like Rounder Records.

Early life and education

John Strohm was born in 1967 in Bloomington, Indiana, a college town that fostered an early interest in music. He attended Bloomington High School North, where he began playing in bands and immersing himself in the local music scene. After high school, he enrolled at Northwestern University, initially pursuing studies in journalism. His time at Northwestern University was concurrent with his deepening involvement in the burgeoning American indie rock movement of the mid-1980s, which ultimately led him to balance academics with a growing musical career before he later returned to higher education for law.

Music career

Strohm's music career began in earnest when he co-founded the indie rock band The Blake Babies in 1986 with fellow Bloomington, Indiana natives Juliana Hatfield and Freda Love Smith. The band released several albums on the independent label Mammoth Records, including Earwig and Sunburn, becoming cult favorites in the college rock circuit. After The Blake Babies disbanded in 1991, Strohm formed the power-pop group Antenna, which signed to Elektra Records and released the album Hideout. In the mid-1990s, he joined the revived lineup of Evan Dando's Lemonheads, contributing guitar and songwriting to albums like Car Button Cloth. Throughout this period, he also collaborated with artists such as Evan Dando, Juliana Hatfield, and John Doe, and performed at notable venues like CBGB and festivals across the United States.

Legal and advocacy work

In the early 2000s, Strohm pursued a second career in law, earning a Juris Doctor from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He specialized in entertainment and intellectual property law, representing musicians and songwriters. His advocacy work led him to leadership roles within major music industry organizations, including serving as the president of the Recording Academy, the organization behind the Grammy Awards. He has also held executive positions, such as Vice President of Music Publishing at Rounder Records and Head of Music at the tech company Patreon. Strohm is a frequent speaker on panels at events like South by Southwest and has testified before committees in the United States Congress on issues related to the Music Modernization Act and artist compensation in the digital era.

Personal life

John Strohm is married to singer-songwriter Liz Phair; the couple wed in 2021. He maintains residences in both Nashville, Tennessee and Los Angeles, cities central to his work in the music and legal industries. An avid supporter of the arts, he serves on the advisory board for the Future of Music Coalition and remains active in mentoring young artists and entrepreneurs. His personal interests include cycling and vintage guitar collecting.

Discography

A selected discography includes work with his primary bands and notable collaborations: * With The Blake Babies: Nicely, Nicely (1987, Mammoth Records), Earwig (1989, Mammoth Records), Sunburn (1990, Mammoth Records) * With Antenna: Hideout (1995, Elektra Records) * With Lemonheads: Car Button Cloth (1996, Atlantic Records) * Guest appearances on recordings by Juliana Hatfield, Evan Dando, and John Doe.

Category:American rock guitarists Category:American music executives Category:American entertainment lawyers Category:1967 births Category:Living people