JUD FRIEDMAN
Jud is a Los Angeles-based songwriter/record producer and owner of a professional recording studio/artist residence.
Jud has written and produced numerous hits for artists such as Whitney Houston (“Run to You,” from “The Bodyguard” film and album, one of the biggest-selling of all time), James Ingram (“I Don’t Have the Heart,” a number one song on the Billboard Hot 100), Oleta Adams (“I Just Had to Hear Your Voice”) and Kenny Loggins (“For the First Time,” from the movie “One Fine Day”).
Jud’s songs have been recorded by Tina Turner, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, boy groups such as Five, Chaka Khan, Dave Koz, Meat Loaf, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Chante Moore, LeAnn Rimes, Kristine W (the recent number one dance hit “Stronger”), American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, and many others.
Jud has been nominated for numerous Oscars, Grammies, and Golden Globes.
Jud holds a law degree from Harvard Law School, and an undergraduate degree from Yale University (summa cum laude).
MIKE LANE
Mike Lane is a 30-year entertainment industry veteran who pioneered many of the new media marketing strategies in the music industry, and created and implemented some of the first successful entertainment-related Internet marketing campaigns.
He has held key positions at music trade publication Radio and Records and artist marketing/consulting firm The Left Bank Organization, and is currently a partner at 4 Entertainment, an entertainment marketing and business strategy consultancy.
Key Accomplishments:
- Mike launched the Information Services department at Radio & Records in the mid-80’s, where he spearheaded the conception, development, and implementation of one of the very first interactive, real-time, online information services for the music industry.
- Mike was GM of Left Bank’s joint venture Strategic Record Research, a research and marketing consultancy. His work became a key component in developing clients’ marketing and promotion strategies. Clients included Musicland, Suncoast Video, Hewlett Packard, Spin & Vibe Magazines, Billboard, major record distributors and labels, consultants such as McKinsey & Co., and others.
- While GM of Strategic Record Research, Mike was also an executive at the parent company’s other subsidiaries, Left Bank Management and sister label Beyond Music (which included artists such as R&B platinum act Lucy Pearl, rock act Tantric, punk-rock band Face to Face, Blondie, Motley Crue, the Go Go’s, Heart, Violent Femmes, Yes, Meat Loaf, the Cranberries, Yes, Bee Gees, Jill Sobule, and country artists Tracy Lawrence and Deana Carter). He developed Internet/New Media marketing initiatives, and was responsible for creating some of the first viral marketing campaigns — including the first “Internet-only” concert ticket sales for his client, the Cranberries (which sold out nationally, and was the band’s biggest and most successful tour).
- At 4 Entertainment, Mike is a consultant to various segments of the entertainment (e.g. music labels, film studios, home entertainment/DVD, professional sports, etc.) and technology industries, helping them launch their products and services.
Mike holds a B.A. in Political Science, UC Berkeley; was an advisor to the launch of the Entrepreneur MBA program at Azusa Pacific University; has been a Guest Lecturer for UCLA, USC, and the MBA program at The Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation; and was featured in the PBS broadcast of “Introduction to Marketing: Competing in the 21st Century.”
ERIC BURNS
Eric is a seasoned entertainment executive with over 20 years of leadership experience spanning the music, film, and technology industries, delivering strategic marketing, business development, and brand management solutions for clients worldwide. He is currently a partner at 4 Entertainment, an international entertainment marketing and business strategy firm.
Music
Eric built his career in the music industry, holding senior marketing and promotion roles at major labels including Motown, Virgin, Mercury, and Atlantic Records. He created and led marketing and promotional campaigns for platinum and multi-platinum selling artists, contributing to combined sales exceeding 50 million units. Eric was named Marketing and Promotion Executive of the Year at Atlantic Records and has played a pivotal role in the careers of several Grammy-winning artists. He has been a longtime member of the Recording Academy.
Film
In film, Eric has established a track record of working across both independent and studio-driven projects. He currently serves on the Screening Committee for AFI Fest and has contributed to programming at AFI DOCS. Through 4 Entertainment, Eric was a producer on the independent feature “Do It Or Die”, which premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
4 Entertainment has also provided strategic services on projects for major international film and media companies including Sony Pictures (Culver City), CD Land Group (Russia), and the Japanese media conglomerate Dentsu Japan. Additional collaborations include international consulting projects for Fox Filmed Entertainment and the legendary Mosfilm Studios.
Most recently, Eric was involved in the upcoming Warner Bros. Pictures film “The Bride!”, where he was key in negotiating the music conductor’s contract for a pivotal band performance scene, ensuring alignment with both the production’s creative vision and union requirements — a role that highlights his ability to bridge the worlds of film and music on high-profile studio projects.
Technology
Eric’s work in technology has focused on the intersection of media, entertainment, and digital platforms. He was a senior executive at Streamwaves, the first music streaming service to license masters from major record labels and to launch a subscription service with major label content, leading up to its acquisition by RealNetworks. Through 4 Entertainment, he consults for StreetPulse, a respected data analytics and reporting company for the entertainment retail sector.
International Experience
Eric’s career is deeply global, having overseen projects, partnerships, and client relations across a diverse range of territories including the United Kingdom, Russia, Estonia, Singapore, Japan, China, Macedonia, Bulgaria, France, Panama, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and Germany. He has represented clients at major entertainment and media conferences around the world and managed international marketing, distribution, and business development initiatives in both emerging and established markets.
Education
Eric holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a B.S. in Business Administration from Towson University.
LEN NEBONS
Len Nebons is a special consultant to 4 Entertainment’s business in Russia. He has 20 years experience on Wall Street with companies such as Goldman Sachs, Solomon Bros, Drexel Burnham Lambert, PaineWebber, and Oppenheimer. He has helped finance AMC Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, Lorimar, Carolco Pictures, and Dino De Laurentis Entertainment Group. He has a MBA from Columbia University and is fluent in Russian. He is listed in IMDb, as a producer of “Act of Piracy” staring Gary Busey.
