The music industry lost one of its true gentlemen on May 27, 2026. Bob Jamieson, former Chairman of RCA Records and one of the most respected executi
The music industry lost one of its true gentlemen on May 27, 2026.
Bob Jamieson, former Chairman of RCA Records and one of the most respected executives of the modern record era, passed away at age 81. To the public, he was a powerful music industry leader whose career spanned nearly four decades. To those who knew him personally, he was something far more valuable—a trusted friend, mentor, and one of the most decent people ever to navigate the often turbulent waters of the music business.
His story mirrors the evolution of the record industry itself.
From Columbia Records to the Corner Office
Fresh out of Babson College in 1968, Jamieson joined Columbia Records as a management trainee. It was the perfect time to enter the business. Rock radio was exploding. FM was coming into its own. Record labels were cultural powerhouses, and radio stations still determined what America would hear next.
Jamieson learned the business from the ground up. Over the years he would work for Columbia, Epic, CBS Records, PolyGram, Sony, BMG Canada, and RCA Records, steadily building a reputation as one of the industry’s most capable and respected executives.
He wasn’t a celebrity executive. He wasn’t known for flashy quotes or public theatrics. His reputation came from something much harder to achieve—results.
Thomas Middelhoff, P!NK, Rolf Schmidt-Holtz and Bob Jamieson
The Man Who Helped Restore RCA
By the late 1990s, RCA Records was struggling to reclaim the prominence it once enjoyed during the eras of Elvis Presley, David Bowie, and Jefferson Airplane.
Jamieson became the executive entrusted with helping restore the legendary label’s stature. Industry observers frequently referred to him as a “turnaround artist”—the executive called upon when a company needed stability, vision, and leadership.
The transformation was remarkable.
Under Jamieson’s leadership, RCA became home to some of the era’s most successful artists, including Dave Matthews Band, Christina Aguilera, NSYNC, Foo Fighters, Natalie Imbruglia, Robyn, and artists associated with Loud Records, including Wu-Tang Clan and Big Pun.
NSYNC, Dave Matthews, Christina Aguilera, Foo Fighters
His success was so noteworthy that Harvard Business School developed a case study examining the RCA turnaround, placing Jamieson’s work among the most studied management success stories in the entertainment industry.
In this interview, Bob Jamieson reflects on the music business and the lessons learned throughout his remarkable career.
A Radio Man’s Friend
According to co-publisher Jim Hampton, My own relationship with Bob goes back to the days when I was Music Director and DJ at WJBK in Detroit.
“At the time, Bob was working for Epic Records. We became friends and, for a period, even roommates. Long before he occupied executive suites and boardrooms, he was exactly the same person he remained throughout his career.”
Honest.
Approachable.
Dependable.
Trustworthy.
Those qualities may sound ordinary, but in the record business they were extraordinary.
“But, I also have to add that Bob was a party everywhere he went. He was up, and happy, and funny, and devilish, too. I will miss him greatly.”
The industry has always attracted larger-than-life personalities. Deals were often made over dinners, backstage conversations, and late-night phone calls. Careers rose and fell based on relationships. Through it all, Bob remained a straight shooter.
Artists trusted him.
Employees trusted him.
And perhaps most importantly, his friends trusted him.
Believing in Talent
One of the defining characteristics of Bob Jamieson’s career was his willingness to take chances on artists.
Following news of his passing, the Dave Matthews Band posted a simple tribute:
“Thanks for signing us to our first record deal. We were a long shot and you took it.”
That single sentence may be the perfect summary of Bob’s legacy.
He understood that great artists often arrive before the rest of the world recognizes them. His job wasn’t simply to manage a label. It was to believe in talent and create opportunities for it to flourish.
Throughout his career he combined business discipline with creative instincts—a rare combination in any era of the music business.
Bob Jamieson & Jim Hampton
The Lasting Legacy
Today, when historians discuss the major-label era, they often focus on the artists, the records, and the chart successes.
But behind every great label are individuals who create the environment where those successes can happen.
Bob Jamieson was one of those people.
He helped shape the careers of artists. He helped restore one of the industry’s most storied labels. He guided companies through periods of dramatic change. And he did it without sacrificing his character.
In an industry famous for ego, Bob Jamieson was remembered for integrity.
In a business known for constant change, he remained consistent.
And in a profession where relationships often come and go, he never forgot his friends.
Bob is survived by his wife Judy, children Cindy, David, and Byron, and nine grandchildren. His family was always his greatest source of pride.
The records will continue to play. The artists he championed will continue to be heard. The history he helped create will remain part of the soundtrack of our lives.
For those of us fortunate enough to have known him, however, Bob Jamieson will be remembered not only as a legendary record executive, but as something even rarer:
A genuinely good man.
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