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Tim Sexton

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Tim Sexton
Born (1949-07-17) July 17, 1949 (age 75)
Buffalo, NY
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Producer, entrepreneur, activist, music supervisor
Years active1972 - present
Organization(s)Principal and Founder, The Make Good Group
Principal and Founder, The Sexton Company
Board member ofThe Alliance for Climate Education
Liberty Hill Foundation Advisory Board
AwardsEmmy Award, Live 8
Emmy Award, Idol Gives Back
Websitemakegoodgroup.com

Tim Sexton is an American producer, music supervisor, environmental consultant, and social impact entrepreneur. Noted for events and initiatives which integrate pop culture and social activism, he produced No Nukes, Peace Sunday, Live 8, and was an architect of "Feel the Power" - the precursor to Rock the Vote. He is the principal of the Make Good Group, a company he founded in 2003 to advise corporate clients on sustainability, social responsibility, and brand strategy. Go Green, the environmental program Sexton designed for the Philadelphia Eagles, is considered a model of sustainability.[1][2][3][4]

Sexton served as the music supervisor for dozens of films, including Desperately Seeking Susan, and Rush, which featured Eric Clapton's Grammy Award-winning "Tears in Heaven."[5][6]

Early life and education

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The oldest of 11 children, Sexton was born in Buffalo, New York to Jane Marie Strodel, an artist, and Robert Sexton, an NBA executive and basketball coach. The family moved to San Diego in 1960 when his father accepted a position as the athletic director at the University of San Diego.[7]

Career

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Sexton began his career in production with the Ice Follies-Holiday on Ice. He was involved in all of the tasks related to the show’s production where he discovered an affinity for stage management and lighting design. Throughout the 1970s, he served as a lighting designer, production consultant, production manager or tour manager for dozens of stadium and arena tours for artists including America, Poco, The Rolling Stones, Jackson Browne, Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Chicago, Robin Trower, Red Skelton, and many others.[2]

Based in Los Angeles, Sexton was active in social, political, and environmental issues. In 1979, he was recruited by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Graham Nash to produce No Nukes, composed of five shows at Madison Square Garden (which featured Crosby Stills and Nash, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,[8] among others) and an outdoor rally which drew more than 200,000 people on the then-empty landfill section of Battery Park.[9]

In 1984, Sexton partnered with MTV executives including Les Garland to create the "Feel the Power" campaign for the network. With 30 second public service spots featuring artists including Cyndi Lauper, Jimi Hendrix, and Tina Turner, its goal was to mobilize young voters and facilitate voter registration. It was the foundation of Rock the Vote, for which Sexton served as a director for several years.[10][11]

Based on his work on the No Nukes concerts, which were the subject of a 1980 documentary, Sexton was pursued as a music supervisor for television and film. In 1983, he was retained by 20th Century Fox to oversee contemporary music for the studio. In 1984, he was named vice president of music at Columbia TriStar Pictures and in 1987, with Becky Mancuso-Winding, he co-founded the film music company Magstripe Entertainment. In addition to working with Winding, he served as a music supervisor and consultant for Fox, Disney, and producer Jerry Weintraub.

In 1992, Sexton co-founded Big Screen Records with Irving Azoff's Giant Records. Later, Sexton launched The Track Factory, a boutique film music company, with entertainment industry legend Sidney Sheinberg.[12] In 2000, Sexton was named President and CEO of Digital On-Demand/Red DotNet, which was later acquired by private equity firm Yucaipa and merged with independent home media distributor Alliance Entertainment, where he served as Chief Content Officer and Executive Vice-President of its Media and Entertainment Group.[13][14][15]

In 2003, Sexton founded The Sexton Company, which he described in an interview with The Washington Post as a company that "helps companies do well by doing good."[16] He began working with the Philadelphia Eagles on sustainability programs that same year. The team's Go Green initiative began with a recycling bin in every office and grew to include 100% exclusive use of renewable energy at their stadium, offices, and practice facilities. Sexton's Go Green program for the Eagles has become the benchmark in sustainability and has been emulated by the Seattle Mariners, the Atlanta Falcons, the Phoenix Suns, the Green Sports Alliance, and the Oakland As, among many others.[4][17][18]

In 2005, Sexton executive produced Live 8, a series of concerts conceived by Bob Geldof and designed to focus attention on debt relief and extreme poverty in Africa. More than 1000 musicians performed on a single day simultaneously at nine concerts on four continents, including Madonna, U2, Jay Z, Pink Floyd, and Paul McCartney. As executive producer of Live 8, Sexton won the first-ever Emmy award for content delivered via the internet.[2][19]

In 2007, he was a producer of Idol Gives Back, then the most successful charity event in television history. To date it has raised more than $175 million for organizations working to alleviate poverty in America and Africa, and was awarded a special Emmy by the Governors of the Television Academy.[20]

In 2008, with his then partners, Brendan Sexton and Matt Walden, Sexton initiated a sustainability strategy and business development structure for National Grid, the second-largest energy utility company in the world. In 2012, the Sexton Company was renamed The Make Good Group and was featured in an Entrepreneur magazine cover story as one of top 100 companies to watch.[21] The Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, a 2017 global $10 million competition for a consumer device which successfully makes medical diagnoses, was co-conceived by Sexton and wireless health pioneer Don Jones.

In 2022 Sexton collaborated with Austin Beutner, former Los Angeles Superintendent of Unified Schools, to architect the campaign Proposition 28, a California ballot initiative which earmarks approximately $1 billion annually for music and arts education in the state’s public schools.[22] Sexton is also the Executive Producer of Reconexion, a Spanish language docu-reality television streaming on Univision’s VIX platform. He is currently producing a documentary film on the lives and careers of Crosby, Stills, & Nash with White Horse Pictures and filmmaker Robert Zemeckis.[23] In 2024 Sexton began spearheading the acquisition and restoration of the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in partnership with The Azoff Company, Oak View Group, Live Nation Entertainment, and Geyser Holdings.[24][25][26]

Philanthropy

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Sexton has acted as an advisor and/or, a director (past or present) of the Yale University’s Thorne Prize for Social Innovation in Health or Education, Rock the Vote, USC’s Center for Body Computing, Alliance for Climate Education, Medical Aid for El Salvador, EMA, and Liberty Hill Foundation. He is a co-founder of Southern California's E2,Environmental Entrepreneurs.[27][28][29][30]

Filmography/Discography

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Year Title Credit Notes
2024 Reconexión Executive Producer [31]
2007 American Idol Gives Back Producer Emmy Governors Award
2005 Live 8 Executive producer Emmy award, Interactive content
2000 Up at the Villa Music supervisor
Where the Money Is Music director[32]
1999 Molly Music supervisor
1998 Playing by Heart Music supervisor
1997 That Old Feeling Music supervisor
1996 High School High Music supervisor
House Arrest Music supervisor
Flipper Music supervisor
1995 Virtuosity Executive music producer
Losing Isaiah Music supervisor
How to Make an American Quilt Music supervisor[33]
1994 Clear and Present Danger Music supervisor
Drop Zone Music supervisor
1993 Mr. Jones Executive music producer
Sliver Music supervisor Includes "Can't Help Falling in Love" by UB40
#1 Hot 100
Twenty Bucks Music supervisor
1992 FernGully: The Last Rainforest Music supervisor
The Cutting Edge Music supervisor
1991 Rush Music supervisor Includes Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven"
which won three Grammy awards in 1993
All I Want for Christmas Music supervisor
Crooked Hearts Executive music producer
Backdraft Music supervisor
True Colors Music consultant
1990 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael Music consultant
Air America Music supervisor Includes "Love Me Two Times" by Aerosmith
The Earth Day Special Music supervisor
Cry-Baby Music supervisor
Opportunity Knocks Music supervisor
1989 Listen to Me Music supervisor
She's Out of Control Music supervisor
1988 My Stepmother Is an Alien Music supervisor
Fresh Horses Music supervisor
Sunset Executive in charge of music
1987 Suspect Executive in charge of music
The Principal Executive in charge of music
1986 No Mercy Executive in charge of music
Let's Get Harry Executive in charge of music
About Last Night... Executive in charge of music
Short Circuit Executive in charge of music
Stripper Executive in charge of music
Iron Eagle Executive in charge of music
1985 The Jewel of the Nile Music supervisor
Sweet Dreams Executive in charge of music Music by Patsy Cline
Top 10 album
Real Genius Executive in charge of music
The Legend of Billie Jean Executive in charge of music Includes "Invincible" by Pat Benatar
#10 Hot 100
Desperately Seeking Susan Music supervisor Includes Madonna's "Into the Groove" (#1 Hot 100)
1984 Johnny Dangerously Executive in charge of music
Gimme an 'F' Music supervisor
Revenge of the Nerds Executive in charge of music
Bachelor Party Music supervisor
Romancing the Stone Executive in charge of music
Unfaithfully Yours Executive in charge of music
Reckless Music supervisor
1983 A Night in Heaven Music supervisor Includes "Heaven" by Bryan Adams
#1 Hot 100 in 1985
1977 No Nukes Concert producer

References

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  1. ^ Harrington, Richard (September 25, 1984). "Shake, Rattle 'n' Vote". The Washington Post. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Storm, Jonathan (June 30, 2005). "Keeping the stars aligned Live 8's success - here and abroad - will depend largely on the mix-master talents of producer Tim Sexton, holed up in a trailer by the Art Museum". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 21, 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  3. ^ Marquez, Laura (November 15, 2007). "Philly's Green Eagles". ABC News. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b King, Bill (November 10, 2008). "Seeds of Opportunity". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  5. ^ Walker, Michael (January 31, 1993). "The Hills Are Alive With the $ound of Movies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 August 2015. ...says Sexton, who has handled music supervision on dozens of films.
  6. ^ "Tim Sexton at AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  7. ^ Gonzalez, Bianca (December 16, 2009). "Jane Sexton: Mother of 11, USD supporter". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  8. ^ Benjamin H. Smith (July 2, 2023). "'The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concerts' Captures Explosive Performances From Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band". The Decider.
  9. ^ McLaine, Daisanne. "Rock Politics Comes of Age". Rolling Stone via Musers Archive. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  10. ^ Sutherland, Sam (November 10, 1984). "MTV Spots Get Out the Vote". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  11. ^ Dennisoff, Serge (January 1, 1988). Inside MTV. New York: Transaction. p. 268. ISBN 0887388647. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  12. ^ Bates, James (1996-04-12). "* Music: Bubble Factory, the film production..." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  13. ^ "Alliance Entertainment Corp. Creates New Group to Deliver Enhanced Services to the New Economy". The Free Library. Alliance Entertainment (Press release). Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  14. ^ Jeffery, Don (April 20, 1996). "Sheinberg Launches New Label". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  15. ^ "The Pied Piper:The Activists". USC Annenberg. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  16. ^ Eilperin, Juliet (October 24, 2005). "Conservation's Company Plan". The Washington Post. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  17. ^ Stewart, Matthew (October 13, 2013). "The Eagles' Home Field Goes Green". Philly Style Magazine. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  18. ^ Intersector Project (June 1, 2014). "HOW A FOOTBALL STADIUM BECAME A MODEL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY". Intersector. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  19. ^ ""LIVE 8 ON AOL" WINS FIRST BROADBAND EMMYHONORING PROGRAMS FOR INTERNET, CELLPHONES,PDA". Emmy Online. National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. April 24, 2006. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Idol Gives Back Awards". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  21. ^ Orr, Kim (May 20, 2009). "A Green Machine". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  22. ^ Mims, Taylor (2022-11-03). "What is California Proposition 28 and Why Are Music's Biggest Names Supporting It?". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  23. ^ "Official Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young Doc In Pre-Production — Or Is It???". MyRadioLink.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  24. ^ https://smmirror.com/2024/07/civic-auditorium-set-for-revitalization-talks/
  25. ^ https://www.surfsantamonica.com/ssm_site/the_lookout/news/News-2024/July-2024/07_24_2024_City_Launches_Negotiations_to_Revive_the_Civic.html
  26. ^ https://www.santamonica.gov/press/2024/07/24/economic-growth-cultural-vitality-city-enters-negotiations-to-restore-operate-iconic-civic-auditorium
  27. ^ "About Us". Liberty Hill. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  28. ^ "About Us". EMA. Environmental Media Association. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  29. ^ "The Team". ACE. Alliance for Climate Education. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  30. ^ "Leadership". E2. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  31. ^ Brzoznowski, Kristin (2023-03-29). "ViX & Reconexión Team for Aarón Díaz Travel Doc". TVREAL. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  32. ^ "Tim Sexton". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
  33. ^ "HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
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