About Dan
Acknowledged as one of the American media's foremost authorities on popular music and songwriters, Dan Kimpel contributes to a dizzying variety of print and electronic mediums: books, podcasts, publications, websites, feature films, television, videos and new media. His recent interview subjects include Billie Eilish, Margo Price, Leon Bridges, Mark Ronson, Bebe Rexha, Jack Antonoff, Anderson .Paak, and The Chainsmokers.
Among Dan's most memorable career interviews, he cites Leonard Cohen, Ennio Morricone, Clint Eastwood, Ringo Starr, John Mayer, KISS, Ty Dolla $ign, Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Green Day, Bruno Mars, Usher, Alicia Keys and Metallica.
Over six years, passengers on United Airlines could hear Kimpel's incisive interviews with hit songwriters and recording artists worldwide on The United Entertainment Network. He has written, produced and/or voiced segments for Delta Airlines, TED, Regal Cinemas, and the presidential and vice presidential planes, Air Force One and Two.
In print, Dan contributes cover features to the West Coast trade publication Music Connection magazine, plus a regular column, "Song Biz," profiling a writer or composer in each issue. To date, Dan has conducted over 500 interviews for the magazine. Other publications to feature his writing include BMI World, ASCAP Playback, Grammy, SESAC Magazine, Film Music and American Songwriter.
In 2018, in conjunction with longtime friend and colleague, producer and composer Lindsay Tomasic, Dan joined the Storyophonic podcast, interviewing songwriters, composers, producers, engineers and executives — those who shine in the spotlights and the studios, with a focus on behind-the-scenes figures whose impact on the music business is often unsung but equally immeasurable.
For a worldwide audience of readers, Dan is a distinguished author. His book on maximising personal relationships, Networking Strategies For The New Music Business (ArtistPro/Thomson), is the follow-up to his best-selling title, Networking in the Music Business. Over five years, he conducted a week-long master class on networking at Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in the UK. Stateside, he lectures at colleges, universities and conferences across the US and Canada.
A key faculty member at Musicians Institute in Hollywood for 12 years, Dan taught classes in the Music Business and Independent Artist programmes. He was named MBP Teacher of the Year six times. He continues to mentor MI students and represents the college at graduations, orientations, open houses and other public events. A past chairman of the Musicians Foundation, he now serves on the non-profit organisation's advisory board.
More books continued Dan's author career: How They Made It: True Stories of How Music's Biggest Stars Went From Start to Stardom was released by Hal Leonard. Electrify My Soul: Songwriters and the Spiritual Source followed from Thomson/PTR, and It All Begins with the Music: Developing Successful Artists & Careers for the New Music Business was co-authored with the late legendary A&R executive Don Grierson.
As a writer for hire, Dan also strategises on projects and writes copy for record labels, music libraries and major label and independent recording artists. His client roster has included the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning writing and production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, R&B legend Bill Withers, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Jack Tempchin ("Peaceful Easy Feeling") and country icons Big & Rich.
On camera, Dan conducted an extensive series of interviews to commemorate the 90th anniversary of ASCAP with Quincy Jones, Marilyn Bergman, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, Andre 3000 (OutKast), Randy Newman, and the late Hal David and Elmer Bernstein. For a decade, he interviewed all of the Society's award-winners in Pop, Film & Television and Rhythm and Soul.
Dan began his career as a musician in his hometown, Lima, Ohio. He was a staff songwriter in Nashville and continued his performing, recording and composing careers in New York and Los Angeles. In 1995, he was appointed creative director for the National Academy of Songwriters (NAS), producing concerts and events with Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Randy Newman, Don Henley, Quincy Jones, Tom Petty, Leiber & Stoller, Burt Bacharach, John Fogerty, Babyface, Glen Ballard and Diane Warren.
Dan lives in the Eagle Rock neighbourhood of Los Angeles, California.
