Episode 16: Russell Emmanuel, Head Honcho
Russell Emanuel is a pioneering leader, disruptor and music producer, serving as the CEO, Chief Creative Officer, and co-founder of both Extreme Music and Bleeding Fingers Music. By introducing world-renowned artists and composers—such as Hans Zimmer, Quincy Jones, Sir George Martin, and Snoop Dogg—into the music library space, he's elevated the standard for quality in production music. Russell also transformed the industry by championing the shift from purely instrumental tracks to vocal-led songs, recognizing the demand for music that could tell stories and evoke emotions more powerfully. His innovative approach attracted top-tier talent and redefined what a music library could be.
At Bleeding Fingers Music, co-founded in partnership with legendary composer Hans Zimmer, Russell has built a dynamic, collaborative environment where some of the industry's most vital new composers thrive. Headquartered in Santa Monica, the company is recognized for its unmatched balance of musical creativity, collaboration, and efficiency. The award-winning team at Bleeding Fingers has scored prestigious series and landmark projects, including The Simpsons, Planet Earth, Blue Planet II, Seven Worlds, One Planet, Frozen Planet II, and Apple TV+'s Prehistoric Planet, produced with Jon Favreau.
Here's what Trish is into this week: The Extended Mind, by Annie Murphy Paul.