Dawn Ostroff
{{Short description|American businesswoman}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Dawn Ostroff
| image = Dawn Ostroff wikipedia (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Ostroff in 2021
| nationality = American
| education = Florida International University
| occupation = Chief content officer and Advertising business officer, Spotify{{Cite web |title=Dawn Ostroff - Chief Content Officer & Advertising Business Officer at Spotify |url=https://theorg.com/org/spotify/team/dawn-ostroff |website=THE ORG |language=en |access-date=May 19, 2020}}
| spouse = Mark Ostroff
| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York City, New York
| birth_date = 1960
| children = 4
}}
Dawn Ostroff is an American businesswoman. She was the chief content officer and advertising business officer of Spotify{{cite web | url=https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-01-23/an-update-on-january-2023-organizational-changes/ | title=An Update on January 2023 Organizational Changes }} and was the former president of entertainment of The CW and also the former president of Condé Nast Entertainment.{{cite web |url=http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/cends-digital-dawn-7306836?src=nl/mornReport/20131211 |title=Dawn Ostroff Talks Condé Nast's Digital Strategy |website=WWD |date=December 11, 2013 |accessdate=December 11, 2013 |author=Steigrad, Alexandra}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/conde-nast-entertainment-president-dawn-378204 |title=Conde Nast Entertainment President Dawn Ostroff Predicts 'Digital' Competition for Broadcasters |work=The Hollywood Reporter |first=Elizabeth |last=Guider |date=October 11, 2012 |accessdate=May 3, 2017}}{{Cite news |url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/spotify-names-dawn-ostroff-chief-content-officer-1202857843/ |title=Spotify Names Dawn Ostroff Chief Content Officer |date=June 26, 2018 |work=Variety |access-date=April 18, 2022 |language=en-US |author=Variety Staff}}
Early life and education
Ostroff was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/12937832%7C0/Dawn-Ostroff#overview |title=Dawn Ostroff |date= |work=TCN |access-date=April 1, 2022 |language=en-US}} She had an early introduction to music, her father being a concert promoter who worked with Frank Sinatra.{{Cite web |title=Dawn Ostroff Has Always Been Ahead of Her Time |url=https://www.elle.com/culture/music/a28905574/dawn-ostroff-spotify-interview/ |last=Gaffney |first=Adrienne |date=September 5, 2019 |website=ELLE |language=en-US |access-date=May 8, 2020}} Ostroff holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Florida International University.
Career
Ostroff began her career in news as a reporter for WINZ, a CBS affiliate in Miami. She also worked in local news at WPLG and WTVJ in Miami. She later held senior positions at 20th Century Fox, Michael Jacobs Productions (Disney) and the Kushner-Locke Company.
=Lifetime=
From 1996 to 2002, she served as executive vice president of entertainment at Lifetime Television and led the network to become the #1-rated cable network in prime time.{{cite news |title=Alumna shares her journey from reporter to Spotify chief content and advertising business officer |url=https://news.fiu.edu/2020/alumna-shares-her-journey-from-reporter-to-spotify-chief-content-and-advertising-business-officer |date=October 2, 2020 |accessdate=March 31, 2022 |work=FIU News}}
=UPN Network=
From 2002 to 2006, Ostroff served as president of the UPN Network, a subsidiary of CBS, where she developed the popular reality series America's Next Top Model, along with other programs including Veronica Mars and Everybody Hates Chris.{{cite news |title=Dawn Ostroff Exits Conde Nast to Become Spotify's Chief Content Officer |url=https://www.thewrap.com/dawn-ostroff-exits-conde-nast-become-spotifys-chief-content-officer/ |date=June 26, 2018 |accessdate=April 2, 2022 |work=The Wrap}}
=The CW=
Beginning in 2006, Ostroff launched The CW broadcast network - a joint venture of CBS and Warner Bros. - and served as president of entertainment. Ostroff was in charge of programming, digital initiatives, branding, marketing, research and sales. As president, she developed several TV series, including Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries.{{cite news |title=Dawn Ostroff leave Condé Nast Entertainment for Spotify |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/dawn-ostroff-leave-conde-nast-entertainment-for-spotify/5130453.article |date=June 26, 2018 |accessdate=April 2, 2022 |work=Screen Daily}}
=Condé Nast Entertainment=
Ostroff and Condé Nast CEO Bob Sauerberg co-founded and launched Condé Nast Entertainment (CNE) in 2011, a studio and distribution network for film, television, premium digital video, social, and virtual reality. At CNE, Ostroff produced film projects including Only the Brave, adapted from a GQ feature; The First Monday in May; The Old Man & the Gun with Robert Redford as well as TV series including Last Chance U on Netflix and Vanity Fair Confidential on Investigation Discovery.{{cite news |title=Q&A: Dawn Ostroff has some thoughts for video pivoters |url=https://adage.com/article/qaa/q-aa-dawn-ostroff-lessons-video-pivoters/311645 |accessdate=January 12, 2020 |work=Ad Age |first=Jeanine |last=Poggi}}{{cite news |first1=Kai |last1=Ryssdal |first2=Bridget |last2=Bodnar |title=How Condé Nast went from magazine publisher to entertainment company |url=https://www.marketplace.org/2017/12/13/business/how-conde-nast-went-from-magazine-publisher-entertainment-company/ |accessdate=January 12, 2020 |agency=Marketplace}}{{cite news |last1=Siegel |first1=Tatiana |title=Conde Nast's Dawn Ostroff on Turning Magazine Articles into Movies and New TV Plans |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/conde-nasts-dawn-ostroff-turning-magazine-articles-movies-new-tv-plans-1049313 |accessdate=January 12, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Additionally, through its digital franchises, such as Vogue's "73 Questions" and WIRED's "Autocomplete Interview," CNE made 5,000 videos, garnering more than 11 billion views in 2017.
=Spotify=
Ostroff joined Spotify in August 2018 as Chief Content Officer.{{cite news |last1=Sisario |first1=Ben |title=Spotify, Nodding to Broader Ambitions, Hires Chief Content Officer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/26/business/media/spotify-dawn-ostroff.html |accessdate=June 26, 2018 |date=June 26, 2018 |work=The New York Times}} She led all aspects of content and distribution operations, including global advertising, global original content, content marketing, industry and creator relationships, and licensing.
During Ostroff's time as Chief Content Officer, she focused on expanding the music streaming service into other forms of audio, primarily podcasts.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Wendy |title=Dawn Ostroff's plan to turn Spotify into the ultimate podcast hub |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2019-09-08/dawn-ostroffs-plan-to-turn-spotify-into-the-ultimate-podcast-hub |accessdate=September 9, 2019 |date=September 9, 2019 |work=Los Angeles Times}} She signed Barack and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground Productions, to produce a slate of exclusive podcasts for Spotify.{{Cite web |last=Ioannou |first=Lori |date=December 3, 2020 |title=Meet the Woman Who Got Joe Rogan and Michelle Obama to Spotify |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/03/how-spotify-hopes-to-win-the-podcasting-wars.html |access-date=March 31, 2022 |website=CNBC |language=en}} She also negotiated exclusive podcast deals with Kim Kardashian West, Joe Rogan, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Lucas |date=2020-12-15 |title=Prince Harry and Meghan Will Produce and Host Podcasts for Spotify |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-15/prince-harry-and-meghan-will-produce-and-host-podcasts-for-spotify |access-date=March 10, 2022 |website=Bloomberg |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ioannou |first=Lori |date=January 21, 2021 |title=Ava DuVernay Inks Spotify Deal to Produce Exclusive Podcasts |url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/news/ava-duvernay-spotify-podcasts-1234888582/ |access-date=March 31, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en}} She is also responsible for overseeing the acquisitions of digital media company and podcast network Gimlet Media, the podcast creation tool Anchor, digital media firm Parcast, and Bill Simmons's The Ringer.{{Cite web |last=Tartaglione |first=Nancy |date=2019-02-06 |title=Spotify Buys Podcast Players Gimlet Media & Anchor; Eyes $500M in 2019 Deals |url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/spotify-gimlet-media-anchor-acquisition-podcasting-500-million-spend-2019-1202550754/ |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en}}
Ostroff helped Spotify increase the number of podcasts from 185,000 to 3 million, as of January 2022, and in 2020, the company's stock more than doubled.{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Lucas |date=January 9, 2022 |title=Podcasting Hasn't Produced A New Hit in Years |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-01-09/podcasting-hasn-t-produced-a-new-hit-in-years |access-date=April 1, 2022 |website=Bloomberg |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Tseng |first=Andrew |date=December 29, 2020 |title=2020 Wrapped: Is Spotify Stock a Buy? |url=https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/12/29/2020-wrapped-is-spotify-stock-a-buy/ |access-date=January 19, 2021 |website=The Motley Fool |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Steele |first=Anne |date=August 11, 2020 |title=Meet the Woman Who Got Joe Rogan and Michelle Obama to Spotify |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/meet-the-woman-who-got-joe-rogan-and-michelle-obama-to-spotify-11597138201 |access-date=January 19, 2021 |website=Wall Street Journal |language=en}}
In January 2023, it was announced that Ostroff would be departing Spotify.{{Cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=2023-01-23 |title=Spotify Content And Ad Business Chief Dawn Ostroff Departing As Company Cuts 6% Of Workforce |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/spotify-content-chief-dawn-ostroff-departing-amid-cutbacks-1235237204/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Board memberships
Ostroff serves on the board of New York University College of Arts & Science. In June 2020, Activision Blizzard appointed her to its board as an independent director.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=June 11, 2020 |title=Spotify's Dawn Ostroff Joins The Board Of Activision Blizzard |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/spotify-dawn-ostroff-activision-blizzard-board-1202956666/ |access-date=July 25, 2020 |website=Deadline |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Amore |first=Samson |date=2020-06-11 |title=Spotify Content Lead Dawn Ostroff Joins Activision Blizzard Board |url=https://www.thewrap.com/spotify-content-lead-dawn-ostroff-joins-activision-blizzard-board/ |access-date=July 25, 2020 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} She has also served on the board of directors for Westfield Corporation and on the City Year LA board.{{cite web |title=NYU Board of Overseers |url=https://as.nyu.edu/content/nyu-as/as/about/board-of-overseers.html |website=as.nyu.edu |publisher=NYU Arts and Science |access-date=April 26, 2020}} Ostroff is also one of the listed directors for the Tom Brady-backed digital NFT company Autograph{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Dawn Ostroff and Michael Rapino are advising NFT startup Autograph |url=https://musically.com/2021/04/09/dawn-ostroff-and-michael-rapino-are-advising-nft-startup-autograph/ |access-date=January 19, 2021 |date=April 9, 2021 |website=Musically |language=en}} and is on the board of trustees for the Paley Center for Media.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Paley Center Adds To Its Board Of Trustees And L.A. Board Of Governors |url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/paley-center-for-media-new-board-members-trustees-los-angeles-governors-1234745471/ |access-date=April 28, 2021 |date=April 1, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en}} She also served on the board of American entertainment company Anonymous Content.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Dawn Ostroff |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/4354267 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |date= |website=Bloomberg |language=en}}
Ostroff joined Paramount Global’s board of directors in May 2023 as an independent, non-executive director.{{Cite web |last=Earl |first=William |date=2023-03-17 |title=Dawn Ostroff Joins Paramount Global Board of Directors; CEO Bob Bakish’s 2022 Compensation Rises to $32 Million |url=https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/dawn-ostroff-paramount-global-board-of-directors-1235558153/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=2023-03-17 |title=Paramount Global Adds Dawn Ostroff To Board |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/paramount-global-dawn-ostroff-board-of-directors-spotify-conde-nast-cw-1235303508/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} She stepped down from the position in 2024.{{Cite news |last=Toonkel |first=Jessica |date=10 April 2024 |title=Four Paramount Directors to Step Down as Company Discusses Skydance Merger |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/three-paramount-directors-to-step-down-as-company-discusses-skydance-merger-68c509e4 |access-date=4 September 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal}}{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |last2=Szalai |first2=Georg |date=2024-04-11 |title=Paramount Confirms That Board Members Will Step Down at Annual Meeting Amid Skydance Deal Talks |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/paramount-board-members-leave-skydance-deal-talks-1235871255/ |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}
In February 2024, it was announced that Ostroff joined Mattel Corporate’s Board of Directors.{{Cite web |title=Julius Genachowski and Dawn Ostroff Join Mattel Board of Directors |url=https://corporate.mattel.com/news/julius-genachowski-and-dawn-ostroff-join-mattel-board-of-directors |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=corporate.mattel.com}}
Awards and recognition
- Hollywood Reporter 2021 Women in Entertainment Power 100 (2021){{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Dawn Ostroff - Chief Content & Advertising Business Officer, Spotify |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/hollywood-reporters-2021-women-in-entertainment-power-100/dawn-ostroff-cco-spotify/ |access-date=April 2, 2022 |date=April 9, 2021 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}
- New York Women in Communications Matrix Award (2021){{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Steve |title=News of Firms: Weber Shandwick's Judith Harrison Earns Matrix Award |url=https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/16570/2021-08-04/news-firms-weber-shandwicks-judith-harrison-earns-matrix-award.html |access-date=March 31, 2022 |date=August 4, 2021 |website=O'Dwyers |language=en}}
- Billboard Power List (2020){{Cite magazine |last= |first= |title=The 2022 Billboard Power List Revealed |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/business-news/billboard-2022-power-list-1235022798/ |access-date=March 31, 2022 |date=January 26, 2022 |magazine=Billboard |language=en}}
- Rolling Stone The Future 25 (2019){{cite magazine |last1=Wang |first1=Amy |title=Future 25: Dawn Ostroff, Chief Content Officer at Spotify |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/future-25-dawn-ostroff-chief-content-officer-at-spotify-888989/ |accessdate=February 23, 2020 |date=September 20, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}
- New York Women in Film & Television MUSE Award (2014){{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Gordon |title=Maggie Gyllenhaal, Wanda Sykes Among Women in Film and Television's 2014 Honorees |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/women-film-television-music-awards-2014-maggie-gyllenhaal-sykes-ostroff-1201354617/ |access-date=April 1, 2022 |date=October 12, 2014 |website=Variety |language=en}}
- AdAge Women to Watch (2012){{Cite web |last=Ives |first=Nat |title=Women to Watch: Dawn Ostroff, Conde Nast |url=https://adage.com/article/special-report-women-to-watch/women-watch-dawn-ostroff-conde-nast/235094 |access-date=April 4, 2022 |date=2012-06-04 |website=AdAge |language=en}}
Personal life
Ostroff resides in New York City with her husband Mark Ostroff and their four children.{{cite web |url=http://jewishjournal.com/news/los_angeles/la_woman/9778/ |title=Balance Paramount to UPN Head Ostroff |first=Soriya |last=Daniels |date=June 24, 2004 |website=Jewish Journal |accessdate=April 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108164905/http://www.jewishjournal.com/la_woman/article/balance_paramount_to_upn_head_ostroff_20040625/ |archive-date=January 8, 2009}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2348802}}
{{Presidents of The CW Television Network}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ostroff, Dawn}}
Category:20th-century American Jews
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:American television executives
Category:Businesspeople from Miami
Category:Paramount Global people
Category:Warner Bros. Discovery people
Category:Florida A&M University alumni
Category:Businesspeople from New York City