Iconique Music Group
Founded in 2007, Eckstine is President of Iconique Music Group, an artist management, A&R, recording contract solicitation, and creative development company based in New York City. Since its inception Iconique Music Group has represented many award winning artists including, Mike Stern (Atlantic/Concord Music Group), House of Waters (GroundUp Music/UMG), Ronnie Foster (Blue Note), The Claudettes (40 Below), Twin Danger, (Universal Music Classics), Tiempo Libre (Universal Music Latino Entertainment), Unity: The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson, (Universal Music Classics), Grant Davis, (Manhattan Records/Capitol Music Group), Nailah Porter, (Universal Music Group International), Incognito, (Concord Music Group), and independent artists, Thana Alexa, Isolde Fair, Muo Duo, Liv Hanna, Lizzy Loeb, Ellis Ashbrook, Danielle Johnson, Ryan Arklin Band, Shane Gamble, Tess Henley, Sasha Dobson, The Pimps of Joytime, Eilidh McKellar, and
Svetlana and the Delancey Five.
In the early 2000’s as the music industry agonized through its digital reincarnation Eckstine saw a unique opportunity to blend his A&R and music industry experience along with new media and artist management expertise to navigate the music 2.0 realm, and thus Iconique Music Group was born.
In 2024 IMG began managing Grammy nominated recording artists, Simon Phillips Protocol. In 2023 IMG signed global artist management contracts with Grammy nominated vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Thana Alexa; Blu; singer/songwriter and violinist, Isolde Fair; and NYC based pop/hip hop artists, Muo Duo. In 2021 IMG became the exclusive global manager for 6 x Grammy nominee, guitarist, Mike Stern.
In 2020, IMG signed 17 year old NY based singer/songwriter, Liv Hanna for artist management and creative development. In 2019 IMG signed The Claudettes for exclusive global artist management. In 2017, Iconique Music Group signed NYC based hip hop artist, 691OhThat's Kay; New Orleans based future funk band, Sexy Dex & The Fresh for exclusive management representation; and began the creative development of 17 year old singer/songwriter, Chloe Borthwick.
In 2015, Iconique Music Group management and creative development signings included singer/songwriter, Lizzy Loeb; Grammy nominated world fusion pioneers, House of Waters; and 15 year old country singer/songwriter, Danielle Johnson. IMG also produced the debut recording, "Night At The Speakeasy," for NYC based jazz/swing ensemble, Svetlana and the Delancey 5, released on Origin Records. In 2014, IMG signed jazz pop duo, Twin Danger, to Decca Records/Universal Music Classics, and Executive Produced their eponymous debut recording. IMG also signed three time Grammy nominated Cuban ensemble, Tiempo Libre, to Universal Music Group Latin Entertainment.
In 2013, IMG managed and produced Scottish singer and guitarist, Eilidh McKellar, and guided country rocker, Shane Gamble to a Top 10 hit single, and added Brooklyn based psychedelic funk prog rockers, Ellis Ashbrook to the Iconique Music Group management and production roster. In its first 5 years, after securing a recording contract for UK Jazz Funk icons, Incognito, to Concord Music Group, Iconique Music Group was instrumental in the development of funk jam band, The Pimps of Joytime, and singer songwriter, Sasha Dobson, (Norah Jones/Puss 'n Boots). Eckstine also produced country pop singer, Justyna Kelley, Southern California modern rock band, The Bolts, (aka, Island Apollo), and signed and Executive Produced soul/jazz vocalist, Nailah Porter to Emarcy/Universal Music Group International.
After studying music composition, percussion, world arts and cultures at UCLA and CalArts, Eckstine initially made his mark locally in Los Angeles as a freelance drummer working with Quincy Jones, Michael McDonald, James Ingram, Eddy Grant, and Michael Henderson, eventually becoming the co-founder of jazz rock iconoclasts, Soma, featuring British guitar god, Allan Holdsworth.
Executive Biography
After an apprenticeship with Quincy Jones, including recording sessions for Jones, Michael Jackson, The Brothers Johnson, James Ingram and Patti Austin, Eckstine’s executive music career began in 1988 at Virgin Music Publishing as Creative Manager. At Virgin Music Eckstine secured songwriter covers for Virgin’s stable of songwriters, placing songs with Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, Kool and the Gang, and Vanessa Williams. Shortly thereafter, he was hired as Staff Producer/Director of A&R, at Columbia Records, where he signed hip-hop artists, Movement Ex, and worked with, Terrence Trent D’Arby, Regina Belle, Philip Bailey, and Shawn Smith. Including the discovery of trumpet superstar, Chris Botti, from 1991-1997, Eckstine was VP/A&R at Verve Records. In addition to the signing of Botti, Eckstine’s productions won four Grammy Awards and he signed and produced/executive produced recordings by Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Art Porter, Roy Hargrove, Mark Whitfield, Jeff Lorber, Incognito, Peter Delano, Evan Marks, Pete Belasco, and Gino Vannelli, among others.
Highlighted by producing the Grammy winning projects, “The New Standard” by Herbie Hancock, “Highlife” by Wayne Shorter, and the Frank Zappa Tribute, “Zappa’s Universe" Eckstine's signing of Herbie Hancock culminated in 2007 with an "Album of the Year" Grammy win for "River- the Joni Mitchell Letters," which Eckstine conceptualized years earlier. During Eckstine’s entire tenure as VP, A&R at Verve, his creative vision helped guide Verve to 7 consecutive years as Billboard Magazine's premiere Jazz label in the world.
Becoming a part of the .com revolution, from 1999-2002, Eckstine was the SVP/Creative Development, for online music provider, MP3.com.
At MP3.com, Guy provided artist and business development expertise on the MP3.com "Music and Technology Tour" featuring, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos, Christina Aguilera, and TLC. Eckstine’s team also initiated corporate sponsorships, including affiliations with brands Best Buy and Sephora Cosmetics. Guy was also responsible for all facets of genre management and development for Jazz, World and Classical Music, including duties as, Content and Community Moderator, and Ezine-Editor-in-Chief. The visionary MP3.com eventually sold to Vivendi Universal for $360 million.
Post MP3.com, for Warner Brothers, Guy Produced/Executive Produced the Billboard Jazz chart-topping album by Brian Culbertson, “Nice and Slow,” and for Atlantic Records, signed Julia Fordham and produced an all-star remake of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” featuring Cyrus Chestnut, Vanessa Williams, The Manhattan Transfer, and Brian McKnight. Guy also produced a #1 CMJ Alternative Rock album, “Styrofoam,” by Alexandra Scott, as well as signing vocalist Carol Welsman, and producing the album “Moondance,” for jazz flautist Hubert Laws, for Savoy.
Always on the lookout for emerging artists and new media innovation, Guy Eckstine continues to build upon the legacy of his family heritage.
In The Community
Eckstine generously offers up his expertise to the next generation of artists and executives by giving back to the community as a two time elected member of The Recording Academy (NARAS) Board of Governors, NY Chapter 2011-2016. Eckstine has been a speaker, panelist and moderator at entertainment industry events including, the CalArts Alumni Family Weekend, Digital Hollywood- Urban Summit, AMCON, IBS, CMJ, Digital Hollywood, IAJE, (International Association Of Jazz Educators), the Radio and Records Convention, the Urban Network Convention, the Gavin Convention, and the L.A.S.S,- Los Angeles Songwriter Showcase. Eckstine has also been a guest lecturer at the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, Tisch School Of The Arts, at New York University, and lectured on the creative process, A&R, Record Production and Music Publishing at the UCLA Music Business Program, the CalArts Alumni Entertainment Group, and the University of Pittsburgh, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences.
Guy Eckstine, President, Iconique Music Group
Throughout his career Guy Eckstine has distinguished himself as an A&R executive, artist manager, record producer, new media pioneer, Grammy board member, corporate consultant and musician, with a keen eye for finding and developing new talent. Eckstine has Produced and Executive Produced over 50 records, four of which have won Grammy Awards, including, "The New Standard," by Herbie Hancock. In 2024 Eckstine produced the Grammy nominated album, On Becoming by House Of Waters in the "Best Contemporary Instrumental Album" Catyegory. Eckstine has held senior A&R positions as Creative Manager, Virgin Music; Director A&R, Columbia Records; VP A&R, Verve Records; and he was also a digital music pioneer, as SVP/Creative Development, at the groundbreaking MP3.com. In addition to his clients at Iconique Music Group, Guy has worked with a stellar array of Grammy winning artists including Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Chris Botti, Vanessa Williams, Whitney Houston, Wayne Shorter, Allan Holdsworth, and Frank Zappa, among many others.
Jennifer Phelps, VP, Tour and Business Development
jennifer@iconiquemusicgroup.com
Jennifer Phelps is Vice President, Business & Tour Development at Iconique Music Group, where her job responsibilities include tour servicing and advancing. Over the course of her executive career Jennifer has implemented strategic marketing, promotion and creative plans with a diverse and broad based range of clientele, including HBO, TNT, CNN, Verve Records, Columbia House, MTV Networks, and 20th Television, among many others. Jennifer has held National Promotion and Marketing responsibilities at Denon and Verve Records, working with Grammy winning artists, Shirley Horn, Charlie Haden, Joe Henderson and Abbey Lincoln. Jennifer's initial foray into television was at 20th Television (Fox), working as Supervisor of Creative Services at "A Current Affair," followed by Product Manager at Columbia House, where she supervised editorial content for Columbia House's direct marketing campaigns. Expanding upon her marketing expertise in the music business, as Director of Operations at Barasch Music and Sound, and as Managing Director at Sound Image, NY, Jennifer was responsible for all aspects of client services, staffing and music licensing for a wide variety of clients including major campaigns in the television commercial realm including, HBO, Nat Geo, Cartoon Network, CNN, Turner Classic Movies, Spike, Lifetime and MTV Networks. Jennifer is based in New York City.