Glass was raised in
Brooklyn, New York. In 1977, while engaged in pre-med studies at
Brooklyn College, he began a stint as an
R&B/
dance disc jockey at the college's radio station
WBCR. Still a student, he was subsequently hired as the first DJ for the influential
discotheque,
Regine's.
SAM Records Glass joined the influential indie dance label
SAM Records as vice president working with
Gary's Gang,
John Davis and the Monster Orchestra and the Evasions. He began focusing on developing artists’ careers, rather than just trying to pick hit records. Significantly, Glass promoted street bands when other more conservative and larger labels had not.
Chrysalis Records; Senior Vice President Glass joined
Chrysalis Records in 1983 as Director of New Music Marketing and was later appointed Senior Vice President. During his six years with Chrysalis, he helped guide the careers of such stars as
Pat Benatar,
Huey Lewis and the News,
Billy Idol,
Spandau Ballet,
Jethro Tull,
Icehouse,
The Divinyls,
Sinéad O'Connor and
Was (Not Was), among others. He also developed a strong college and intern program, which cultivated a number of talented young executives who later went on to high-level positions throughout the entertainment industry.
SBK Records/EMI Record Group; President/CEO In 1989, Glass joined
SBK Records as Senior Vice President of Promotion. This quickly produced success in breaking new artists, including the multi-platinum debuts of
Jesus Jones,
Technotronic,
Wilson Phillips,
Vanilla Ice, as well at SBK/Liberty country artist
Billy Dean. In 1990, Glass was promoted to Executive Vice President/General Manager of SBK Records. A 1992 edition of ''
Crain's New York Business'' profiled him ("Daniel Glass, 35, General Manager EMI Records Group North America") as one of the top "under forty" business executives. With the consolidation of SBK, Chrysalis, and
EMI USA several years later into "EMI Record Group North America," he rose to President/CEO. In that position he was instrumental in bringing Jon Secada,
Selena, Barrio Boyzz, Blur,
D'Angelo,
Roxette,
Wilson Phillips,
Vanilla Ice,
Technotronic, and
Arrested Development into platinum and
Grammy Award-winning status, as well as the hit soundtrack to the critically acclaimed film,
The Crying Game, which featured
Boy George.
Rising Tide Records/Universal Records; President In 1996, Glass joined
Doug Morris (later, chairman of
Universal Music Group), to start
Rising Tide Records (subsequently
Universal Records), with Glass as president. The label had success in breaking new artists, including the multi-platinum debut of Erykah Badu,
Billie Myers, Goldfinger, and the
Lost Boyz. Recognizing the changing landscape of the industry, Glass strategically aligned Universal with such independent record labels as
Kedar Entertainment, home to Erykah Badu, and
Mojo Records, home to platinum artists
Reel Big Fish and the
Cherry Poppin' Daddies.
Artemis Records; President In 1999 Glass joined
Artemis Records as Executive Vice President. After a few months, he was named President and achieved success with the gold record rapper Kurupt, Grammy Award-winning Warren Zevon, rocker
Steve Earle, gold record female
hard rock group
Kittie, the Pretenders and the triple platinum pop stars
Baha Men. He also executive produced the
Josh Joplin Group’s album, which was released in January 2001.
Glassnote Records In 2007, Glass founded
Glassnote Entertainment Group, encompassing a music label, publishing company, artist management, and merchandising. Among the artists signed to the label past and present are Hamilton Leithauser,
Two Door Cinema Club, Grammy Award Winning
Phoenix, Grammy Award Winning
Mumford & Sons, Daughter, Tors, Talia Rae, Dylan Cartlidge, The Strumbellas, Flight Facilities, Robert DeLong, Jade Bird, Ripe, Cecilia Castleman, Patrick Martin, Edie Bens, [Grammy award-winning
Silvana Estrada and Half Moon Run. In 2012, the sophomore release by Glassnote artist Mumford & Sons became the biggest selling debut album of the year with first week sales of 600,000 units.* For the first release on the independent Glassnote Entertainment Group he chose Secondhand Serenade, the #1 unsigned artist in the history of
MySpace, with 17 million plays and roughly 200,000 "friends." In 2013 Glassnote Records won the A2IM Libera Award for Best Label of the Year. ==Awards and leadership==