Celia Hirschman

Celia Hirschman

Host of On the Beat

Celia Hirschman is an independent consultant for the music business. She founded the marketing consulting company, Downtown Marketing, in 1999. Concurrently with Downtown Marketing, Ms. Hirschman also ran the US division of the British record label, One Little Indian (2003-2010), where she oversaw over campaigns for Bjork, The Twilight Singers, Jesse Malin, Marc Anthony Thompson, Olof Arnalds, Pieta Brown and many more. At Downtown Marketing, she has worked with Bryan Adams, Martina McBride, Sonia Dada, Cindy Bullens to name but a few. In 1984, Celia started Vis-Ability an independent video promotion firm. As a video promoter, Ms. Hirschman worked with labels representing acts such as Madonna, aha, Talking Heads, Aimee Mann, 10,000 Maniacs, Depeche Mode, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Van Halen and many more.

In addition to her independent work, Ms. Hirschman has served as a label executive at several large labels in a marketing and managerial role. Celia was the General Manager of Chris Blackwell's Palm label, overseeing the entire roster. Previously she held the position of VP of Marketing and Artist Development at Mercury Records, and she began her label experience at A& M Records as the Executive Director of Marketing. She started her career in the music business managing seven record stores in California and Hawaii for a large music chain.

Celia has taught music marketing at UCLA and served on the boards of both the East coast and West coast chapters of NARAS. Ms. Hirschman founded and ran two non-profit organizations in the Music Business - Los Angeles Women In Music (LAWIM) and the Music Video Association (MVA).

Her On The Beat commentaries for KCRW run Wednesday afternoons at 6:44pm, during NPR’s All Things Considered.

She resides in San Francisco.

Celia Hirschman on KCRW

At the behest of record labels, last October, US District Judge, Kimba Woods ordered LimeWire, the popular file-sharing service to suspend its peer-to-peer site.  The judge ruled that…

LimeWire and the RIAA

At the behest of record labels, last October, US District Judge, Kimba Woods ordered LimeWire, the popular file-sharing service to suspend its peer-to-peer site.  The judge ruled that…

from On the Beat

No doubt about it. The most exciting growth in the record business this year has come from Apple.

IPad Apps

No doubt about it. The most exciting growth in the record business this year has come from Apple.

from On the Beat

Guy Hands may finally be losing control of his company, EMI Music Group, to their chief investor, the financial bank Citigroup. EMI owes Citibank almost $3 billion. Mr.

EMI, Spotify and Google

Guy Hands may finally be losing control of his company, EMI Music Group, to their chief investor, the financial bank Citigroup. EMI owes Citibank almost $3 billion. Mr.

from On the Beat

More from KCRW

California’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports, Watch Me!, will open this month in Long Beach. It will welcome all ages to inspire young athletes.

from KCRW Features

After four decades in Park City, Utah, Sundance may be moving. The film festival has narrowed down six finalists for its next host city, starting in 2027.

from KCRW Features

From mountain tops to the underworld, Robert Macfarlane explores the natural world through language, metaphor, and music.

from Life Examined

Soul-jazz-hip-hop stalwart José James hits KCRW with his fifth(!) performance, sharing highlights from “1978” — his most soulful, funky, and political album yet.

from Live From

A paid summer program helps teenagers learn trade skills that are in high demand but usually not taught in classrooms.

from KCRW Features

The latest film releases are Twisters, Oddity, Crossing, and Skywalkers: A Love Story.

from Weekend Film Reviews

The 75th anniversary celebrating the creation of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, creates an opportunity for those in the war machine to double down their commitment to…

from Scheer Intelligence

Social psychologist Sarah Hill delves into how oral contraceptives may impact our minds, while psychiatrist Emily Dosssett addresses concerns about navigating mental health before,…

from Life Examined

Noah Hawley on the fifth installment of his FX series “Fargo,” Emma Seligman talks “Bottoms,” and Sofia Coppola on “The Treat.”

from The Treatment