24 Facts About Craig Kallman

Craig Kallman is currently the chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records.

Craig Kallman is the founder of the independent label Big Beat, which was established in 1986.

Craig Kallman is considered one of the world's leading investors in rare records.

Craig Kallman has a collection of more than 1.5 million records, 150,000 items of music memorabilia and 100,000 compact discs.

Craig Kallman was born in Manhattan, New York City in 1965.

Craig Kallman's father had an eclectic record collection that exposed him to a wide variety of music.

Craig Kallman began collecting records at an early age, traveling from record store to record store in New York City; something that became a weekend job, even until today.

Craig Kallman attended Trinity High School before moving on to Brown University.

Craig Kallman had plans to enroll in Harvard Business School but decided to pursue a career in the music industry.

Craig Kallman worked in the dance department at Columbia Records, while DJing at nightclubs in New York City.

Craig Kallman struck a deal with his father to DJ on weeknights as long as he maintained honors in school.

Craig Kallman spent time at Billboard Magazine working in its charts department, while performing as a resident DJ at such clubs as The Tunnel and Mars spinning records from his extensive record collection.

In 1987, Craig Kallman formed his own independent record label, Big Beat Records out of his bedroom with the label's first artist, Taravhonty.

Craig Kallman distributed this first single, "Join Hands" out of a supermarket shopping cart personally selling over 5,000 copies to independent local record stores.

Craig Kallman first began working at Atlantic in 1991, when the label acquired Big Beat as a dance and rap imprint.

Craig Kallman was named Chairman and CEO of Atlantic in 2005.

Craig Kallman revived Atlantic Nashville, the country imprint of the record group.

Craig Kallman was responsible for extending Atlantic Records reach into the film soundtrack industry.

Craig Kallman is credited with co-writing and producing the 2008 Grammy award winning song Daydreamin' by Lupe Fiasco.

Craig Kallman is the producer of the 2015 documentary, 808, which showcases the use of the Roland TR-808 drum machine.

In 2010, Craig Kallman re-launched his Big Beat label, signing artists such as Skrillex, Icona Pop, Chromeo, and Martin Solveig.

Craig Kallman is considered an avid record collector, having more than 1.5 million vinyl records in his collection.

Craig Kallman's collection includes 150,000 vintage music posters, flyers, badges and various memorabilia; 100,000 compact discs; and 1,000 vintage rock and soul T-shirts.

Craig Kallman named 15 of his favorite records while interviewed by Guy Oseary for his 2004 book On the Record:.