Dan Davis
Vice President, West Coast Operations

Dan Davis brings a long and diverse career as a music industry executive to his position as Vice President in charge of West Coast Operations for Gold Circle Entertainment. Among his primary responsibilities is the build-out and equipping of a multi-purpose office complex and production facility, as well as the ongoing management of its various functions, including a recording studio.

Beginning his career as a schoolteacher in Pennsylvania, Davis and his wife moved to Los Angeles shortly after their marriage. A chance meeting resulted in a job writing liner notes with Capitol Records in 1964 and, over the next 24 years, his communications and managerial skills led to a succession of advancements through all operational areas of the company. His stint at Capitol Records culminated with his being named Vice President of Creative Services in 1977. In that position, he oversaw all advertising, merchandising, packaging, publicity, artist development, and film/video production for the company until the time he left in 1982.

From Capitol, Davis moved into the post of Executive Vice President for the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) and the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA). In his position, he managed a range of activities for the two major trade associations. Realizing, however, that trade association work was not his "cup of tea," Davis left NARM/VSDA and was asked to return to Capitol Records. After a year as Director of Sales for Capitol Data Systems, he moved into the distribution side of the business, joining CEMA Distribution, a subsidiary of Capitol/EMI Music. He established and ran the Video Distribution and Licensing Division for the company for two years before taking over the Third-party Division, where he handled acquisition and distribution of product for associated independent labels.

In 1989, an organizational change at the company led to Davis' departure after 24 years with Capitol. However, he was hired as the Western Region Manager for American Gramaphone. He handled all sales and marketing of the company's new releases and catalog for the western third of the U.S. until his departure in 1996.

Immediately upon leaving American Gramaphone, Davis received an offer to become the Vice President of Marketing and Distribution at JVC Music, Inc. Over the next two years, he was responsible for the implementation and management of all marketing, distribution, publicity and creative activities for the company's new releases, catalog (450 titles) and high-end audiophile line. However, the Japanese parent company decided to curtail its American record company operations in 1998. And, although Davis agreed to stay on and help dismantle the company, he left when Mike Delich (a friend from their days together at American Gramaphone) called and told him about Gold Circle's plans to establish a West Coast operation, and asked him to get involved.

Attracted by the company's diversity (including its involvement in radio and television stations, a publishing arm, various labels), his friendship with Delich, and Gold Circle's corporate culture, Davis accepted the offer and immediately began to work on the build-out of a new facility in Santa Monica, California, which will include offices for the record company and a motion picture soundtrack production company, and a complete recording studio when it's completed in early-1999.

To his position, Davis brings a wealth of diverse experience in the music business, excellent communication skills and a people-oriented management style. His immediate objectives are to finish the build-out and to give Gold Circle a presence on the West Coast. A long-term goal is to ensure that the company is successful as an influential player in the music business.