Jimmy Iovine
Visionary, investor and co-founder of the USC Iovine and Young Academy, the Iovine and Young Center, Interscope Records, and Beats Electronics
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About Jimmy Iovine
From recording engineer and producer to record label executive and investor, Jimmy Iovine has worn many hats in the music industry. He began his career in a recording studio, working with some of the greats. He later co-founded Interscope Records. In 2022, Jimmy earned induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his contributions to the music industry and was recognized with the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Over the years, Jimmy discovered other life passions – including entrepreneurship and philanthropy. In 2006, he teamed up with Andre “Dr. Dre” Young to co-found the music technology company Beats Electronics and later launch education spaces, such as the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation and the Iovine and Young Center. In 2024, Jimmy became an investor in Complex NTWRK, along with Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop.
Life in Music
Jimmy was born in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Before exploring the world of educational philanthropy and entrepreneurship, Jimmy worked at Record Plant recording studio in New York City, where he partnered with music giants who helped jumpstart his decades-long career. His album sleeve credits include John Lennon’s “Rock and Roll” and “Wall and Bridges,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” Patti Smith’s “Easter,” and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Damn the Torpedoes.” In 1981, Jimmy produced Stevie Nicks’ solo album, “Bella Donna,” featuring the hit song “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.”
In 1990, Jimmy co-founded Interscope Records, where he worked with artists like Eminem, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails, The Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, and Lady Gaga. It was at Interscope Records that he first crossed paths with hip-hop star and producer Dr. Dre.
Entrepreneurship and Education Endeavors
Jimmy and Dr. Dre went on to become business and philanthropic partners – taking music and technology to the next level with Beats by Dre and Beats Music. They also introduced a new type of education framework at the university and high school levels. In 2013, Jimmy and Dr. Dre donated $70 million to launch the groundbreaking USC Iovine and Young Academy. In 2022, the Iovine and Young Center – billed as “high school, reimagined” – opened its doors in Los Angeles.
In 2024, Jimmy became an investor in Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, a spirits brand named after the 1990s hit song by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Also in 2024, Jimmy became an investor in Complex NTWRK – a music, style, and pop culture platform. Complex NTWRK hosts ComplexCon, an annual festival and exhibition in Las Vegas. ComplexCon features new brand releases, art, food, and panel discussions.
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The USC Iovine and Young Academy: Tech, Design, Business, and Culture
After launching Beats Electronics, Jimmy and Dr. Dre noticed a lack of individuals savvy in both technology and the creative arts. So, he and Dr. Dre set out to find a way to combine liberal arts and technology education. Their vision became the USC Iovine and Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation.
The Academy doesn’t fit within the traditional one-size-fits-all mold of education. It offers an unparalleled learning experience that prepares students for the tech-driven global marketplace to ideate new business ventures, conceptualize technologies, and leave a positive mark on society. The signature learning framework readies students for the modern work environments of today and tomorrow.
“I hope at this school we can help our students to dream big, execute, and build the courage to stay in the saddle.”
— Jimmy Iovine at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the USC Iovine and Young Academy in Los Angeles
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The Iovine and Young Center: A New Take on High School
After the success of the USC Academy, Jimmy and Dr. Dre wanted to create an innovative educational model designed to help high schoolers succeed in higher education and their forthcoming careers. In 2022, the pair founded the Iovine and Young Center (IYC) with the launch of its first school in Southern California: the IYC Integrated Design, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Magnet in Los Angeles.
IYC is high school reimagined. The leading-edge, state-of-the-art program blends project- and team-based, real-world learning opportunities with insight from top educators, executives, and industry experts. IYC prepares students for a future as a creative, changemaker, innovator, entrepreneur, or technologist. The school works to empower, engage, and inspire young scholars.
A second IYC location opened in Atlanta, Georgia, at Frederick Douglass High School in 2024. A third IYC location is set to open in Inglewood, California, in 2025.
“Collaborative innovation is the future at all these companies, and these companies want people to learn how to collaborate and understand each other and work together. … So we’re bringing that type of curriculum and education to high schools.”
– Jimmy Iovine during the Jazzys World TV YouTube Channel Interview
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News and Insights
Read the latest news about Jimmy’s philanthropic efforts and business ventures.
Iovine and Young Center at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta
Iovine and Young Center (IYC) students at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta receive an innovative education, immerse themselves in a Challenge-Based Learning curriculum, and develop important business skills while solving real-world prompts and creating concepts for IYC industry partner organizations.
Inclusive Design at the USC Iovine and Young Academy
With the inclusive design learning framework, USC Iovine and Young Academy students can collaborate, visualize, and communicate their ideas. Professor Davina Wolter shares how the Academy provides students with this academic experience.
Iovine and Young Center at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta
Iovine and Young Center (IYC) students at Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta receive an innovative education, immerse themselves in a Challenge-Based Learning curriculum, and develop important business skills while solving real-world prompts and creating concepts for IYC industry partner organizations.
Inclusive Design at the USC Iovine and Young Academy
With the inclusive design learning framework, USC Iovine and Young Academy students can collaborate, visualize, and communicate their ideas. Professor Davina Wolter shares how the Academy provides students with this academic experience.
