Jimmy Iovine

Co-founder of the USC Iovine and Young Academy, the Iovine and Young Center, Interscope Records, and Beats Electronics

About Jimmy

Jimmy Iovine is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former music executive and producer. He is the co-founder of the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation, the Iovine and Young Center, Interscope Records, and Beats by Dre. In 2022, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

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 started out at Record Plant in New York City in his late teens, working with music giants who helped forge 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, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, and Lady Gaga. It was at Interscope Records that he first crossed paths with hip-hop star and producer Andre “Dr. Dre” Young.

Entrepreneurship and Education

Jimmy and Dr. Dre would go on to become business and philanthropic partners — taking music and technology to the next level with Beats by Dre, Beats Electronics, and Beats Music. They would also introduce 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 opened its doors in Los Angeles.

In 2024, Jimmy became an investor in Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop, a ready-to-drink cocktail named after the pair’s hit 1990s song.

The USC Iovine and Young Academy

After launching Beats by Dre, Jimmy noticed a lack of individuals knowledgeable in both technology and the creative arts. So, he set out to find a way to combine liberal arts and technology education. His vision became the USC Iovine and Young Academy.

Jimmy and Dr. Dre teamed up to establish the USC Jimmy Iovine and Andre 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

The Iovine and Young Center

After the success of the USC Academy, Jimmy and Dr. Dre wanted to create an innovative educational model scaled for high schoolers that would help them 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 and works to empower, engage, and inspire young scholars.

“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

News and Insights

Read the latest news about Jimmy’s philanthropic efforts and business ventures.