Jim Long

February 7, 1943 – May 30, 2022

Jim Long was a man whose life was defined by sound and music—an innovator and entrepreneur known for his vision and charisma. Long died unexpectedly at home in Pacific Palisades, with his wife by his side, on May 30 from a pulmonary embolism, while recovering from knee surgery.

Long’s fascination with technology and his love of music, coupled with the drive to make a lasting mark in music production and broadcasting, led him on a remarkable path. His brilliant career spanned more than five decades, during which he created award-winning broadcast and entertainment companies in Dallas, Nashville and Los Angeles.

Prior to developing LA-based internet music licensing service CrucialMusic with partner Tanvi Patel, Long founded and operated award-winning, internationally recognized music publishers, production libraries, record labels and broadcast entities: the Jim Long Companies, TM Companies, FirstCom, Honest Entertainment Group, OneMusic and Long-Pride Broadcasting. These successful ventures ultimately attracted corporate interest resulting in acquisitions of his companies by such industry leaders as Starr Broadcasting, Disney’s Shamrock Broadcasting, Clive Calder’s Zomba Enterprises, OneMedia and BMG (later acquired by Universal Music).

His iconic “firsts” helped change the production music and broadcast industries, anticipating trends and turning them into music production products, including syndicating music production and worldwide multi-media image campaigns for radio and TV, creating “shotgun” jingle formats, developing 24/7 automated radio station programming, offering the first production music library on compact disc and building a premier internet-based music licensing service.

His vision—and love of his Irish roots—saw the Celtic Tiger coming, so he created a record label, Honest Entertainment, to introduce a select group of Irish artists previously unknown in the U.S. market.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2007, he continued to launch new businesses, most recently serving as chairman of LA-based Elias Music Library until its 2018 sale to BMG-Universal—after which he retired.

His music placements are too numerous to name but include Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning motion pictures, as well as Clios for broadcast licensing and syndication for radio, television and film. In addition to countless honors for his work in commercial advertising, his producer credits include a Grammy-nominated album for legendary recording artist and performer, Jack Jones, and a Country Music Association Pioneer Award for his friend and former business partner, Charley Pride.

Just as he was mentored by “the father of modern advertising” David Ogilvy, Long mentored and influenced countless music industry executives. Ignoring discriminatory industry attitudes in hiring and promotion, he consistently identified women as leaders and partners to run his companies in Dallas, Nashville and LA. Many musicians and composers owe their royalty revenue to Long’s savvy and generous publishing deals.

His generosity of spirit will continue for many years through The Long Family Trust’s support of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and MusiCares, the nonprofit foundation of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which provides services and assistance in times of need, to musicians and other members of the music community.

He is survived by his wife and business partner of 33 years, Deborah DeBerry Long. Also by his son, James Moynihan, granddaughter Diana Chiaki Moynihan, sister-in-law Daryl DeBerry, nephews Ryan and Sean Coffman, and a worldwide circle of extended family and friends who will always hold him dear.

He was predeceased by his father, John F. Moynihan, in 2001 and by his beloved 104-year-old mother, Marion Long Moynihan, who died just two days prior on May 28.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held on Saturday, September 24, at 3 p.m. at Self-Realization Fellowship Temple, 17080 Sunset Boulevard.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (michaeljfox.org) or MusiCares (musicares.org). To share online memories or condolences, visit jimlongmemorial.com.