Fellows Spotlight
Dan Coleman
2014 Flinn-Brown Fellow
Co-Founder, Modern Works Music Publishing
When Dan Coleman co-founded Modern Works Music Publishing in 2004, he did not just enter the music industry—he helped reshape it. With none other than John Legend as the company’s first signing, Coleman’s vision for bridging artistry and commerce took root. Nearly two decades later, his contributions have extended far beyond music publishing, earning him a reputation as a creative leader who brings the arts to life in communities across the nation.
“My work bridges the profit and nonprofit sectors of artistic production,” Coleman said during a recent interview. “I help individual artists and organizations, including songwriters and hedge funds, manage music copyrights. My job in music publishing is analogous to real estate property management, where music copyrights are treated as income-generating assets, like rental properties. On the nonprofit side, as a board member, I help raise and disburse funds to support individual artists and arts presenters.”
Coleman’s passion for the arts is not confined to the recording studio. In 2014, he played a pivotal role in establishing the Tucson Jazz Festival, bringing world-class performers to Arizona and enriching the cultural fabric of the region. He currently serves on the board of trustees for the BMI Foundation in New York, where he champions music education and innovation on a national stage.
But Coleman’s contributions go even further. As the composer-in-residence for the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, his work is steeped in creativity and collaboration. His compositions have been commissioned by an impressive array of organizations, including the American Composers Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Pacific Northwest Ballet, New York Chamber Symphony, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and many more. His music has graced stages from the Alpenglow Music Festival to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
In addition to John Legend, Coleman’s music publishing ventures have represented a diverse roster of celebrated artists, including Ani DiFranco, Terence Blanchard, and Alison Krauss.
Reflecting on the influences that shaped his career, Coleman credits Frances Sjoberg, a Flinn-Brown Fellow, poet, and attorney, as an inspiration. “Her work as an arts administrator in Tucson and as legal counsel for the Navajo Nation has left a lasting impression on me,” he said. “She exemplifies how the arts and civic leadership can intersect to create meaningful change.”
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and The Juilliard School, Coleman’s educational background laid the foundation for his dynamic career. Today, he remains a tireless advocate for the arts, bridging gaps between creators, communities, and the institutions that sustain them. Whether composing for orchestras, managing copyrights, or supporting arts education, Coleman’s work is a testament to the power of music to inspire and connect us all.
Book Recommendation
Good and Plenty: The Creative Successes of American Arts Funding by Tyler Cowen
Good and Plenty describes how the U.S. government encourages artists through direct and indirect subsidies. Working in the arts often involves navigating both profit-driven and nonprofit organizational structures.
If you missed a Fellows Spotlight, you can find them here. View all Flinn-Brown Fellow profiles here.