About

Russ photo

Russ H. Crupnick
Managing Partner,
MusicWatch, Inc.

Russ Crupnick is Managing Partner of MusicWatch, Inc. a company dedicated to marketing research and industry analysis for the music and entertainment industry. MusicWatch evolved from services formerly offered by the NPD Group, where Russ served in several executive roles.

Russ founded NPD’s entertainment practice, leading the team that created a suite of research services for music, home entertainment, retailers and technology companies.

Russ’ work has focused on emerging digital music and video behaviors, high definition media, trends in cross-entertainment, social media, device usage, and connectivity. He developed an international reputation for insights into consumer-entertainment trends and provided guidance and industry analysis to clients and the media.

Russ has appeared as a commentator for broadcast news outlets, including Marketwatch, Fox Business Channel, NPR, CBS, Fox Business Channel, and CNBC. He has been extensively quoted on industry trends in Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Billboard, USAToday, HuffingtonPost, Home Media, and Variety and other leading business and trade publications. He is a regularly featured speaker at events including MusicBiz (NARM), Entertainment Merchants Association (EMA), Digital Media Wire, Canadian Music Week, New Music Seminar, and PlayCon.

Russ is Adjunct Professor at the NYU Steinhardt Music Business Graduate Program where he lectures on marketing strategy, pricing practices and forecasting. He is a 2009 alumnus of Nashville’s prestigious Leadership Music program. In 2013 Russ was honored by the RIAA with a Platinum Record for service to the music industry.