Born in Sacramento, CA, Andy Kipnes was raised in an environment that blended technical ingenuity with artistic passion. His father, an engineer in the aerospace industry, contributed to the Polaris Missile Systems and the Apollo Space Program in the late 1950s and 1960s, while his mother nurtured a deep love for art and painting. Influences from his extended family, including Broadway producer and restaurateur Joe Kipness—known for Applause, High Button Shoes, and Joe’s Pier 52—instilled a strong entrepreneurial spirit and an early confidence in building a business.
In 1969, his family settled in Hauppauge, NY, where finance, sports, and a strong work ethic were regular topics of discussion. However, it was music that captivated Andy from a young age. A relentless listener, he immersed himself in pop music, absorbing every note and lyric, whether on vinyl or the radio.
While attending Syracuse University, Andy began promoting events at local clubs, bringing DJs and emerging talent to college audiences. In 1979, he left Syracuse to manage a friend’s band, diving headfirst into the thriving late ’70s and early ’80s New York music scene. This era was defined by legendary clubs such as Hurrah, CBGB, The Peppermint Lounge, Max’s Kansas City and The Ritz, which served as epicenters for Alternative and New Wave music.
As Andy managed the band—who later signed with Epic Records—he expanded into booking and promoting shows for artists like Duran Duran, Gang of Four, Echo & the Bunnymen, James Brown, The Ramones, and R.E.M. He quickly forged relationships with influential agents such as Ian Copeland (F.B.I.), Marty Diamond (Cricket), and Wayne Forte (ITG), as well as A&R executives like Simon Potts (The Stray Cats, Thompson Twins, Simply Red).
In 1982, Andy co-founded Advanced Alternative Media (AAM, Inc.) with Mark Beaven, initially as an artist management and alternative marketing firm. Their deep connections with club DJs and college radio directors helped shape the trajectory of groundbreaking artists, including Depeche Mode, The Smiths, The Cure, Jeff Buckley, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Beck, The Dream Academy, and Prince.
By the mid-1980s, AAM expanded to producer, mixer, song writer management, representing industry giants such as Steve Thompson & Michael Barbiero (Guns N’ Roses – Appetite for Destruction, Metallica – …And Justice for All), Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, Beastie Boys), Peter Collins (Rush, Indigo Girls), Jerry Finn (Blink-182, Sum 41), William Orbit (Madonna, Blur), Dr. Luke (Doja Cat, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus), Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen), Serban Ghenea (Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars), Greg Wells ( Wicked, Greatest Showman), and Justin Tranter (Chappell Roan, Imagine Dragons, Måneskin).
Today, AAM stands as the world’s leading management company for songwriters, producers, and mixers. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, and a global presence in London, Miami, and Ecuador, AAM’s roster has shaped some of the most influential records of the past several decades, solidifying its legacy as a powerhouse in music production and creative development.