ow do music’s movers and shakers keep moving? They put the same drive and determination that they show at the office into their morning runs, spin classes and boot camp sessions.
“About 28 years ago, I caught the end of the New York City Marathon and said, ‘I’m doing that next year,'” says Glassnote Records founder/CEO Daniel Glass (No. 64), who has run a marathon every year since, whether in his hometown of New York, Paris, Rome or wherever work takes him.
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Glass’ daily runs in Central Park are a vital part of his workday. “I leave my headphones at home and use that time to organize my thoughts,” he says. “I get my best ideas then.” He’s also made fitness part of Glassnote’s culture, forming a company team for Race to Deliver and going for networking runs with business associates. And he’s hardly alone. From BandPage in San Francisco to Big Machine in Nashville, many music companies are on a health kick.
It’s a far cry from the days of booze, drugs and rock’n’roll. And Glass laments it-a little. “Was it more fun?” the soon-to-be 58-year-old asks. “Yes. People were more entertaining. But music is so infused with exercise these days-every instructor is a DJ, everyone works out. It’s a healthy change.” Call it survival of the fittest.
New York
Power publicist Jill Fritzo of PMK-BNC, who reps Selena Gomez and the Kardashians, heads to Warrior Fitness Boot Camp (29 W. 35th St.), where military-style workouts got her in fighting shape for Tough Mudder. “My job is insane. This is a really good outlet for me,” she says. “I get to scream, pound the pavement, climb ropes. It’s real stress relief.” At spinning mecca Flywheel (various locations in New York and New Jersey), riders like Spotify’s Jeff Levick and Republic Records senior VP David Nathan report a similar endorphin rush. It’s also where Glassnote creative consultant Deborah Glass hosted a Phoenix-themed media ride, inviting executives from MTV, VH1, Fuse and Vevo. “The Mumford & Sons wives are big fans,” she says. The two studios of AKT in Motion, run by celebrity trainer/choreographer Anna Kaiser, counts Def Jam execs and Shakira manager Nadine Eliya as regulars. Track Marketing Group VP Stacy Pillersdorf, who works on South By Southwest, finds the high-intensity group sessions at Fhitting Room (1166 Lexington Ave.) get her in peak condition. While DJ Hannah Bronfman and manager Brendan Fallis groove to the intense cardio dance routines at Body by Simone (606 W. 26th St.), where trainer Simone de la Rue has a cult following.
Miami
Staying in beach shape and moving to Latin music define this city’s fitness scene. While many studios claim to be tops, none can rival zumba at B.A.S.S. (Brickell Art & Soul Studio; 801 SW 3rd Ave.), where the genre’s founder Alberto “Beto” Perez teaches. Enrique Iglesias publicist Joe Bonilla calls owner Betsy Dopico’s class a challenge. Yoga’s anything but crunchy at Ayama Yoga (2250 NE 163rd St., North Miami Beach; 305-932-7755), where adventurous souls like Paulina Rubio hang upside down and try rigorous aerial vinyasa sequences using hammocks — the studio calls it flying yoga. “It’s amazing. Like Cirque du Soleil,” says publicist Susan Stipcianos (Natalia Jimenez, Victoria’s Secret). Others prefer the great outdoors, and there’s no more scenic spot than Key Biscayne, located just 10 minutes from downtown Miami. Enrique Iglesias likes surfing and windsurfing here, Carlos Vives is a regular on the bike paths, and Oscar Quijano of Spanish group Cafe Quijano and pianist Arthur Hanlon are often seen jogging on the beach. “To the lightouse and back is four miles, and it’s the best,” says Vives, who calls the vistas breathtaking.
Los Angeles
Los Angelenos are racing to SoulCycle’s various locations — Capitol execs head to West Hollywood, Sony staffers prefer Beverly Hills and Universal, MTV, Pandora and Hulu represent at the Santa Monica branch. Even Britney Spears, Lady Gaga and Christina Perri have been known to slip in for a spin. Windish Agency founder/CEO Tom Windish swears by CrossFit at the Rec Center CrossFit (588 Mateo St.) and even held a class on the beach in Tulum, Mexico, when his act the xx played label Young Turks’ New Year’s Eve party. Lorde manager Alexandra Baker joined in. Moda Yoga in Hancock Park, co-founded by Arcade Fire violinist Sarah Neufeld, is a hotbed of music types like LipSync’s Mollie Moore and Warner Music Group’s James Lockwood.
Nashville
There’s nothing old school about the way Music City professionals tackle fitness. Oprea’s Personal Fitness is a trainer-based studio run by Erin Oprea. Carrie Underwood says she was so taken by Oprea that she took her on the road for her “Blown Away” tour instead of a hair stylist and makeup artist. Oprea also got Jennifer Nettles into post-baby shape. Jake Basden of Big Machine goes to Kenton Boutwell of KB Fitness, a trainer who specializes in kettlebell workouts. “It’s the one hour in my day that allows me to escape the madness and get mentally focused,” he says. “You can’t keep up if you’re not physically fit and in the right state of mind.” Another fitness hot spot is the YMCA, both in downtown Nashville and at Green Hills, across from Whole Foods, which attracts musicians and industry execs. Hot Box Fitness, a gym that offers kickboxing in a hot room and a class called “The Ring” — a hybrid of kettlebell, rope and cardio — is where Brittany Perlin of Dashboard Media works out. “Although I’m not a morning person, I know there’s usually a showcase or some industry event after work, so I try to hit the 7:30 a.m. class,” says Perlin, whose clients include Parmalee and Dustin Lynch. Shakti Yoga is where Virginia Davis of G Major Management (Jewel, Thomas Rhett, Danielle Bradbery) strikes her poses. “It’s on Music Row, literally across from my office — so no excuses,” she says. “And I always see industry folks in our classes.”