Media & biographies

Short biography

Andráe Alexander, Ph.D., is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, composer, author, and Assistant Professor of Practice at USC Thornton School of Music. He received the 2022 Album of the Year Grammy for his songwriting contribution to Jon Batiste's We Are. His work connects music-industry practice, cultural influence, business strategy, and AI. A Marine Corps and Navy veteran, he is the author of Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Music Industry and editor of the Sage Business Cases Music Industry Series.

Extended biography

Andráe Alexander, Ph.D., is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, composer, pianist, and educator whose career includes recorded music, performance, scholarship, and public service. He received the 2022 Album of the Year Grammy for his songwriting contribution to Jon Batiste's We Are. His credits also include Keith Sweat's "Boomerang," K. Michelle's "All I Got," and "My Own Thang" from Empire.

Alexander is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Music Industry Studies at USC Thornton School of Music. He holds a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies with a business-strategy concentration and writes about music, consumer behavior, cultural influence, and technology. His books include Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Music Industry and Build Your Music Career from Scratch. He also edits the Sage Business Cases Music Industry Series.

A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy, Alexander serves on the board of Songwriters of North America and the MLC's Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee. His work includes speaking, international professional exchange, artist development, and consulting for technology and music-industry businesses, artists, songwriters, and entrepreneurs. He is also developing Libations for the Unknown, a performance and documentary project.