Music industry titan Michael Lippman, who transformed careers from David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust era to George Michael’s solo stardom, has died at 79, leaving behind a legacy that shaped decades of chart-topping hits and industry innovations.
From Lawyer’s Office to Music Industry Powerhouse
Lippman’s unconventional path to music management began in legendary lawyer Marvin Mitchelson’s office before transitioning to Columbia Pictures’ soundtracks department. His career accelerated when he joined Arista Records’ west coast operations under mentor Clive Davis in the mid-Seventies. This apprenticeship would prove invaluable as Lippman absorbed Davis’s legendary work ethic, later recalling how his mentor worked until nine or ten o’clock nightly.
Towering music industry figure Michael Lippman, who managed George Michael and Matchbox Twenty and helped guide the careers of David Bowie and Bernie Taupin, among many others, has died at age 79https://t.co/Zy92Ylq0I3
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) December 30, 2025
The Bowie Years and Industry Innovation
Lippman’s relationship with David Bowie launched during the Ziggy Stardust era and encompassed career-defining moments including Bowie’s groundbreaking Soul Train performance and the Number One hit “Fame.” Their collaboration extended beyond music into film with 1976’s “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” Lippman credited Bowie with expanding his artistic horizons, saying the artist taught him about fashion, art, and photography while maintaining a lasting friendship.
George Michael and the Faith Phenomenon
After discovering George Michael’s 1987 album “Faith,” Lippman set an ambitious goal: making Michael “the biggest thing in the world.” His strategy succeeded spectacularly as he guided Michael’s post-Wham! solo career until the artist’s death in 2016. Even during Michael’s inactive periods, Lippman remained busy fielding sync requests, with songs like “Father Figure” finding new life in contemporary productions including Taylor Swift’s recent work.
Michael Lippman, the legendary American music manager best known for working with George Michael, Matchbox Twenty, David Bowie, and Bernie Taupin, has died at the age of 79, Rolling Stone reports.
A towering figure in the music industry, Lippman was widely respected for his… pic.twitter.com/8ENSQUfBSM
— AE News (@aenewsEnglish24) December 30, 2025
Building a Management Dynasty
Lippman’s intimidating reputation was deliberately crafted for competitive advantage. Standing 6’1″ with a commanding presence, he told Billboard in 2016 that he created a persona “people respected and slightly feared” to secure superior treatment for his clients. This approach proved effective when negotiating Matchbox Twenty’s extensive Atlantic Records relationship and orchestrating Rob Thomas’s collaboration with Carlos Santana on the era-defining hit “Smooth.” The partnership between Lippman Entertainment and his son Nick represented the business becoming truly generational.