Jonathan Miles Shecter (born August 4, 1968), an American magazine editor and music promoter,[1] is also known as "Shecky Green" and "J the Sultan." He is the co-founder[2] of the music and culture magazine The Source, former Director of Programming for the Wynn Las Vegas,[1] and current Editor-In-Chief for Cuepoint at Medium.[3][4][5]

Early life

edit

Shecter was born in Philadelphia and grew up in a Jewish family.[6][7] He is a member of the Class of 1986 of Friends Select School, a college-preparatory, Quaker school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Philadelphia. In 1986, he enrolled in Harvard College as an English major and graduated in 1990. During his 1988 sophomore year, he began overseeing a rap music radio show called Street Beat on Harvard College’s radio station, WHRB 95.3 FM, with his then roommate David M. Mays,[7] To promote this radio show Shecter started The Source magazine as a newsletter, using an issue for his senior thesis, The Decade of Hip Hop.With high-school friend Kevin "Kevi-Kev" Krakower, he co-founded a rap group named Big Man on Campus.[7] and they and produced their first single that same year.[7]

Career

edit

The Source

edit

Shecter co-founded[2] The Source magazine in 1988 in Cambridge, MA with his roommate David Mays initially as an effort to promote his rap music radio show on WHRB 95.3 FM.Often cited as “The Bible of Hip Hop,” the magazine devoted coverage to the rising rap and hip-hop music genres.Shecter served as editor-in-chief of The Source,[8] while Mays handled publishing duties.The magazine's officers relocated to New York City in 1990 with the intention to expand the magazine into a mainstream market publication;-->Shecter brought on additional staff. Mays secured the magazine's first newsstand distribution agreement, and publication's distribution increased. Funding was via selling ad space, including to rap performer Christopher Wallace, also known as Notorious B.I.G. and performer/producer Sean John Combs.

Shecter left The Source magazine in 1995, which by then was recognized by Audit Bureau of Circulation..

Wynn (Las Vegas) Hotel: Entertainment director

edit

In 2003 Shecter relocated from New York City to Las Vegas. where he was recognized as a dance music promoter and DJ representative.Shecter partnered with Ultra Music to create compilation albums for the Wynn's nightclubs Surrender, Encore Beach Club, and Andrea's Restaurant. These albums were sold through retail outlets inside the Wynn Las Vegas.[9] He was instrumental in the development of a recording studio for the nightclub's resident DJs in late 2013.[10]

Entrepreneur

edit

Shecter had launched a number of companies after his departure from The Source magazine in 1995. and was also involved in the promotion of rapper Marshall Bruce Mathers III, also known as Eminem, early in his career.

Personal

edit

Shecter has a sister, a half-brother, a son, and a niece and nephew.[6][7]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Ben Sisario (June 11, 2012). "D.J.'s and Dance Music Are the New Stars in Las Vegas". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2022. But promoters like Jonathan Shecter, the director of original programming at Wynn's clubs, say
  2. ^ a b Ben Beaumont-Thomas (February 2, 2021). "Ricky Powell, hip-hop photographer who captured New York culture, dies aged 59". The Guardian. Retrieved December 1, 2022. Jonathan Shecter, co-founder of hip-hop magazine The Source, described him as
  3. ^ Pizzo. "Original Source Co-Founder Jon Shecter Speaks On Meeting a Young Biggie Smalls". Hip Hop Site.com. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  4. ^ Randall Roberts (September 12, 2014). "Column: Friday Coda: Grampa and Grandmaster Flash, U2, Neil Young's mermaid". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 30, 2022. new online publication Cuepoint .. edited by Jonathan Shecter
  5. ^ Kathy Iandoli (September 8, 2017). "The leisure principle: why dance music is slowing down". The Guardian. Retrieved December 1, 2022. explains Jonathan Shecter, former director of programming for Wynn Nightlife in Las Vegas.
  6. ^ a b "Shecky Stories: Stories from the Front Lines of Hip Hop". Shecky Stories. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d e Ramirez, Jesus. "Students Cut New Rap Record". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  8. ^ "Women rap men in their rap songs". Baltimore Sun. January 14, 1993. Retrieved January 16, 2023. Shecter, editor of the Source
  9. ^ Elfman, Doug (December 7, 2012). "Wynn-Encore building recording space for DJs". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  10. ^ Andy Wang; Jeff Green (January 8, 2013). "Lucky 7: Andrea's chef Joseph Elevado is dishing out family-style fun". The New York Post. Retrieved January 16, 2023. with Wynn nightlife director of programming Jonathan Shecter