Jonny Shipes’ GoodTalk Names Cliff Chenfeld Partner

Jonny Shipes names Cliff Chenfeld as a partner at his GoodTalk company.

GoodTalk, the full-service entertainment company founded by Jonny Shipes, announced today that veteran music executive and entrepreneur Cliff Chenfeld has joined the company as a partner.

Chenfeld will advise and work with Shipes and the GoodTalk brand across all verticals.

“Cliff has built a number of very successful businesses over his incredible career,” said Shipes. “Having him as a partner and advisor as we build the GoodTalk brand will be invaluable.”

Before joining GoodTalk, Chenfeld co-founded and served as co-CEO of Razor & Tie, an independent music company encompassing a label and music publishing company.

Under his leadership, Razor & Tie earned numerous Gold and Platinum records with compilations including ‘Monster Ballads’, ‘Goin South’, and ‘Monsters of Rap’, artists The Pretty Reckless and The Revivalists, and #1 publishing hits recorded by Phillip Phillips, Blake Shelton, and others.

In 2001, Chenfeld and business partner Craig Balsam launched ‘Kidz Bop’, the top kids audio brand in the US featuring today’s biggest pop hits sung by kids, for kids.

‘Kidz Bop’ has sold tens of millions of albums, and has expanded to include a dedicated SiriusXM channel, merchandise, music videos, a live touring division, and talent search competitions.

Chenfeld and Balsam sold Razor + Tie and ‘Kidz Bop’ to Concord in 2018.

“I’ve known Jonny for 15 years and have been amazed at his ability to identify special artists, to stay on the tip of cultural developments and to expand his vision of himself and his business,” said Chenfeld. “In addition, he is a hell of a lot of fun and a good friend. I have been very selective with how I spend my time since selling Razor & Tie and ‘Kidz Bop’ and working with Jonny was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

Chenfeld’s involvement in the music industry extends beyond ‘Kidz Bop’ and Razor & Tie.

He is a partner in several music festivals, as well as a partner in RT Industries, a label that controls master recordings of many popular catalogs.

Chenfeld is also the host of “Modern Sounds”, a new music radio show carried by NPR stations.

Chenfeld grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio State and NYU Law School.

He practiced law for 5 years before starting Razor & Tie.

GoodTalk is a full-service entertainment company with diverse branches – talent management, film & television production, festivals, clothing, and notably, a record label.

Founded by Jonny Shipes, the entertainment company boasts an impressive roster of some of the hottest names in hip-hop and R&B including That Mexican OT, Big Yavo, Lexa Gates, 1up Tee, and skaiwater, to name a few.

Shipes formerly founded Cinematic Music Group, which he sold to Interscope Records in August of 2023.