Hit Men is the shocking, highly controversial expose of the venality, greed, and corruption of many of the assorted kingpins and hustlers who rule over the music industry.
“A sobering, blunt, and unusually well-observed depiction of the sometimes sordid inner workings of the music business.” —Billboard

4 pages of photographs
Fredric Dannen was a co-recipient of the Overseas Press Club's 1986 Morton Frank Award for business reporting from abroad. His articles have appeared in The New York TimesVanity Fair, Institutional InvestorRolling Stone, and Barron's. He received the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award for Hit Men. View titles by Fredric Dannen
Praise for Fredric Dannen's Hit Men:

"A sobering, blunt, and unusually well-observed depiction of the sometimes sordid inner workings of the music business."
Billboard

"It's a good book—read it!"
—Sinead O'Connor

"An entertaining collection of anecdotes about an uproariously unsavory subculture of egomaniacs, sybarites, goniffs, and music lovers. . . . Mr. Dannen has a knack for the telling quote and a healthy appetite for the juicy story."
The New York Times Book Review

"Anyone with more than a passing interest in the inner workings of the [music] industry will be enthralled by the juicy tales [Dannen] has to tell." 
The New York Times

"A knowing and unsentimental glimpse into the inner workings of the music business . . . Dannen got the inside story, and he got it right." 
Los Angeles Times Book Review

"The most revealing look yet at the 'characters' who run the rock-music business."
Entertainment Weekly, Top 10 Best Books of the Year

"No one, insider or outsider, has ever grasped the basic concept of power in the pop-music business better than Fredric Dannen in Hit Men. . . . Hit Men has enough dramatic juice to drive half a dozen fictional bestsellers."
Newsday 

"The no-holds-barred tale of showbiz's most flamboyant branch strips away the inpenetrable sheen of some of the industry's weightiest names."
Variety

"Hit Men brings to life the most compelling gang of thugs since The Godfather. The stories of this smarmy bunch are part delicious, part appalling."
USA Today

"Anyone who has even a passing interest in the music industry will be intrigued by Hit Men. The two basic themes are mob involvement and music executives' dalliances."
Chicago Tribune

"A detailed profile of the handful of individuals who control the Top Forty. . . . Dannen's triumph is his ability to reduce the complicated problems and issues of the music industry to precise, personal situations."
Rolling Stone

"Dannen's thorough, sure-footed investigation . . . create[s] a lucid and understandable account of the modern music business."
Philadelphia Inquirer

"Dannen . . . mixes the skills of an investigative journalist with the gifts of an expert storyteller in an expose that will intrigue and appall readers with its disclosures."
Publishers Weekly

"Well researched and chock-full of juicy tidbits, [Hit Men] imparts a vivid sense of the record industry's slimy side."
Business Week 

About

Hit Men is the shocking, highly controversial expose of the venality, greed, and corruption of many of the assorted kingpins and hustlers who rule over the music industry.
“A sobering, blunt, and unusually well-observed depiction of the sometimes sordid inner workings of the music business.” —Billboard

4 pages of photographs

Author

Fredric Dannen was a co-recipient of the Overseas Press Club's 1986 Morton Frank Award for business reporting from abroad. His articles have appeared in The New York TimesVanity Fair, Institutional InvestorRolling Stone, and Barron's. He received the Ralph J. Gleason Music Book Award for Hit Men. View titles by Fredric Dannen

Praise

Praise for Fredric Dannen's Hit Men:

"A sobering, blunt, and unusually well-observed depiction of the sometimes sordid inner workings of the music business."
Billboard

"It's a good book—read it!"
—Sinead O'Connor

"An entertaining collection of anecdotes about an uproariously unsavory subculture of egomaniacs, sybarites, goniffs, and music lovers. . . . Mr. Dannen has a knack for the telling quote and a healthy appetite for the juicy story."
The New York Times Book Review

"Anyone with more than a passing interest in the inner workings of the [music] industry will be enthralled by the juicy tales [Dannen] has to tell." 
The New York Times

"A knowing and unsentimental glimpse into the inner workings of the music business . . . Dannen got the inside story, and he got it right." 
Los Angeles Times Book Review

"The most revealing look yet at the 'characters' who run the rock-music business."
Entertainment Weekly, Top 10 Best Books of the Year

"No one, insider or outsider, has ever grasped the basic concept of power in the pop-music business better than Fredric Dannen in Hit Men. . . . Hit Men has enough dramatic juice to drive half a dozen fictional bestsellers."
Newsday 

"The no-holds-barred tale of showbiz's most flamboyant branch strips away the inpenetrable sheen of some of the industry's weightiest names."
Variety

"Hit Men brings to life the most compelling gang of thugs since The Godfather. The stories of this smarmy bunch are part delicious, part appalling."
USA Today

"Anyone who has even a passing interest in the music industry will be intrigued by Hit Men. The two basic themes are mob involvement and music executives' dalliances."
Chicago Tribune

"A detailed profile of the handful of individuals who control the Top Forty. . . . Dannen's triumph is his ability to reduce the complicated problems and issues of the music industry to precise, personal situations."
Rolling Stone

"Dannen's thorough, sure-footed investigation . . . create[s] a lucid and understandable account of the modern music business."
Philadelphia Inquirer

"Dannen . . . mixes the skills of an investigative journalist with the gifts of an expert storyteller in an expose that will intrigue and appall readers with its disclosures."
Publishers Weekly

"Well researched and chock-full of juicy tidbits, [Hit Men] imparts a vivid sense of the record industry's slimy side."
Business Week 

Books for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Each May, we honor the stories, histories, and cultures of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Below is a selection of acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books by AANHPI creators to share with your students this month and throughout the year. Find our full collection of titles for Higher Education here.

Read more