Glass joined the influential indie dance label SAM Records as vice president working with Gary's Gang, John Davis and the Monster Orchestra and the Evasions. He began focusing on developing artists’ careers, rather than just trying to pick hit records. Significantly, Glass promoted street bands when other more conservative and larger labels had not.[2]
Chrysalis Records; Senior Vice President
Glass joined Chrysalis Records in 1983 as Director of New Music Marketing and was later appointed Senior Vice President. During his six years with Chrysalis, he helped guide the careers of such stars as Pat Benatar, Huey Lewis and the News, Billy Idol, Spandau Ballet, Jethro Tull, Icehouse, The Divinyls, Sinéad O'Connor and Was (Not Was), among others. He also developed a strong college and intern program, which cultivated a number of talented young executives who later went on to high-level positions throughout the entertainment industry.
In 1990, Glass was promoted to Executive Vice President/General Manager of SBK Records. A 1992 edition of Crain's New York Business profiled him ("Daniel Glass, 35, General Manager EMI Records Group North America") as one of the top "under forty" business executives. With the consolidation of SBK, Chrysalis, and EMI USA several years later into "EMI Record Group North America," he rose to President/CEO. In that position he was instrumental in bringing Jon Secada, Selena, Barrio Boyzz, Blur, D'Angelo, Roxette, Wilson Phillips, Vanilla Ice, Technotronic, and Arrested Development into platinum and Grammy Award-winning status, as well as the hit soundtrack to the critically acclaimed film, The Crying Game, which featured Boy George.[3]
The label had success in breaking new artists, including the multi-platinum debut of Erykah Badu, Billie Myers, Goldfinger, and the Lost Boyz. Recognizing the changing landscape of the industry, Glass strategically aligned Universal with such independent record labels as Kedar Entertainment, home to Erykah Badu, and Mojo Records, home to platinum artists Reel Big Fish and the Cherry Poppin' Daddies.
Artemis Records; President
In 1999 Glass joined Artemis Records as Executive Vice President. After a few months, he was named President[4] and achieved success with the gold record rapper Kurupt, Grammy Award-winning Warren Zevon, rocker Steve Earle, gold record female hard rock group Kittie, the Pretenders and the triple platinum pop stars Baha Men. He also executive produced the Josh Joplin Group’s album, which was released in January 2001.
Glassnote Records
In 2007, Glass founded Glassnote Entertainment Group, encompassing a music label, publishing company, artist management, and merchandising. Among the artists signed to the label are Hamilton Leithauser, Two Door Cinema Club, Grammy Award Winning Phoenix, Grammy Award Winning Mumford & Sons, Daughter, The Temper Trap, Aurora, Jeremy Messersmith, Mansionair, Dylan Cartlidge, The Strumbellas, Flight Facilities, Robert DeLong, Jade Bird, Ripe, Cecilia Castleman, Patrick Martin, Edie Bens, Silvana Estrada and Half Moon Run. In 2012, the sophomore release by Glassnote artist Mumford & Sons became the biggest selling debut album of the year with first week sales of 600,000 units.*
For the first release on the independent Glassnote Entertainment Group[5] he chose Secondhand Serenade, the #1 unsigned artist in the history of MySpace, with 17 million plays and roughly 200,000 "friends." In 2013 Glassnote Records won the A2IM Libera Award for Best Label of the Year.
Present Artist Management
In 2017 Daniel started a management company.
In January 2021, Glass launched Connection Music Publishing, a publishing company for songwriters.[6]
Awards and leadership
Vice Chair of the UJA Federation of New York, which honored him as 2002 Music Visionary of the Year.
2005 TJ Martell Family of the Year
Founding Board President of LIFEbeat, an AIDS advocacy and hands-on service. organization he co-founded in April 1992.[7]