José Valentino Ruiz
Associate Professor
- Gainesville FL UNITED STATES
- College of the Arts
Multi-Grammy® and Emmy® award winner and expert in music and global entrepreneurship, creative industries, intellectual property and AI.
Contact More Open optionsBiography
José Valentino Ruiz is a Grammy® and Emmy® award-winning artist, composer, producer, scholar, and Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Music Business & Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida. His work spans music business and entrepreneurship, creative industries, global entrepreneurship and intellectual property, artificial intelligence in the creative economy, and music production and innovation. He has received multiple Latin GRAMMY®, Global Music, Anthem, and Communicator Awards and has published extensively in research and public scholarship. A U.S. Department of State U.S. Speaker on Creative Economy and Global Arts Entrepreneurship, Ruiz also contributes to international cultural diplomacy and creative-industry development. His work and expertise have been featured by major national and international media outlets.
Areas of Expertise
Media Appearances
What Dolly Parton taught us about the entrepreneurial power of creativity
UF News online
2026-08-25
When we lose an artist like Dolly Parton, our first instinct is to return to the music. But as someone who studies and teaches music business and entrepreneurship, I believe there is another part of Dolly Parton’s legacy worth examining. Dolly Parton understood the entrepreneurial power of creativity.
Sly Stone turned isolation into inspiration, forging a path for a generation of music‑makers
The Conversation online
2025-06-13
In the fall of 1971, Sly and the Family Stone’s “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” landed like a quiet revolution. After two years of silence following the band’s mainstream success, fans expected more feel-good funk from the ensemble. What they got instead was something murkier and more fractured, yet deeply intimate and experimental. This was not just an album; it was the sound of a restless mind rebuilding music from the inside out.
Quincy Jones mastered the art of arrangement, transforming simple tunes into epic soundscapes
The Conversation online
2024-11-04
On the sleeve notes of some of the most memorable and best-selling albums of all time, you’ll find the words “Produced and arranged by Quincy Jones.” It was a hallmark of quality. Jones, who died on Nov. 3, 2024, at the age of 91, transformed our understanding of musical arrangement.
Tom Petty: A Legacy of Music Business Acumen and Entrepreneurial Spirit
UF College of the Arts online
2024-10-02
Tom Petty’s music career is a masterclass in creative entrepreneurship. From his early days with the Heartbreakers to his legendary solo work, Petty not only wrote timeless songs that resonated with millions, but he also built a career that exemplified savvy business decisions, a refusal to compromise his artistic vision, and a deep understanding of the changing dynamics of the music industry. As we examine his legacy, it becomes clear that Petty’s journey offers valuable lessons for those navigating today’s music business and entrepreneurial landscapes.
Bad Bunny at Coachella wasn’t just fun to watch. It’s part of a revolution | Opinion
Miami Herald online
2023-10-30
When Puerto Rican sensation Bad Bunny made history as Coachella’s first-ever Spanish-language headliner in April, it was more than just a groundbreaking performance. It was a resounding confirmation of what industry experts have been proclaiming for years: Latin music is what the world craves.
Tony Bennett: the timeless visionary who, with a nod to America’s musical heritage, embraced the future
The Conversation online
2023-07-21
In the history of American popular music, there have been few luminaries as enduring and innovative as Tony Bennett. With a career that spanned almost 80 years, Bennett’s smooth tones, unique phrasing and visionary musical collaborations left an indelible mark on vocal jazz and the recording industry as a whole.
