David Frangioni

CEO & Publisher, Modern Drummer Magazine / Founder, Frangioni Media / Founder & CEO, All Access IDA

David Frangioni did not choose music. Music chose him at two years old — through a drum kit, and through something else: eye cancer. He survived the cancer as a toddler and found salvation, structure, and identity in rhythm. By the time he was 12 years old, he was playing professional gigs in the clubs of Boston, navigating adult spaces with a drummer's composure and a teenager's wonder. By 16, he had started a music technology consulting business — not a hobby project, but a functioning commercial operation — built around MIDI programming, one of the earliest and most technical frontiers of digital music production. That business caught the attention of Tom Hamilton, the bass player of Aerosmith, who introduced David to the band in 1989. What followed was 13 years as Aerosmith's in-house recording engineer and technologist — a role that encompassed running the console, managing computers and recorders, engineering records, solving production problems during the most high-pressure moments of the creative process, and eventually co-creating the theme song for the Spider-Man animated television series with Joe Perry. Seven albums. Sales of over 40 million records. Gold and platinum certifications. And a front-row seat to one of rock music's most remarkable careers during one of its most technically transformative periods. During that same period, David was also building the first all-Pro Tools digital recording studio — a milestone in music production history. It was in that studio that Ricky Martin's 'Livin' La Vida Loca' was recorded, one of the most commercially successful pop recordings of the era, made possible by a technical infrastructure David helped design and implement. From his base in Miami, Florida, David founded Audio One Sound & Video Inc. in the mid-1990s and built it from a cold start into the premier audio-visual systems integration company in the United States and internationally. He led Audio One to more CEDIA awards in a given time period than any other AV integrator in the world. Alongside that business, he built Frangioni Media — a distinguished AV and home technology integration firm serving the southeastern coast of Florida — and cultivated working relationships with artists including the Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Sting, Bryan Adams, Journey, Phil Collins, Shakira, Cher, and Chick Corea. Today David Frangioni is the CEO and Publisher of Modern Drummer Magazine, the world's number one drum brand for more than 45 years, and the founder and CEO of All Access IDA, an artist development firm. He has published three books through Insight Editions, including 'Crash: The World's Greatest Drum Kits' and two volumes of 'Clint Eastwood: Icon.' He is a board member of Musicians On Call (President's Council), Musical Director for Irie Foundation, and leads the Frangioni Foundation. He appeared on the Center Stage segment of Mornings in the Lab to discuss ambition, the quiet discipline of building something real, and why the dream doesn't require waiting for the right moment — only clarity, patience, and showing up.

Key Insights from David Frangioni

Age two was actually the best thing that ever happened to your career, fellas.

— David Frangioni on Surviving cancer as the origin of a musical career

By 12, he was playing professional gigs in Boston clubs.

— David Frangioni on Professional performance at 12: the early trajectory

At 16, David started a music technology business — not a hobby, a real operation.

— David Frangioni on Starting a real technology business at 16

He helped build the first all-Pro Tools studio used to record Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca.

— David Frangioni on The first all-digital studio and music production history

The dream isn't impossible. It just requires clarity, patience, and showing up long after motivation fades.

— David Frangioni on Clarity, patience, and showing up after motivation fades

Working with Aerosmith since 1989 — thirteen years of engineering, albums, tours, and the theme song for Spider-Man with Joe Perry.

— David Frangioni on 13 years with Aerosmith: technical trust at the highest level

He led Audio One to more CEDIA awards in a given time period than any other audio-visual system integrator in the world.

— David Frangioni on Audio One: the world's most awarded AV integrator

He found salvation behind a drum kit.

— David Frangioni on Music as salvation: the existential relationship with the craft

Notable Quotes from David Frangioni

The dream isn't impossible. It just requires clarity, patience, and showing up long after motivation fades.

— David Frangioni

By 12, he was playing professional gigs in Boston clubs.

— David Frangioni

He helped build the first all-Pro Tools studio used to record Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca.

— David Frangioni

Frequently Asked Questions about David Frangioni

Who is David Frangioni and what is he known for in music technology?

David Frangioni is an award-winning music technologist, audio engineer, producer, drummer, author, and media executive based in Miami, Florida. He is best known as Aerosmith's in-house recording engineer and technologist from 1989 to 2002 — working on seven albums with total sales of more than 40 million records, multiple tours, and the Spider-Man animated theme song. He helped build the first all-Pro Tools digital recording studio, used to record Ricky Martin's 'Livin' La Vida Loca.' He is the founder of Audio One Sound & Video Inc. (which became the world's most CEDIA-awarded AV integrator), Frangioni Media, and All Access IDA. He is also the CEO and Publisher of Modern Drummer Magazine. He has worked with artists including the Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Elton John, Sting, Ringo Starr, Bryan Adams, and Shakira.

What is David Frangioni's connection to Aerosmith?

David Frangioni served as Aerosmith's in-house recording engineer and technologist from 1989 to approximately 2002 — a 13-year relationship he has continued to maintain in various capacities. He was introduced to the band by bass player Tom Hamilton after establishing himself through his MIDI technology consulting business. In his role, David ran the console, managed studio computers and recording systems, engineered records, and solved production problems during the songwriting and recording process. He worked on seven albums with Aerosmith, contributing to the band's most commercially successful era, and helped produce the theme song for the Spider-Man animated television series with guitarist Joe Perry — Joe's first all-digital recording.

What is Modern Drummer Magazine and what is David Frangioni's role?

Modern Drummer Magazine is the world's number one drum publication, with a history of more than 45 years covering drumming, percussion, equipment, education, and the business of drumming. David Frangioni serves as its CEO and Publisher, overseeing the brand across its print, digital, and community platforms. The magazine has featured generations of the world's most celebrated drummers and serves as the definitive authority in the global drumming community. David's own lifelong relationship with drums — beginning at age two and spanning professional performance by age 12 — makes him a uniquely credible steward of the publication.

What is Frangioni Media and what services does it offer?

Frangioni Media is an audio-video and home technology integration company based in Miami and serving the southeastern coast of Florida, specializing in luxury home theater design, professional studio installation, high-end AV systems, and whole-home automation. The company has worked on world-class projects for artists including Elton John, Cher, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and many others. Frangioni Media is also an immersive audio specialist, converting stereo and surround sound projects to immersive audio formats for music and film professionals. It represents the continuation of the AV integration expertise David built through Audio One Sound & Video Inc. in the 1990s.

What books has David Frangioni written?

David Frangioni has published three books through Insight Editions: 'Crash: The World's Greatest Drum Kits' (a comprehensive visual and editorial celebration of legendary drum kits from Neil Peart, Vinnie Appice, Alex Van Halen, and many others), and two volumes of 'Clint Eastwood: Icon' (covering the filmography and cultural legacy of the legendary director and actor). His books reflect the breadth of his creative interests — spanning music, celebrity culture, and visual storytelling — and have established him as an author with access and relationships at the highest levels of entertainment.

What is All Access IDA and how does David Frangioni work with artists?

All Access IDA (International Digital Artist) is the artist development firm founded and led by David Frangioni. Through All Access IDA, David works with artists and creators who want greater control over their craft, their technology, and their career trajectory. The firm provides strategic guidance on studio design, recording technology, production workflows, and the business decisions that determine whether an artist can build a sustainable career over the long term. David's perspective is shaped by 30+ years of direct work at the intersection of music, technology, and commerce — making him one of the few people in the industry who can advise authentically on both the creative and technical dimensions of what it takes to build something that lasts.

Interview with David Frangioni — Topics Covered

  1. The open: working hard without knowing if it's real (~2 minutes)
  2. Eye cancer at two and the drum kit (~4 minutes)
  3. Playing professional gigs at 12 in Boston (~3 minutes)
  4. Starting a technology business at 16 (~3 minutes)
  5. Meeting Aerosmith and becoming their in-house engineer (~5 minutes)
  6. The first all-digital studio and Livin' La Vida Loca (~3 minutes)
  7. Audio One and the AV integration business (~3 minutes)
  8. Modern Drummer Magazine and the publishing role (~3 minutes)
  9. All Access IDA and artist development today (~3 minutes)
  10. Clarity, patience, and showing up after motivation fades (~3 minutes)
  11. Closing and how to connect (~2 minutes)

David Frangioni — Areas of Expertise

  • Music technology and recording engineering at elite levels
  • Pro Tools and digital audio workstation (DAW) production history
  • Aerosmith and classic rock studio production
  • Drum performance, MIDI programming, and music production
  • Audio-visual systems integration (CEDIA, luxury home theater)
  • Artist development and creative career strategy
  • Modern Drummer Magazine and the global drumming community
  • Immersive audio and Dolby Atmos conversion for music and film
  • Eye cancer survival and music as an anchor through adversity
  • Entrepreneurship: from MIDI consultant at 16 to multi-company founder
  • Music publishing and media leadership
  • Philanthropy: Musicians On Call, Irie Foundation, Frangioni Foundation

Watch: He Built The First All-Digital Studio & Changed Music Forever

Full Center Stage interview with David Frangioni on Mornings in the Lab.

Watch on YouTube

David Frangioni — Show Appearances

  • Mornings in the Lab (2026-02-14)