WISDOM: A PORTRAIT SERIES
T R E V O R G A L E
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, WRITER PUBLISHER RELATIONS
SESAC
NEW YORK CITY
Photograph by Robert Nethery
I. My favorite non-business practice that really helps me with my work now is reading the Wall Street Journal every morning. Sounds simple, but the WSJ is so informative and enlightening, not only as it pertains to business, but culturally also. This keeps me up on daily happenings in the tech, politics and social arenas. They all interrelate and therefore help me in my business, music.
II. Mentoring is the key to a healthy industry. If music is going to survive the business, then we need to invest in our future. As executives, musicians, producers and professionals, we must give back. We must reach and help guide, encourage and infuse those around us with knowledge. We must care for those young, gifted and hungry 'next ones'. To me mentoring starts with caring. You have got to care for those you mentor, with no strings attached. It's not about getting points on a project or signing a publishing deal, it's about seeing the art live on. Through the advice you give, the time you spend and the ear you lend, you are ensuring that the art lives on. That individual might just develop and experience new possibilities because you cared.
III. I am for elevating the art of popular music. This is especially important with R&B and urban music, and in some ways that means allowing more voices to be heard. I ask you - how do we keep the genius of the culture both going and growing? This is not an easy puzzle to solve. I believe that increased quality records, together with acknowledgement of artists who are really killing it (so to speak) will begin to get us there. Every day I work to push our songwriters and artist to go higher. They need to be incentivized and be supported so they can get better at their craft. We come from a rich history of great artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix and Chaka Khan. They pioneered and they have left us a road map to go further, or at least stop by the spot they rocked. We are discovering truth by building on previous discoveries. We must learn from what they worked so hard for, cherish it, and continue to grow.
TM
