A discussion with music industry legend Clive Davis, moderated by Editor-in-Chief of Billboard Magazine, Bill Werde
[Editor’s Note: The following recap originally appeared on the blog of AMP3PR’s Alyson Campbell It’s All Very PR and was also sponsored by the agency’s client SoundCTRL. I am reposting it in its entirety as I was unable to attend.]
Last night, music business icon, Mr. Clive Davis, was interviewed on stage by Billboard Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Bill Werde. The discussion, which celebrated the 35th Anniversary of Arista Records, was sponsored by Billboard and Pepsi and co-presented by The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music (at NYU) and SoundCTRL—a new networking organization that focuses on the convergence of music and tech.
When Clive entered the room to an energetic standing ovation, I was reminded of the way I used to feel every single morning back in 2003, walking through those golden double doors up on 57th Street while working for Arista. It’s a powerful moment, acknowledging that you are in the presence of greatness, just paces away from someone who has shaped so many genres of popular culture over time and made such a lasting impact on the music industry as we know it today.
A true New Yorker at heart, Clive kicked off the conversation by thanking us all for coming out and by warning the entire room not to utter a word regarding any updates on the Yankees status in Game 6, stating “I’ve Tivo’d it, don’t tell me!”
Clive, known for his unique talent of discovering and developing major headlining stars, was responsible for the careers of such artists as: Barry Manilow, Patti Smith, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Babyface, Carlos Santana, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Alicia Keys, to name only a very few. And proving he’s still on top of his game, as recent as this Fall, he was responsible for Whitney Houston’s successful comeback album, “I Look To You.”
Key Takeaways from the Discussion:
On how he identified his talent?
When he started Arista, he made a point NOT to specialize. He’d go to every Broadway show, Carnegie Hall twice a week, and then take in a show at Madison Square Garden.
On why he has never conformed to the trends he was responsible for discovering (from Rock to R&B)?
“You’ve got to be yourself. Once you succumb to trends, you’re lost.”
On adapting to trends in music over the years?
“I still listen to every single hit record, everything that charts, whether it’s my artist or not. I watch all of the new music videos and keep up with the video directors. It’s never the same from year to year, and I still love it.”
On the notion that A&R is dead and that no one develops artists anymore?
Clive believes this is due to the concentration on tempo and the infiltration of hip hop, causing sales for singles (versus full albums) to be higher. But he begs the question, are any of these artists who are famous for one hit really “headlining acts”? No, because they haven’t been developed properly. Artist development still exists, just in a different form.
On Autotune?
He won’t sign an artist if they can’t deliver live. Plain and simple. Period.
On Michael Jackson?
He never worked with Michael Jackson (although he worked with his brother, Jermaine). But he strongly recommends “This is it” to everyone, whether you liked Michael or not. And, he believed that with the right material, Michael could have made a real comeback.
On the future of record labels?
Clive does believe that young executives can and will come together and do what he did when starting Arista. He believes new labels and entrepreneurs will be born with little capitalization as we readjust to a new era of music.
On Technology, and how it’s changed the music industry for better or for worse?
Clive confidently and straight-forwardly indicated that he wasn’t the right person to ask. I loved that he recognized that without hesitation, going on to say that technology was not his strength and that he has the right people in place to focus on that for him. He did say, though, that he has always believed that technology would play a major role in the music industry, and as with any industry, it always will.
Afterwards, we had the pleasure of catching up with Bill Werde, to further the discussion on the convergence of music and tech. Bill shared a refreshingly positive view that both business and music will ultimately prevail once the decline of CDs and traditional distribution channels finally bottom out and we can work toward rebuilding and sustaining a digital music era that is fair to both the consumer and the creator.
I walked away last night with a reinvigorated love for an industry that I have been passionate about my whole life, and a confidence in the next generation of business stars that will follow in Clive’s footsteps.
