The first and only program of its kind, The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music offers professional leadership training for aspiring creative music entrepreneurs. In short, we are the premier training ground for future music moguls.How We Define “Creative Entrepreneur”
A passionate self-starter who draws on his/her innovative vision and business acumen – often with unconventional flair – to launch a successful, unique enterprise.
Department Mission
We aim to provide students with the necessary business, creative, intellectual and social skills so that they might emerge as visionary creative entrepreneurs. By offering business courses and studio training in tandem with a range of historical-critical studies, we encourage students to assume leadership roles in the art and business of creating and selling recorded music.
Four Types of Creative Entrepreneurs
The Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music recognizes four main types of creative entrepreneurs: Executive Entrepreneurs, Producer Entrepreneurs, Performer Entrepreneurs, Critic Entrepreneurs.
- Executive Entrepreneurs: a record executive who starts and runs a label or other music venture. Some famous executive entrepreneurs include: Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun; Jive Records founder Clive Calder, Arista and J Records founder Clive Davis, Geffen Records and Dreamworks founder David Geffen, Def Jam founder Russell Simmons; and former Elektra CEO and Universal Motown president Sylvia Rhone.
- Producer Entrepreneurs: producers & songwriters who work “behind the glass” in the record studio and launch or run their own production companies, record labels or other music ventures. Some famous producer entrepreneurs include: Dr. Dre (Aftermath), Matt Serletic (Virgin Records); Quincy Jones (Qwest), Sylvia Robinson (Sugarhill), Rick Rubin (Def Jam).
- Performer Entrepreneurs: recording artists who build and leverage their brands to start labels or other music ventures. These performer entrepreneurs manage business affairs while cultivating musicianship and craft. Some famous performer entrepreneurs include: Aimee Mann (SuperEgo), Alicia Keys (KrucialKeys Enterprises), Ani DiFranco (Righteous Babe), Babyface (LaFace), Prince (Paisley Park), and Madonna (Maverick).
- Critic Entrepreneurs: journalists, bloggers, publishers and tastemakers who build and leverage their brands to start labels or other music ventures. Some famous critic entrepreneurs include Bruce Pavitt, who started in fanzines and music journalism before launching Sub Pop; Jan Wenner, the founder of Rolling Stone magazine; Jon Landau who established himself as a critic for Rolling Stone before producing the MC5 and becoming Bruce Springsteen’s manager; and Tom Silverman, who began as a publishing entrepreneur before launching Tommy Boy Records.
