The Power of Music

Resilience operation and I was summarily fi red. They just above embody the necessary didn’t want any risk even if this was totally unjust ingredients of successful music, to me. It took a year and a half investigation to of hit songs. It’s the combina- exonerate Columbia and me. It was traumatic tion of great melody and strong and painful, but I knew of my innocence. I lyrics that create the timeless wrote a book, kept silent and felt some sat- copyrights that we call “stan- isfaction when the documentary showed the dards.” Just think of all the great The Power of Music check I received from CBS for $1,000,000 for songs you know and have been “mail order record club rights to the record- affected by and you’ll instantly ings from the brand new record company I had hum the melody and know most just founded, Arista Records.” But starting from of the words. scratch, showing I could successfully lead a Has your work changed as brand new record company, took resilience. It a result of COVID-19 and the took belief in oneself. I knew that at Columbia anti-racist movement across An Interview with Clive Davis, Chief Creative Offi cer, Sony Music I had never outbid anyone for the artists I the U.S. and the world? signed and those artists were all rock artists. I You ask whether my EDITORS’ NOTE In the fi rst phase of from the American Foundation for a surprise, but I could, and would, discover had to hire many new executives who under- approach to my music has his career, Clive Davis was General AIDS Research. In 2002, Mary Schmidt great all-time artists. They would either be stood the rock revolution that we were to help changed during this nightmarish Counsel of Columbia Records and Campbell, dean of the Tisch School of self-contained and wrote or found their own lead. Was there doubt and anxiety? Of course. pandemic. The answer is “no.” rose to become President of the com- the Arts at New York University, and music such as Janis Joplin, Chicago, Santana, But I believed success could be enjoyed again At least half of my listening con- pany. While building the rock ros- Davis, announced a $5 million gift by Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, Earth Wind & and, this time, not for a major label but for a tinues to be for the purpose of ter, Davis was also strengthening Davis to the School for the creation of Fire, Billy Joel, Patti Smith and Alicia Keys, or just formed brand new company. It worked. educating my ears so I remain the label’s catalog in all fields of a new Department of Recorded Music. they would need hit songs to explode their Resilience worked! current and don’t “go over the recorded music, achieving historic That same year, Davis was saluted by career like Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick People have relied on music to pro- hill.” Music changes and what success in the areas of R&B, coun- the New York Landmarks Conservatory and Aretha Franklin, or a combination of both vide comfort in all of the uncertainty and qualifi es as a hit today is much try, jazz and pop music. Davis left as a “Living Landmark” and he also like Barry Manilow or Carlos Santana. With the pain of the last few months. What do you different from what it was five Columbia Records in 1973 and, received the NARAS Heroes Award. absolute thrill of this discovery, music became see as the role that music can play during years ago. There’s no escaping after writing the book, Clive: Inside In 2003, the National Academy my passion. Hard work – a never ending work diffi cult times? the hard work ethic that must be The Record Business, he founded Clive Davis of Popular Music/Songwriters Hall of ethic – and a fear of failure propelled my I defi ne “resilience” as the ability to come held dear if you continue to love Arista Records with Columbia Fame made Davis the recipient of its career efforts coupled with a high standard for back from adversity. There have been several the music business. The other Pictures in the Fall of 1974 and then launched 2003 Hitmaker Award. In 2008, Davis was choosing my team members whose love of hit songs with that theme showing it to be a half of my listening continues to Arista’s Nashville division in 1988. In 1989, he appointed Chief Creative Offi cer for all of Sony music and their own personal work ethic led to very appealing musical theme. Examples are be for pleasure. Songs from the made an agreement with L.A. Reid and Babyface Music Entertainment, a change in operational years of success in beating the odds. “I Made It through the Rain” and “Looks Like great artists that mark my career to form LaFace Records. In 1994, Davis and pro- responsibility with an expansion of the artists As one of the world’s most successful We Made It” from Barry Manilow. Actually, continue to be prominent. It’s ducer/entrepreneur Sean “Puffy” Combs entered he would creatively be responsible for. Born in producers, you have helped artists express music can be great accompaniment for the still a thrill to hear great voices into a 50/50 joint venture that resulted in the Brooklyn, New York, Davis was a Phi Beta their thoughts through music. What do spirit of coming back. All you have to do is from my past and their wonder- Clive Davis with Aretha Franklin (above) and Whitney Houston (below) creation of Bad Boy Records. The nine-time Kappa graduate of New York University, where you see as the main ingredients in creating sing the musical hook of “The Theme from ful songs and then there are the Grammy winning album, Supernatural, sold he received his BA magna cum laude, and he successful music? Rocky” to understand that. World War II’s Beatles, Cole Porter, Rodgers Without my resilience, I don’t know where over 26 million copies worldwide, produced graduated with honors from Harvard Law First, it greatly helps when the artist not theme “The White Cliffs Of Dover” was very and Hammerstein, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke my career would be. I’m so grateful that I the #1 hits “Smooth” and “Maria Maria,” and School. only has hits but is a star in his or her own inspirational. Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing” and Prince. tapped into that resilience because I unexpect- marked the reunion of Carlos Santana and right – that they are true headliners. All the art- and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” are still How has your personal resilience helped edly found music to be the great driving passion Clive Davis and the two accepted, as produc- You are involved in many different proj- ists mentioned above are compelling, electrify- other examples. These songs mentioned drive your work? of my life. I still cherish how much I love music ers, the Grammy for Best Album of The Year. ects and efforts. Will you highlight your ing performers who still, after many decades, and how it contributes to my enjoyment of life. Clive Davis was inducted into the Rock and Roll work and areas of focus? lift the audience out of their seats time and I’m very mindful of my continuing obligation to Hall of Fame in 2000 as the only non-performer After a lifetime of discovering new artists time again. The copyrights that they sing have the landmark artists who have passed on. The along with other legends such as Eric Clapton, and successfully relaunching the careers of become standards. The songs live on and will separate legacies of both Whitney and Aretha Earth, Wind & Fire and James Taylor. Almost major artists who looked as though they had be sung by audiences forever. So, bottom line, are very important to me. I’m co-producing the simultaneously, it was announced that the cel- peaked, I am now Chief Creative Officer of in creating successful music, you start with the biopic on the life of Whitney Houston. I’ve dis- ebrated Arista chief would be the recipient of Sony Music. My two biggest current projects song. If the song, the copyright, is special in liked as one dimensional both documentaries the Trustees Lifetime Achievement award by are co-producing the Whitney Houston Biopic melody and lyric it will live on forever and if that have come out on Whitney. Without white- NARAS at the Grammy Awards. In 2000, Davis with Anthony McCarten (Bohemian Rhapsody), it is performed by a true star, that star’s career washing any of the battles she bravely faced for began a new phase in his career, announc- and executive producing the eight-part tele- can last for 50 years or more. survival, the movie will also show her musical ing the formation of J Records which had plati- vision series for Disney on the life of Aretha How do you define resilience and genius and why she inspired millions all over num success story after success story beginning Franklin. what do you see as the role of music in the world. I’m also executive producing an with Alicia Keys followed by Maroon 5, Annie You have achieved great success in resilience? eight-part television series for Disney on the life Lennox, Luther Vandross and Rod Stewart. your career. What have been the keys As the documentary on my life the Ridley of Aretha Franklin.

Load more