In this episode, Forbes Senior Editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg discusses music, media and money. Listen for insights into building a career around what you love, as well as how to spot your ‘big break’.
What did Jay-Z say to Zack O'Malley Greenburg, after Zack wrote a book about his life titled Empire State of Mind?
What was the response to another of Zack's books- The A-List Angels, how a band of Actors, Artists, and Athletes hacked Silicone Valley? Or Michael Jackson's family after he covered the surprising rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story of how the King of Pop grew a billion-dollar business? Let's not stop there, how about the 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and his book on Hip-Hop's Multibillion-Dollar Rise.
If you are fascinated by the intersection between music, media and money, there is one person to stand beside. Zack O'Malley Greenburg. His career began trying to avoid becoming a writer after witnessing the financial and emotional ups and downs his writer-parents experienced. But he was always drawn to it, and he was gifted. What began with the school paper became a decade as Forbes senior editor, and today Zack is not only a best-selling author; he is in control of his content at Substack.
Zack describes how he landed his first job at Forbes and his big break when an editor asked him to help put together a list of the top-earning rappers of all time. Zack launched the Cash Kings List – an annual ranking of hip hop's top earners and the artists who would try to talk their way up the list – as well as the ones who wanted to be left off – and the prestige that came to those who made it to the top.
It is a fascinating episode that offers valuable lessons in career building, finding a lane, and creating captivating content. We also hear some great stories about celebrities, and they no longer sing for their supper; they own it all.
And to top off the episode Nicole Kelly, Director of Platform Engagement, RBC X and one of the smartest people I have talked to about scaling companies, joins the show to talk about their mission to propel Canada's innovation agenda forward. As she says:
if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.
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