Lil' Wayne, Kanye West & Michael Jordan - Entrepreneurs?

[bestill]

The most successful entertainer entrepreneur in my opinion is Gene Simmons. He took the Kiss brand and made it into an empire and still going strong today.

Gene Simmons is certainly one of the most profound entrepreneur in the entertainment business. He has done much more then just music and once again going back to branding. He used his tongue and it drew tons more fans and followers. I should talk about him in another article.

[Kharisma]

Maybe we all don't know the definition of an entrepreneur.

I've always thought to be an entrepreneur means that you have a develop something that somebody wants to buy with the chance that the idea might becoming either a success or a failure.

I personally think that an entertainer can have entrepreneur traits, but if they are building something just to have more fame and fortune..I think they are not. I hate to say, but 50 Cent is a half and half entrepreneur. He is taking the risk of having his own business only because he has the money from rapping. He didn't make executive decisions that could possibly help or hurt his company. He was just a entertainer trying to get the money and the status. I sounds more like hustling to me..

So, maybe there should be a difference between an entrepreneur and a hustler?

[mthomas]

I think this is a great argument, bestill. I was just thinking the other day about how so many artists put out a cd, then pretty much disappear after that. You don't hear from them until about three years later when they release another new cd.

Other artists however, are much smarter than this. They keep themselves in the spotlight, continue to produce and are featured in other artists songs. That way, they are constantly kept in the mind of the listener, and come time when their next cd comes out, it will sell much better.

This is nothing short of marketing. They are marketing themselves and their product, and those that are persistent will enjoy greater successes than those that don't.

Their fame then positions them to pursue different ventures--production companies, record labels, etc... I guess these artists really are nothing short of entrepreneurs. Thanks for the insight!

[getmoneywithjay]

You're absolutely right, If you look at Diddy, Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Master P, and as you mentioned, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West. These men know how powerful of a platform they have because of their brand and they use it to capitalize. Diddy has a channel on YouTube where he puts his Diddy blog every day, that just comes to show you the power of attraction marketing and social media!

[bestill]

I think this is a great argument, bestill. I was just thinking the other day about how so many artists put out a cd, then pretty much disappear after that. You don't hear from them until about three years later when they release another new cd.

Other artists however, are much smarter than this. They keep themselves in the spotlight, continue to produce and are featured in other artists songs. That way, they are constantly kept in the mind of the listener, and come time when their next cd comes out, it will sell much better.

This is nothing short of marketing. They are marketing themselves and their product, and those that are persistent will enjoy greater successes than those that don't.

Their fame then positions them to pursue different ventures--production companies, record labels, etc... I guess these artists really are nothing short of entrepreneurs. Thanks for the insight!

That is exactly what I am talking about. Great points and examples.

[SeaSquirrel]

I know 50 cent is an entrepreneur. Did anyone happen to catch 50 cent's MTV crib video?


It you look closely he did a few things I know he advertised and was paid for.

1. He opened his fridge and had ALL vitamin water.

2. He rode the new Yamaha Raptor 700

3. His closet was all G-unit shoes

4. When he showed his "rides/ Ferrari's" did you notice how he had the new Pontiac G6 next to all of them. He then said its the hottest car on the street. Now go look at that individual car's sells after his show aired

5. His roommate said he "stole" 50-cent's original g-unit chain that was used in his first video and said hopefully 50 cent forgets about it and he will sell it on ebay. A few months later it sold on ebay.

6. He promoted new members of his crew / DJ's

I mad right now cause I noticed a few more but its been over a month since I watched the show so I can't remember right now.

[mthomas]

Maybe we all don't know the definition of an entrepreneur.

From the top of the page:

en•tre•pre•neur –noun Entrepreneur, translated from its French roots, means "one who undertakes." The term Entrepreneur is used to refer to anyone who undertakes the organization and management of an enterprise involving independence and risk as well as the opportunity for profit.

Is a musical artist not one who produces an artistic work and sells it to make a profit? This is certainly an undertaking. Just because the entertainer produces an artistic work doesn't mean they aren't entrepreneurs.

I've always thought to be an entrepreneur means that you have a develop something that somebody wants to buy with the chance that the idea might becoming either a success or a failure.

Doesn't music artists produce/develop songs that people hopefully want to listen to? Isn't think the real thing as offering a service or producing any other product? Authors are very much entrepreneurs as they are looking to sell their intellectual property. Music artists are no different.

[bestill]

Great points mthomas. It could not have been said better