1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: You're listening to Math and Magic, a production of iHeartRadio. 2 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,240 Speaker 2: All the major forms of current pop music came out 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 2: of the South, country, blues, rock, jazz. What happens here 4 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 2: travels well, but it always doesn't get the understanding of 5 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 2: the depth of how important it is and the true 6 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 2: artistic value of the artists involved. 7 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,519 Speaker 3: I am Bob Pittman and welcome to Math and Magic. 8 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 3: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing. Today. We're going to 9 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 3: explore some entrepreneurship and specifically about the modern music business 10 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 3: and how country has evolved to be the biggest music format. 11 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 3: Our guest is the founder, president and CEO of the 12 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 3: Big Machine label group and also the founder of Big 13 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 3: Machine Distillery. Scott is a Southern California kid of the 14 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: sixties and seventies bicycle, motocross and skateboarding and empty pools. 15 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: By the way, he's still a racer. Will dig it 16 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 3: that more later. His dad was in the music business, 17 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 3: so he grew up with the big stars of those 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 3: days stopping by his house. He has been there at 19 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,319 Speaker 3: the beginning for artists and assigned deals with Tim McGraw, 20 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 3: Jewel Lady, a, Zach Brownband, Thomas Rhett Florida, Georgia, Lyne 21 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 3: and many more. He was also a mentor on American Idol. 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 3: He is a strategic and flexible thinker who runs a 23 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 3: tight ship. He gets things done. It's not just about ideas, 24 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 3: it's about execution. Best of all, he's a good guy 25 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 3: and good friend. Scott. 26 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:32,919 Speaker 4: Welcome, Thank you, Bob. It's great to do this. 27 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 3: Now, before we jump into the meaty topics, I'd like 28 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,280 Speaker 3: to do you in sixty seconds. Ready, let's rock. Do 29 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,960 Speaker 3: you prefer Nashville or La Nashville, Early Riser or night Eye? 30 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:50,279 Speaker 3: Both listening to music or playing music? Now it's listening dogs, 31 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 3: are cats, Dougs, mountains or beach beach? Vinyl or streaming, streaming, 32 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,520 Speaker 3: cooking or ordering in country or rock. 33 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 4: Depends on the mood. I'm gonna say both. 34 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 3: Watching car races or racing cars. 35 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 4: For me, racing Okay, it's. 36 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 3: About to get harder. What was your first. 37 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:15,640 Speaker 2: Job working at a bicycle motocross store building bikes? 38 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 3: Favored radio station from. 39 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,079 Speaker 4: Your youth k me et Tweedledee. 40 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 3: When do you do your best thinking? 41 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,880 Speaker 2: It's shutting the door in my office and getting into 42 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 2: my own groove. 43 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 3: What was the first record you ever bought stuck in 44 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 3: the middle with you? What was your first concert? 45 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 2: It would be Kiss at the Fabulous Forum in nineteen 46 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 2: seventy six. 47 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,640 Speaker 3: Final one. If you could be anybody else, who would 48 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 3: you be? 49 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 4: Mick Dagger? 50 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 3: Okay, let's jump out big topic, country music. Why does 51 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 3: it not get the attention or respect it deserves? Biggest 52 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 3: radio music format, huge artists, sold out tours in the 53 00:02:55,880 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 3: middle of the culture of this country. But when I 54 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: look at what the media covers or what marketing references 55 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 3: is in they're advertising, it doesn't even come close to 56 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 3: reflecting that. Why is that? 57 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,079 Speaker 2: You know, you really touched on it. It's what the 58 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:12,560 Speaker 2: culture of the middle of the country is all about. 59 00:03:13,080 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: It's not really very often, if ever, the shiny, sparkly thing. 60 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: It's something that's consistent. It's telling the stories of blue 61 00:03:23,200 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: collar predominantly and based in southern culture. We're not on 62 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 2: the West coast, we're not on the East coast as 63 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 2: far as our headquarters. When you match that up to 64 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: the national buyers of advertising, etc. We're not there, unfortunately 65 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: in a meaningful way as often as we need to be. 66 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 4: And we're a little bit older. 67 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: Demographic for a business that's going to go after a 68 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 2: younger demographic. We're predominantly not going to be the first one. 69 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 2: But it's always great when my friends from both coasts 70 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 2: come to visit, hang out a little bit, do some 71 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: business with us. They're always blown away at how great 72 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 2: the Nashville system is. Everything here in Nashville is connected. 73 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 2: The Country Music Hall of Fame remains completely relevant, as 74 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: does the Grand Ole Opry because it's all centered here, 75 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,480 Speaker 2: and the younger artists really have a great knowledge and 76 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 2: respect for that connective tissue. 77 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 3: You know, it's interesting the most populated part of the 78 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 3: United States is now the South, and I'm not sure 79 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 3: people have turned their focus to it. Do you think 80 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 3: that this feeling we have about country music is sort 81 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,159 Speaker 3: of respect issue or do you think it's just lack 82 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 3: of knowledge. 83 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: All the major forms of current pop music came out 84 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 2: of the South, country, blues, rock, jazz. What happens here 85 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 2: travels well, but it always doesn't get the understanding of 86 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: the depth of how important it is and the true 87 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 2: artistic value of the artists involved. 88 00:04:58,560 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 4: You know a lot of people. 89 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 2: Still say this, and I've been hearing this for forty years. 90 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: It's like, well, I don't really like country music, but 91 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: I like that. It's like, well, Morgan Wallin is country music. 92 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 2: So it's almost a guilty pleasure in some places. In 93 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 2: some circles, it's just not cool to like country music. 94 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: I don't know what that stigma is. If you look 95 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 2: at some of those southern inflections and the stereotypical aspect 96 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,599 Speaker 2: of that, you could point it's like, well, people think 97 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: it's cheesy or that it's phony, and that was the 98 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: entertainment part of it. But you know, the people who 99 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: think that haven't gone past the cover of the book 100 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:45,479 Speaker 2: to see what an amazing, fluid and important music this 101 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 2: is not to just North America but to many parts. 102 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 4: Of the world. 103 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,359 Speaker 3: So what's the biggest barrier to elevating country music to 104 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: its rightful place? 105 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 4: Continued exposures. 106 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 2: There's always a star that starts to shine, So that 107 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 2: gets what my job is, like, Okay, what's on the periphery. 108 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 2: Who's that one artist or two artists that are it's 109 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,600 Speaker 2: going to be so strong and it's going to pull 110 00:06:07,640 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: the mainstream to them. We've become arguably the best place 111 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: in the world for young musicians to come and be 112 00:06:16,400 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 2: able to work playing music. That's what Nashville has become. 113 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: So what does that mean, Well, that means the next 114 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,240 Speaker 2: one's coming. It's right under our nose. 115 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 3: So let's jump a little bit. In the mid nineteen eighties, 116 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 3: you worked for Mary Tyler Moor's record label. Much of 117 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 3: the nineties, you were at MCA Records Nashville. You were 118 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 3: by the way at that point, on a mission to 119 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 3: make it number one, and you did. MCA was label 120 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 3: of the Year every year you were there, even Label 121 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 3: of the Decade, and so first question is how did 122 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 3: you do that. 123 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: I was playing in rock bands when I moved to Nashville, 124 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: and so rock's a big part of my DNA. So 125 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 2: when I came here and discovered Whyland and Willie, that's 126 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: what brought me into country. And then once I got 127 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 2: into the game and doing promotion at Mary Tyler Moore, 128 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 2: I was one of just two promotion people and we 129 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 2: were slaying the major label dragons, just the two of 130 00:07:11,160 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 2: us working with indies, and so I was able to 131 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:19,239 Speaker 2: envision how to win this at a very young age. 132 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 2: And then I went independent in nineteen eighty nine and 133 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 2: I became the number one independent promotion guy in Nashville. 134 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 4: Pretty quickly. 135 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 2: I was part of breaking the Kentucky Headhunters and Dwight 136 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: Yoakum and Carlene Carter, and then I started looking at, Okay, 137 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 2: what is my next move? And at that time my 138 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 2: two favorite artist rosters were MCA and Warner Brothers, and 139 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: so I went to MCA in January of nineteen ninety one, 140 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 2: and it was one of those things walking in like, Okay. 141 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 2: I always joke that when you're an Indy you learn 142 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: how to turn water into wine. So I walk into MCA, 143 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: I'm like, I don't have to turn water into wine. 144 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 2: You guys have wine. 145 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 4: We could go. 146 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 2: So walking in coming from nothing as far as leverage 147 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 2: and tools to George Straight and Reba McIntyre and Vince 148 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 2: Gill and Whyonah Judd, It's like, can I this toolbox 149 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: over in the corner. I don't see you guys going 150 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 2: over that. Can I use those tools and like run 151 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: like hell? And so what I did is very specifically. 152 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 2: Aristo was our big competition at that point, and so 153 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 2: I was scheduling all the singles, and so I would go, Okay, 154 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,040 Speaker 2: George Straight for Alan Jackson, Vince Gale for Brooks and Dunn, 155 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 2: We're gonna match them Superstar for Superstar. Where we're going 156 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 2: to win is breaking new artists. So I had a 157 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 2: huge focus on breaking Marty Stewart. I'm breaking David Lee Murphy, 158 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 2: I'm breaking why Nona Judd as a solo artist, I'm 159 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 2: breaking Trisha Yearwood. I made sure that our front line 160 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,560 Speaker 2: was throwing smoke at all times, and then building up 161 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,480 Speaker 2: that next bench and that next strength. You couldn't catch us. 162 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 3: You left MCA and then you started DreamWorks Nashville with 163 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 3: Randy Travis. As you're first signing, you were hot right 164 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 3: out of the box. Now, the ironic twist is in 165 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 3: two thousand and four, MCA bought DreamWorks and you were 166 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 3: back at MCA, and by then I think they'd gone cold. 167 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 3: You brought them back again as the head of promotion 168 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 3: and artist development. And what I think is more interesting 169 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 3: is you were on fire, but for some reason you 170 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 3: had this spark that that was the moment that you 171 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 3: wanted your own label. Why what ignited. 172 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 4: That, Well, it really started at DreamWorks. 173 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 2: At that point, there weren't a lot of new labels 174 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 2: in the business, and so at dream Works, you know 175 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 2: having the ability, you know, looking at the landscape looking 176 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 2: at the assets that we had. We're full entertainment company. 177 00:09:58,400 --> 00:10:01,680 Speaker 2: So I used every weapon that the movie company had 178 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,880 Speaker 2: with premieres and all that stuff, and brought that show 179 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 2: business to radio like one of my heroes, Bob Pittman does. 180 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 2: And so we came out of the box smoking. We 181 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 2: took over one of the biggest hotels at the time, 182 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,840 Speaker 2: the Hermitage Hotel, and re christened at the DreamWorks Hotel, 183 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:19,760 Speaker 2: to the point where we had flags made up and 184 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 2: we're flying DreamWorks flags at the hotel, and we had 185 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 2: all the pds and mds stay with us. 186 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,080 Speaker 4: We launched like a nuclear bomb. 187 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 2: And so James Stroud, who was the president of the label, 188 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 2: he was more of a producer than he really was 189 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: a label heead And what was great about that is 190 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:43,000 Speaker 2: he did the things he wanted to do and really 191 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,320 Speaker 2: didn't love the day to day of operations, and so 192 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,520 Speaker 2: I would take a little bit more of that every day. 193 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 2: It's like, James, I got that, man, if you're good 194 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,640 Speaker 2: with this, you keep doing your thing and I'm going 195 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 2: to learn the rest of this. So being at DreamWorks 196 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 2: and James Stroud giving me so much rope to learn, 197 00:11:02,320 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 2: not only promotion, which we had mastered, but learned the 198 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 2: next level of marketing, next level of sales, distribution, publicity, 199 00:11:10,679 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 2: all those things that it's like, Okay, I'm going to 200 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 2: acquire all these skills and knowledge because at some point 201 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 2: I'm going to grab this by the neck and lead it. 202 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 4: And so that leads to. 203 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:26,240 Speaker 2: January of two thousand and four, they come in and 204 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 2: say we're being purchased by Universal and MCA and Universal 205 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 2: were ice cold. This is April now, two thousand and four. 206 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 2: Riba had not had a number one single since I 207 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 2: left in nineteen ninety seven. 208 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 4: It was painful for me to watch. 209 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 2: Not only was she one of my dear friends, but 210 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:50,400 Speaker 2: we had achieved incredible success and something that a lot 211 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 2: of major labels still do is they take their superstars 212 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 2: for granted. 213 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 4: And I'm like, you know what. 214 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 2: It's time for us to return Riba to number one. 215 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 2: We put together the plan. To this day, it's historic 216 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 2: because we had the biggest ever spin increase in the 217 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 2: history of the Billboard chart, and that's when it was 218 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 2: done by spins, and we jumped from I think number 219 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:16,560 Speaker 2: six to number one and we knocked out Tim Murgrau 220 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 2: lived like you were dying which was the biggest song 221 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: of the two thousands. We turned that place on its head. 222 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 2: We had the number one on every all three imprints 223 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 2: within the first sixty days, and you know, just breaking 224 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 2: sugar Land and Gary Allen for turning Terry Clark to. 225 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:33,680 Speaker 4: A number one. 226 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 2: It's I mean, we had that place just on fire. 227 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 2: And I started thinking about, Okay, now's my next move. 228 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 4: Because I was looking what everybody was doing. 229 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,319 Speaker 2: I'm like, you know what, I've got no place where 230 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 2: I feel I can compete with all of these guys. 231 00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:53,080 Speaker 2: I don't think any of them are any smarter or 232 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 2: any more wise. It's time for me to jump into 233 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 2: the driver's seat. And so I started putting together a prospectus, 234 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:05,000 Speaker 2: and I started having meetings with investors, and while I 235 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,320 Speaker 2: was doing it on the QT, I wasn't hiding it 236 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 2: because I was in the last year of my deal. 237 00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 2: And so we get to January of five, and so 238 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 2: I was meeting with the two co presidents of Universal 239 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:21,160 Speaker 2: Nashville and they said, hey, you know, we know you 240 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 2: want to run your own label, but we'd like you 241 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 2: to stay where you are and give you a bunch 242 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 2: more money. And I'm like, I appreciate that, but I'm 243 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 2: not going to do that, and so we pretty much 244 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: defined my exit at that point. 245 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 3: So let's jump to you officially start Big Machine and 246 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:43,719 Speaker 3: just put it in perspective for again, for people that 247 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 3: don't know the music business. You've sold almost two hundred 248 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 3: million albums worldwide, I think, and you've had over one 249 00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 3: hundred singles at the top of the charts. So let's 250 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,720 Speaker 3: start with the name big Machine. Where did that come from? 251 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:57,760 Speaker 4: So it comes from two places. 252 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 2: At that time, I was racing in the NASCAR Weekly 253 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 2: Series and I was a three time NASCAR Weekly Series champion, 254 00:14:04,840 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 2: and so when the car was really good, we say, 255 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 2: hey man, we got a hot ride. 256 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:08,920 Speaker 4: We got a big machine. 257 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:11,160 Speaker 2: And then the other thing that kind of took the 258 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 2: scales was that great song by Velvet Revolver Big Machine, 259 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: just this big, powerful rock anthem. And I'm like, you 260 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 2: know what, let's just declare ourselves a big machine, all 261 00:14:23,360 --> 00:14:26,280 Speaker 2: thirteen of us. I always joked that I never told 262 00:14:26,440 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 2: the staff at that point. 263 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 4: That we weren't a big machine. It's like, we are 264 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 4: a big machine, go forth and conquer. 265 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 3: So how did you operate differently from other music companies. 266 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 2: One of the things I think about in that moment 267 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 2: in the early two thousands, is just the waste, you know, 268 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 2: and waste of physical product of all the junk, and 269 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 2: just looking at how the spending wasn't lined aligned properly. 270 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: And if you look at the leaders of the business 271 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 2: in that moment, they didn't see streaming coming. It was 272 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 2: a very polar moment for me because every week at 273 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 2: DreamWorks we would be on with the entire company and 274 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 2: the Napster conversation came up. So I said, hey, have 275 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: you guys been on this? This is amazing. They didn't 276 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,840 Speaker 2: give it a chance to be a flower or a weed. 277 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:21,720 Speaker 2: They just said kill it, Scott. If that's on your computer, 278 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 2: you get it off your computer right now and do 279 00:15:24,760 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 2: not put it back on. And I'm like, this Genie's 280 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 2: out of the bottle man. 281 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:30,080 Speaker 4: And so that was. 282 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: A big, big cast flag to me. I was just like, Okay, 283 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 2: they do not see where it's going, and it has 284 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 2: officially passed our current leaders by I can't go down 285 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:45,560 Speaker 2: with this ship because physical distribution was turning into not 286 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 2: a joke but a joke in certain ways. So it's like, 287 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,280 Speaker 2: this is the future. We better figure this out. 288 00:15:51,560 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 3: I was at MTV. When someone brought in some CD 289 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 3: players from Japan, we had to actually have a power 290 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 3: transformer to play them on our electricity to show us 291 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 3: what it was. We all got one and it was interesting. 292 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,400 Speaker 3: The lawyers at that moment said we have to kill 293 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,480 Speaker 3: it because this master quality recording will be good enough 294 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 3: that the pirates can steal everything. And a couple of 295 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 3: people said, it is coming. We can't fight it. We 296 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 3: should embrace it. It'll be good for us. And as 297 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 3: you know, the nineties were the go go years of 298 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 3: the record business because everybody bought a CD and I 299 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:29,960 Speaker 3: don't think they had ever had anything quite like that. 300 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 3: So the business people won, not the lawyers. And I 301 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 3: remember when Napster came, it was sort of the same thing, 302 00:16:36,120 --> 00:16:39,640 Speaker 3: that no, we can't do this because basically coming from 303 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,320 Speaker 3: a legal point of view. And what was interesting was 304 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 3: at that moment the lawyers won, not the business people. 305 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 3: And as you know, the music business probably stunted for 306 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 3: five to ten years because they missed that moment and 307 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 3: had to catch up a little bit more Mathet magic 308 00:16:54,680 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 3: right after this quick break, Welcome back to Math the Magic. 309 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,679 Speaker 3: Let's hear more from my conversation with Scott Boshadow, I 310 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 3: want to go back in time a little bit to 311 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,520 Speaker 3: your youth, just to get some context. You were born 312 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 3: in southern California in the California Heyday sixties and seventies, 313 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 3: and you actually got us start in racing at that time, 314 00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:20,199 Speaker 3: racing BMX bikes and then went on the quarter midget cars. 315 00:17:20,720 --> 00:17:23,680 Speaker 3: Describe that time and place for us. 316 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 2: Going back to those southern California years, we just lived outside, 317 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 2: you know, we were on our motocross bikes all the time. 318 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 2: And once we got into skateboarding, what happened is we 319 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 2: would hear about a pool in the valley somewhere and 320 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:40,920 Speaker 2: there was this group of us like, okay, let's meet 321 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 2: there at three o'clock, and you know, whether it was 322 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 2: an abandoned home and we'd clean the pool out and 323 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 2: skate in it, or if there was a pool that 324 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,760 Speaker 2: was empty or that it was dirty, had been swimming 325 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 2: and whatever. And so then we'd go back around to 326 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:57,240 Speaker 2: the front door, knock on the door. Person comes to 327 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:00,880 Speaker 2: the doors, and we would hustle them basically said hey, 328 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 2: if you'll let us skate in your pool for a week, 329 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 2: we will clean it. So it was always like Okay, 330 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 2: where's the next one. It's like finding the next great 331 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,960 Speaker 2: concrete wave. Just being Southern California kids. You know, you 332 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 2: don't realize it when you're doing it, but we were 333 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 2: real culture leaders with all that, going from BMX to 334 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:23,240 Speaker 2: skateboard culture to the music culture, which we were just 335 00:18:23,280 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 2: surrounded by it. You know, what was happening with punk rock, 336 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 2: and then what happened when Motley Crue took over LA 337 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 2: and going to Guns n' Roses, and so it was 338 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 2: always there. And once I got old enough, we were 339 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:39,439 Speaker 2: in Hollywood all the time, three or four nights a week, 340 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 2: whether going to the Starwood or the Whiskey, or Gazaries 341 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:48,760 Speaker 2: or the Rainbow Roxy, all those clubs down there. You know, 342 00:18:48,920 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 2: I can go right back there. I mean I could 343 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 2: feel the sunshine on my facetop. 344 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 3: So you quoted as saying you had good grades but 345 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:01,640 Speaker 3: were an angry, rebellious kid who was kind of anti everything. 346 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,440 Speaker 3: You dropped out of college, by the way, a trait 347 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 3: we see often on the Entrepreneurs here on Mathem Magic. 348 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:11,400 Speaker 3: You started playing bass in a new way bands, country 349 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 3: punk bands. What was the peak of your career as 350 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 3: a musician and why did you stop doing that. 351 00:19:17,119 --> 00:19:20,600 Speaker 2: The reason I left LA in nineteen eighty one is 352 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:23,080 Speaker 2: that I felt like I knew what was going on there, 353 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:24,760 Speaker 2: and I just wanted to see what else was going on. 354 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 2: And my intent was to come to Nashville for the summer, 355 00:19:28,600 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 2: where my dad had moved in nineteen seventy nine. And 356 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 2: so I was here in Nashville for a few weeks 357 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,960 Speaker 2: and one of the independent artists that my dad was 358 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 2: working needed a bass player. And I'm like, it's a 359 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: country I don't know because they're on tour. I'm like, 360 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,520 Speaker 2: they're on tour, nineteen years old. 361 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 4: Game on. 362 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,120 Speaker 2: So I went in auditioned, got the gig, and bob. 363 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 2: It was so great because I had really never been 364 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:54,479 Speaker 2: out of southern California for very much, and it was 365 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:56,760 Speaker 2: seeing the rest of the country and then all of 366 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 2: a sudden, I'm like, oh my god, it opened that 367 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 2: aperture of my existence exponentially. I really didn't know my 368 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 2: place yet, I knew, I was determined. I knew that 369 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 2: I was not going to be poor. I hated growing 370 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:16,199 Speaker 2: up in southern California not having money, and so I 371 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 2: did that for eight months. I traveled through thirty eight 372 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 2: states in eight months, and when I came back to Nashville, like, 373 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 2: I feel like I'm home. And so I started building 374 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,480 Speaker 2: working for my dad. During the day, I still was 375 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 2: playing in bands, rock bands. 376 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:30,439 Speaker 4: You know. 377 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,840 Speaker 2: We had a couple fun moments where we had some 378 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 2: great record company showcases. We opened up for Cheap Trick 379 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:40,480 Speaker 2: and a couple other big artists. We made some of 380 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,439 Speaker 2: our own independent records, but we never got signed. We 381 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 2: never got that next break. And it's like, Okay, I'm 382 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:51,239 Speaker 2: not going to be a rock star. I see it, 383 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,239 Speaker 2: I'm friends with it. That's not my strength. And I 384 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 2: started allowing myself to follow the energy because I tried 385 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 2: to stay out of the record business because my dad 386 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:06,120 Speaker 2: wasn't it and I didn't want to follow in his footsteps. 387 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 4: And I wanted to be my own man. 388 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 2: And when I stopped fighting, that is when my record 389 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 2: career really just started to take off. 390 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:17,720 Speaker 3: So let's jump to some of your philosophies. Company culture. 391 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 3: The first time I visited the Big Machine offices in Nashville, 392 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:25,159 Speaker 3: I was probably most struck by what a cohesive and 393 00:21:25,320 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 3: passionate culture there was throughout the building and among everyone 394 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:32,959 Speaker 3: I met. How do you build a company culture? 395 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 2: You know, it's a gut feel for me because it's 396 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 2: not something for me personally that I can put a list. 397 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,159 Speaker 2: It's like, Okay, you check all these boxes, You're going 398 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,240 Speaker 2: to fit perfectly. It's the same way with signing artists. 399 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 2: I know most of the time within the first five 400 00:21:47,840 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 2: ten minutes, is this somebody I want to work with? 401 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,080 Speaker 2: Is this an artist I want to sign? I like 402 00:21:53,119 --> 00:21:56,359 Speaker 2: people who are very matter of fact and passionate about 403 00:21:56,400 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 2: what we do. 404 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 4: And also, I'm not. 405 00:21:59,080 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 2: One who's out for credit on any day of any week. 406 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,199 Speaker 2: I'm truly It's not a cliche when I say it. 407 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:09,600 Speaker 2: I'm a team builder, and I am inclusive and I 408 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 2: am transparent, and that is really kind of the foundation 409 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,480 Speaker 2: of the culture because when everybody knows what's going on, 410 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:22,160 Speaker 2: when the goals are as clear as can be and 411 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 2: you've got the passion to execute, That's how I built 412 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 2: all of my companies. 413 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:33,199 Speaker 3: So let's talk about creative artists. You obviously deal with 414 00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 3: them day in and day out. It's your job. What's 415 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 3: the secret for people who don't deal with them but 416 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 3: find themselves there? What advice can you give them? 417 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 2: I always say, there's an artist's language, and you can 418 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,760 Speaker 2: learn it, but because I was around it from such 419 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:53,680 Speaker 2: a young age, you know, it came natural. So it's 420 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 2: really talking to them about trying to look at things 421 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:02,879 Speaker 2: through their eyes, adding in creative thought. And it's never 422 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,840 Speaker 2: ever putting an artist in the corner saying you have 423 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 2: to do this. If you don't do this, then it's 424 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 2: never going to happen. It's like, here's the playing field, 425 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 2: here are the options. I'm going to tell you right now. 426 00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 2: There's not a wrong decision. There's just a better decision. 427 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 2: But whatever you decide, it's your name that's on the marquee. 428 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 2: I'm here to help you try to make the best decision. 429 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 3: So about fifteen years ago I started Costan Tregonez Tequila 430 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,440 Speaker 3: with my partner Vitta Gonzalez, and the one thing I 431 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:39,920 Speaker 3: learned is it's not for the faint of heart, So 432 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 3: tell us why you have big machine distillery. 433 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:51,680 Speaker 2: So the idea to have our own Tennessee whiskey started 434 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 2: from an activation we did with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 435 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:01,040 Speaker 2: in twenty ten. We had been working with them wanting 436 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 2: to do more. They had been back and forth with 437 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:08,320 Speaker 2: Crown Royal and they didn't get the deal done with Crown. 438 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 2: This was further NASCAR race the Brickyard four hundred, and 439 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:13,359 Speaker 2: so we got the call it say, hey, this title 440 00:24:13,400 --> 00:24:16,240 Speaker 2: sponsorship is open. What do you got I said, why not? 441 00:24:16,359 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 4: Have you money? 442 00:24:17,359 --> 00:24:21,120 Speaker 2: But what if I bring Rascal Flats and the Van 443 00:24:21,280 --> 00:24:25,639 Speaker 2: Perry and Brandley, Gilbert and Thomas. Let me bring you 444 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:29,879 Speaker 2: a festival in exchange. They're like, you can do that, 445 00:24:30,880 --> 00:24:35,600 Speaker 2: and we did it and it blew everybody away, and 446 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 2: so that started the relationship. So Crown comes back the 447 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 2: next year, so it's the Crown Royal Brickyard four hundred 448 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:45,400 Speaker 2: powered by Big Machine, and so we start this wonderful 449 00:24:45,440 --> 00:24:48,440 Speaker 2: relationship with Crown and Diagio. So we're a few years 450 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 2: in marketing. Medium said, hey, you know what, We're a 451 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 2: Tennessee label. I'd love to have a Tennessee whiskey. We 452 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:57,040 Speaker 2: became aware of a distillery an hour south of Nashville. 453 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 2: The products were fantastic. They didn't know a thing about marketing, 454 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:05,920 Speaker 2: and I'm like, wow, physical product that needs to be marketed. 455 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,720 Speaker 2: We don't get to market CDs or albums anymore. I 456 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 2: got this. We purchase the distillery and everything that we do. 457 00:25:15,119 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 2: The distillery and the spirits product and the racing. It 458 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,280 Speaker 2: all leads back to entertainment. It all leads back to 459 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,560 Speaker 2: an experience, and so in my mind, all of these 460 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 2: things are connected, and so what we do with our 461 00:25:28,720 --> 00:25:33,440 Speaker 2: Spirits brands. It also gives me the ability to sponsor 462 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 2: the race team, So every dollar that goes to the 463 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 2: race team is an expense marketing expense for the distillery. 464 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 3: I love it. So let's move to racing for just 465 00:25:43,600 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 3: a second. Racing is a huge part of your life. 466 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:49,200 Speaker 3: You're actually a serious driver yourself, you have a racing team. 467 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:54,680 Speaker 3: What about racing draws you in and what lessons have 468 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:58,280 Speaker 3: you learned from racing which you apply to other parts 469 00:25:58,280 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 3: of your life. 470 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 2: There's a certain freedom and liberation when you're it's maning 471 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,360 Speaker 2: machine and it's just you and the car. And when 472 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:12,479 Speaker 2: you're doing that and you're on the edge and you're 473 00:26:12,520 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 2: performing at the highest level, there's no other feeling I've 474 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 2: ever had. You know, maybe the biggest artists in the 475 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 2: world when they're playing the fifty thousand people and they're 476 00:26:22,320 --> 00:26:25,720 Speaker 2: all singing, maybe it's that same feeling and being competitive. 477 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 2: Everybody wants to win and it's finding out those ways 478 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 2: to win. It's a chess game at you know, one 479 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:32,480 Speaker 2: hundred and eighty miles an hour. 480 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:35,760 Speaker 3: I rode motorcycles for a lot of years of my life, 481 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 3: and I was a pilot for fifty years of planes 482 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 3: and helicopters, So I get it. But I know we 483 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,320 Speaker 3: talk about racing and talk about the great things with racing, 484 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:49,159 Speaker 3: but you had a very serious accident. Talk to us 485 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 3: a little bit about it and what got you through that. 486 00:26:52,320 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: Yeah. 487 00:26:52,720 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 2: We were at road Atlanta and it was March twenty sixth, 488 00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 2: and we're mid race. 489 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 4: I start picking up the pace, my paces. 490 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,439 Speaker 2: As fast as the leaders. We're passing cars, We're moving up. 491 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 2: So going into turn one at over one hundred and 492 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 2: fifty miles an hour, our brake zone because in road 493 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,720 Speaker 2: racing you break really hard, and so I go to 494 00:27:15,800 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 2: the brakes at the three fifty foot mark, no brake, 495 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:23,640 Speaker 2: not a soft break, no break. The right brake caliber 496 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 2: had exploded, and so all of a sudden I am 497 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 2: in a heap load of trouble. They estimate that I 498 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,040 Speaker 2: hit the wall at one hundred and nine miles an 499 00:27:36,040 --> 00:27:37,920 Speaker 2: hour and I. 500 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:39,160 Speaker 4: Was knocked out for a little bit. 501 00:27:39,520 --> 00:27:42,000 Speaker 2: It's a longer story, but I was I call it 502 00:27:42,040 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 2: my evil canevil list of injuries. 503 00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:44,679 Speaker 1: You know. 504 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 4: I broke both ankles, both. 505 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:51,880 Speaker 2: Tibias, cracked my pelvis in four places, four cracked vertebra, 506 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:57,480 Speaker 2: five broken ribs, some internal injury. I ripped my stomach open, 507 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 2: and I almost died in the ambulance. Everything hurt. One 508 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 2: of my meditations is counting backward from a thousand, and 509 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 2: so in that moment, I just said, let go try 510 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:12,439 Speaker 2: to get to the next minute and start counting backwards 511 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:13,120 Speaker 2: from a thousand. 512 00:28:13,560 --> 00:28:14,560 Speaker 4: So that was my mantra. 513 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 2: Just I was counting and then get to the next minute. 514 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:18,959 Speaker 2: And so went into emergency. 515 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 4: Well gut. 516 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,880 Speaker 2: My wife was there, several friends, several race friends. So 517 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:28,120 Speaker 2: from after everything went absolutely wrong, everything started to go right. 518 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 2: We had the best lower extremity doctor in the world, 519 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,200 Speaker 2: and Bob, here I am nine months later, and I'm 520 00:28:34,680 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 2: ninety nine percent yield. I'm so fortunate. I don't have 521 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 2: a head injury or a spine injury. I'm walking normally. 522 00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 2: You wouldn't know it. So I've been really fortunate in 523 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:48,560 Speaker 2: my recovery. I've always felt like I was very good 524 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:52,320 Speaker 2: at being present and living in the moment, and I 525 00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 2: think that's been underlined and highlighted. You ask yourself, Okay, 526 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 2: I'm still here, what is the next big thing that 527 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:03,360 Speaker 2: I can do? Because I'm still here and I'm energized 528 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:07,440 Speaker 2: by it. I'm probably as energized in my life right 529 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 2: now as ever coming out of this thing because I'm 530 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 2: still here. 531 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 3: Well, there are two through lines that we talk about here. 532 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:19,240 Speaker 3: Is you have one of the most can do positive 533 00:29:19,280 --> 00:29:22,800 Speaker 3: outlooks in life of anyone I know. And two, you're 534 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 3: lucky and thank goodness it continued there. Absolutely we always 535 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 3: finish each episode of Math and Magic with a shout 536 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 3: out to the great biz folks from both skill sets, 537 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 3: the analytical, organized math type person and the charismatic, creative 538 00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 3: promotional the magic person who gets the shout outs for 539 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:43,760 Speaker 3: each from you. 540 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:51,760 Speaker 2: So the Math is my now COO Andrew Katz, who's 541 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,480 Speaker 2: been with me literally from day one. We're getting ready 542 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:57,320 Speaker 2: to touch on nineteen years together. He's always been my guy. 543 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 2: I'm like, Andrew, I know we can figure this out, 544 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 2: and he has to this day always found a way. 545 00:30:04,400 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 2: And then the great creative marketing person is John Zarling, 546 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 2: And ironically he was with me from the startup Big 547 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,520 Speaker 2: Machine as well, because as I was cleaning out my 548 00:30:13,640 --> 00:30:16,720 Speaker 2: office at Universal. He came into my office and he goes, 549 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 2: can I come with you? And even though I didn't 550 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,080 Speaker 2: physically do it, in my mind, I dropped to my 551 00:30:21,160 --> 00:30:24,120 Speaker 2: knees and thank God. It's like, if John will come 552 00:30:24,160 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 2: with me, this is the best gift I could get. 553 00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 2: And to this day, he and I are the ones 554 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:32,840 Speaker 2: who've always brainstormed and challenge each other for the biggest 555 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 2: promotions we've ever done, taking over the Statue of Liberty 556 00:30:36,080 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 2: with Florida, Georgia Lyne. You know, he's just he's my 557 00:30:39,720 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 2: big thinker and he always delivers for me. 558 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:46,960 Speaker 3: Scott, You've had a magical life. You've pushed a lot 559 00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 3: of boundaries, still pushing them, You've taken a lot of risks, 560 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 3: still taking them, and you have created so much. Thanks 561 00:30:53,720 --> 00:30:59,680 Speaker 3: for sharing those lessons with us. There are a few 562 00:30:59,680 --> 00:31:02,600 Speaker 3: things I picked up for my conversation with Scott. One 563 00:31:03,040 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 3: follow the energy. Scott has a true passion for the 564 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:09,680 Speaker 3: music industry. For a while, following that passion, touring with 565 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,440 Speaker 3: rock bands, but eventually he realized his greatest strength wasn't 566 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 3: playing guitar, it was how well he knew the business. 567 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:19,320 Speaker 3: It's important to know what interests you, but also to 568 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,480 Speaker 3: figure out where you excel. Let that momentum guide you 569 00:31:22,560 --> 00:31:26,600 Speaker 3: to success. Two. Pull all the leavers you have. As 570 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 3: an independent promoter, Scott says he had to learn how 571 00:31:29,560 --> 00:31:33,000 Speaker 3: to turn water into wine. When he joined a major company, 572 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 3: he realized not every tool was being used. Leverage every 573 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 3: opportunity at your disposal, whether you're selling a product, creating 574 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:44,880 Speaker 3: an experience, or marketing talent. When Scott took on responsibilities 575 00:31:44,880 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 3: that didn't interest his business partner, he gained new skills 576 00:31:48,680 --> 00:31:51,880 Speaker 3: that he later used to start his own company. Three. 577 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 3: Be competitive. Whether it's on the racetrack or the billboard charts. 578 00:31:56,320 --> 00:32:00,640 Speaker 3: Scott doesn't shy away from competition. It energizes him. It's 579 00:32:00,680 --> 00:32:03,360 Speaker 3: not a bad thing to compare yourself to those around you. 580 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 3: It can be essential for gaining a leg off, and 581 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:09,240 Speaker 3: you may even realize you have what it takes to 582 00:32:09,400 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 3: lead innovative new company. I'm Bob Pittman. Thanks for listening. 583 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,400 Speaker 1: That's it for today's episode. Thanks so much for listening 584 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: to Math and Magic, a production of iHeart Podcasts. The 585 00:32:22,840 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 1: show is hosted by Bob Pittman. Special thanks to Sidney 586 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,960 Speaker 1: Rosenbluff for booking and wrangling our wonderful talent, which is 587 00:32:29,000 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 1: no small feat. Mathematics producers are Emily Meronov and Jessica Crimechitch. 588 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: It is mixed and mastered by Baheied Fraser. Our executive 589 00:32:37,440 --> 00:32:40,480 Speaker 1: producers are Nikki Etoor and Ali Perry, and of course, 590 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:44,280 Speaker 1: of big thanks to Gail Raoul, Eric Angel Noel and 591 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 1: everyone who helped bring this show to your ears. Until 592 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:47,920 Speaker 1: next time