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Berry Gordy became a music force thanks to an investment from his family. Before Becoming A Record Executive Before becoming a famed record executive, he pursued various other ventures, partly driven by his father’s influence as an entrepreneur. The Telegraph reports that Gordy’s father owned several businesses, involving his family in several endeavors, including a plastering and carpentry business, a general store, and a printing shop. As for Gordy, he would explore becoming an amateur boxer, which prompted his exit from high school to turn professional. However, this venture reached a dead end, per The Telegraph. He then switched gears and served in the U.S. Army in Korea but was discharged. Gordy managed to finance a record store with his earnings, but it would shut down after two years. His next move was working at a nearby Ford Motor Co. plant, earning $85 per week, according to the Orlando Sentinel. During this time, he also nurtured his love for songwriting. “I wanted to...
Stevie Wonder needs no introduction. With a career that spans more than six decades, countless hits and awards to his name, no one questions whether the gifted music artist has earned his flowers. His musical genius has touched pop, R&B, progressive soul, jazz and gospel music. He is not only a master of performance, he is also a prolific songwriter and producer. Award winning albums like “Songs in the Key of Life”, “Innervisions”, and “Fulfillingness’ First Finale” have solidified him as an icon in the industry. He even performed at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, further enshrining him as a pop cultural superstar around the world. With all of his accolades, you might wonder exactly how much Stevie Wonder is worth in 2023. Stevie Wonder’s Early Life Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Morris in 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. Because he was born six weeks premature and was kept in an oxygen-rich incubator, he suffered from retinopathy of prematurity. This means that his eyes failed to...
“The Weekend” hasn’t been the same since 2017. That was the year SZA told the girls she had “it covered for the weekend.” For those not already familiar with her art, “The Weekend” was one of the hit singles off of her debut album “Ctrl” that catapulted SZA and her music into the mainstream. Born Solána Imani Rowe, SZA is a New Jersey native who’s been professionally releasing music since around 2012, with EPs and a list of singles. Since starting her music career, SZA has enjoyed success in the industry, breaking free from the narrative that “ R&B is dead.” Her career has landed her 39 songs on the Billboard charts, seven of which were ranked Top 10 hits, per Billboard. Most recently, her song “Kill Bill” became her first-ever song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list. In a Twitter post, she noted how much the moment meant to her. “took me a over week to process cause I dreamt of this my entire career.. didn’t feel real lol, still doesn’t,” she shared. “but I wanna say...
For over three decades, Diddy has built a legacy in the music industry. Staying true to his “Can’t stop, won’t stop” motto, the mogul hasn’t let up on both releasing music and discovering new talent. As previously reported by AfroTech, he announced the latest level of his evolution with Love Records — his new R&B label that has partnered with Motown Records.
Despite their many differences and approaches, one perspective many athletes share is that to change the game; you have to be in it. As we’ve seen repeatedly, a positive shift in any game does not always come from one person. It takes a combination of skill and investment to move from just getting by to finding success. And while Google doesn’t navigate on courts or fields, the organization is intentionally positioning itself as a game-changing catalyst for Black entrepreneurs. In 2020, the tech giant made a series of commitments to help ease access to funding for Black founders and funders. The Google for Startups Black Founders Fund has since expanded globally, and AfroTech had the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with Jewel Burks Solomon, Head of Google for Startups U.S., and Jeremiah Gordon, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for CapitalG, about the future of the Black Founders Fund and its intended impact.
Mase has been outspoken for a long time on the alleged harm Diddy has caused to Bad Boy Records’ artists. "Thank you Puff, you know he paid for that right? I got you n****, I heard you loud and clear." – Mase Clearly Mase and Diddy still not on good terms 😂 pic.twitter.com/nFzvod4CUd — NigelDPresents (@NigelDPresents) May 15, 2022 Now, it appears that the rapper himself may not be in the clear when it comes to his track record as a businessman.
Toni Braxton has been taking people on a musical journey for decades. Her sultry sound laced on tracks like “Un-Break My Heart,” to “Breathe Again,” to even her upbeat hit “You’re Making Me High” — the Grammy-award-winning artist has been a constant staple in R&B music. Braxton has expanded her brand and career to include reality television with her sisters on Braxton Family Values. While she has never veered too far away from the space in music that cemented her legacy in the industry, she is open to stepping outside the box to expand her influence. By leveraging her extensive music career and the inclusion of her likeness through reality television, the “Love Should Have Brought You Home Last Night” singer recently partnered with Accelerate360. As reported by AfroTech, the collaboration is set to propel the expansion of TMB Beauty’s brainchildren, including vegan skincare line Nude Sugar, debut fragrance BREATHE, and onboarding beauty lines. It makes sense that Braxton is a...
In a recent interview with AfroTech, Bobby Brown — once known as the “bad boy of R&B” — expressed his desire to leave a specific legacy for his children. “I hope that people learn to understand that you will go through ups and downs in life, but it’s just about how you deal with them,” he said to AfroTech exclusively. “I want people to really pay attention to the fact that I am still standing, I am still touring. I am still doing everything that I have done in the past as far as entertainment is concerned. I’m moving on and pushing on as hard as I possibly can.” He also revealed that he had a new business venture: an eponymous barbecue sauce, which he co-founded with his wife, Alicia. “We’re so fortunate that he is multitalented on the stage as well as in our kitchen,” she said. “Bobby is definitely a favorite of ours for being the chef whenever we have any kind of major events, family gatherings, anything you can think of — everybody wants Bobby Brown to cook. So, I thought that we...
Nick Cannon has come a long way from being a child star. The actor-turned-rapper-turned-mogul — who got his start on the hit Nickelodeon show “All That” (a show which also first graced us with the talents of Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson) — has certainly made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Recently, AfroTech reported that he opened up a Wild N’Out-themed sports bar in San Diego, CA. He also recently wiped out the student debts of HBCU students , completed Nipsey Hussle’s Dr. Sebi documentary, and even went back to school to earn his degree after he became famous. But, as he recently told AfroTech, it’s all just a part of a hard day’s work. “When I was in high school, I was looking up to guys like Diddy who could diversify and market himself. We see what he’s done and the opportunities he’s created and made for so many of us. Every time I looked up, as much as I knew I wanted to entertain, I was always wanting to be a guy that was kinda moving the pieces behind...
Jim Jones is a rap veteran who’s continued to drop new music, but also still has his eye on more ways to build his stature when off the mic. AfroTech previously shared a story about his digital coin, Capo Coin, which was minted in partnership with blockchain platform Zaptheory in 2021. As the recent crypto supporter has tapped into how the space is helping people create wealth, he’s now created what he believes is a “$1 billion idea” that could disrupt the music industry. According to CNBC, Jones has announced his new software company, Quarantine Studios — a metaverse music-recording platform — along with his business partner Jarman Hauser.
When it comes to legendary singer-songwriters, few have had the impact of Smokey Robinson. Born William Robinson Jr. in Detroit, Smokey started playing music in 1955, when he formed a band called The Five Chimes. After a few lineup changes — including the addition of Claudette Rogers (who would later become Smokey’s wife) — The Five Chimes eventually became known as The Miracles. Their harmonious performances eventually caught the attention of one Berry Gordy, who was just starting a label of his own that would, eventually, be called Motown Records. And from that day forward, nothing was the same. From the recording of such classic tracks as “Ooo Baby Baby” and “Tears of a Clown,” to eventually becoming the Motown vice president, Smokey Robinson is nothing short of a living, breathing part of Black musical history. His unique talent has earned him a net worth (per Celebrity Net Worth) of $150 million, and he continues to be influential on a whole new generation of...
Google has announced the launch of a new fund with a goal to drive $1 billion in aggregate wage gains for American job workers. In a press release announcement, it was revealed that the fund, which is known as the Google Career Certificates Fund, has a $100 million war chest. “We are excited to support Social Finance to help expand economic opportunity for more Americans with our new $100 million Google Career Certificates Fund,” said Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google, and Alphabet, in the press release announcement . “This innovative funding model brings together digital skills training and support services to connect more Americans to high-growth, high-paying jobs. We hope it will be transformative for people, their families, and their communities.” MDRC, an independent third-party, will provide the “checks and balances” to ensure that Google does what they claim it will do with this new initiative. MDRC, originally founded in 1974 as the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation,...
Ethiopia Habtemariam has elevated to new heights at Motown! In an announcement today (March 1), Universal Music Group named Habtemariam chairman & CEO of Motown. Since 2014, she has served as the label’s president and will now report directly to UMG Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge. Under Habtemariam’s leadership, Motown remains committed to its traditions of artist development and partnerships with creative and entrepreneurial entities which include Atlanta-based Quality Control Music (QC). The partnership with QC has created hits from Migos, Lil Yachty, City Girls, and more and the label is well on its way to becoming one of the leading hip-hop and R&B music and entertainment companies. “Motown is such an important voice, and just as when it was founded by Berry Gordy, its impact continues to be felt around the world,” said Grainge in a statement. “Motown’s resurgence and powerful partnership under Ethiopia’s leadership has advanced the label’s legacy as home to some of today’s...