Juicy J’s late mother, Shirley Houston, played a part in his knowledge of the music business. At 13 years old, Juicy J, born Jordan Michael Houston III, was already learning how to make music by relying on the tunes from his grandfather’s piano, he explained on the “Springhill” podcast in conversation with Wiz Khalifa. “I used to always tell him, I used to be like, ‘But I got to be on the piano.’ He like, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I got to get ready.’ ‘Ready for what?’ I said, ‘Man I’m going to be rich, famous,” Juicy J explained. “ I always felt that I was going to be great in music.” The “Bandz a Make Her Dance” hitmaker had so much belief in his musical potential, he also made it his mission to to learn about the business side as well. He asked his late mother, who was a librarian, to check out some books that would expand his knowledge. “My mom saved my life. Rest in peace,” he said. “She saved my life, because when I was 13 she worked as a librarian, and I told her I want to know...

June marks Black Music Month, and The Roots kickstarted the celebration with quite a bang. On June 3 and June 4, 2023 , the legendary hip-hop group held its annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, PA. The festival featured special moments such as Ms. Lauryn Hill celebrating the 25th anniversary of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” the Fugees reuniting, and fellow headliner Usher bringing out some of Philly’s biggest stars, Jazmine Sullivan and Eve. Photo Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban

Sometimes it’s about working smarter, not harder — especially when it comes to the music business. Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan adopted a money-making mindset early in his career that has proven to be a recipe for success.

Without the influence of those before them who laid the groundwork, this generation’s artists wouldn’t be where they are today. Ronnie DeVoe, a member of New Edition, and Shamari DeVoe, one-third of Blaque, know all about putting the work in. The two music veterans have both respectively stamped their footprint in the music business. As proof of their long-lasting impact, earlier this year, Ronnie was on the road with New Edition — who have been in the game for over four legendary decades — for The Culture Tour. The shows were led by the Black Promoters Collective, which recently secured a $60 million quarter, Billboard reports. For Shamari, she continues to tour for Blaque — who topped the charts in the 90s and 2000s — and the group has an upcoming performance at Groove Fest IV with fellow R&B greats Keith Sweat, Ginuwine, Blackstreet, and Dave Hollister. Additionally, she appeared on BET’s “The Encore” in 2021.

When it comes to show business families, few — if any — have had the impact of the Gordy family. Under the tutelage of Berry Gordy, Motown Records produced some of the biggest hits of the Golden Age of Music. From a former boxer to creating “The Sound of America” — according to The Motown Museum — Berry Gordy has certainly created a lasting empire. According to Celebrity Net Worth, in fact, Berry Gordy’s net worth even after he sold Motown Records in 1988 is a gob-smacking $400 million. And the Gordy family continues to be relevant in both music and business. Whether it’s by blood or by marriage, chances are that you’re currently enjoying music, movies, television shows, and more from this show business legacy family. Believe it or not, too, there are some members of the Gordy family that are nowhere near the entertainment industry. Did you know that one of the most prominent Gordys went into politics — going so far as to become one of America’s presidents? In short, members of this...

LVRN has a new vice president, general manager, and partner — and she’s a Black woman! Billboard reports that Amber Grimes has joined the label — which is home to Summer Walker, 6LACK, and others — in the dual role. As part of her duties, the veteran of Capitol Records will oversee day-to-day operations across all of the company’s operating divisions, develop new strategies and marketing initiatives across the label’s full roster of artists. “Amber has become one of the most well-respected executives in the industry through her early work with artists in Atlanta, major labels, and streaming,” said LVRN President Tunde Balogun in a press release statement. “In her amazing career, she has amassed a high level of management and creative marketing expertise all of which will be of huge value to us as we continue to expand our business around the world.” In addition to her work at Capitol Records, Grimes served in artist and label marketing at Spotify. She said it was important to join a...

Rapper IDK — whose moniker is short for “Ignorantly Delivering Knowledge” — has experienced a major transformation in his music journey of going from being incarcerated to signing with a major record label. His struggle to find his life’s purpose has led him to being a successful artist/producer. Now, he wants to ensure other rising artists don’t have to go through similar circumstances to follow their dreams. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, the 28-year-old Maryland rapper announced the launch of No Label Academy — a 10-day music business crash course at Harvard University curated for aspiring industry leaders with no prior experience or exposure. “The idea started when I realized how my situation had a lot to do with the odds being against me,” IDK told Rolling Stone. “I, being a felon and having minimal education in terms of certifications, was still finding a way to create a career that’s not only lucrative, but in line with what I actually wanted to do in life.”...