Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Judy Stakee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Judy, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

First let me start off by saying that I believe songwriters are a national treasure; they write songs! I mean can you imagine a world without being able to play your favorite song when you are feeling low, to comfort you? I refuse to and believe my purpose is to protect and nurture songwriters so they can do what they do so beautifully.

I came up with the idea of my company out of necessity in 2005 when I saw the music business starting to crumble around me and the effect it was having on my songwriters.

Songwriters need a creative process, the time, space and tools, in order to create. The business, however, was desperately trying to save itself by raising the preverbal drawbridge up, slashing budgets and dropping writers without a second thought. It had taken front and center, becoming all about the bottom line moving further away from the art. It left little to no room for the developing writer who needs room to fall down, make mistakes and then learn how to get back up.

And that’s what I wanted to provide, actually to keep providing what I had for all my former writers; guidance on how to have a career in this crazy business.

Paint the picture for us so we really understand the context, circumstances, the emotions etc. Walk us through how you knew this was a worthwhile endeavor – talk to us about the logic of why you felt this would work?

The world started changing in 2005 when it was hit with a perfect financial storm; the invention of the internet connecting everyone and everything collided with the recession that was a result of 911 and with the extra expense of transferring every single piece of paper to digital in the whole company…. there was no more room, no more money, for development..a process every songwriter needs to go through in order to be, and stay, successful.

Now I have been called the champion, curator, protector, motivator and warrior of songs and songwriters throughout my career because I value them with such reverence but it was getting harder to fight the business when they only saw them as numbers. In other words, the music business was making it impossible for me to do my job. It wanted more reports, charts, and meetings that took me away from my writers and their growth.

So I plotted, planned and dreamed and though it took me five years to put a plan in place, in 2010 I left my SR VP Creative Exec. position at Warner Chappell Music, the publishing arm of the Warner Music Group where had I spent the majority of my professional life signing, developing and marketing songwriters. I knew in my heart I could not go work for anyone else and though some of the offers were flattering, I decided to walk away. I had worked for corporate America for over 30 years, going from home to college to a company. And though I had a lot of freedom, there was still always someone in charge of me. So, I longed to be my own boss.

Scared? Nervous? You bet! But I knew in my gut this was what I had been working towards all these years. To finally have my own company with my own ship and navigational system. I started The Judy Stakee Company based on my motto, “It All Starts With A Song” with the intention of guiding my clients to become great storytellers with their words and tap into their souls to find their melodies. To also provide a place that would support development with out the harsh judgement of the business and provide them with a foundation they can build a career and life on!

I knew my company would work because for over 30 years I had proof with my songwriters that when I would give them the information, inspiration or motivation they needed, they would grow exponentially from it. I knew that being a mirror for a writer was imperative. And, that’s what I am; a mirror, a coach, a teacher and it is my passion.

Were you solving a problem that no one else was solving, offering a unique approach ? What about this idea got you most excited?

Yes, I believe I was. Songwriters have a language all their own, just like a cook talks with words like cups and ounces. I speak songwriter and came up with a methodology; a language they could understand and a filter they could evaluate their careers thru to see what is working and what is not, hence self development. Knowing how to develop yourself, to be conscious of what you need in order to be successful, and don’t need, is a big key to success.

In the new paradigm, I liken the music business to the Star Ship Enterprise, up there in the sky collecting royalties, branding products, marketing records, promoting singles etc….everything you would expect from the business side. And by the way they are dong a great job of it. I think it’s because they are concentrating on what they do best and they have the tools to handle the administration of the artist’s career.

So if the business is the ship, then that leaves the rest of the universe for the industry, and that includes every songwriter and artist out there. You can be as little or huge as you want. The universe is infinite so there is only possibility ahead. But it’s up to you how much work you want to put into your life to get the most out of our life.

Gone are the days you could sign to a publisher and they would nurture you. Now you are expected to already have sync placements and many followers before they look at you. How do you do that on your own, without guidance?

And that’s where I come in, to be out in the universe without a map is very brave in my book. I believe it takes a village to raise a songwriter…. so that’s why I started my company, so I can coach, educate and inspire songwriters to write great songs and guide them to self development.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

How did you got into your industry / business ?

My mom always said I came out of the womb singing and dancing and I knew at an early age that music would be my life. After graduating from USC with a music/voice degree I had no idea how to further develop my career ….mainly because there was no ‘me’ guiding me in my life back then and no internet to help out! So I went to work in the music business landing smack dab in the publishing department. Looking back it was serendipitous. I was meant for this career.

I spent over 30 years working for 3 large music publishing companies, all tied to record companies; Arista Music (Arista Records), ScreenGems (Capitol-EMI) and Warner Chappell (Warner Music Group). I signed, developed, managed and marketed songwriters and songs for placements in order to generate royalties. I loved my job. I worked with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Katy Perry, Jewel, Michelle Branch, Julian Bunetta, Joy Williams, Scott Cutler, John Shanks, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Kevin Kadish and Jamie Houston just to name a few.

I got to listen to songs everyday of my life and get paid for it!

But in 2010 I left as I mentioned and started my own company guiding and mentoring songwriters.

What type of services do you provide?

I provide one on one consultations, song critiques and week long retreats. I also wrote a book “the Songwriters Survival Guide”, am on all social media platforms, gave a Ted Talk in 2017 and offer free facebook live sessions on Sundays. I provide ‘me’ in many ways.

Besides my musical education and background, I have over 35 years of experience in this industry. I am an exceptional mirror for my clients reflecting back to them the areas that need attention. Already an expert on creating communities in order to increase communication, allowing them to help themselves as well as each other, I have also had extensive training on building and leading workshops, creating a safe container and in guiding and mentoring skills.

What problems do you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others.

Wow, each writer is so different so the problems vary. It can be anything from someone not being able to be vulnerable in their story to not knowing how to achieve hooks in the melodies. For me that’s where my listening skills come into play. I believe I have the clairvoyance to really understand how to explain what is needed in order to fix the problem. In return, they really hear what I have to say making it easier for them to make the adjustments.

What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.

I am really proud to say that the majority of the songwriters I have been involved with over the years have sustainable careers because of the foundation they built. And, I am really really proud of my methodology that I created that provides the tools and language to fill-in the foundation.

I am also most proud of my motivating skills that move my clients to do the work they need to do and so very proud of my clients who really do the work. Always a plus when you get an A+ student. I can talk till I’m blue in the face and it won’t make a bit of difference until they put the intention in place and the grit into what they want. And when they do I’m like a proud mama!

When I was working with Sheryl Crow, it only took a year from when she got off the road with Michael Jackson to signing a deal with A&M, because she worked so hard. I would give her suggestions, critiques and homework and she would come back with it all done and then some. I said jump, she said how high. She really set the bar on what was possible when you give it your all.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My ears and my professionalism.

There’s a great chapter in the 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene all about reputation. In all the other 47 laws there is a reversal for the law discussed, except in the case of reputation. In a nutshell, reputation is everything, there is no reversal. Luckily I was prepared for that chapter since I was a little girl. One of my father’s favorite sayings was “You can fight with your sister all you want in this house, but when you go out the door, she is your best friend. You reputation will more likely proceed you than not. Cherish it.”

I was also great at matching songs with artists and I always did my homework before I sent any songs out. I heard many times over the compliment of what a great song I had sent. It may not always have made the cut, but if I sent a song to be considered it was met with excitement knowing that no matter if it was a perfect fit or not , it was a perfect song in its own right. My name got me in the door, the meeting, the consideration and the respect of my peers.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn reporting to a boss and learn how to be my own boss.

About 3 months after I left Warner Chappell and the music business, I received an invitation to consult another publishing company and was asked to submit a proposal. I sat in front of my computer for hours staring at a blank screen not knowing how to start. I knew how to write one from Warner Chappell’s perspective, heck I knew that one by heart, but I had never used “I” before. It was a learning curve relying solely on my thoughts and ideas. It felt strange to be tackling this alone when for so many years I had a team as large as I wanted at my disposal.

I knew I needed help. This was brand new territory for me so I hired a mentor and included in the business plans, I was guided to grieve for my career that had been. I knew I was creating something different than my past but I also knew it would never look the same and I had to let go. That was the hardest part, letting go of the only business home I had known for 30 years. Saying goodbye to all my writers and to the employees that had become my family, my friends was devastating. I gave myself space to cry, to get sick, to do nothing, to complain and get angry. Basically, I let it all out so I didn’t have to keep it in anymore.

I was then guided to ‘meet myself where I am’; to accept wherever that is and cherish it. That was how I would discover what I needed to do, what I wanted to do. And it worked.

It was a hard transition to say the least, lasted years and… worth every minute. I feel like I went through a huge wizard of oz moment in all areas of my life….from black and white to color. But that process enabled me to put a language to my methodology. which I have built my whole company on.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.judystakee.com
• Instagram: @judystakee
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