We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Judy Stakee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Judy, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
For 30 years, I worked in the traditional music business for 3 major publishing companies, Arista Music/BMG, Screen Gems Music/Capitol-EMI and 20 of those years at Warner Chappell Music/WB Music Group. Throughout, I had great teams and resources in order to do my job; sign and nurture young songwriters into successful songwriters.
Life was bliss and then our world went through turmoil. In the early 2000’s we were faced with the events of 9/11 and the recession that followed, the internet which all of a sudden connected everything and the financial drain on every company, business and institution. In a blink of an eye the world transitioned from paper to digital.
In 2009 I knew it was time and left Warner Chappell Music to start my own company. I didn’t know exactly what that looked like yet but I did know I could finally do whatever I wanted and not have to get it approved. This new mindset was mostly liberating and a little scary at the same time.
I first learned that my vision is my rudder guiding me in making decisions that don’t take me off course. It never changes whereas how you get somewhere, your mission, may change.
My VISION is to illuminate the consciousness of humanity by protecting, nurturing and inspiring the creative process.
My MISSION is to empower artists to find their voice and language by challenging them to evolve .thus co-creating a community that fosters integrity, wisdom and extraordinary moments.
My vision is to make sure songwriters have a creative process which is the time, space and tools that you put in place that will have a direct effect on your output, quantity and quality, This is where you beginMy mission, plain and simple, the way you get better is to be challenged.
And that’s what I do and what I’m good at. I challenge my community of songwriters to go beyond their limited set of beliefs and push the envelope. If you want to be a better swimmer then you re going to have to add 4 laps every day to your practice if you want to go the distance. Same thing with songwriting. You have to show up and do the work and the work is to challenge yourself. That’s the how you get better.
Judy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
In 1979, a year after I graduated from college, USC, I got into the music business.
I set out to be a performer but was sidetracked after college when paying rent become a necessity. So I crossed over to the executive side and became a music publisher, the curator of the song and songwriter.
My job was to discover, develop, mentor and market songwriters and their songs. During the day I was listening to endless solicited tapes to find my next signing and at night going to clubs scouting for talent.
I worked with songwriters who wrote for other artists to cut their songs, John Shanks, Julian Bunetta, Kevin Kadish and with songwriters who were the artists themselves, Sheryl Crow, Katy Perry and Joy Williams.
Development looked like spending time with my writers to help them discover their voice and language that would make them unique. I would ask a lot of questions, give a lot of homework and make space for them to experience themselves.
Then when they were ready I would go and get their songs cut and released or help the artist/writer get a record deal to release their own material.
I worked for the traditional music business for over 30 years and then In 2009 I left to run my own artist development company. I now spend my time consulting songwriters, critiquing songs, producing songwriter camps and writing books.
My method is to challenge the songwriter to be able to see a subject from more than one perspective, in order to be able to tell their story as well as multiple stories. And I challenge them to explore their vulnerability. That is where all the good heart-lines come from!
I joke when I say instead of having children, I had songwriters but then again I was called the Champion of Songwriters. I do believe that all that maternal instinct had to go somewhere and so as any good parent would do, I listened, guided, taught and led by example making sure they laid strong foundations for their creative process to write songs and build careers. I raised them to leave me.
Over my career I have listened to songs from all walks of life and have an amazing knowledge of what makes a song work and the vocabulary to express it.
When I was Sr. Vp Creative at Warner Chappell Music we would have weekly staff meetings with the entire creative team, about a dozen of us, who every week would bring in 2-3 new music projects to share with everyone. That’s about 25 songs and that was just in the LA office.In other words, I have listened to a lot of songs giving me a wide perspective on what works and what doesn’t.
So I now get to work out of my house doing what I love in the hours I choose with my dog at my feet. What could be better than that?
I am one grateful human being. I found my passion early, heeded the signs and followed my career. And I am most proud to have brought joy to millions of people with the songs and artists I have helped along the way.
Driving home the other day I was listening to a Dolly Parton playlist and a song called “Don’t Call It Love” came on and immediately took me back to my first trip to Nashville in 1984. Before I left I had a meeting with Dean Pitchford who co-wrote the song with Tom Snow. He told me his Xmas wish was for Dolly Parton to cut the song . So I tracked down her producer, David Malloy, and set up a meeting while I was I was going to be in Nashville.
The pride I still feel about getting that cut for Dean and Tom, making their dream come true, is still palpable
I am lucky, my passion has kept me going all these years. Giving a songwriter what they need in order to become a great songwriter I do selfishly, for the songs that are not written yet.It is said that music is our 5th element and that if it were gone tomorrow we would not die. Not so with earth, air, fire and water.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
And he says ‘Reputation is the one law that has no reversal, no exceptions’
Being very aware of this law and conscious of how important a reputation was from a young age part of my foundation. My father drilled it into all 4 of us kids. So I was always very aware of how I showed up knowing my name was what was at stake. And this was even before social media, and camera in phones! “Your name is everything” was a mantra in our house.Secondly, what helped build my reputation besides my name were my ears!
When I was a music publisher, I was called a song plugger, no matter my title, because I developed songwriters and then plugged their songs into projects. And in my line of work you are best known for the last song you send. I had an excellent track record of giving the project exactly what they needed and at the same time for thinking outside of the box.There were so many things to consider. when matching songs with artists; Could they sing it? Would they relate to the lyrics? Was it in their style? Was it unique?
With my ears, I also identified talent to develop into artists. Sometimes it would be because I heard one song or saw a performance, but more often than not it would be immediate. I would fall madly in love with their voice and songs. It was like I could see through to their souls and know exactly how to guide them to their careers.
I was instrumental in developing Sheryl Crow, signing her to a publishing deal in 1991 with Warner Chappell Music. She was my first. I had never developed an artist before. So, in 1994 after she won 5 out of the 8 Grammy’s she was nominated for, doors opened for me that I didn’t even know were there before because of my reputation. It proceeded me.
Once I started succeeding with placing more songs and developing artists, my name took on a whole new meaning.
And now, it’s about preserving it.
Have you ever had to pivot?
What was I thinking? I had never run a business before, only been an employee.
I grew up in my parents house, went to college, got a job with an entertainment attorney for 1 year, Arista Music Publishing for 7 years, Screen Gems Music (Capitol/EMI Group) for 3 years and Warner Chappell Music for 20 years.
I was always under someone else’s rule. It was my parent’s house, rules and money. College was an institution that I went to every day and in all my jobs I answered to a boss and was always dealing with the politics in the office and the industry. It can be exhausting.
So in 2009 when my contract was up at Warner Chappell Music, I left to start my own company, not having a clue what that would look like. I had no idea what I was actually going to do.
What I did know was that I didn’t want to work for anyone else, just myself, I didn’t want to start a publishing company but I did want to work with songwriters. And I wanted to work at home with my dogs by my feet!
And this is where the Universe surprised me. I showed up everyday in my office and just began talking to people, making lists and plans and imagining what was possible. What I didn’t know, I learned. I just kept asking questions and pretty soon my company was formed.
I live in gratitude for the pivot. Don’t get me wrong, it was difficult and sometimes seemed even impossible. I grieved for years after I left my industry, my company, my co-workers, my clients, my network and so on. It had been my home for my entire adult life but I knew I had to leave in order to grow. I knew in my heart I was on the right path.
Now, I get to focus 100% of my time on the development part of the process guiding songwriters to become great storytellers, lyrically and musically.
I am in my element. What could be better than that?
And, I get to do it my way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.judystakee.com
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