Mar 18, 2022
In this episode, Forbes Senior Editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg discusses music, media, and money. Listen for insights into building a career around what you love, as well as how to spot your ‘big break’.
What did Jay-Z say to Zack Greenburg, about Empire State of Mind, the book Zack wrote about his life?
What was the response to another of Zack's books- The A-List Angels, how a band of Actors, Artists, and Athletes hacked Silicone Valley? Or Michael Jackson's family after Zack covered the surprising rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story of how the King of Pop grew a billion-dollar business? Let's not stop there, the 3 Kings: Diddy, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z, and his book on Hip-Hop's Multibillion-Dollar Rise
If you are fascinated by the intersection between music, media and money, there is one person to stand beside. Zack O'Malley Greenburg. His career began trying to avoid becoming a writer after witnessing the financial and emotional ups and downs his writer-parents experienced. But he was always drawn to it, and he was gifted. What began with the school paper became a decade as Forbes senior editor, and today Zack is not only a best-selling author; he is in control of his content at Substack.
Zack describes how he landed his first job at Forbes and his big break when an editor asked him to help put together a list of the top-earning rappers of all time. Zack launched the Cash Kings List – an annual ranking of hip hop's top earners and the artists who would try to talk their way up the list – as well as the ones who wanted to be left off – and the prestige that came to those who made it to the top.
It is a fascinating episode that offers valuable lessons in career building, finding a lane, and creating captivating content. We also hear some great stories about celebrities, and they no longer sing for their supper; they own it all.
And to top off the episode Nicole
Kelly, Director of Platform Engagement, RBC X and one of the
smartest people I have talked to about scaling companies, joins the
show to talk about their mission to propel Canada's innovation
agenda forward. As she says,
“if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go
together.
To find Zack's work on Substack. zogblog.com
RBCX Music -https://www.rbc.com/dms/enterprise/music/all14-all-or.html