After being with Motown/DEF Jam for seven years, you started your own record label. How did that decision come about?
Seven years with Def Jam and one year with Motown was an incredible and exciting ride. From traveling around with my agency ICM and just singing it was really fun. But I needed to spread my wings into other areas like book writing, blogging/vlogging or just writing when I want to, putting out music when I want to, and not feeling like I have deadlines all the time.
Also I wanted to accept payment on my own behalf—if you sell 100,000 CD’s and each CD is $6.00, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t have $600,00 in the bank? So, I just wanted to understand the business. If sales are declining, but I still sold 400,000 records, why don’t I have over $2 million in my bank account? So, I was confused and wanted to get to know where that money goes. I have to say, now that I know, I kind of miss Motown.
So let’s talk about the sacrifices that come with running your own record label.
Hiring your own staff was a challenge. The scariest part for me was hiring new assistants. My assistants were inundated with administrative task. Everyone thinks you just put out music. But there’s a lot that goes into putting out music. There’s a lot of codes, number crunching, licensing etc.
During your video–Journey to Better, you talked about taking time off to learn the business–from learning what the sound guy does to the marketing person to the business side of music. Tell us what you learned from that experience.
I’m an information junky. People are thirsty to learn. Part of being lucrative is the ability to share information. If you can master giving people what they want to learn, that’s an extra check. I like to learn and give what I learn because I come from a family teacher. When I learn something new, it’s my pleasure to share with people.
You interact heavily with your fans on social media. How do you handle criticism?
I’m pretty bad with handling criticism. I’m too sensitive and easily offended and that isn’t a good thing.
How do you stay so grounded?
I take a lot of deep breaths. I’m in constant state of meditation. One of the best things I learned to do was meditate and pray.
What is your biggest fear? Making decisions. Especially because I’m a “celebrity.â€
What’s next for you? I’m on tour with Anthony Hamilton. And I am working on music with Tyrese. The next album will be straight up R&B so Tyrese will have a lot to do with it.