Clive Davis brings the music industry to HLS
October 2, 2007
Clive Davis '56
Clive Davis ’56, chairman and CEO of BMG North America, spoke to a standing room only audience in Austin North on Friday evening, September 28 about his life and the future of the music industry. Davis tackled several controversial issues in his extensive question and answer period, ranging from the role of producers in the careers of musicians to the impact of digital technology on the music industry.
“The toughest thing that we’ve had to combat is the idea that music is free and that it does not have to be paid for,” said Davis about copyright infringement. “The…proposition that music is free is terribly detrimental to the cultural and creative health of our country.”
Davis is perhaps most well-known for his ability to choose the perfect material for his artists, as he notably did for Whitney Houston. To show off his “golden ear,” Davis played several versions of the same song, each version recorded by a different artist. After a clip was played of each song, Davis explained why the versions that weren’t released didn’t quite work.
Davis is credited with revolutionizing the music industry by not being afraid to take risks in signing new and innovative artists. He famously became inspired by the Monterey International Music Festival in 1967 and signed artists who were visionaries of the time, including Janis Joplin; the Grateful Dead; Blood, Sweat, and Tears; Earth, Wind, and Fire; and Aerosmith, among others. More recently, Davis is known for discovering urban and hip-hop artists such as Alicia Keys and Sean Combs.
Click here to view a webcast of Davis’s visit to HLS.