Clive Davis Part 2: Reviving Careers, Industry Power, and Leaving a Legacy

In part two, you'll hear Clive Davis reflect on strategic decisions made when running a record label and career revivals he helped shape that defined another chapter of his run. He discusses the balance of control and economics in label joint ventures, why hitmakers are not always great talent scouts, and how LaFace became a powerful force through artists like Toni Braxton, TLC, and Pink. Davis also shares how he revived the careers of timeless artists, including Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, Santana, and Luther Vandross. It’s a conversation about instinct, patience, and the discipline it takes to build lasting success in the music business. CHAPTERS 02:51 LaFace, Label Deals, and Joint Ventures 09:42 TLC, Toni Braxton, and P!nk 12:37 The Cost of Breaking Artists 17:05 Aretha, Rod Stewart, and Santana 21:14 Catalog vs. Career Revival 25:30 Follow-up Call SPONSORS Chartmetric: Listen in for our Stat of the Week Symphonic: Distribute your music to one of the largest networks in the industry. Symphonic delivers your music to over 200 digital service providers ensuring that you’re monetizing every stream and use of your music on Spotify, TikTok, YouTube, and more TRAPITAL Where technology shapes culture. New episodes and memos every week. Sign up here for free.