Abrien Nelson
Mark Snyder
Music Entrepreneurship
March 7, 2019
Artist Case Study
- What makes you and your work unique?
Will Smith is a Grammy Award-winning rapper, actor, father and husband. whose success in Hollywood spans more than 20 years. But unlike many people who credit their career achievements to their unique talent, Smith says he credits his success to his willingness to work harder than anyone around him.
- Do you have a brand or artist statement?
“I had so much success that I started to taste global blood and my focus shifted from my artistry to winning. I wanted to win and be the biggest movie star,” he said. “I found myself promoting something because I wanted to win versus promoting something because I believed in it.”
- Do you have a mission or vision?
Companies can spend a day or a month or months on this. Having a clear mission’s statement is critical. The important thing is remembering the mission’s statement is not so much to help you but to figure out how you can help others. Start by asking, “Why does X company even exist?” You’ll soon find out whether you’re building this company for yourself-or for others.
- Do you have career goals laid out for the next 5-10 years?
No, he’s Will Smith.
- What do you do and what are you doing?
Currently staring as Genie in Disney’s Aladdin.
- How are you connecting and building audiences and how do you market to them?
Now, connecting with that relatable human emotion involves donning a wig and standing in the crowd at Coachella with his children, he says. He has to feel that emotion in order to understand what product he can create that consumers will want, he says.
- What opportunities are you on the lookout for?
Through extensive research this was made unclear.
- Did you look at someone else’s career to make a path for your own and if so, what was it?
No Will Smith started his career as a rapper and slowly transitioned to acting starting with TV then Film.
- How do you fund your work?
He formed an alliance with schoolmate and deejay Jeffrey Townes in 1981. They began recording as DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and released their first single, “Girls Ain’t Nothing but Trouble,” in 1986. Later in 1988 the duo released the groundbreaking single “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” which went on to win the first Grammy ever presented in the rap performance category.
- How did you initially get funding?
Will Smith used from one avenue of his career to boost other facets of his career.
- What networks or organizations do you belong to and which ones have helped you the most?
With his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, founded the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation to benefit inner-city community development, youth educational projects and under-privileged children and their families. They hosted the Nelson Mandela AIDS benefit concert in George, South Africa. They also dedicated time and money to helping suffering families and children in South Africa. Smith took part in the America: A Tribute to Heroes charity telethon for victims of 9/11.
