Talent - "I did really well as a songwriter and producer, but definitely not as a performer. I always knew I was a lousy performer. I thought that I had good taste in music, and that I picked talent well.
" Best advice - Hughes High School music teacher Terry Brown "told me, 'Slow down, man, play it smoother. You're playing it too hard. Just slow down and feel the groove.
Play it like you're making love.' He helped me to understand the flow of music." Son Aaron's "My Super Sweet 16" party on MTV - "I was the guy that said, 'No, hell no.
There's no way we're doing this.' And I fought it and fought it, to the point where I realized I was going to make an enemy for life if I didn't let him do the show. .
.. He's studying to be an actor.
So for him, it was not necessarily about the party. It was about getting on television and starting his career." Job description - "I really spend most of my time coaching people, just to help them make the greatest music they can, and coaching executives to spread the music around the world.
That's what I live for." Executive style - "I like to be in the background. My style is to make sure my stars feel like stars.
...
As a manager, I'm a taskmaster. I'm a bit of a nudge. I absolutely kick and push people and give them tasks they believe are impossible, but when they accomplish them, they feel great about themselves.
My whole style is about motivation." Harvard man - "I'm honored that I was accepted into the business school. It was a very difficult thing for me, because I didn't come from a background of education.
I came from a background of arts. But it was a necessary tool that has served me really well." Scouting for Cincinnati talent - "Nothing would make me happier than to put my arms around a band or an artist from Cincinnati, in any genre.
It could be country, anything. I'm open to it." Talent spotter - "I look for the excitement factor.
I want to get excited and if I'm right, the public will get excited." Taking risks - "Every day there is risk involved. When I decide to sign an artist, it's a huge risk because it's a huge amount of money involved.
I like to think that I'm batting well, but you just really never know." Collaborating with "Babyface" on a new album - "I never stopped collaborating with Babyface. (The album) is covers of eight songs that we grew up on and a couple of original songs that he wrote.
It's a very pleasant album. You should listen to it on a Sunday afternoon." Can't cut ties - "When I get involved with an artist, I stay involved with them regardless of which label they may work for.
I'm exclusive to Universal Music Group ...
but I'm still close to OutKast, who just left my office, Usher, Pink, Avril Lavigne, Dido, Carlos Santana, Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. None of these artists is signed to my label, but they're all my friends." Most important person - "My mother was the most encouraging person in the world to me.
She always believed in me, and that was very helpful.
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