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“I look at investing very similar to how I would look at curating a mixtape or how a label A&R person would look at putting together their label roster or helping piece together an album. I think you never know what the finished product will be, but you know how it will start.”
— Mick Batyske
Mick Batyske, DJ, Investor, Advisor, and Speaker at MICK, joins Suzy Founder and CEO Matt Britton on the latest episode of The Speed of Culture podcast in collaboration with Adweek. They discuss how Mick creates a meaningful network through music and DJing, current and future music trends, and what investing and music have in common.
Inc Magazine referred to Mick as a combination of Gary Vee and Questlove. Complex Music has called him the most entrepreneurial deejay. But Mick is first a father and network builder who has built an impressive and creative career.
Some of his DJ clients have included Andreessen Horowitz, Cartier, GQ, Instagram, LeBron, Michelle Obama, Twitter, and Will Smith. Mick is also an investor, and his portfolio contains startups like Freestyle, Backdrop, Buzzer, Dot Dot Dash, and Winc.
- Propelling Your Career Through Music and DJing - For Mick, DJing is more than a job or hobby but a passion that has allowed him to connect with high-profile people and top brands and build meaningful relationships. Throughout his career, Mick has been focusing on building a network of great people to whom he attributes his success.
- D is for DJ - Mick wrote the D is for DJ book to teach children the fundamentals, history, and culture of hip-hop by presenting famous rappers, legendary DJs, and much more. The book is basically an alternative learning option for your child's ABCs mixed with a dose of DJ Culture.
- The Evolution of Music - Though it's still new and confusing, NFTs are shaping the music industry. Mick believes we will experience significant changes in the music space in the next five years. TikTok is another tool that impacts the industry as people discover music from shorts and reels, create short-form musical content, and many old songs regain popularity by appealing to new generations of listeners.
- Being an Investor - Mick treats investing the same way he curates a mixtape. For him, investing is about finding great people doing unique things and identifying their promises very early. Mick believes that people often neglect the fact that they invest in a person rather than an idea. And even if he doesn't invest, Mick could still offer value by being on a board or advising.
