On this edition of My Friends Are Better Than Yours, BIG CED sits down with Chauncey Bell (Chauncey’s Way), a music industry veteran with 30+ years of experience. He currently works with FUBU co-founder Daymond John on his personal brand and business strategy. The discussion covers street-team hustle, whether today’s artists have it easier, why you should never be a “dinosaur” with AI, and how to build wealth and health for the long haul.
Key topics discussed:
- Chauncey’s origin story: A Chicago native who got his start as a college intern at Jive Records in 1989, ran street teams for Uptown, Tommy Boy, Rap-A-Lot, and Death Row, and rose to regional rep at Interscope
- Label career highlights: Interscope, MCA, Asylum and Epic, and work with artists including KC & JoJo, Robin Thicke, 50 Cent, Future and Travis Scott. Also management at Primary Wave.
- Wild industry stories: His first day delivering a CD to a Chicago studio, road trips through the Midwest, and the KC & JoJo airport story
- The Death Row touring fact: The label became one of the biggest in the world without ever really touring
- Would legacy labels survive today? Why Death Row, Uptown, and Rap-A-Lot would thrive with social media, since they built regional communities first
- Artist development: Why it mattered, and why local radio and live shows still build community
- The pivot: Rebuilding after a hard decade and beating imposter syndrome. Why music industry skills translate to corporate America, tech and film.
- Working with Daymond John: How a Perfect Pets idea led to a job offer, and the funny, authentic dynamic behind their social media videos
- Longevity and consistency: Being loyal, adaptable, and yourself in every room
- Ask the uncomfortable questions: Advice for young people to learn from the people who came before them, and for “old heads” to get out of their own way
- Then vs. now: Is it easier to launch music today? Community, algorithms, and the loss of local venues
- AI as a tool: Using it for summaries and clip creation, and why refusing to adapt makes you a dinosaur
- Financial intelligence: Index funds, ETFs, investing small amounts, life insurance and real estate (opinions only, not financial advice)
- Longevity and health: Walking, cold plunge, red light therapy, and quitting drinking
- Access as currency, and why “health is the greatest wealth”
- Travel tips: Booking early with refundable fares and exploring the U.S., plus a golf trip to Alabama
Chauncey’s Way: 30 Years in Music, Pivoting & Building Generational Wealth– My Friends Are Better Than Yours
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