Posted on 05/08/2016 4:06:55 AM PDT by Cecily
The greatness of the Rolling Stones—that stunning library of guitar licks and lyrics, the decades of tabloid feuds and imbroglios, the packed stadiums—obscures a more interesting fact: For the past 50-plus years, this band, formed in a London pub in 1962, has been among the most dynamic, profitable and durable corporations in the world. In the course of my lifelong study of the world’s greatest rock band, I’ve come away with five lessons—strategies that any CEO or entrepreneur should keep in mind while playing the long game.
Choose the right name. The band was originally called Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. It was Brian Jones, the band’s lead guitarist and first public face, who, on the eve of their first real gig, gave the band the name we know. His eyes fell on the cover of one of his favorite records, “The Best of Muddy Waters,” side one, track five, “Rollin’ Stone.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
I still don’t know the lyrics to a lot of my favorite Stones tunes but I don’t even care because they sound so good.
IIRC, Mick Jagger was a student/grad of London School of Economics
The only concern I have of the Rolling Stones is that Keith Richards popularity may give way to a push for equal rights for zombies.
Keith Richards..................the true walking dead
This article misses the Rolling Stones largest success factor. The Rolling Stones finances are conatined in few corporations all of which are based in Holland where they pay almost zero taxes. Hypocrite tax dodger Bono does the same along with other U2 members.
I have a friend who had a social (wives including Jerry Hall were included) dinner with Mick and other local (Dallas) business people. He sat next to Mick and Mick wanted to talk about nothing but business - Mick is a grad of London School of Economics with a Masters in Business to his credit. He is the brains and money guy for the Stones. Without him they would have been long extinct.
Truman Capote followed the Rolling Stones around for a while and said that as soon as Mick Jagger left the stage he pulled out a calculator.
Mick is interesting. He may be obsessed with business but he also has the talent to be the singer and front man for his band.
I think you enhance his resume a bit:
http://rulefortytwo.com/secret-rock-knowledge/chapter-15/mick-jagger-lse-grades/
Nonetheless, a smart guy and a Knight too!
Since the “worlds’ greatest rock band” is, was and will always be the Beatles this article leaves me perplexed.
I don't think Mick graduated the LSE. He effed up The Stones finances but was smart enough to convince Prince Rupert Lowenstein (financial advisor to European aristocracy) to come in and straighten them out and arrange for off shore tax havens. Prince Rupert Lowenstein managed Stones finances for about 40 years. All Mick Jagger had to do was to continue on the course that Prince Rupert put into place.
These days Mick pretty much manages the Rolling Stones Incorporated by having very capable people working under him.
Loewenstein was the Rolling Stones' business adviser and financial manager from 1968 until 2007.[2] In 1968, then working in London as a merchant banker, he was introduced to Mick Jagger by a mutual friend, art dealer Christopher Gibbs. According to Keith Richards, Loewenstein had never heard of Jagger before then.[12] Jagger was of the opinion that the Stones' then manager, Allen Klein, was not paying them everything they were due.[6] wikipedia
If they wanted to make a huge amount of money in a hurry, they could make a remastered collection of their studio, informal, and live tracks, including different versions, in a high quality, lossless format. Of course, it would be a very expensive, luxury item.
It might even be bundled with a quality audio system designed to play that lossless format.
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