Today we’d like to introduce you to Ray Daniels
Hi Ray, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the Bronx in the projects. When I was 12, very abruptly, our family had to relocate to Atlanta and from there, it became a place I called home. Atlanta was the first time that I saw black people succeeding. Prior to that, the only time I saw black people doing well was on The Cosby Show, but in Atlanta, It was like everybody was living the Cosby lifestyle. Everybody had nice houses with mothers and fathers in them, and it was the first time that I actually thought I could be or do something.
I spent the ages of 16 to 22 working for Delta, pushing wheelchairs around the airport and really had no intentions of getting into the music business, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, just that I wanted to do something and I didn’t want to be a loser. I remember distinctly from the ages of 19 to 21, talking to my roommates—we all worked for Delta at the time and I remember saying, “Let’s write a script,” “Let’s start a business,” because I just didn’t want to be a nobody. From there, somebody asked me to help with a music project one day and I remember thinking, ‘Maybe this is what god wants me to try.” From there, I spent the past two decades working as a music executive for a slew of major labels where I built a career delivering hits, this gave me a deep understanding of the business and inspired me to bring what I’ve learned to the masses.
In 2022, following my departure from Warner Records, I wanted to create a media platform where I could share a lot of the information and tactics that were gate kept by the music industry to be able to help more artists. That was the inspiration behind the founding of The GAUDS Show, which now is the #1 podcast in Atlanta and currently #1 on the Music Interview charts on Apple Podcasts.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It certainly hasn’t been a smooth road. My path to building The GAUDS Show came as a result of the bumps, When I was abruptly bounced from Warner Records, the phone wasn’t ringing and I knew it would be a while until the next opportunity came forth. It wasn’t a great situation in every sense, I went from being one of the biggest hitmakers in the company to on the outside, because I spoke up about issues of race in the industry. As rough as a time that was, it’s was what gave me the time to start The GAUDS Show and begin connecting directly with up and coming artists and became a blessing. What I told myself at this time was that I can’t make it higher up the mountain without the trek getting harder. The bumps in the road are what takes an underdog to the greatest of all time and this is something my executive coach, Michelle Sullivan instilled in me during this journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a hitmaker and that is what I am known for as a podcaster and music executive. I understand the DNA of what makes a hit. I built a career around this skill and shared information with artists at major labels to help them get their hits. I have been involved in over 100+ gold and platinum records as an A&R, Executive and Manager, connecting artists, writers and producers .Since I am still in the game, this has played a big factor in what has made The GAUDS Show so successful. My perspective as a personality is impactful because I am giving people the skills and secrets they need to know to make it in a way that is relevant and backed by the fact I am still in the game.
I am most proud of the community that we’ve built around The GAUDS Show and not wavering in the journey to foster that community. My path has been far from traditional and that pathway has allowed me to impact more lives than just the ones the music business has paid me to impact. I can now share my insights, advice and thoughts with more folks than ever through The GAUDS Show and my media properties.
What sets me a part from the other shows is that The GAUDS Show and my message is successful because it is information based and can directly impact listeners. I was intentional in building a podcast that is not celebrity based and focused around click-bait. It’s based on actual information and insight that can grow an artist, young music executive or entrepreneur.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is doing what makes you happy and fulfilled and lifting people up along the way.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raydaniels
- Twitter: https://x.com/raydaniels?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mrraydaniels
Image Credits
Ray Daniels Media
