Steven Dorn is the Lifelong Entrepreneur Who Beats the Competition by Investing in People and Betting on His Relationships
Steven Dorn is a serial music entrepreneur and investor who is finding success by betting big on people. In a world dominated by data analytics software and best practices, many businesses and entrepreneurs are getting wrapped up in the world of numbers. While most of this data is extremely valuable, far too many business leaders are not putting a premium on their relationships and are even forgetting how to utilize their network effectively. Especially with the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, this trend towards online virtual experiences and over-emphasizing data (at the expense of relationships) is only gaining more momentum in the music industry.
Steven Dorn is taking the opposite approach with his artists. While Dorn understands the value and necessity of data (and utilizes it) Dorn has found unparalleled success over the years emphasizing word-of-mouth and authentic relationships. Now that the industry is slowly moving away from these ‘old-school’ methods, Dorn has been able to distinguish himself as a unique leader in both the music entrepreneurship and investment communities as well as the leader of a new movement focusing on people and human interaction.
Dorn has built his successful career and personal brand on this ability to make relationships and execute partnerships. Like the intelligent music entrepreneur he is, Dorn knows that in order to make best use of one’s network and to forge the most authentic relationships, one also needs to know how to form partnerships. When many amateur music entrepreneurs or investors hear the word “network” they only think about humans, Dorn thinks more broadly. Dorn understands that utilizing one’s network to form business partnerships at the company level, powered by personal relationships with decision makers, is indispensable to an entrepreneur’s success.
In order to be as successful in the music industry as Dorn is, you have to be a great judge of character as well as a people person; being a successful talent scout, manager, entrepreneur, and investor in the music industry, as well as other segments of the entertainment industry, involves high-level communication skills as well as an ability to nurture, grow, and place talent. Dorn’s XYZ Media, a music management and VC firm, takes this premise and runs with it. Dorn’s vast network, social media, skills, ear for the next hit, and ability to connect with everyone in the industry – from artists to managers – is precisely why the company is making waves. XYZ Media was recently featured in Forbes.
Dorn believes his early success can mainly be attributed to his ability to bet on and invest in people, for the long haul. Dorn has always doubled down on his networking abilities; his capability to get the most out of creatives by curating artistic, collaborative environments as well as by investing whatever time and money they need to cultivate their art, is unrivaled. Just to name a few of the people they have nurtured, Dorn and XYZ Media discovered and developed the careers of the Grammy-nominated Bryson Tiller, the new star Pink Sweat$, and the international singer Yo Trane. The reason why Dorn and XYZ Media are able to play an integral role in the rise to stardom for many artists is because of their ability to create word of mouth momentum as well as strategic partnerships.
Since Dorn is already well known in the industry and in elite creative circles around the country, he is able to make tactical choices others cannot. In order to find the most talented artists as well as generate the most authentic buzz they can, Dorn’s XYZ Media made the deliberate choice to avoid traditional advertising methods and to forgo creating marketing collateral. This mysterious aura allows Dorn to create fresh, sincere, and unique momentum around each of his artists in a way his corporate and traditional competitors cannot. This hyper-segmentation and specific style have also allowed Dorn to be a pioneer of out-of-the-box strategic partnerships for his artists with companies that perfectly align with their art and their audiences.
Especially since the COVID-19 Pandemic has taken away most artists’ ability to tour and make money, Dorn’s support and steadfast commitment to investing in people is valued at an even higher premium than it was previously. Beyond his unwavering support, Dorn is continuing to make his network and creative, solution-oriented thinking available to his artists in this time of need. Dorn does not care about taking short-term losses and risks since he knows that, in the long run, investing in people and nurturing talent is not only extremely lucrative, but it is also extremely fulfilling
