Some famous musicians have taken their success to the next level by launching business empires outside of Music.
You’ll see that the first step in many musicians’ entrepreneurial journeys is often to create their record labels. It’s honestly no surprise that most musicians have an entrepreneurial streak.
From Jay-Z’s fashion ventures and Diddy’s Cîroc vodka brand to Madonna’s various investments, here are 15 famous music entrepreneurs who have successfully expanded their reach beyond Music:
They may be known for their catchy tunes and popular lyrics in the music industry, but these musicians are also business moguls in their own right.
Whether it’s fashion, tech, or even food, these celebrities have used their influence to build successful companies beyond Music.
Musicians Who Are Also Business Moguls
1. Jay-Z
You may know him as one of the most iconic rappers of all time, but Jay-Z is also the founder and C.E.O. of Roc Nation, a successful entertainment company that houses some of the biggest names in Music, sports, and fashion.
Roc Nation boasts a client roster that includes Rihanna, Nas, Sports Illustrated model Megan Rapinoe, and many more.
In addition to music management, Roc Nation has a stake in TIDAL, an international streaming service with over 60 million tracks and 250,000 videos.
2. Madonna
Madonna is the founder of MDNA Skin, a luxury skincare line that uses cutting-edge technology combined with Thermal Water from Montecatini Terme in Italy.
Madonna launched the company in 2014 with Japanese beauty expert Cheska Kunst; since then, MDNA Skin has become a global success, with products available in over 50 countries.
3. Rihanna
Rihanna is not only one of the most successful pop stars in the world—but she’s also a trailblazer in the fashion and beauty industries.
In 2017, she became the first black woman to launch a major fashion house with LVMH when she debuted her Fenty label.
The following year, she achieved another milestone when she released her highly-anticipated makeup line Fenty Beauty.
The line was an instant hit with customers and critics alike, thanks to its inclusive palette of shades for all skin tones.
4. Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani is the mastermind behind LAMB, a famous clothing line launched in 2004.
Inspired by her unique sense of style, LAMB offers trendy yet timeless pieces that can be worn on any occasion.
Stefani’s clothing line has been so successful that it has spawned several diffusion lines, including Harajuku Lovers and G.X. by Gwen Stefani.
In addition to her fashion empire, Stefani has her fragrance collection called “Harajuku Lovers.”
5. Bono
U2 frontman Bono is widely recognized as one of our time’s most politically and socially active musicians.
In the early 2000s, Bono and a handful of elite people in the business founded Elevation Partners, a private equity firm focusing on intellectual property. Elevation Partners has invested over a billion dollars in various media projects.
Bono is a private equity firm Elevation Partners co-founder, which has invested in companies like Palm Computing and Yelp. He’s also the co-founder of The O.N.E. Campaign, an advocacy group that aims to end poverty and preventable disease worldwide.
The Ireland native has used his platform to fight for causes like poverty and HIV/AIDS awareness through various charitable organizations.
In 2013, he was named Harvard Business School’s Person of the Year for his philanthropy and social entrepreneurship work.
6. Jennifer Lopez
J.Lo started her own clothing line in 2003 after finding success in the music industry, producing everything from jeans to lingerie to gloves.
Lopez has a net worth of approximately $250 million due to developing numerous accessory lines, a jewelry brand, 9 fragrance lines, and even a children’s clothing line.
Lopez has her own production company, Nuyorican Productions, and her fashion ventures. The firm has created both feature films and reality television. In Pasadena, California, Lopez opened Madre’s in 2002. She assisted in interior design, and her grandmother’s cooking influenced many recipes.
7. Rihanna
Rihanna is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with hits like “Umbrella” and “Work.” But she’s also a highly successful businesswoman. In 2013, she launched her beauty line called Fenty Beauty.
Thanks to its inclusive range of foundation shades, the line was an instant hit. In 2019, Rihanna expanded her empire by launching her fashion label, Fenty.
The own label offers a range of stylish and contemporary clothes, shoes, and accessories.
8. Beyoncé
Beyoncé is a musical icon and global superstar. But she’s also a savvy businesswoman who has built an empire outside of Music. In 2014, she launched her athleisure line called Ivy Park.
The line includes a range of sportswear and activewear for women of all shapes and sizes. Beyoncé has also ventured into cosmetics with her 2016 collaboration with L’Oréal Paris.
The collection includes lipstick, lip gloss, eye shadow palettes, and more.
9. Dr. Dre
Andre “Dr. Dre” Young is not only one of the most successful rappers and producers in the game—he’s also an astute businessman.
In 2006, he sold Beats by Dr. Dre, the headphones company he helped create, to Apple for $3 billion (making him the wealthiest man in hip-hop then). He’s also had success with ventures like Aftermath Entertainment, a record label he founded in 1996, and Beats Music, a streaming service launched by Beats in 2014 (which was later acquired by Apple).
10. Sir Richard Branson
British billionaire Sir Richard Branson is best known as the founder of Virgin Group. This conglomerate comprises over 400 companies in various industries, including air travel, financial services, telecommunications, and health & wellness.
But Virgin Group isn’t Branson’s only claim to fame—he’s also an accomplished musician. He has played violin and keyboards for his rock band, naturally called The Billionaires Boys Club Band (B.B.C.).
In addition to making Music with B.B.C. bandmates Neil–many years ago–and Evan Dando of The Lemonheads fame–Branson continues to be an active philanthropist through Virgin Unite, which focuses on supporting social and environmental causes around the world.
11. David Bowie
As a musician, David Bowie was ahead of his time, and as a businessman, that didn’t alter. In the late 1990s, Bowie founded a technological firm and his own Internet service provider, making him one of the first artists to grasp the internet’s potential truly.
Bowie founded his record label in the early 2000s to escape the hierarchical structure of his previous label.
He also manages a website where art school students can sell their creations without dealing with the hassles of a conventional art gallery.
12. Kanye West
Kanye left art school and became successful in the music business, first as a producer and subsequently as a solo performer.
After finding success, Kanye founded his own record company, GOOD Music, and published a book titled Thank You and You’re Welcome! in 2008.
With some assistance from his father, he also intends to start a café in Washington, D.C.
13. Dexter Holland
In 1994, when The Offspring enjoyed mainstream success, the band’s frontman Dexter Holland established his own independent punk label. Greg Kriegel, an Offspring bassist and co-founder of Nitro Records, and Holland have operated the label ever since, bringing up-and-coming punk musicians into the spotlight while letting them keep their artistic integrity.
Holland also found the time to launch his own spicy sauce company, “Gringo Bandito,” which is sold online and in supermarkets all around California.
14. Diddy
Nothing is beyond Sean Combs’ power. Diddy struggled to get into the business school at Howard University after coming from modest circumstances.
He chose not to study there, preferring to work and earn money. Diddy began fostering talent at Uptown Records in New York at 21 and began performing in music videos as a backup dancer.
He left Uptown in 1993 to found Bad Boy Records, which housed several well-known performers, notably Notorious B.I.G.
Diddy has launched numerous other businesses, and Bad Boy has grown into a multibillion-dollar empire. His Sean John clothing line has a huge following and is tremendously profitable.
15. Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is one of the most famous music entrepreneurs in the industry. She has her own record label, Butterfly MC Records, and a production company imprint that she co-owns with Sony Music Entertainment called Monarc Entertainment.
Carey also owns three perfume lines—Luscious Pink, Dreams, and Luscious Cherry—and is the creator of her own line of clothing, accessories, and jewelry called Butterfly Collection. In addition to those ventures, Carey has her line of eyewear, MC Shades by Mariah Carey.
Carey’s famous entrepreneurial spirit also spills over into other realms; she owns an animal rescue organization, Pawliday Inn, which helps find homes for abandoned pets. She co-founded a charity dedicated to helping those in need, Camp Mariah.
Conclusion
Each famous music entrepreneur has gone above and beyond in their respective fields, creating business empires that are as successful as their musical careers.
They’ve also used their platforms to actively support various causes, proving that it can be both creative and thriving simultaneously.
These famous music entrepreneurs have achieved fantastic success through hard work and creativity and left a lasting legacy.