Episode

Inside Music’s Brand Machine - Kerry Gordy

Podcast
The CMO Whisperer
Published
Feb 9, 2026
Duration seconds
2767
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://share.transistor.fm/s/5dfcd408
Audio
https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.transistor.fm/5dfcd408/3801b808.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/the-cmo-whisperer-6598568/episodes/inside-music-s-brand-machine-kerry-gordy
Markdown
/podcast/the-cmo-whisperer-6598568/inside-music-s-brand-machine-kerry-gordy.md

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Summary

My guest today is Kerry Gordy , a name woven into the fabric of modern music and a force in his own right at the intersection of brand, culture, and intellectual property. Yes, he’s the son of Berry Gordy , but Kerry’s career stands on its own merit. He grew up inside the Motown ecosystem, managed Rick James through his comeback years, played a pivotal executive role at Prince’s Paisley Park Records, and helped architect one of the most important independent moments in music history with The Most Beautiful Girl in the World . Beyond music, Kerry has become a leading advocate for artists’ rights, pioneering copyright termination strategies that have helped creators reclaim ownership and long-term value. I met Kerry years ago when we were both speaking at Harvard, and from that moment on we’ve been brothers. This conversation is a rare blend of history, hard-earned lessons, and real-world insight into how brands, artists, and legacies are actually built.