10 Musicians Who Could Have Gotten A Business Degree

By Madison White on March 2, 2016

This article is brought to you by Kaplan, the leader in test prep for over 90 standardized tests, including the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT.

Becoming a popular musician may seem like it happens by sheer luck, but many musicians prove that staying successful is an art in itself. Somehow, even without formal training, these stars have worked the masses into enjoying their music for years and years.

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With some talent and a lot of well-placed appearances, here are 10 musicians who could have gotten a business degree:

1. Taylor Swift

If anyone has mastered the art of pop hits, public positivity, and genre transitions, it’s Taylor Swift. Known by her sweetheart attitude, Taylor still has major chops when it comes to building an empire. She consistently remains humble and at the top. Her albums, concerts, and appearances prove instrumental in her massive amounts of success. She also surrounds herself with an affluent girl gang of models, singers, and other pop stars.

2. Kanye West

The opposite of humble Taylor, Kanye makes his waves by being loud and unapologetic. Constantly bragging about his own success, he has reason to. Dabbling in rapping, shoes, and clothes, Kanye has built his own name into a brand. Aligning himself with other big names like the Kardashians only adds to his publicity. This makes Kanye close to genius with his business affairs.

3. Beyoncé

You can’t have a list of important musicians from this generation without naming Beyoncé. From movie appearances to Super Bowl halftime shows, Beyoncé’s outreach far extends beyond music. By bridging hip hop and pop, Beyoncé doesn’t limit herself to just one thing. Her talents abound in singing, acting, and dancing, accounting for her overall superstar success.

4. Drake

You can’t browse the internet without finding some form of Drake in it. His infamous dance moves have memed their way across all forms of social media. Drake collaborates with lots of artists from Rihanna to Lil Wayne, giving him a large range of artists to benefit his image. Drake also frequents popular events like basketball games and tennis matches. He allows himself to be everywhere and in the public eye.

5. Pitbull

Although Pitbull may not be the first popular music artist you think of, his business method should be. While he fails to write many hits himself, he features on tons of hit tracks. Almost any popular latin-based dance anthem has a Pitbull verse in it. This makes him lots and lots of money without having to do all the work.

6. Mick Jagger

Of all the musicians who should’ve gotten a business degree, Mick Jagger almost did. He studied business courses at London School of Economics. He even considered becoming a politician or journalist. Soon after, he became the lead vocalist for one of the most influential bands in music history, The Rolling Stones.

Competing with the other knockout band, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Mick Jagger had to revolutionize the music scene. Being on the foreground of counterculture, he and his band took the world by storm and will forever be remembered as legends.

7. Madonna

Madonna’s trajectory through the ’80s until now is a legendary one. Her longevity through the music industry has outlasted almost everyone. She continuously pushed the envelope and made herself known for her eccentricity. Even today, Madonna remains a cultural icon. She has ingrained herself in almost every entertainment movement as the years passed by. Her expertise in longevity is what makes her so successful.

8. Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino, or Donald Glover, may not have gotten a business degree, but he did get a dramatic writing degree from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. This makes sense as he has written for shows like 30 Rock and acted in Community. Much like many of these musicians know, fame and success means not limiting yourself to one form of entertainment.

9. Miley Cyrus

The transition from childhood actress to adult superstar isn’t an easy one to navigate. Some may argue that Miley transitioned very, very poorly. But from a business perspective, she fared very well. By completely overturning her previous persona, Miley generated interest from old fans and new ones. She allowed the public to see her grow up and all the troubles that come with finding yourself as a young adult. It may not have been smooth, but her break into the adult music scene was one nobody could ignore.

10. Adele

Sometimes living across the pond can greatly limit your influence in the music hub that is the United States. Yet in a growing global community connected by social media and internet, Adele has successfully bridged the gap. She identifies as British, but doesn’t limit herself to just her home country. Her talent and dedication to her craft transcends political boundaries and has captured the hearts of many across the globe.

While music and art may seem free from capitalism’s grasp, it is far from it. Some rise to the challenge and benefit greatly while others fall flat. If you’re an aspiring star, take notes from these popular musicians who have stood the test.

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