How Clive Davis Took Over Soul Music, The Harvard Report

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Let's go. You ready? Did you Did you know this? No. Yes. 1972, Clive commissioned a study titled a study of the soul music environment, aka the Harvard report. It advised white labels to hire black executives and create urban divisions to undermine independent black labels and capture black music market share.

[00:00:25]Mottown and many others declined thereafter.

[00:00:32]Where is the Where is this stuff? Yeah, hold up. They They post it somewhere up in here. Here it is.

[00:00:38]You can buy this thing on Amazon.

[00:00:44]Okay.

[00:00:47]This is what Clive basically um would would purport to the to the other execs.

[00:00:55]Okay.

[00:01:01]It says here, "After almost 50 years, the release of the complete Harvard report, a study of the soul music environment prepared for Colombia Records Group, which was a a feasibility study and suggested marketing strategy for CBS records."

[00:01:20]Okay.

[00:01:22]It was and still is common practice for corporations regardless of the industry to research the markets before investing in them. The Harvard report was one study. It was commissioned in 1972 by Columbia Records Group to determine the feasibility and profitabil profitability of delving into black music marketing. I was the liazison between CBS Records and Harvard Business School and I have the original copy of the Harvard report as it was presented to me. The full report has never been published, which conceivably contributed to its rise to myth mythical proportions, ranging all the way from an outstanding business strategy to a sinister plot to take over black music. Well, the first time the Harvard report can be read, analyzed, and picked apart, allowing the readers to draw their own conclusions. The report can now be studied based on information acquired by the researchers after an and an almost 50-year time span to compare the results of unintended or intentional consequences of the black music market. Over that period of time, many superstar acts were established, fortunes made, and legendary songs created on a much broader scale than ever before because of the involvement of the distribution power of CBS records. Much has been written and spread over the internet about the Harvard report. Most of it is mis misinformation. With the publication of this book, I think people will be surprised at what it is and more importantly what it wasn't. A philosophical question arises about the ability of a small company's survival when partnering partnering with a powerful corporation. Can they exist together in a symbiotic relationship or is it inev inevitable that one will be swallowed up by the other? Is it a c cultural appropriation or is it just business? You, the reader, can now decide.

[00:03:01]Okay.

[00:03:05]The findings contained in this report are the result of an investigation of the soul music environment and an analyses of relevant data conducted by the Colombia records project group. The analysis led to three major conclusions pertaining to Colombia's present and desired postures in the soul music mark music industry. A market opportunity for CRG exist in this area. CRG's previous efforts in soul music have not been adequate. Several changes in CRG's organization orientation will be required for success in the soul music market. To expand on the above conclusions, it was estimated that a market of approximately $60 million at manufacturers prices exist for soul music recordings. CRG's previous efforts had been hampered by an organization staff by personnel oriented to the popular music field which differs fundamentally from soul music in the critical factors required for success.

[00:04:01]In order to become a significant factor in the soul music industry, CRG must establish an internal soul music group and improve the quality of soul music produ product released on recordings.

[00:04:15]This is crazy. All right.

[00:04:21]Look at this. Evolution of soul impact on other sectors of popular music culture role of specialized national c companies and broadening this market.

[00:04:28]They know us inside and out, y'all.

[00:04:33]They know us inside and out.

[00:04:38]The soul segment of the music market has been analyzed from the standpoint of its historical development, its internal dynamics, and its relationship to the broader world of contemporary music.

[00:04:47]CRD's general approach to the music industry has been reviewed with particular reference to its efforts to date in the soul market. This study has confronted limitations inherent to any quantit quantitatively oriented analysis of their record industry. The sources of information are limited and widely dispersed. Despite these limitations, the degree of uncertainty associated with their res resulting conclusions is not in inordinately high. Major conclusion. The primary conclusions resulting from this study are Oh, I might have to purchase this. I might have to purchase this.

[00:05:23]Huh.

[00:05:25]Interesting.

[00:05:27]Interesting.

[00:05:31]All right, y'all. Clive Davis helped put this thing together.

[00:05:34]Okay. Clive Davis helped put this thing together. So, I may have to purchase this book.

[00:05:53]So let's go back here. So what they say he asked what would be the most dominant music by the year 2000. Harvard said black music. So this white institution knew hip hop, rap, and so forth was coming. So why can't black people predict our own damn future? Yep.

[00:06:08]Mottown, Philadelphia International, and Solar all collapsed like dominoes in the 80s, folded into larger non-black entertainment conglomerates. He sabotaged Philisman's career and told Chapter 8 to get rid of Anita Baker. He said he she would never be a big star and Anita Baker proved her wrong. He did do one thing right. He got Earth, Wind, and Fire out of their contract with Warner Brothers and signed on CBS.

[00:06:32]He is scum. It's kind of ironic in a way because Gordy had the same plan in reverse. She wanted to cross over and dominate white radio and he got lucky because for the first time ever he had the one singer in personality in his story in history that could do it and boy did she ever Yeah. That was Diana Ross. Yeah.

[00:06:50]Yeah.

[00:06:54]This wouldn't be possible if some black people would stop waiting for a white man to prop up a black artist before they start supporting and paying attention to them. plenty of black indie artists and creators who are talented and get no support until a white man stamps them.

[00:07:08]Sadly, he was involved with the successful Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff Philly International, later with the equally successful Kenny Edmonds and LA Rebace Records, two of the most prominent record companies in black music.

[00:07:22]Okay.

[00:07:24]Okay. All right. Think of it what what you will. Think of it what you will.