Last week I had the pleasure of talking to a senior high school business class about my career. I started out by saying “Hi, my name is Judge and I have a split personality”. As you can imagine, that raised some eyebrows. Once I relieved their concerns that I might be Mentally ill, I went on to explain to them how at this point in my career I am able to bring my three personalities of Entrepreneur, Disc Jockey, and Tech Geek together to form my current businesses. Up until a year ago, any given day of the week you would find me pulling Superman wardrobe changes from a deal-closing suit (A. Lee Judge), to college shirt and khakis to work on a client’s computers and devise marketing campaigns (Judge), to jeans, T-shirt, sneakers, baseball cap, shades, and jewelry ( DJ Judge Mental). My passion is DJing and the music industry, and although I have been deep in it for over 20 years, sometimes DJ Judge Mental has been the Batman to my Bruce Wayne business persona. (Ok enough with the superhero analogies.)

Now, because of the technological age that we live in, the DJ has to be a techie, the techie has to be an entrepreneur, and the entrepreneur realizes that a business wrapped around music and technology can be a lucrative combination. The result was the birth of Judge Media. No! Wait... I didn’t just say all that to promote my business, I’m going somewhere with this.

No matter what business you are in, and especially in the music industry, You better be tech savvy AND business savvy. Why? Because the hard-copy, low tech, tangible form of music (and many other products) is quickly coming to an end. Because in today’s industry, the use of technology and business are more important than talent and originality. Artists don’t want to hear that, but listen or not, it’s true.

What does that tell you as an artist, executive, or business owner? When you begin to build your team there’s a new member that cannot be forgotten. You know to get your banker, your business manager, your attorney, and maybe even your personal manager, but where is your Techie? Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Artist, Business, or Label Owner you need to have someone on your team who knows the best ways to communicate your talent through today’s technology. Without them, you most likely are not taking full advantage of the most valuable resource available.