Episode 460 – Industry Advisor Kelli Richards, Our 32 Hour Day, And Disinfecting Microphones

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Music and tech industry advisor Kelli Richards

My guest this week is Kelli Richards, who’s been a trusted Advisor to legendary musicians, tech executives, leaders and innovators. During her 25 years as a consultant she’s worked with artists like Paul McCartney, Todd Rundgren, Stewart Copeland, Prince, Michael Jackson and even Apple Computer founder Steve Jobs.

While she was still in high school, Kelli approached Steve at a local cafe in Cupertino, and he accepted her request for him to be her mentor, which started a relationship that lasted over 30 years until his passing.

She put herself through college by working at GPI Publications, (the home of Guitar Player, Keyboard & Bass Magazines), and then moved to Hollywood where she landed a job as an A&R exec at EMI Music.

Kelli eventually headed back to Apple, and was in charge of the company’s early forays in music, as she was largely responsible for making Apple computers the go-to computer for creatives everywhere.

Since Apple, she has worked with a range of disruptive, innovative start-ups, and Fortune 100 companies as an advisor, consultant, and sometimes as an acting VP of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships.

During the interview spoke about getting Steve Jobs as her mentor as a teenager, laying the foundation for Apple in the music and film communities, helping Todd Rundgren build Patronet, working as a young A&R exec, moving into the roll of trusted advisor, the future of digital music, and much more.

I spoke with Kelli via Zoom from her office in the heart of Silicon Valley.

On the intro I’ll take a look at how we now live in a 32 hour day, and how to clean and disinfect a microphone.