The music industry is a world of great mystic. Some use it as a creative outlet, while others use it as a practical means of generating income. But for Dani Stephenson, it is both and so much more.
Dani is an eminent entrepreneur, music executive, and philanthropist who has a chain of successful organizations within Straight Forward Music Group, with over fifteen years of experience in the music industry, he has already worked alongside well-renowned artists like Nana Rogues, Drake, Anne-Marie, Don Diablo, Ella Mai, Dave, J Hus, Big Sean, MANN and many more.
Dani’s musical career has its roots in producing and writing songs. Back then, he was using the alias ‘Pyramids In Paris’ where he was involved in crafting the hit single, “The Mack,” featuring Mark Morrison & Fetty Wap. The song landed on top of the global charts amassing over three hundred million streams and selling over two million singles worldwide.
Dani transitioned from being a creative to becoming a business executive specialising in talent management, publishing and A&R, which led to the creation of Straight Forward Music Group, one of Dani’s most prized conglomerates. This organization aims to champion and support independent artists and businesses all over the world by providing them with a global creative infrastructure and an innovative team to drive career development.
In a recent interview, Dani shares that he is sticking his neck out and going against the grain to push boundaries and do things differently. He further explains that it’s crucial to stay ahead of the curve as technology brings more changes to the musical landscape. Lastly, he adds that to rise on top of the industry, one must create heritage, legacies, escapism, and positive frequencies that can stand the test of time and can contribute towards moulding modern-day culture in a positive light.
Straight Forward Music Group is composed of Straight Forward Publishing, which focuses on offering a creative service to develop creatives while providing a global publishing collection service. It also esteems itself with Straight Forward Recordings, a fast-rising indie label that offers A&R consultancy and music distribution. The talent management firm has been nominated twice for a Grammy, has 2 MOBO nominations, 2 Brit Nominations and has won one Brit Award amongst other winning accreditations for BMI, ASCAP and PRS.
The next phase in Dani’s 2020 strategy is to expand the repertoire and operations into India and Southeast Asia, as he launches his new venture Mugal Group and opens the first office in Mumbai with co-founder Vishal Patel. Dani says the ethos of Mugal Group is to discover and develop the next generation of global stars who come from an Indian or Asian heritage, whilst keeping cultural ethics in tact. The goal is to bridge the gap between Asia and the global markets whilst creating a new wave of fusion sounds to freshen the musical palette. Mugal’s roster consists of teen songstress Celina Sharma, internet superstar Lucky Dancer, and UK Top 20 multi-platinum producer COOLIE.
Despite the overflowing amount of success, Dani still finds ways to take part in social responsibility. To create a positive and lasting impact on society, he created Straight Forward Giving Foundation to ignite charity initiatives and raise much-needed money for an array of charities like the Youth Music, Princes Trust, NHS Charities Together and Young Lives Matter. The foundation also opens doors for entertainment and educational funding opportunities for underprivileged communities and individuals worldwide.
And in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Straight Forward Giving Foundation marches forward with NHS Charities Together to raise funds for the NHS staff who have been affected by the coronavirus. Dani uses this platform to send a message that music, being more than just for entertainment and proprietary gain, can actually bring people together to fight for a cause.
To get updates on Dani Stephenson’s work, visit his LinkedIn account or Straight Forward’s website.
