When you think of Zac Brown Band or any famous music group, you might think of unattainable wealth or influence. It’s easy to critique celebrities for taking advantage of their position to accumulate wealth or wield undue influence. Especially in today’s context, how this influence is deployed matters.
There is an increasing expectation that celebrities will speak out on current issues. And a countervailing resentment when stars use their visibility to make political statements. Similarly, famous folks are criticized when they launch products or other endeavors away from their core expertise. Especially if those efforts are fabulously profitable.
Given the continued expansion of fame in our society, via social media as well as more traditional arts, it is valuable to identify a purposeful use of this visibility and influence. At a recent Zac Brown concert, I was struck by how much empire-building Zac Brown is doing. A decade into his big stage career, and at my seventh concert, it occurred to me that he’s doing it very well – even purposefully, one could say.
Using Influence for Good
Building an empire requires a team of people who will stand with you. Zac Brown understands this in the way he brings people up behind him. Brown recently expanded his group by adding Caroline Jones whose talent and discipline he clearly recognizes and values. Jones had collaborated with the band for years but recently formally joined the Band, though she also continues her solo career.
Providing Jones with the huge platform of opening for and performing with the Zac Brown Band undoubtedly elevated her profile. Inviting her to join the band while maintaining her profile as an individual artist was a power move by Brown. This relationship is an example of the many people Brown is empowering in a positive manner – that of a purposeful empire-builder, perhaps.
In 2011, Brown purchased 400 acres in Georgia and built a world-class facility dedicated to serving youth and veterans. He built out a fully professional, year-round program that offers high-quality programming for two audiences that are personally relevant to Brown. To maintain it responsibly, Brown utilizes his influence and fan support by taking $1 from every ticket and investing it into Camp Southern Ground as well as soliciting additional donations during every show.
Brown is also an advocate for those who are affected by the medical diagnosis ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a neurological disease, because John Driscoll, one of his long-time band members suffers from it. Driscoll still appears on stage and tours with the Band, which requires flexibility from the rest of the team to accommodate his changing energy levels and physical abilities. Other bandmates wear Hop on a Cure swag, and Brown solicits donations for this relevant cause during the show as well.
Brown has been bold in using his influence to offer more good to the world, well beyond the joy of his music.
Brown’s Business Empire
These efforts to empower fellow musicians and create impact are relatively uncontentious, though you’ll always find haters. But at this last show, we were pitched Z. Alexander Brown Wines – yes, as in Zac Alexander – during breaks between sets.
And the opener we saw, King Calaway, was discovered by and is now produced by Zac Brown himself. This of course means that by elevating the visibility of King Calaway, and presumably their downloads and views, Brown is enriching himself via his label.
These are undoubtedly more commercial exploits than the empowerment efforts discussed earlier. And wine – really? On the label’s website, the story begins, “Zac Brown has always been a creator and learned the importance of devoting himself to his craft early in life. He applies that passion for quality not only to his music but to all the creative endeavors he undertakes. Zac’s approach to wine is no different.”
Fair enough. Who are we to set limits on a creator’s (or any professional’s) endeavors, if they pursue them with integrity, and attention to
Although Brown accumulated wealth and influence through tours, fan clubs, and merchandising, he understands that purposefully leveraging this power means using it for things he is uniquely positioned to do and passionate about, that also have a positive impact on the world, whether the lives of other artists, veterans’ mental health, or even fans’ ability to buy a values-aligned wine.
Why is it all so successful for Zac Brown?
Your first thought might be fame and money. Although these are massive contributions, it does require more. What wealth and fame cannot sustain, purpose and passion can. In other words, wealth and fame can provide a facility or go fund me but a heart’s passion provides the cause behind it.
A primary reason Brown’s empire will be impactful beyond his generation is because his efforts are relevant to himself and his audience. He’s not choosing distant causes unrelated to his life or those close to him. Again, even with the wine, he ties it back to his passion for bringing people and places together, which has also always been evident in his craft as a musician.
Secondly, Brown’s efforts are mutually beneficial. Jones and King Calaway have better careers today because of his support. His band has a better sound thanks to Jones’ powerful vocals, and he’s making money on King Calaway’s success, but not in a way that exploits either artist.
And finally, Brown is – from the public view that I can have of him – truly an inclusive leader. The encore of the show I saw this summer consisted of brief covers performed by each and every band member. He brings collaborators up on stage, and invites veterans from Camp Southern Ground to appear on stage. Finally, he spent a week as a counselor at camp, living alongside staff and campers in the bunks.
As I reflect on the empire Brown is building with passion and purpose, I cannot help but be immensely inspired. We are not all Zac Brown, but these elements of benevolent empire-building can apply to the ways that we contribute our resources and influence toward our own legacy, even if it has less press coverage. Perhaps we can take inspiration from the ZBB title, “You Get What You Give.”
Realistically, in what ways might you contribute to the greater good given your passions, skills, and resources?
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