Jimmy Maynes

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. I am an entertainment professional with a focus on A&R, stage and visual production, marketing, film and television.

Q. Can you give us a little testimony on your journey on how you got to where you are now?

A. I started as an assistant to R&B 90’s start Al B. Sure, went with him on his first tour doing everything from buying his socks to handing him towels on the side of the stage – moved quickly from his assistant to Promotional Coordinator at UPTOWN Records which did not work out for me. I was moved into a newly created position of Video Commissioner where I managed the visual images for Mary J. Blige, Heavy D, Guy, Father MC and many others.

Q. I watched the Salt & Pepa show which was amazing but how was your experience being the executive producer of the show?

A. Being the executive producer came with many challenging responsibilities. It was up to me to bring the deal to the ladies during a time when I was producing the first ever Hip-Hop Residency featuring Salt & Pepa and other 90’s acts. At the same time that I was negotiating our movie we were also working on a new tour and 2 reality shows... The timing for the negotiations of the movie could not have come at a more challenging time, but when the ladies decided that they wanted me to manage them I asked them to give me a list of things they wanted me to focus on and deliver... A solid reality show was one of them, a strong headlining tour, a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, another Grammy and to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. I did not get to accomplish the later, but every other promise I made to the ladies was accomplished.

Q. You have been on a couple episodes of “Growing Up Hip Hop” and “Ladies Night” how was your experience and what did you enjoy about being on these shows?

A. I am not really a reality star sort of guy – I don’t know that I have enough “drama” in my life. I am also one not to really like using one’s problems for the sake of views. Honestly, I would love to see a reality show about REAL MUSIC EXECUTIVES and what we REALLY deal with on a day-to-day basis... Now, if you wanted REAL truth, the HIGHS and the LOWS, I would love to be part of something like that... Not saying the show’s you mentioned are not that, but...

Q. What do you do in your spare time?

A. I absolutely love to spend time with my 3 sons, we travel the world together, we love everything water – we boat, we fish, we swim... We cook together. Like I said, I am a really simple guy and do really simple boring things... I keep the noise for work.

Q. When you are looking for artist what are some of the qualities you look for in them?

A. If all the cows on the farm are brown, I look for the cow that’s purple... It’s really just that simple for me... I look for the “difference”. My experience is that the DIFFERENCE is what separates artist from SUPER STARS!!!! Now I will say that without “artist”, we would not have SUPERSTARS... You need them to distinguish the difference... IE: If every day was a sunny day, how would we know what a sunny day actually looked like.

Q. Can you tell us what has been the most interesting building you’ve ever seen or been in?

A. I love love love the Capitol Records Building in LA – there is a great sound studio on the first floor, but the stories that are told by the legacy of the building as you get on the elevators, look at the walls and just the mere fact of the outer design is one of my favs... I would love to work for Capitol one day just to be able to work in that building... (As the HEAD OF MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT – LOL)

Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years?

A. My brother Joe and I have a label that we are building together... In 3 years I hope to be interviewed again by you but you will be asking me “How did we develop the amounts of Podcasts, deliver 5 Pop Stars in the top 10, and congratulations on your Grammy Performance and can we get tickets to your new tour – Only you will be doing this interview on my boat!!!

Q. If you can change anything in the music industry what would it be?

A. Music would not be free.

Q. What do you think is missing in today’s music?

A. What’s missing in music is that it requires no commitment from the fan to establish what a real hit is... It’s all about your social numbers which don’t require anything but a “like”, a “follow”.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. They can follow me @jimmymaynes on everything.