Welcome to the first edition of Hey You! - a new series dedicated to highlighting and paying homage to my peers making waves in their respective industries & communities. I checked in with these super-talented folks to see how they got their start, what they’re up to now, & more.

This week’s spotlight features:

Drew De Leon, Chief Community Officer for The Digilogue / President at MPR Global Distribution.

If you enjoy this newsletter, feel free to refer it to a friend!

Let’s dive in ⬇️

Drew De Leon

Co-Founder / Chief Community Officer for The Digilogue

President at MPR Global Distribution

Hometown: Queens, NY

How did you get your start in the music industry?

My entry point to music was unconventional. In March 2009, I pivoted from my role in finance. I didn't know what I wanted to do but I wanted to help people.

I got an opportunity to manage my friend who was an upcoming DJ and that was my entry point into music.

Are there any lessons you picked up while working at Def Jam & Alamo Records that you’ve been able to apply to running your own company?

I'm super appreciative of my experiences at both Def Jam and Alamo Records. Def Jam is a major label, so if you're working with developing artists it's often hard to break through the noise.

When I was working with DaniLeigh at the time, we made sure we updated all the departments on the small wins she would get and make her top of mind. When she reached an inflection point with her song "Easy", the entire label leaned in for it to be her biggest record yet, 4x Platinum to this date.

All in all, fight for your artists, especially for the ones you believe in. When I joined Alamo, it was a great chapter in my career where I ran a department. Even with the challenges of the pandemic, I made sure my coordinators and the entire team had an opportunity to take ownership in campaigns. It was a great experience to mentor young executives who are now thriving at different labels.

MPR’s roster seems very intentional and curated. What do you look for when considering working with and signing an artist?

Yes! One the most important attributes for our artist partnerships at MPR is an artist's ability to write well but also write in volume. We're in the era of catalog and volume.

The more high-quality tracks we are able to release, the higher the probability for a song to do well. As the result of one song doing well, the catalog does well too. The second attribute is an Artist's ability to create content 365 days in a year. It's very difficult to be top of mind for your fans if you're only creating content when you're in a release cycle. Both Amari Noelle and Mannywellz are great content creators.

Can you explain what The Digilogue is and why you created it?

To break it down, The Digilogue is a global music and tech community with programming across 4 verticals.

First - Music Careers where we serve as a resource for job discovery and also recruiting support for companies that are hiring.

Second - Artist Discovery which serves as a platform for indie artists to get playlisting, content, and editorial support.

Third - Education where we're constantly giving game on all aspects of the business from Q&As, panels, weekly news updates, and masterclasses.

Fourth - The most important vertical is our Community programming. Everything from our IRL activations to our marquee music and tech conference called Digilogue Days. I created it because when I started in music I didn't have a starting point.

Everyday I speak to people passionate about music but don't know where to start. Be part of The Digilogue, have an appetite to learn, and be intentional in building authentic relationships. We're not going to give you the answers but we will guide you. You're not alone in your journey as part of The Digilogue.

From your perspective how do you envision community not just for artists but also folks working in the industry?

Community is centered on support, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and paying it forward. Having a career as an artist or professional isn't easy and honestly you can't do it alone. At The Digilogue, we remind creatives and professionals that there are good people who genuinely care for their success.

Your journey and success into entrepreneurship has been super inspiring not just for me but many others. What would you say to anyone out there who’s trying to find their own journey?

Thank you! Entrepreneurship isn't a walk in the park but it's super fulfilling. It makes my heart full every day that I get to do what I love every day and help people. I think for anyone who's trying to find their own journey is to take risks. You won't know what you don't like unless you try it. I had a lot of trials and experiences until I truly found what was important to me.

How do you balance the grind of the industry with maintaining peace of mind and wellness?

Honestly, I'm still working on that now. However, I do put on DND (Do Not Disturb) after the day and make sure I dedicated the weekend to myself and loved ones.

I'm big on being present. I also set time in the morning and evening for myself.

In the morning, I set 30 minutes to stretch, listen to music as a fan, and say what I'm grateful for.

In the evenings, I like to decompress and play FIFA. Playing video games allows me to clear my thoughts for the day, ideate, and get ready for the next day.

What advice would you give to those in the industry trying to improve how they network and build their relationships?

First, don't be an asshole because people will remember how you treated them. The industry is small, so I'm big on treating everyone the same from the interns to the CEOs. Second, be accountable and true to your word. If you say you're going to do something, do it. If you can't, then be transparent. Lastly, don't treat relationships as transactions. Check-in with folks and follow-up. Folks are busy but if you want something done, you have to follow-up!

Congrats again on winning a Grammy with Muni Long! Can you share what that feeling was like?

S/O to Muni and the MPR team which includes JR Mckee and Jasmine Elizabeth. It's hard to describe but its a feeling that I'll never forget. Never doubt a dreamer!

What music are you listening to right now?

I'm listening to my homie Amir Obe's album called "after".

Who are a few artists to look out for this year?

I'm going to be biased but definitely Amari Noelle, Mannywellz, and artists from The Digilogue community.

Thanks for reading! Until next time.