Meet Rick Johnson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick Johnson. 

Hi Rick, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Currently, I am an Adjunct Professor at Belmont University, teaching “Hip-Hop Production Techniques”, co-host of the Faders Up podcast, founder & owner of Beats and Bars, and I do financial planning full-time. 

I moved to Nashville for audio engineering school after graduating from Temple University in 2005 with a B.A. in Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and Mass Media. Since finishing undergrad and audio engineering school I have taught audio production at Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School for 7 years and created Oshay Music Group, LLC in 2018. 

My experiences as a music creator, educator, and entrepreneur have prepared me for the current work I’m doing as a financial representative, helping other music creators, educators, and entrepreneurs build financial security and subsequently continuing my life mission to “educate, elevate, and empower the culture”. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey toward success has been anything BUT smooth. Understanding the idea that sometimes “you do what you gotta do until you can do what you wanna do” was a hard pill for me to swallow. I have worked at Target, FedEx, and a call center job AFTER graduating with a bachelor’s degree. That was discouraging and humbling because I thought the whole idea of going to college was to get a job making good money. 

In 2012 I landed the opportunity of a lifetime when I interviewed and was hired at the high school. My experiences teaching audio production through music and technology at the high school changed my life! It helped me cultivate critical thinking and troubleshooting skills, in addition to providing the platform to further my own skills by teaching it to others. If it were not for learning conflict resolution skills and developing perseverance at high school or learning to cultivate my resiliency and innovation through entrepreneurship, I would not be doing what I am doing right now. 

My encouragement to all those reading would be to think outside the box. View every job and situation in life as an opportunity to learn something that you can apply for a future opportunity. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I identify myself as a music creator, educator, and entrepreneur. On the music side of things, I founded Oshay Music Group, LLC in 2018. Under the umbrella of Oshay Music Group, I created Beats and Bars (http://www.beatsandbarsnashville.com), where we host Sip and Sample beat-making parties. At Beats and Bars, you can Wine Down and Turn Up, while experiencing the challenge of a class with the fun of a party. Under the OMG umbrella, I also mix/have engineered and mixed records for several clients, including Creatives Day and Nashville Is Not Just Country Music Publishing. 

In the Fall of 2021, I made a career pivot and expansion. In addition to the music production, music business, and entrepreneurship instruction I have provided through private lessons and my tenure at Pearl-Cohn and Belmont University, I now work with individuals and families to create personalized financial plans and build financial security as a full-time financial representative. 

I am most proud of the work I am doing now as a financial representative because I have the opportunity to do my part in closing the racial wealth gap through financial literacy and the execution of my personal mission to educate, elevate, and empower the culture. 

My experience as a music creator, educator, and entrepreneur sets me apart from others because I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience from different vantage points which all work together in the fulfillment of my mission. 

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think the Recording Academy provides a great opportunity for mentorship for aspiring music professionals through the Grammy U program. I was a mentor for Fall 2021 and I think that is a great starting place for seeking out a mentor. In addition to that I would encourage aspiring mentees and professionals to always lead with value proposition. What I mean by that is don’t be so focused on what you can get out of a situation or relationship; instead focus on sharing your availability to serve and bring value to the relationship. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oshaymusicgroup.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/itspronouncedoshay