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Steve Stoute has built an extraordinary network of business leaders. The New York Times calls him “The C.E.O. Other C.E.O.s Turn to for Advice.” Variety just named him “Music Mogul of the Year.” That recognition goes back to something he said on The Shop about how it all started: “I would fly to a room five hours, not know anybody in the room, and hopefully meet one person. Hopefully that turns into somethin’… Leaving my family, flying five hours, staying in whatever sh*t accommodations I could find, would lead me to one meeting, one person, that would lead me to a follow-up. And that’s how I started my career. That’s the ugly truth.” Stoute’s story proves it’s not about being everywhere. It’s about being in the right rooms. Where your perspective creates value. And where others’ perspectives expand yours. That’s how he built UnitedMasters. He didn’t raise money from music executives. He partnered with people who understood power and platforms. Ben Horowitz at Andreessen Horowitz. Eddy Cue at Apple. Not music insiders. People who understood creator control and infrastructure at scale. When CMOs like Lorraine Twohill at Google, Morgan Flatley at McDonald’s, or NBA commissioner Adam Silver trust him and his team with brand positioning, it’s because he showed up in their worlds. Where global marketing, consumer behavior, and culture intersect. Not just music. That pattern repeats across his career. He built a network across industries. Music. Technology. Sports. Advertising. Media. This kind of cross-pollination lets him remix ideas, spot blind spots, and unlock new lanes. His edge is not just persistence. It is value creation. He brings cultural fluency to tech leaders building for artists. And gives brands a path to move with credibility in culture. The value moves in both directions. The “ugly truth” isn’t just cheap hotels. It’s being willing to enter conversations where you’re not expected, but your perspective changes the room. That’s why they holla at him.