Ray Daniels is an entrepreneur, visionary, and media personality living at the intersection of music and culture. Daniels has found success weaving these two worlds together in an authentic, human, and unapologetic way. Through his work as the founder of LYI Agency (Leverage Your Influence) — a cutting-edge multi-media company—as well as being the host of The GAUDS Show and founder of RAYDAR LLC—a music industry powerhouse encompassing music publishing, label services, consulting and artist management—Daniels and the artists he represents have played a role in powering some of the most iconic artists and hits of our generation, driving conversations about how the modern music industry needs to evolve, effectively kicking the door open for the young artists and executives behind him. Ray Daniels is the power player that every major artist, executive, and culture mover knows. Daniels was born in New York and raised in Atlanta with a contagious drive and passion that has lived on as he rose to prominence—through his work in A&R at Warner Music Group and management endeavors, Daniels understands the magic of creating a hit, as well as the collaboration that goes into delivering chart toppers for artists such as Lizzo, Ciara, Usher, Saweetie, Latto, Future and many more. Beyond his formal titles, Daniels is a much-requested A&R, music consultant, and broker, known for negotiating some of the biggest publishing and artist deals signed over the last five years—even including rap sensation, NLE Choppa.

02:26 – 06:45 | Setting the Stage: Who Is Ray Daniels Big Court and Rachel Renee introduce Ray, highlighting his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a respected music executive and culture shaper.

06:46 – 15:40 | Growing Up Between New York & Atlanta Ray reflects on how his bi-coastal upbringing gave him dual perspectives on hustle, culture, and how Atlanta became the heartbeat of modern Black music.

15:41 – 27:10 | The Realities of the Music Business Ray unpacks the truth behind record label hierarchies, A&R politics, and why many talented artists never break through despite “doing everything right.”

27:11 – 39:55 | Inside the Machine: Lessons from L.A. Reid & Epic He breaks down his time working alongside L.A. Reid, the strategies behind hit records, and what separates true visionaries from corporate opportunists.

39:56 – 55:15 | Mentorship, Management & Making Stars Ray shares how mentorship and influence shaped his career and discusses managing artists like Future, Lizzo, and Latto, plus the unseen work behind building chart-toppers.

55:16 – 1:08:45 | The Dark Side of the Industry From exploitation to politics, Ray pulls back the curtain on how power moves in boardrooms affect artists’ livelihoods — and how he learned to play chess, not checkers.

1:08:46 – 1:21:25 | Negotiating Deals & Ownership A masterclass in music business literacy. Ray explains publishing splits, management leverage, and the importance of creative ownership in the streaming era.

1:21:26 – 1:34:50 | Entrepreneurship & The Birth of RAYDAR & LYI Ray explains how he transitioned from executive to entrepreneur, building multi-platform ventures that empower creators and executives alike.

1:34:51 – 1:47:40 | Building the Next Generation of Executives Discussion around leadership, responsibility, and creating a pipeline for Black excellence in media, management, and label infrastructure.

1:47:41 – 2:00:10 | Truth, Faith & Evolution Ray talks about faith, reinvention, and how losses in business shaped his current success. “Everything I lost became a lesson.”

2:00:11 – 2:17:15 | From Behind the Scenes to The GAUDS Show He explains why he launched The GAUDS Show, how podcasting changed his influence, and why transparency is his greatest asset now.

2:17:16 – 2:26:30 | Legacy & Final Reflections Big Court and Ray close with reflections on culture, God, and legacy leaving listeners with motivation to build, own, and evolve.
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