Tommy Mottola Quotes

Powerful Tommy Mottola for Daily Growth

About Tommy Mottola

Tommy Mottola, born Thomas Paul Mottola on February 22, 1951, in The Bronx, New York City, is an American record executive, producer, and former husband of pop icon Mariah Carey. Known for his business acumen and knack for discovering and nurturing talent, he has significantly influenced the music industry. Mottola's interest in music began at a young age, inspired by his family's love for Italian operas. He started his career as a promoter for the record store where he worked, which led him to meet various artists and musicians. His breakthrough came when he joined Casablanca Records, where he worked his way up from an assistant to vice president of A&R (Artists and Repertoire). In 1983, Mottola was appointed as the President of CBS Records International. Under his leadership, the label enjoyed immense success with artists like Whitney Houston, Paula Abdul, and Gloria Estefan. His most significant achievement came in 1990 when he became the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music's CBS Records. It was during this tenure that he signed Mariah Carey, turning her into one of the best-selling artists of all time. Mottola is renowned for his aggressive marketing strategies and ability to identify market trends. His approach often involved reinventing artists, creating a unique image and sound for them. However, his controversial dismissal from Sony Music in 1999 marked the end of an era in the music industry. Post-Sony, Mottola founded GDM Music Group with partner Antonio 'L.A.' Reid, where they continued to work with established artists and cultivate new talent. Today, he remains active in the music business, serving as a mentor and consultant for aspiring artists and labels.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Success in this business is about timing, and it's also about instinct."

This quote suggests that success in the entertainment industry (or any field) is a blend of two key factors: timing and instinct. Timing refers to the opportune moment when circumstances align for maximum advantage, while instinct is the innate, intuitive understanding or decision-making ability that helps one make the right moves at the right time. Effective professionals in this business need to be attuned to both the strategic and intuitive aspects of their work in order to achieve success.


"In any creative field, you can't teach talent."

This quote by Tommy Mottola underscores the inherent belief that raw artistic talent cannot be taught or learned through traditional instructional methods. Instead, it suggests that talent is a unique, innate ability that individuals naturally possess. While education, training, and practice are crucial for honing skills and refining one's craft, they do not create the initial spark of creative genius. True talent, as Mottola implies, is a gift that sets some apart in their respective fields, providing them with an edge that cannot be easily replicated or acquired through conventional means.


"If you don't have a dream, how are you going to make a dream come true?"

This quote emphasizes the importance of having a vision or goal in life, as it provides direction and purpose. Without a dream or ambition, there can be no effort to achieve it, rendering success impossible. The message encourages individuals to have aspirations, so they can strive towards their realization and create fulfilling lives.


"I always say you can't put a price on success, but you can pay for it in many ways."

This quote by Tommy Mottola suggests that while one cannot assign a monetary value to success (as its worth is intrinsic), there are numerous non-monetary costs associated with achieving it. These could be sacrifices in personal time, relationships, health, or even one's values and integrity. Essentially, the quote encourages us to understand that though we may not pay for success financially, we often pay a price in other significant aspects of life.


"Music is the one universal language that transcends all barriers – cultural, geographical, and generational."

This quote highlights the power and unifying nature of music. Regardless of where we come from or what our age may be, music has a unique ability to connect us all. It can break down cultural, geographical, and generational barriers by speaking to our shared human emotions and experiences. Music is a universal language, providing an incredible means for people to understand, appreciate, and connect with each other across diverse backgrounds and communities.


Any vehicle that conveys great songs and the ability to perform them, whether it's 'N Sync or the Backstreet Boys or One Direction, is all good.

- Tommy Mottola

Perform, Them, Any, Backstreet

When I'm hiring someone I look for magic and a spark. Little things that intuitively give me a gut feeling that this person will go to the ends of the earth to accomplish the task at hand.

- Tommy Mottola

Magic, Gut, Hiring, Spark

Trust is a big word for me. Loyalty and trust, for me, are everything. It's the core of what I'm about and what the people around me hopefully are about. It's a certain thing that gives you a sense of security. It's the biggest factor in everything I do.

- Tommy Mottola

Trust, Loyalty, Big, Factor

I had the chance to work with Michael Jackson who was as brilliant as they come.

- Tommy Mottola

Chance, Brilliant, Michael, None

It's hard to predict and to say what goes on inside the minds of an artist, but that's what makes them an artist. That sense of creativity. That thing that makes them tick is probably the very thing that pushes them to the extremes that sometimes can cause, you know, fatalities and things that, you know, that end up not being good.

- Tommy Mottola

Artist, Sometimes, Very, Tick

You need to know what makes artists tick. Having been through the process myself as a musician, since I was an early teen, gave me an advantage - understanding them from their point of view, because it's about them, it's not about you - it's their vision and what they're capable of achieving, and you're the conduit.

- Tommy Mottola

Point Of View, Through, Been, Tick

Acting lessons teach you to really listen to what the other person is saying because in acting it's all about responding to the lines.

- Tommy Mottola

Teach, Other, About, Lessons

There are no more heroes in America. Because of the Internet, heroism has become momentary and within seconds someone who we should be thinking about will be replaced in people's minds with news that Beyonce lip-synched at the inauguration.

- Tommy Mottola

News, Within, Momentary, Heroism

It's really only all about music. It's not like a big rocket scientist kind of philosophy or anything.

- Tommy Mottola

Big, Like, Scientist, Philosophy

I've always viewed myself as a behind-the-scenes person rather than in front of the camera.

- Tommy Mottola

Person, Always, Rather, Viewed

I have little children, 5 1/2 and 1 1/2, and I thought I should document my life, because by the time they're in the mid-20s, they'll be able to say, 'This is what he did.'

- Tommy Mottola

My Life, By The Time, Document

Everything starts and ends with the song, and working with writers and really learning their process and craft was an invaluable experience.

- Tommy Mottola

Song, Process, Invaluable, Starts

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