Enterprenuer
Jeff Miyahara, co-founder, and chief creativity officer of KLKTN, is an emerging tech startup connecting artists with their fans.
Miyahara is a Los Angeles native who co-founded KLKTN to promote diverse and innovative artists, increase their impact and open up new possibilities at intersections of music, art, and culture.
KLKTN launched a collection of mixed media artworks featuring Kimbra, a two-time Grammy-winning pop star, and a unique NFT audio stem device.
Jeff Miyahara, a renowned music producer and composer, has worked with Pharrell Williams, Boyz II Men, and Timbaland and created more than 270 artists.
His works have been sold over 40,000,000 copies worldwide.
What is the story of the idea for KLKTN?
Over the past 21 years, I have been blessed to create a career in music production, discovery, and nurture hundreds of amazing artists all over the globe.
I have witnessed the music industry undergo significant changes over the past 21 years.
Most of these changes were not for the good of artists or their creative collaborators. That was what I wanted to change.
One of the benefits we as an industry gained from streaming disruption was reaching millions of people worldwide who could interact with our music directly and quickly.
One thing we lost was our sense of connection.
It has always brought great joy to support the artists you love and collect their tapes, CDs, and vinyl.
Fans have found it increasingly difficult to connect with artists, not just with songs or content, but the whole story.
Many artists and their teams also suffer financially in an unfair new world.
While musicians’ incomes from CD sales have decreased, music appreciation has increased.
The pandemic has also affected how musicians make a living.
Concerts are one of the few avenues fans have to support them directly.
Part of the problem is that there are few ways for fans to show support or channel behavior that are alive and well: buying art online, collecting, or paying for content that they find interesting or valuable.
How can we make this right? How can we make unique ownership and collectibility accessible to a new generation? How can we make music more accessible to artists? How can we ensure that the solution we create is sustainable for the future of the music industry? KLKTN was born from this idea.
It helps creators connect to fans through collectible art and other memorable experiences.
We offer new ways for artists to share their art and for fans of artists to support them.
How do you stay productive?
Most days, I get up at 7:15 am. Every week, I do a paper route to deliver newspapers to 26 homes in my neighborhood.
Although it is a small act, it can feel connected to my community.
Also, I love the time I spend with my children, helping them get ready for school and taking them to school.
These routines are essential to me because they help me see the big picture and set the pace for my day.
It gives me clarity when I commit to doing something positive every day and not getting caught up in emails.
That clarity and consistency are what lead to productivity.
Around 8:30 am, I will dive into the day’s priorities and connect with the KLKTN team.
Our team is spread across three continents in multiple time zones.
It is crucial to create a trusting, bonded, and supportive environment.
This involves both asynchronous work and one-on-one checks.
It also requires being focused and deliberate when it is time for team calls.
Flexibility is key to this job. I must also be available for my team every day.
Our greatest strength is the talent we attract and nurture, from our team to collaborators.
They all bring a wide range of perspectives and skills sets.
This privilege comes with listening to them, creating conditions that encourage creativity, and ensuring everyone feel valued, heard, understood, supported, and supported.
Apart from my role at KLKTN, I am also a music producer. Studio work starts in the afternoon.
However, I don’t start until I have taken at least 30 mins to prepare a meal.
Then, it wraps up around 7-8 pm. To be productive, I need to remind myself to practice healthy habits throughout the day.
This includes small steps towards taking care of my body, mind, and soul.
When it comes time to motivate or lead others, I can draw on a source of energy and all the positivity that it brings.
This is the beauty of this source: the more you feel it, the greater it’s potential and the more you can give.
How do you bring ideas to life?
This starts with identifying the unique and irreplaceable things you bring to the world.
It intersection your innate talent, developed skills, strengths, values, and other talents.
Next, you need to channel your curiosity and actively search for others who share your values but have different talents, skills, and perspectives.
You can then join forces to help one another create and bring new life into your ideas.
You can’t bring your ideas to life if you only focus on your ideas.
Your creative ideas might be limited by your perspective, experience, and knowledge.
Because it’s infinite, I am more interested in asking “What If,” encouraging curiosity and collaboration, as well as being open to transformation and growth.
What’s your favorite trend?
NFTs are transforming the worlds of entertainment and art.
They also fundamentally change the market for digital assets.
It’s an exciting time in fandom, and it’s an exciting time to think about the concepts of value, access, and collectability, as well as democratization.
Together with the KLKTN team, I am excited to usher in a new era of the music industry.
We also look forward to exploring the broader implications of NFTs at the intersection between culture, technology, creativity.
What habits make you productive?
Start your day by doing something small to make someone’s day better.
It makes you more productive and gives you clarity about what matters.
What’s your advice for the Noob?
Finding joy in the process and pursuing it is what you should do. Do not compare yourself to others. Focus on your heart.
What is one thing we can all agree on?
Next is the creation of technologies that foster emotional connection and reassert humanity.
Only when disruption benefits people is it good. It’s not just about making new things possible.
It is also good when the things it makes possible have a positive effect on people’s lives.
When it serves a higher purpose and brings people together, it adds value to both an individual and societal scale.
What do you recommend as an entrepreneur?
It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur. Everyone has a chance.
Not just once, but several times. Do not be afraid to fail.
You will be more concerned with the ground below than you are about the stars above.
What’s your rich strategy?
Our success has been due to our focus on the business’s premise.
Recognizing a problem and providing a solution that is simple, affordable, and of real value to people, today is what has helped us grow.
We believe that delivering the experiences fans want is possible by making it easy, affordable, and sustainable.
This allows us to recognize super fans and meet the real needs of artists trying to support their craft and bring value to their lives.
In addition to generating consistent revenue, we have helped artists keep the story alive and monetize it.
To grow beyond the “what” or “why now” of a business, you need to surround yourself with the right people.
It’s a privilege to work alongside a team that continually strives to make the impossible possible.
How do you overcome Failure?
In the late 90s, I had my first encounter with failure.
I searched the Yellow Pages for major record labels and cold-called each one.
I was determined to make it big in the music business.
I made a few mistakes throughout the experience, including showing up with demo tapes and getting kicked out of the house every time.
It was impossible to get over it. I had to push through the discomfort, keep going, learn from the process, and remain curious.
Then, I would identify the area where I could be most valuable and then pursue that goal. This lesson has been a constant reminder to me.
Can you share a business idea?
I want to ask readers from different industries the following question. Would you be interested in seeing how they respond?
What’s your recent best buy?
Ledger is a great hardware wallet for crypto assets. I have many.
We must realize that finance is going through some significant changes.
This is a great time to learn about blockchain and the implications for our future in decentralized finance and cryptocurrency currency.
It’s best to avoid making arbitrary decisions.
However, if you consider the cost of a Friday night out, you can start building your digital asset portfolio.
What are your favorite Softwares or Apps?
Digital Pigeon is a game-changer for sharing music, creative ideas, and large files.
It is the best file transfer company in the industry.
Which book would you recommend?
Douglas Rushkoff’s “Team Human” is a book I recommend.
It shows how important it is to work together to create technologies that better meet human needs, nurture connections, and make an impact.
What’s your favorite quote?
The opinions of others are the greatest fear in the universe.
You become a lion when you don’t fear the crowd.
You feel a great roar in your heart, the freedom roar.
TL;DR by Jeff Miyahara
- It is more important than ever to work together to create technologies that better meet human needs, foster connection, and have a positive impact.
- Supporting the artists you love has always brought great joy to people. This can be done by collecting their tapes, CDs and vinyl. Fans have found it increasingly difficult to connect with artists, not just with songs or content, but the whole story. Many artists and their teams are also suffering financially in an inherently unfair new world.
- It is time to decentralize music and make it more accessible to new generations of fans.
- Technology can drive positive change and be the key to a long-term solution for the future of the music industry.
- You might limit your creativity if you only focus on your own ideas. Your creative ideas may be limited by your perspective, experience and knowledge. If you encourage curiosity and collaboration and are open to change, you can grow endlessly.
