Brand Building: A visionary entrepreneur who blends legacy, innovation, and cultural empowerment.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Isaac Hayes III.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To highlight Isaac Hayes III’s entrepreneurial journey, his stewardship of his father’s legacy, and his creation of Fanbase, a Black-owned social media platform designed to empower creators and challenge the status quo of tech ownership and monetization.

🗝️ Key Takeaways 1. Legacy & Identity

• Isaac Hayes III discusses the duality of carrying a famous name—both a burden and a blessing.
• Early in his career, he used a pseudonym to avoid bias and prove his merit as a music producer.
• Quote: “In the beginning, it kind of hurt you… down the line, it’s going to help you tremendously.”

2. Music Publishing & Ownership

• He explains the difference between masters and publishing in music rights.
• Publishing is like “musical real estate”—you own it until you sell it.
• Quote: “As long as you hold on to that musical real estate, you own it forever.”

3. Social Media as a Business Tool

• Hayes recognized the power of social media around 2008–2009.
• He emphasizes how Black culture drives social media engagement but lacks ownership.
• Quote: “Black culture elevates all infrastructures of entertainment, but we don’t own them.”

4. Fanbase: A Visionary Platform

• Fanbase is a subscription-based social media platform that:
  • Doesn’t run ads.
  • Allows creators to monetize directly via in-app purchases.
  • Sends content to all followers without suppression.
• Quote: “I’m the first social media founder to create a mechanism where people could subscribe to people using in-app purchases.”

5. Innovation & Influence

• Fanbase pioneered features like gold verification badges and mobile subscriptions before major platforms adopted them.
• Hayes asserts that Fanbase moves at the speed of Black culture, unlike competitors who mimic it.
• Quote: “The only separator between us and them is capital.”

6. Political Impact

• Hayes used social media to support political campaigns, including helping elect Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.
• He views social media as a tool for civic engagement and community empowerment.
• Quote: “Social media spreads messages through virality… it can create engagement and action very quickly.”

7. Investor-thon & Community Support

• Fanbase raised nearly \$700,000 in 10 days through an equity crowdfunding event featuring celebrities and influencers.
• Hayes stresses the importance of Black ownership in tech infrastructure.
• Quote: “If we’re not owning infrastructures, we’re just contributing to other people’s wealth.”

🧠 Final Message

Isaac Hayes III is a visionary entrepreneur who blends legacy, innovation, and cultural empowerment. His mission with Fanbase is to create a platform where creators—especially from the Black community—can thrive, monetize, and own their digital presence.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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