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This week how success happensWe spoke with Rich Stern, CEO of audio streaming service TuneIn. Mr. Stern has had a stellar career working for some of the most disruptive media companies. I wanted to know how he got to where he is today, so I dug into his background, his early start-up, and what made him so successful. You can listen to the full text of our conversation below. I have excerpted three key points from him.
Personal passion over salary
The media influenced Stern’s life from an early age. Growing up in the Midwest, he got everything he knew about the world from the media. He spent all his weekends watching movies and watching TV. It inspired him to think more broadly about the world outside of Illinois, sparking a passion for entertainment that has led him to join top media companies such as TuneIn, which spearheads the digital transformation of Amazon Studios, Audible, and now radio. I was hired. .
Timestamp — 17:25
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challenge the status quo
Stern worked for Amazon Studios when it was first trying to enter the film and TV business, and this was a pivotal moment for both Stern and the company. With his background in technology and products, he knew that breaking into a traditional Hollywood studio would be nearly impossible. It forced Stern to question the futility of the status quo and led him to Amazon Studios. Amazon Studios was about to give him a chance.
At the time, Hollywood’s doors were also closed to Amazon, but Amazon’s disruptive approach changed Hollywood forever. Currently, the company is one of the world’s largest media companies, along with Apple and Disney.
Timestamp — 22:44
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If you have the right people, you will succeed
When Stern joined TuneIn in 2020 during the pandemic, there were many unknowns. But as people were forced to stay home, audio experienced a massive explosion. People were looking for ways to stay connected. Since then, TuneIn has massively expanded its mission to bring radio programming to nearly every device in the world. Stern’s job was to foster an environment where people could come together and innovate. As we continue to reinvent radio for the digital world, TuneIn employees have played the role of true architects of the company’s future.
Timestamp — 31:58
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