Episode 398

Amani Roberts, Award-Winning Music Business Professor & Author The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups

Published on: 29th December, 2025

Today is Episode: 398 as we near the end of our 7th year of Your World of Creativity

I’m thrilled to welcome Amani Roberts — an award-winning music business professor, international keynote speaker, and global DJ performer.

He’s a USA Today bestselling author, and his upcoming book, The Quiet Storm: A Historical and Cultural Analysis of the Power, Passion, and Pain of R&B Groups, offers a powerful deep dive into how Black R&B groups shaped music, identity, and community.

Amani's Website

@amaniexperience on Instagram

Amani on YouTube

  1. From DJ Booth to Classroom — The Creative Journey
  • Amani, your career bridges music, business, and education. How did your early experiences as a DJ evolve into this mission of helping others unlock their creativity and confidence?
  1. The Quiet Storm — Why This Story Matters Now
  • Your new book, The Quiet Storm, is a cultural and historical analysis of Black R&B groups — from The Temptations to TLC. What inspired you to take on this topic, and why do you think it’s so important to tell this story today?
  1. Beyond Entertainment — R&B as Social Commentary
  • You write that R&B groups didn’t just make music — they moved culture. How did these artists influence identity, social change, and even the civil rights movement through their art and community presence?
  1. Resilience, Reinvention, and Relevance

o  With over 30 years in hospitality and 17 years in the music industry, Amani has collaborated with brands like Marriott, 7-11, Calendly, and Chartmetric, generating millions in revenue while inspiring professionals to unlock their creativity, take risks, and stay resilient.

o  You’ve led in corporate settings, creative spaces, and classrooms. What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned about staying relevant and resilient — whether you’re spinning records, teaching students, or advising executives?

o  Amani’s leadership extends beyond the stage — he was the first African American President of Meeting Professionals International’s Southern California Chapter in 45 years and is co-host of the podcast Adventures in Business. His work has been featured in Forbes, People Magazine, NBC, and Yahoo! Finance.

  1. The Future of R&B and Creative Leadership
  • As we look forward, how can today’s creatives — musicians, entrepreneurs, or educators — apply the lessons from R&B’s rise, dominance, and decline to keep their work meaningful, collaborative, and authentic?

Thanks to our sponsor, White Cloud Coffee — fueling creative conversations everywhere. Listeners, enjoy 10% off your first order at whitecloudcoffee.com.

And as we close out this special 7th anniversary episode of Your World of Creativity, remember to grab your free e-book, A World of Creativity, when you visit mark-stinson.com.

Join us next time as we continue our round-the-world journey, talking with creative people about how they get inspired, how they organize ideas, and how they build the confidence and connections to launch their work into the world.

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About the Podcast

Your World of Creativity
Catalyst of Inspiration, Stories, and Tools to Get Your Work Out Into the World
On YOUR WORLD OF CREATIVITY, best-selling author and global brand innovator, Mark Stinson introduces you to some of the world’s leading creative talent from publishing, film, animation, music, restaurants, medical research, and more.

In every episode, you'll discover:
- How to tap into your most original thinking.
- Inspiration from the experts’ own experience.
- Specific tools, exercises, and formulas to organize your ideas.
- And most of all, you’ll learn how to make connections

 and create opportunities to publish, post, record, display, sell, market, and promote
 your creative work.

Listen for the latest insights for creative people who want to stop questioning themselves and overcome obstacles to launch their creative endeavors out into the world.

Connect with Mark at www.Mark-Stinson.com

About your host

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Mark Stinson

Mark Stinson has earned the reputation as a “brand innovator” -- an experienced marketer, persuasive writer, dynamic presenter, and skilled facilitator. His work includes brand strategy and creative workshops. He has contributed to the launches of more than 150 brands, with a focus on health, science, and technology companies. Mark has worked with clients ranging from global corporations to entrepreneurial start-ups. He is a recipient of the Brand Leadership Award from the Asia Brand Congress and was included in the PharmaVoice 100 Most Inspiring People in the Life-Sciences Industry.