Black Enterprise Profile: Steve McKeever

Imagine being in a place where you could do whatever you wanted to do artistically, without being judged. At his own record company, Hidden Beach, Steve McKeever lives his dream working with some of the biggest names in the recording industry.

Steve McKeever is CEO & Founder of Hidden Beach Recordings, the award-winning California based company that has launched the careers of Jill Scott, Kindred the Family Soul and introduced the world to the concept of Unwrapped, the unique blend of Hip Hop and Jazz. Prior to founding Hidden Beach, Steve served as EVP of Talent and Creative Affairs for Motown Records, where he also founded MoJazz Records. He was named one of the 50 most powerful African Americans in the entertainment business by Black Enterprise Magazine, alongside the likes of Quincy Jones, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Cosby. In February of 2004, he was honored as the only music executive and recognized by the Artist Empowerment Coalition (AEC), an artists’ rights advocacy group founded and supported by superstar recording artists such as Prince and Stevie Wonder. In addition to his work with new talent, Steve is widely recognized for his ability to work with and get the best out of superstar artists. Among those he has worked with are Lionel Richie, Diana Ross, Boyz II Men and Stevie Wonder. While at Motown, Steve oversaw recordings that generated over $700 million in sales.

“Hidden Beach, philosophically and conceptually, was created to be both mythical and real. Hidden Beach is both a record label and a musical oasis where artists can feel free to express themselves creatively without limits or boundaries,” says McKeever.

McKeever also believes in social responsibility. He began the College Intern Program, which provides college students with hands-on music industry experience. “Our intern program is as vital an area as any of our departments and we take pride in extending a helping hand to our young intern staff,” he says.

“At Hidden Beach, we believe that in as much as we have a responsibility to be financially and artistically successful, we must also give something back to the community, in particular to young people.”

A young man himself when he established Hidden Beach in 1998, McKeever had worked as an entertainment lawyer and manager in the music industry for nearly twenty years. Located in Santa Monica, California, Hidden Beach is a true success in a fickle industry.

“A great segment of the music business is concerned with commerce, not art. This attitude gives Hidden Beach a huge opportunity — that is to produce and deliver what music lovers yearn for — musical experiences.”

“We do not believe in labeling music nor do we limit the kind of music that we release. We believe in introducing the best of the best in all genres. We focus on great music.”

“Flavor of the week is not a priority of Hidden Beach,” he continues. “Our brand is known for giving people a full album, where every track is great, as opposed to two or three hits amongst ‘filler’ tracks. As an entrepreneur, this gives me a chance to harvest great talent and also allows our artists to make the best records they can.”

In this age of huge changes in the music industry, for example the downloading of songs and videos from the internet, Hidden Beach has clear goals to manage and harness opportunities that other labels haven’t yet grasped.

McKeever is particularly excited about an upcoming compilation release called Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations. “One of America’s most prominent black intellectuals, Dr. Cornel West, has teamed up with Hidden Beach Recordings to produce one of the most important and socially conscience music projects to be released in 2007. It features collaborations with Prince, Outkast, Jill Scott, Talib Kweli and many more,” he says.