Michael Blakey Net Worth

What is Michael Blakey's net worth?

Michael Blakey is a British record producer, musician, composer, arranger and songwriter who has a net worth of $60 million. Michael Blakey began his career at age 19 as a producer at Berlin's Hansa Studios, working with global artists such as Boney M, Julio Iglesias, and Engelbert Humperdinck.

In the 1990s, he served as Chief of A&R at Atico Records, where he also played drums for the rock band Tidal Force. Over the decades, Blakey has contributed to more than 100 million album sales and received multiple Gold and Platinum records along with five Grammy nominations.

Blakey has co-founded several companies, including the internet-savvy 2KSounds and the artist-focused Electra Star Management. He also co-launched Organica Media Group with comedian Ron White and has managed celebrities from Pamela Anderson to Gladys Knight. Known today as "Producer Michael," he runs a popular YouTube channel showcasing luxury lifestyles, cars, watches, and real estate. To date, Michael's production work has contributed to over 100 million album sales and he has been nominated for five Grammy awards. His influence spans from behind-the-scenes music production to front-facing digital entertainment, making him a unique figure in both traditional and modern media.

Early Life

Michael Blakey was born in London, England, on December 8, 1958. His mother was reportedly an Olympic swimmer, and Blakey spent his youth immersed in music and business studies across Europe. He studied music in Madrid, Spain, and completed a business education in Berlin, Germany. This cosmopolitan background set the stage for his early start in the music industry.

Career Beginnings

By the age of 19, Blakey had secured a position as a resident producer at the famed Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin. This role at Hansa – a studio frequented by international artists – launched Blakey's career in record production and provided him with hands-on experience in the European music scene.

At Hansa, he produced tracks for popular artists such as disco group Boney M, Spanish singer Julio Iglesias, and British crooner Engelbert Humperdinck. Blakey also worked as a session drummer and composer in both the U.K. and the U.S., further honing his musical versatility.

In the early 1990s, he joined Atico Records in New York as Chief of A&R (Artists and Repertoire), a position he held from 1991 to 1994. During this period, he performed with and produced the rock band Tidal Force, contributing his unique rhythmic drumming to their 1994 album "Will to Power." His work at Atico earned Blakey industry recognition – he received the Melody Maker Producer of the Year award in 1993.

Record Companies & FFSS

Between 1994 and 1998, he founded three music production and promotion companies, one of which was Platinum Records. At Platinum Records, Blakey even collaborated with audio engineers to develop an innovative technology called Forensic Frequency Separation Software (FFSS). This software allowed specific vocals to be extracted from mono tracks – technology Blakey used to produce a posthumous duet album featuring country legend Patsy Cline singing alongside modern artists. Blakey's production expertise also extended to soundtracks: he co-produced the original musical score for Disney's "Cinderella II: Dreams Come True" (2002), which earned a Platinum certification. He contributed music to film and television projects as well, with credits including "Jackass: The Movie" (2002) and the remake of "Shaft" (2000).

Over his career, Michael Blakey has worked with an array of notable performers across genres. He has been involved in projects with country legends like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, pop and crooner stars like Engelbert Humperdinck and Glen Campbell, and even contemporary acts such as No Doubt and Eminem. To date, he is credited with contributing to over 100 million record sales worldwide. He has earned numerous Gold and Platinum record awards – over 60 in total – and has received five Grammy Award nominations for his work. Notably, Modern Drummer magazine once named Blakey among the world's top drummers, reflecting his talent behind the drum kit.

(Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures

Beyond producing music, Michael Blakey has proven to be an ambitious entrepreneur in the entertainment field. In 1999, he co-founded 2KSounds, a record label formed with partners John Guidon and Bruce Gladstone. 2KSounds was revolutionary for its time – it became one of the first record companies to scout and promote artists via the internet. The label's early success led to a partnership with Virgin Records (part of EMI), and Blakey was appointed President of the Record Division under that partnership.

Blakey's entrepreneurial streak continued into the 2000s. In early 2009, he partnered with comedian Ron White to launch Organica Media Group (OMG), a Los Angeles-based entertainment company with divisions in music, comedy, publishing, and film/TV. As President of OMG's music division, Blakey ran daily operations, while White headed the comedy division. The venture received a $1 million investment from Ron White and soon secured a distribution deal with Universal Music Group.

OMG built a diverse roster of talent: it signed emerging pop artists and reality TV personalities as well as established stars like soul legend Gladys Knight and singer Taylor Dayne. The company also spawned a successful subdivision called OMG VIP, which creates VIP fan experiences and meet-and-greets for touring artists and comedians. OMG VIP's client list grew to include big names in comedy and music – from Ron White himself to Martin Lawrence, Trevor Noah, LeAnn Rimes, Nick Cannon, Henry Rollins, and Tiffany Haddish.

In addition to his music and entertainment companies, Michael Blakey has dabbled in the aviation business. In 2006, he became co-owner of Pylon International, a private jet charter and aircraft management company based at Van Nuys Airport in California. Under Blakey's co-ownership, Pylon grew successfully and was sold the following year to International Jet Management Holdings, based in Washington D.C.

Electra Star Management

Simultaneously, Blakey founded Electra Star Management (ESM) in 2009, a boutique artist management firm based in West Hollywood. As the president of ESM, he expanded into managing actors, musicians, and other entertainers. The company's high-profile clients have included Academy Award-winning actor Billy Bob Thornton, actress and model Pamela Anderson, tennis legend Jimmy Connors, comedian Ron White, actress Brett Butler, and YouTube comedian JP Sears. Electra Star's effective management earned it industry accolades – in 2015, LUX Magazine named ESM the "Best Entertainment Management Company in California."

Real Estate

In 2006, Michael purchased a home in the Beverly Hills Post Office area for approximately $1.6 million. This property, situated on a hilltop acre with panoramic views of downtown L.A. and the canyons, features about 5,556 square feet of living space, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and custom high-end amenities. Blakey outfitted the home with a state-of-the-art whole-house sound system and a professional media room.

Blakey attempted to sell this Beverly Hills home just a year after buying it, initially listing it in 2007 for $2.5 million. In a curious move, he raised the asking price to $5.5 million in 2008, possibly after making luxury upgrades, but the steep price hindered the sale. He eventually lowered the price back down to around $2.9–3.0 million, yet no buyer materialized during that period. According to real estate reports, as of late 2008 Blakey decided to keep the property rather than sell at a loss. As of this writing, he still owns the Beverly Hills estate.

Social Media & Luxury Lifestyle

Using the handle "producermichael", he has over 2.5 million followers on Instagram and nearly 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube, with nearly 500 million views to date. On social media Blakey positions himself as somewhat of a "lifestyles of the rich and famous" personality. His Instagram bio describes himself as an "Exotic car and watch collector." His watch and car collections are purportedly worth tens of millions of dollars. He also uses his channels to tour luxury home listings, primarily around Los Angeles. His real estate review videos have become popular enough that he is frequently approached by realtors to give promotion to a home they are trying to sell.

He has courted some controversy by implying ownership of a private jet. Some followers have alleged that he does not actually own a jet and merely uses demonstration planes to inflate his image. In one specific video he drives a Ferrari to a private airport to tour an Embraer Praetor 600 private jet that he reported to own. Before customizations, this jet would cost $21 million.

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