Meet Stone Stafford | Studio owner, Music Business Coach, Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stone Stafford and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stone, what’s your definition for success?
As a veteran in the entertainment business, things such as money, fame, and material possessions were the barometers of success.

Right before I was hired by Sony/ATV I had just married a beautiful success driven woman, bought a 3,000 s.f. 4 bedroom home as our first home and purchased a new Ford Expedition which was the SUV to have back in the late 90’s early 2000’s.
And then then after all of that, got hired as the Atlanta rep for the 2nd largest music publisher in the world.

But with all of that, my wife and I suffered a miscarriage and followed the failure to get pregnant. I eventually got laid-off after 4 years at Sony when they closed the Atlanta office. My wife was hit with one of a few health challenges that shook our world. And along with other losses and challenges, my nephew found himself involved in a crime that got him sentenced to 17 years in prison.

I realized the money, car, house and job position couldn’t solve any of these problems. It was at this point that my perception and definition of success ultimately changed.

Today, I define success as doing what you want to do when and how you want to do, with whom you want to do it with. To me, success is happiness with options.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
One of the first things people attribute to Icon Studios ATL is the fact that we are a non-smoking facility. When we built the facility in 2008 we were the only non-smoking recording studio in Atlanta.

We felt this was important because it fit our brand of doing what we call “clean business”. Clean business entails: friendly, respectful customer service, honest business practices and a clean, safe working environment.

While at Morehouse College I met up with a childhood friend with whom I joined a singing group that eventually got signed to First Priority/ Atlantic Records. This was the start of my next 30 years in the music business.

* (the details of my journey can be heard on episode #18, “Our Story” on L.I.F.E on Podcast. Available on all streaming platforms)

Through my studio Icon Studios ATL, my podcast, www.lifeonpodcast.com, and my coaching services, my primary goal is to provide people with the tools and wisdom they need to not only navigate the music industry successfully, but life itself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Every day would be a new dining experience at one of the Atlanta’s many delicious restaurants.. For starters we would definitely hit up Poor Calvins right out the gate for the most amazing Asian-Soul fusion cuisine that ever hit a taste bud. And the drinks will make you love anything you do and everyone you’re with!

Whereas, it’s one of those places were after you’ve been once or twice you’re kind of over it, if you’ve never been, I would definitely take them to the Georgia Aquarium.

Latin night at Sanctuary would absolutely be on the list of to do’s as well as catching a Falcon’s Hawks or Atlanta United game. (We would only do a Braves game if they were a diehard baseball fan, otherwise, we would definitely hit up tourist Park for some bowling at Punch Bowl).

Wine and karaoke recording in one of the studio rooms at Icon Studios will be a highlight of their trip/visit.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My first and foremost shout out will always be to God. People say this all the time, but for me, the more and more I grow and learn about God, the more profound my gratitude is. It goes well beyond being “religious” with it.

The next shout out will be to my mother, Geraldine Stafford. Everything that I am learning, practicing, and importing into others, she has gone out of her way to try to instill in me as I was growing up as a lackadaisical knucklehead. Now that I’m a successful business owner I find that she planted all of those seeds from day one.

After my mom will be my wife, Tashia Stafford. Not everything we truly need is going to be comfortable. My wife is the definition of tough love, but the emphasis is on love. Daily examples of hard work, diligence and entrepreneurship comes from seeing what I’ve seen in her every day since we were dating. I essentially have had a 27 year old mentor in my every day life. I learned invaluable lessons of both what to do and what not to do from my wife.

And lastly, I will forever be grateful to Christopher Young, Antonio Avant, James O’Neal, Renae McNeil and LaTanya Davis.
During a very rough period in my life, these five people kept my head above water and helped me make it through so that I was able to develop the type of character that only going through such a tough time can produce.

Website: www.stonestafford.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/@stonestafford

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/StoneStafford

Twitter: www.twitter.com/@stone007

Facebook: www.facbook.com/StoneStafford.dotcom

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@lifeonpodcast