An Interview with Roanne Mesirow, CEO of Mezz Entertainment
Roanne Mesirow, Founder and CEO of Mezz Entertainment
Growing up in Chicago, Roanne Mesirow was surrounded by the persistent blossoming of rising artists and art, and early on, she knew that she was destined for a career in entertainment. Though her studies in business and French, her time in fashion PR, working in a jewelry store, and moving to New York City have pushed Roanne into many different career paths, the resilient go-getter found herself always returning back to her love for hip-hop.
The work ethic and story of artists like 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, and Eminem later inspired Roanne to get involved in the music industry, and without any prior experience, but simply a passion for connection, she founded Mezz Entertainment in 2017.
Mezz Entertainment is a brand consulting and artist management company that helps to develop the careers of artists and companies in the music, fashion, and hospitality industries, through creative direction, promotion, management, and event production.
Over the past several years, Mezz Entertainment’s most notable accomplishments include landing deals with Grammy Award-Winning music producers, obtaining write-ups in Billboard’s online magazine, securing interviews on SiriusXM’s Shade45 and Hip-Hop Nation Channels, acquiring clothing sponsors, establishing brand partnerships between her artists and global companies such as Reebok, booking album release parties with Live Nation, and placing her artists into major music festivals, including Essence Festival, SummerStage, SXSW, and A3C.
A leader, CEO, and music fan just like the rest of us, Roanne is more than just someone who’s passionate about the industry and helping artists grow. She also fulfills her calling by managing her company through teamwork and by giving the next generation of music leaders the chance to get started through internship programs at Mezz Entertainment that specialize in Artist Management, Social Media, and Digital Marketing. To learn more about Roanne, Mezz Entertainment, and the internship experience she gives to aspiring music professionals (and how you can get involved), read on.
What was it like as a music lover growing up in Chicago? How much of the musical talent in the city inspired you as a fan of music growing up?
I really started getting into hip-hop music when I was 12 years old. In school, everyone was listening to it and especially since I was in Chicago, everyone loved Kanye West. I really admired his music growing up and loved how everyone in Chicago truly appreciated hip-hop as a culture.
After a few career changes, how did you know that starting your own company was the right thing to do?
Once finishing college, I had multiple jobs that ranged from working at a high-end jewelry store, to William Morris, to event planning. I felt like those jobs were truly just jobs, and I wanted to be enjoying what I was doing. Eventually, when I met my first client, it clicked, because helping her with her career didn’t feel like work to me. Someone told me a long time ago that if your job doesn’t feel like work, then you’ve won. 74% of Americans hate their job and I wanted to make sure that I was never a part of that statistic.
What would you say to aspiring music professionals who aren’t exactly sure what field in the music industry they should pursue?
You have to dive in head first and try out a bunch of different areas in the industry. Try to find a company that allows you to have mobility so that you are able to change your direction if you feel like it’s not a good fit. You are never going to know what you enjoy until you try it so don’t be afraid to take that first step!
What has been your biggest challenge as a woman on the business side of things in the music industry?
One of the biggest challenges that I have faced as a woman in the music business is the fact that some people just don’t take me seriously. People tend to assume that women can’t handle the grind of this business. If a man is direct and blunt, he’s handling business. But if a woman is direct and blunt, she’s a bitch. There’s a double standard in a lot of ways and as a woman, especially in hip-hop, you have to accept that there are going to be more hurdles to jump, and that honestly motivates me more to continue my journey in this business.
What has been the most rewarding thing you’ve come across while working in music?
Building the internship program at Mezz has been one of the most rewarding things for me. I love seeing the growth of the students and comparing their confidence levels from when they first started to when they leave. Also, I really find it rewarding when our clients reach their goals - whatever that goal may be. I love keeping our clients motivated and focused on their goals because it brings me a lot of joy when they feel like they’ve succeeded.
What do you do when/if you run into discrimination based on your gender or identity in music? How do you keep pushing forward?
When this happens, it’s crucial to put your blinders on like you’re a horse in a race. You have to stay focused and trust that everything will get easier as you build your reputation - this business is a process. Don’t be afraid to reach out for advice and talk to mentors in your life to help you through these types of instances, too!
If an aspiring music professional wants to get involved with Mezz Entertainment, how can they stand out from the crowd?
Be passionate! Passion is crucial because it keeps you motivated in this industry and lets you not be afraid to try new things. Also, I think it is necessary to be a good communicator and a true team player. Solid communication and collaboration are key to growing your network and skills!
At Mezz Entertainment, you supervise over 30 interns every semester. Why is it important for you to give that opportunity to aspiring young music professionals?
Helping interns is important to me because I want to be able to give them opportunities that I didn’t get when I was first starting out. Whether that be connecting them to other professionals or teaching them skills, I am happy that I can be a part of their journey in this industry. I truly want to be these interns’ mentor and help to give them a strong foundation for their career in the music business. – For more information on Mezz Entertainment’s internships, click here.
As women, we are often told not to be proud of our work - but not at Amplify Her Voice! - so what is one thing you are the proudest of that you’ve accomplished in your career so far?
One client that I am particularly proud of is Equis. He actually started out as an intern at Mezz a few years ago, but I knew I had to work with him once I heard his music. Equis is now regularly performing and DJing at some of the dopest clubs in New York City, and it is crazy to think about how much work we put into his career already. We still have so many things that we want to accomplish for Equis, but it has been amazing to watch him grow and accomplish some of his goals.