Why the music industry is rigged and how you can BUY a Grammy: Trevor Jackson explains all

Trevor Jackson is no stranger to the spotlight — but in this episode, he opens up like never before. From starring in *Grown-ish* and *Superfly* to dropping his most personal album yet, Trevor has seen every side of the industry. He shares how the machine behind music and film is built on money, influence, and perception — and why not having that machine can leave even the most talented artists overlooked. After going through a painful breakup and tearing his Achilles, Trevor found himself at his lowest — and wrote an entire album in just two weeks. He talks about being told he was "too clean" to be marketable, walking away from major labels, building his own company (Born Art), and reclaiming his freedom as an artist. This conversation dives deep into mental health, validation, self-love, creativity, and the hard truth about how things really work behind the scenes in Hollywood. If you’re a creative, an artist, or someone chasing something bigger — this episode will hit home. Trevor Jackson is creating on his own terms now, and he’s not holding back. This is the most honest, unfiltered, and inspiring version of him the world has seen. 00:00 Intro 01:39 Creative Collaborations and Directing 03:49 The Art of Music Videos 04:48 Creating the Greatest Breakup Album 07:39 The Creative Process and Challenges 19:34 The Shit List 24:26 The Journey and Inspirations 30:34 The Decline of Traditional Musicianship 31:21 The Art of Performance 31:40 The Drive for Excellence 33:06 Current Acting Projects and Future Plans 34:55 The Impact of Technology on Human Interaction 39:14 The Role of AI in Creativity 42:06 Personal Growth and Self-Reflection 54:30 The Importance of Therapy 56:51 The Power of Positive Self-Talk 01:00:35 The Power of Art and Creativity 01:01:19 Learning Through Video Games 01:01:36 Navigating the Music Industry 01:01:52 Signing with Atlantic Records 01:03:46 Challenges in the Music Industry 01:08:15 Born Art 01:09:55 Financial Realities of Acting and Music 01:18:09 Touring and Fan Experiences 01:21:17 Personal Goals and Legacy   Follow Trevor Follow ⁠⁠Arrad (podcast host)⁠⁠    LISTEN / SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST: ⁠⁠SPOTIFY⁠⁠ ⁠⁠APPLE MUSIC⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YOUTUBE⁠⁠   CONNECT WITH US: ✩ ⁠⁠Ourselves (production team)⁠⁠:  ✩ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ✩ ⁠⁠Facebook