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Mondo.NYC Speaker

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Yudu Gray Jr.

Yudu Gray Jr.

Co-Founder & Co-CEO, 24/7 Artists

Yudu Gray Jr. is a three-time GRAMMY-winning music industry figure, experienced entrepreneur and artist advocate focused on empowering creators globally and simplifying the business of music. As Co-Founder & Co-CEO of 24/7 Artists, he is helping to build a global community of creative professionals and enthusiasts that foster innovation, promote personal growth and give artists in every neighborhood the confidence and tools to pursue their dreams. Joining 24/7 Artists means having access to industry experts via world-class courses, a suite of productivity resources to help manage a career and a peer-to-peer support network to level up any artists’ journey together.

From escaping the Liberian civil war in 1990 to being featured in The Washington Post, Yudu’s journey is a testament to resilience and passion. After settling in the Washington D.C. metro area, he pivoted from a promising track career, cut short by injury, to the dynamic world of music -- a life-altering move. He began as an audio engineering intern in the mid-2000s, quickly mastering the intricacies of music production. This led to the founding of the influential House Studios in 2010 with his wife Davina Thomas. Under their guidance, House Studios emerged as a key player in the DC, Maryland and Virginia music scenes, contributing to the success of artists like Logic, Ari Lennox, Wale, and Mannywellz. Yudu's work on Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album "To Pimp a Butterfly" is a career highlight, earning him a GRAMMY for Best Rap Album. The studio was known for its unique business model and did not focus on renting recording time but rather took on tasks of a record label. Here, he scouted for acts and created vision boards with them so both the artist and the team spoke the same creative language inside the studio.

Yudu and Davina’s success story with the studio reached its peak with an exit valuation of nearly $20 million, a monumental feat considering their humble start with $800. In 2020, they embarked on the new venture that became 24/7 Artists. With nearly two decades in the industry, Yudu balances his time between making music, running the company and cherishing moments with his wife and three children. His commitment to nurturing talent extends to his role on the board of The Recording and Film Connection. He is now based in Atlanta and finds joy in sharing his wealth of experience and insights in mentoring the next generation of music industry professionals.

Catalog to Cash: Finding Value in the Music Vault

10/16/25, 6:00 PM

In today’s saturated music market, the real money might already be sitting in artists’ vaults. But landing investment isn’t just about having songs -- it’s about knowing how to position them as valuable assets. In this featured powerhouse panel, investors and artist advocates will break down what makes a catalog stand out, how deals are structured, where to add the extra creative flair and which areas the money really flows in the modern creator economy. From private equity plays to publishing moves, we’ll unpack how decisions go down behind the scenes in evaluating the sustainable viability of songs -- and how artists at any level can differentiate themselves to get on investors' radars. Whether you own the rights or want a piece of them, this is your playbook for turning past (or future) work into wealth.

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