In this episode of the Simplistic Podcast, Jeremy Greene and the crew sit down with legendary record executive Chris Anokute — the man who helped launch the careers of Katy Perry, Rihanna, Iggy Azalea, and Bebe Rexha — for one of the most unfiltered music industry conversations ever recorded.

Chris opens up about the truth behind “I Kissed a Girl,” his time running major labels, and why he walked away from the business to protect his soul. He shares unheard stories about Rihanna’s first demo, Katy Perry’s near-miss with the Pussycat Dolls, and how the industry’s dark side shaped his path to self-worth and faith.

The episode quickly turns into a masterclass on power, ego, and purpose — from Lionel Richie nights at Chateau Marmont to record-label politics, betrayal, and redemption. The crew dives into Taylor Swift’s sales strategy, AI in music, and even an unexpected deep dive into Pokémon and its hidden symbolism.

If you care about music history, creative integrity, or the spiritual cost of chasing fame, this one will hit hard.

⸻

What We Cover:

• How “I Kissed a Girl” almost went to the Pussycat Dolls

• The inside story of discovering Rihanna and Katy Perry

• What really happens behind record-label doors

• The industry’s exploitation cycle — and how to break it

• Taylor Swift’s record-breaking strategy vs. real artistry

• The truth about Scooter Braun and Justin Bieber

• Why the age of true superstardom might be over

• The surprising spiritual conversation about Pokémon

⸻

Chapters:

00:00 Lionel Richie & Chateau Marmont stories

05:00 Divorce, rebirth, and creative freedom

08:40 Meeting Jeremy Greene & early pop-star dreams

12:00 The genius-level hustle of building Ecco

14:00 The new age of streaming and Justin Bieber’s evolution

16:00 Scooter Braun debate & artist loyalty

21:00 Taylor Swift vs. AI manipulation in music

27:00 The lost art of artist development

33:00 Jeremy’s Rodney Jerkins story — and industry trauma

36:00 Chris on being fired, rebuilding, and standing tall

41:00 The real “I Kissed a Girl” story that changed pop forever

48:00 How Katy Perry tied Michael Jackson’s record

54:00 Rihanna, Beyoncé, and the death of the superstar

58:00 Pokémon symbolism, spirituality, and the dark side of pop culture

1:06:00 Closing reflections on love, faith, and legacy

#SimplisticPodcast #JeremyGreene #ChrisAnokute #MusicIndustry #KatyPerry #Rihanna #BebeRexha #IggyAzalea #TaylorSwift #ScooterBraun #JustinBieber #PopMusic #MusicBusiness #BehindTheScenes #EntertainmentPodcast #FaithAndFame #MusicHistory #ArtistDevelopment #RecordLabels #Hollywood

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.