MEDIA INFLUENCER, ACTIVIST

MARCUS “BELLRINGER” BELL IS AN AMERICAN MUSIC PRODUCER, SONGWRITER, MULTIINSTRUMENTALIST, SINGER, SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER, ACTIVIST, AND ENTREPRENEUR.

k WRITTEN AND CONDUCTED BY

WILLIAM JACKSON, ABA, B.ACY., MBA AND FOUNDER, CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER, AND PUBLISHER OF INFLUENTIAL MAGAZINE, SPANISH INFLUENTIAL, AND TEEN INFLUENTIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF

KYLE WEEKS.

EXCLUSIVE M arcus has marketed and promoted, produced, remixed, and written for, mentored, and developed some of the world’s most notable superstars and brands. His list of credits includes Nicki Beyonce, Minaj, Snoop Dogg,

Timbaland, Sony Music, HBO, Netflix, Showtime,

Discovery Network, Amazon, Warner Brothers, Arista

Records, EMI, and Universal Music. He has also created music for worldwide brands such as McDonalds and

General Mills.

Marcus Bell, the entrepreneur, is the CEO of Bellringer Productions LLC, a music sync licensing and production company that operates a catalogue of over 10,000 songs and over 300 recording artists.

Marcus published an Amazon #1 bestselling book titled Bellringer Branding Bible: The 5 Musician Branding Principles for Singers, Rappers, DJs, Music Producers, Composers, Writers, and Recording Artists.

From the Beginning

The son of national tennis champion Carolyn Williams Bell and entrepreneur father, Harvey Lee Bell Jr., Marcus was born into an environment of excellence and creativity in Norfolk, Virginia. With a love for the arts fueled by the support of his parents, he started playing piano and studying music when he was two years old and started an independent record label at twelve.

Marcus’ teen years were spent studying and developing his craft as he learned to play over twelve instruments and gained mastery in songwriting and producing music. He also learned how to build audiences of fans and supporters at an early age.

After high school, Marcus attended Virginia Commonwealth University where he majored in business with a minor in music. He later transferred to the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston where he graduated with honors. At the end of his time at Berklee, he briefly interned at Universal Music Group and then began working for BMG (Arista Records, Jive Records, and RCA) marketing and promoting the careers of some of the biggest recording artists such as Britney Spears, Usher, and Puff Daddy, and groups such as Outkast and TLC.

After working for major entertainment companies for four years, Marcus realized entrepreneurship was his pathway to being self-expressed and fulfilled. He has been creating value as a creative technologist and sustained a thriving entertainment business over the past two decades.

Having started several companies, Marcus has achieved many successes, learned from failures, and has inspired and helped hundreds of artists develop their creativity. He has been using his experience as an entrepreneur to make a difference in people’s’ lives with his Wealth and Impact Bootcamp.

Marcus is committed to social justice, dignity, and compassion and has been involved in social issues such as promoting STEM education in underserved communities to music education in schools.

After participating in marches and political campaigns, Marcus realized the power of music to impact society and be a vehicle for the empowerment of communities. In 2018 after the passing of his mother, he created the Carolyn Bell Foundation whose mission is to advance the causes of social justice through storytelling and the arts.

Marcus is a social media influencer who is unstoppable, and he’s motivating people from all over the world who are touched directly and indirectly by his wisdom and musical genius. He believes every human has amazing inner potential which can be tapped into and encouraged to grow. His mission is to leave a legacy which helps to provide meaning to billions of people.

I invite you warmly to step into our exclusive conversation. I hope you’re just as inspired by the accomplishments and humble attitude of Marcus Bell.

William Jackson: Let’s start with how Marcus them, living them, and then inventing new dreams. My “Bellringer” Bell, as a person and brand, have internal work is to stay present and in gratitude for the weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. amazing life I’m living. Marcus “Bellringer” Bell: These are troubled times in which we’re living. I know five people who’ve passed William: I should ask, what was your dream? from COVID-19 or related issues. I’ve friends and clients Marcus: I’ve always had big dreams of helping the who’ve contracted the virus and I feel very fortunate most amount of people I could. That still is the dream my family and I haven’t suffered from the medical I’m pursuing in various ways whether it’s creating issues impacting so many. It’s been a surreal experience music which uplifts people or by being an example of and I’m hopeful about the vaccines. My business has been thriving and growing manifold during this period. It’s nothing less than a blessing for me as a brand. I’ve been able to offer help to the people who’ve been interacting with my training “ I’ve always had big dreams of helping the most amount what is possible for others by striving to live to my fullest potential as a human being. I had what I’d call here “the music dream” the first time I played an original song in front of an audience and people started crying. Right now, when I get a programs and music opportunities by of people I could. message from someone that my music not just providing hope for now and the future but also a frame of reference that That still is the dream helped them in some way get through another day, it makes me feel like my helps them to embrace their inner power. I’m pursuing in various work is meaningful. I’ve been pouring myself into not just ways whether it’s my own personal ambitions but other’s success as well and I’m seeing people’s creating music which William: What were your emotions when, for the first time, a crowd roared lives transform for the better. uplifts people or for music for which you’re associated? William: When you were a boy, did you by being an example Marcus: There’s no feeling like the roar of a large crowd in appreciation. It’s a high dream the life you’re living now was of what is possible difficult to express. It’s like being in love and possible? Marcus: I’m future oriented and I can see for others by striving receiving love back for the first time. That rush of warmth and excitement, hope, and possibilities for myself but also possibilities to live to my fullest attentiveness… multiply by 10,000! The first in and for others. I can’t remember ever potential as time I felt that was on stage with President not being that way. I was exposed to a lot having started in business when I was nine a human being. Clinton at one of the inaugural events when I was playing saxophone. It was incredible. years old and having been featured in the media and performing for thousands of people so young. I saw successes early on which fueled my motivation to ” I’ve experienced that many times now with various recording artists, and it’s a drug I can’t kick. keep going and creating bigger dreams. William: From where does your strong work ethic originate? William: How does the reality compare with your Marcus: I got it from my mother, Carolyn Williams Bell, dream? who died a couple of years ago. I’d see her stay up late Marcus: My life right now is unimaginable to what I at night working on a grant, a project, or her dreams knew even ten years ago. I’m still learning how to live till she couldn’t go anymore. Because of that drive, she my dreams. As far as I can tell, there’s creating dreams, was hugely successful at whatever she endeavored. maintaining them while you pursue actions toward She did whatever it took to make things happen and

I’ve been the same way. It’s easy when you’re doing patterns, to improvise in conversation and to create what you’re purposed to do, difficult when you’re not possibilities in life. The direct connection between doing what you were put here to do. applying practice to learn a musical instrument and William: What’s noteworthy about Norfolk, Virginia? website is no different in the amount of effort and near Marcus: It’s a small city which has struggled with immediate feedback. Anything worth endeavoring in racism and racial tension for a long time. I was involved takes deliberate practice and I learned how to practice in a school busing lawsuit when I was ten years old in very early. the 80’s where my mom and I were sued by the city. She was trying to get me into a better school as well William: Tell me about your favorite childhood memory. as break down the walls of segregation in that city. We Marcus: One of my favorite memories was when my lost the case. dad took me to a parking lot when I was a kid. He William: Share with me the highlights of growing up Marcus Bell. Marcus: I grew up with love and support from my family. Encouragement to live got out of the car and handed me the keys and said, “today you are going to learn how to drive”. I was around eight years old and was shocked and excited! That was the beginning of me realizing the “ After a love breakup when my heart my life in the best way possible. I was is bleeding on limitations people often have don’t thinking recently about this topic. The best quality music instruments and the keys of a piano. have to apply to me. If I could drive a car, I could drive a business. equipment can be expensive. My family I use music to channel sacrificed a lot to pay for lessons and purchase the recording equipment I the heartbreak William: From where do your best productions come? needed to be able to record my songs and those songs Marcus: After a love breakup when my when I was growing up. I had money hold meaning heart is bleeding on the keys of a piano. I coming in from shows but not enough to afford the thousands and thousands and healing. use music to channel the heartbreak and those songs hold meaning and healing. of dollars spent for my record label start-up back then. They were my first investors and after them I had some mentors who ” William: When listening to an artist, how do you know whether the person has what it takes to be invested in me. Being able to launch into the music successful in the music industry? business so young was a major achievement I didn’t Marcus: I’ve the ability to see potential in people and recognize until later in life. hear potential. I also recognize it takes more than a William: Tell me about the experience and long-term an experienced team that can navigate all of the nonimpact of studying music at such a young age. talent oriented factors for being successful. When I’ve Marcus: I believe the study of music for everyone is as coached artists in my programs, we get into the other essential as studying reading, writing, and math. It’s a elements which allow an artist to define what success language all of humanity hears but very few, in general, is and organize a plan to achieve it. can speak. There are scientific studies which talk about learning something like marketing or how to build a great voice and artistic perspective but also requires the impact music has on brain development and William: When it comes to lyrics, do you believe emotional wellness. It’s a biological necessity as far as you’ve a sense of responsibility to the artist and, I’m concerned. It has helped me with being able to see subsequently, the listener?

Marcus: I see my job as a songwriter being a hungry, there are kids victimized by sex trafficking, and communicator of the human experience. My aim is I could go on…I have a lot more work to do in music to capture the emotions all can access. I’m a lover of and through music. It’s a mountain with no top for me. words and meaning. Lyrics are just one of the many opportunities for expression music gives us. William: What’s most important when it comes to William: What is your process for creating a great lyric? Marcus: Everything is important especially when Marcus: I keep a note on my phone which has hundreds acceptance, unconditional love, loyalty, and trust are of lyric ideas and titles. I don’t create the lyrics; the lyrics present. create me. I’m still learning how to better express and solve the puzzles crafting a lyric requires. William: What is your ultimate Top Five Play List? Marcus: 1. Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing (Stevie “ I see my job as a songwriter being a communicator of the William: How do you determine who you are when considering this thing called ‘fame’? Marcus: In my Wealth and Impact Bootcamp we spend time unpacking fame and all the dimensions to it. There Wonder) human experience. are 28 levels of fame and once I saw that 2. A Hour Is Not a Home (Luther My aim is to capture in my studies on celebrity it gave me a Vandross) 3. Halo (Beyonce) the emotions different relationship with Fame. To me, fame is ultimately a vehicle to make a 4. Jealous (Labrinth) all can access. contribution to the world. 5. Better Days (Diane Reeves) I’m a lover of words William: How has your imagination William: Whom do you recognize as and meaning. Lyrics carried you forward in your successful your most influential partner in the music industry and why? are just one of the music career? Marcus: It has allowed me to have a Marcus: My wife Clare has been many opportunities music career. Without imagination there’s most influential. She isn’t in the music for expression no differentiation. Without imagination industry, she’s an educator but she was with me when I was struggling to music gives us. there’s a dreary future. With imagination we write our destiny. find my footing and learning how to have a sustainable career. She’s seen my ups and my wilderness experiences when I was disappointed ” William: What is your best achievement in life, to date? Marcus: Me and Clare adopting our daughter Melonie. when something didn’t go the way I planned as well It’s been the ultimate accomplishment. Nothing as seen me soar. compares to being a father.

William: There’s no argument you’ve made great impact in the music business. What do your accomplishments and accolades mean to you? Marcus: I’m grateful for all that has happened with all the mistakes I’ve made and learned and grown from. However, as it comes to meaning…We still have homelessness in the world, there are people still nurturing a successful personal relationship? William: Marcus, are you having a good time doing what you’re doing? Marcus: I don’t do anything I don’t enjoy. If I hate doing something, I’ll try and automate it, delegate it, or hire someone to do it. I’m striving to live every moment in my genius zone doing what I’m here to do. I’m living my purpose. l