Brad Mindich: the art and craft of archiving stardom
The founder and CEO of Inveniem and Definitive Authentic talks about the importance of an artist's archive, the notion of pre-nostalgia, unexpected discoveries in lost boxes, and curating virtual museums for music's biggest stars.
Today, the Spotlight shines On Brad Mindich, an entrepreneur who works directly with artists, athletes, and others in music, culture, and sports to expand their legacies and create powerful connections with their fans.
Brad currently does this work as the founder and CEO of Inveniem/Definitive Authentic, which helps its clients organize, catalog, present, and oftentimes monetize their archives directly to their audiences.
Brad has worked with Metallica, Def Leppard, Stephen Stills, basketball star Devin Booker, Monty Python co-founder Eric Idle, and many others.
Our conversation took some fascinating turns, exploring the concept of “pre-nostalgia”, the longing for a future that was imagined in the past. We discussed the powerful impact of nostalgia on individuals and communities and how it can evoke positive or negative emotions.
We also talked about the cultural influences and connections between various subcultures, particularly Rastafarianism, with its historical and social roots in and connection to Hinduism and Indian immigrants.
At its most basic, Brad’s work is about preserving cultural heritage, something his family has contributed to. Brad’s father owned the Boston rock station WFNX and was the longtime publisher of The Boston Phoenix, the fabled underground newspaper with roots stretching back to 1965.
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Dig Deeper
• Visit Definitive Authentic at definitiveauthentic.com and Inveniem at inveniem.com
• Follow Definitive Authentic on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X)
• The Inveniem Company: Dedicated to Preserving and Expanding the Cultural Legacies of Bands, Artists, and Others
• Academic Papers by Brad Mindich
• What Happened to the Boston Phoenix?
• Miss the Boston Phoenix? You can now browse and download its archive for free
• The Simpsons: “Even the Boston Phoenix?”
• WFNX | The Music Museum of New England
• You can feel nostalgia for things that you haven’t yet lost
• Rastafari: the Indian connection
• Essential Listening: Patato y Totico — A Rumba Like No Other
• Fania All-Stars and The Night Salsa Music Was Transformed
• Behind The Metallica Black Box
• What Have Def Leppard Been Hiding in Their Closets? Band Opens Up Its ‘Vault’
• Mötley Crüe Open The Crüeseum, a Virtual Museum
• Backstage with Bon Jovi
• Inside Iron Mountain: It’s Time to Talk About Hard Drives
• Raiders of the Lost Ark - Warehouse
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