Douglas “803Fresh” Furtick recently sat down with Rick Wade of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the conversation quickly moved beyond music to lessons in entrepreneurship, ownership, and building a sustainable business for long-term success.
803Fresh shared how he is not just creating music but building a business model. “You have to think about it—you need PR, management, A&Rs, engineers,” he explained. “Everybody plays an intricate part. It’s a business.”
From forming an executive team to managing intellectual property, 803Fresh is intentional about ownership and leveraging today’s digital world. “Streaming and social media let us reach corners of the world we can’t touch,” he said, underscoring the power of platforms like YouTube and Spotify for global reach.
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Diversifying Revenue Streams
Growing up in Wagener, South Carolina, 803Fresh always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and he has expanded beyond music to merchandise, sponsorships, and even ventures outside entertainment—barbershops, nonprofits, and landscaping businesses.
His vision for the future includes creating music engineering programs in his hometown to give young people access to industry opportunities. He shared a powerful message during a recent seminar at Benedict College:
“Nobody’s going to invest in you if they don’t see that you have the drive to invest in yourself.” He urged aspiring artists to learn about the business side and surround themselves with a strong team.
More Than an Artist
803Fresh believes artists are more than entertainers. “I find myself going down the lines of philanthropy—teaching, sowing seeds, paying it forward,” he shared. His goal: to use his success as a platform for community impact and mentorship.
“I had enough time to be lax,” he said. “Now it’s time to build that foundation—for my family and my community.”
