In this episode of Spikes Excitement Talks, Gordon dives deep into the eclectic and inspiring journey of guest Michael Gross, a music supervisor and creative force who's left his mark at some of the most influential names in advertising and tech—TBWA\Chiat\Day, Droga5, Google, Twitter, and now as a partner at Squeak E. Clean Studios.
Michael shares how his first break came not through a CV but through water polo—a sport he played at UC Berkeley—which surprisingly opened the door to a job at TBWA\Chiat\Day. From there, we follow his path from production coordinator to becoming the go-to music guy at the agency, simply by noticing that no one was opening the endless stream of promo CDs and deciding he would. What started as a side hustle turned into live concerts on the agency basketball court and supervising million-dollar music licenses for global campaigns.
They explore the evolution of the music supervision role, the inspiring culture under advertising legend Lee Clow, and how Michael carved a hybrid path that blurred the lines between producer and creative. You'll hear about the power of surf culture in shaping his creative ethos, his time in London leading music at AllSaints, and the moments of professional jealousy that come with deep admiration for peers in this tight-knit community.
Tune in to hear why music is not just part of the ad – sometimes, it is the ad and how Michael’s story is a masterclass in staying curious and creating your own role.
