Mary J. Blige is an icon in the global music industry and popular culture. She is an American singer, producer, actress, and composer. Blige has sold over 50 million albums worldwide and has received nine Grammy Awards.
Her musical career began shortly after she dropped out of high school. She began with the Yonkers band ‘Pride,’ and recorded a cover of Anita Baker’s “Caught Up in the Rapture.” Her cover became a smash, and she was finally signed as a backup vocalist by Uptown Records in 1989, making her the label’s first female and youngest artist.
Apart from music, Blige has also pursued a career in acting. Her first film appearance was as a preacher’s daughter on the sitcom “The Jamie Foxx Show” in 1998. She also appeared in the 2001 independent film “Prison Song” and the 2014 feature “The Exonerated.” In addition, she appeared on “Ghost Whisperer” and made a special appearance on “How to Get Away with Murder” on ABC in October 2016.
Outside of her music career, Blige has a lot of successful business enterprises and collaborations that generate her money. Some of these companies are listed below.
Sun Goddess
In 2020, Mary J. Blige will launch her own wine label, Sun Goddess, in the United States. The brand is named after Mary J. Blige’s childhood recollections and her appreciation of the sun’s vitality. According to the Hollywood Reporter, she launched her brand in collaboration with the Italian wine company Fantinel Winery.
“A dear friend introduced me to Marco Fantinel, who referred to him as the world’s best pinot grigio producer.” “I felt extremely connected to the place and, more importantly, the people after walking through the vineyards and tasting with the Fantinel family,” Blige remarked.
The wine brand comprises pinot grigio ramato and a sauvignon blanc.
Perfume brand
The nine-time Grammy winner owns the perfume line “My Life.” Carol’s Daughter created the scent with her and named it after her breakthrough 1994 album.
It was available only on HSN and broke sales records on its debut day. According to her, the perfume brand reflects her personality: “..Me and a lot of my fans want to smell soft and a little fruity – but not too fruity with bees chasing us around – and also strong and beautiful.”
Blige claims she made the scent to do something special for her female followers.
Melodies
According to Essence, Blige started her sunglasses line, Melodies by MJB, shortly after introducing her perfume. The sunglasses came in a range of colors, all designed by the singer, who has made sunglasses her symbol since breaking out.
Matriarch Records
She founded her own record label, Matriarch Records, in 2004, and sold her music through Atlantic Records. Starshell was the first artist to be signed to Mary J. Blige’s record label.
The label, which features performers from the realms of R&B and rap, arose from Blige’s unhappiness with her inability to further the careers of singers she discovers.
In addition to her enterprises, Blige has lucrative sponsorship arrangements that bring in extra cash. American Express, AT&T, MAC, Apple, Burger King, Chevrolet, Reebok, Air Jordan, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Gap, and Target are among her endorsements.
