From Singing in Parks to Selling Out Arenas: AJR’s Adam Met on Building Success from Scratch | E113

Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

As a teenager performing on New York’s streets and parks, Adam Met never imagined selling out arenas nationwide. Alongside his brothers Jack and Ryan, he formed the band AJR, playing for hours each summer while learning to capture the attention of indifferent passersby. A single tweet to Sia changed everything, launching their breakthrough. Balancing music with demanding academic work and nonprofit leadership, Adam mastered the art of building an engaged fan base that is driven to action. In this episode, Adam joins Ilana to share insights from his new book, Amplify, which blends his experiences in music and climate advocacy to inspire community building across various fields.

Adam Met is a musician, climate advocate, educator, and member of the multiplatinum band AJR. He is the Executive Director of Planet Reimagined, a nonprofit leveraging media and strategic advocacy to mobilize climate action.

In this episode, Ilana and Adam will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:51) Early Musical Influences and Street Performances

(04:04) Coping with Rejection as a Child Performer

(05:52) Attracting an Audience While Embracing Nerves

(09:30) How One Tweet to Sia Changed AJR’s Career

(13:01) Why “I’m Ready” Became a Smash Hit

(16:58) Overcoming the Fear of Being a One-Hit Wonder

(21:29) The Innovative Strategies Behind AJR’s Success

(26:56) Two Key Tactics to Build an Engaged Fan Base

(28:48) The Birth of Adam’s Debut Book, Amplify

(31:28) How Adam Merges Music and Climate Advocacy

(34:21) Adapting Quickly: The Drive-In Concert Pivot

(39:21) Funding Climate Action Through Bipartisan Support

Adam Met is a musician, climate advocate, educator, and member of the multiplatinum band AJR. He is the Executive Director of Planet Reimagined, a nonprofit using media and strategic advocacy to mobilize climate action. Adam works closely with Congress and the White House to promote renewable energy and serves as a sustainability advocate for the United Nations Development Programme. In recognition of his efforts, Adam received the 2024 TIME Earth Award and was named a New York Times Changemaker.

Connect with Adam:

Adam’s Website: adammet.net

Adam’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adam-met-38274379

Resources Mentioned:

Adam’s Book, Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World: https://www.amazon.com/Amplify-Connection-Engage-Action-Better/dp/0593735900

Planet Reimagined: planetreimagined.com

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