ABSTRACT
Several authors and critics have noted the musicianship and talent of the individual members of the Beatles and the effect on the band’s pioneering forays into new genres. Few, however, have recognized the “growth mindset” that was implicit in the creative process, as well as their relentless drive to be commercially, if not artistically, successful. This chapter examines the evolution of the Beatles as a band and the individual musicians using an entrepreneurial perspective, applying newly developed concepts between strategic judgement as a way of understanding how gritty rock sound of a skiffle group on Liverpool, marathon performances in Hamburg nightclubs were crucial investments that led to the emergence of the Beatles as popular music’s most experimental band in the late 1960s. Using often ignored concepts in organizational theory and economics, this chapter explores why and how the Beatles effectively pushed the boundaries of pop music through an innovation process focused on intentional songwriting and studio recording. This chapter draws on content from the studio albums Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and The Beatles (the White Album) to illustrate the “growth mindset” at work while drawing connections to advances in recording technology and the diversification of genres/styles in popular music.
