Clive Davis, the influential music executive who shaped decades of popular music, died on Monday at the age of 90. The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from artists whose careers he helped launch and sustain, including Barry Manilow and Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen's tribute captured Davis's approach to artist relationships. He said Davis treated him with "the same respect and kindness as a 22-year-old nobody as he did after all my success." This quote reveals how Davis built lasting connections across the entire arc of artists' careers.

Manilow and other musicians who worked with Davis throughout their careers shared similar sentiments about his mentorship and guidance. His ability to maintain these relationships suggests a business philosophy that prioritized long-term artist development over short-term gains.

Davis's death marks the end of an era in music industry leadership. His approach to artist relations likely influenced how record labels think about talent retention and career longevity in an increasingly transactional business.