ACG’s End-of-Summer Playlist

The summer is rapidly drawing to a close, conference season is approaching and the M&A market is finally heating up, so you know what that means: It’s time to put your game face on.

And what better way to get psyched up and ready for some tough meetings than to tune into a playlist curated by top M&A experts? Some want songs that calm them down, others look to artists that pump them up and some have an entire playlist that really gets them in the headspace to get deals done.

Here’s what they listen to while getting ready for their biggest negotiations and why these songs matter to them.

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Dhani Harrison and Prince

“This song fires me up for a few reasons. First, I’d submit that it’s, bar none, one of the best guitar songs ever written. Secondly, this particular cover contains one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, performed by none other than Prince. Best of all, no one—not even his fellow guitarists on the stage with him—knew that it was coming. It’s an awesome (and humorous) story. And I just love the idea of Prince waiting patiently in the wings, only to emerge out of the shadows at the end of the song and burn the stage to the ground. Not a bad strategy for any tough meeting!”

—Tony Hill, principal, Trivest

“War Pigs,” Black Sabbath

“One,” Metallica

“Hollaback Girl,” Gwen Stefani

“The Sound of Silence,” Disturbed

“As we enter another period in history where M&A will increase for all industrial sectors, I have what might be an interesting playlist, perhaps suitable for early workouts, bound to get an M&A advisor/banker in a great frame of mind when aiming to arrange many solutions needed in today’s middle-market industrial sector supply chains. Being a C&I banking executive, mom, community volunteer and recovering chronic Lyme patient makes me appreciate the words being sung by these artists and with the video, no doubt I’m ready to get deals done to support our vital private sector through the tailwind that they will encounter! As they say history can either repeat, or maybe this time it will just rhyme!”

—Wendy Sowinski, commercial banking leader

“Enter Sandman,” Metallica

“Lose Yourself,” Eminem

“I’m the Man,” Aloe Blacc

“‘Enter Sandman’ is just a powerful walk-on song. And ‘Lose Yourself’—how do you not get riled up? And after listening to ‘I’m the Man,’ you just feel like, I got this.”

—Chris Hebble, managing director, Houlihan Lokey

“Renegade,” Styx

“It has a ‘me against the world’ vibe and it’s the song my favorite sports team plays when they come onto the field.”

—William Buettin, executive director, Wells Fargo

“Waves,” Mr. Probz

“I really like this song because it reminds me of being on the beach and in the mountains, particularly Telluride. The song calms my nerves and inspires me.”

—J.B. Dollison, managing director, Crutchfield Capital

“I Can Only Imagine,” Mercy Me

“I have always enjoyed this song and it helps put life into perspective when having a bad day at the office. When driving to or from a difficult meeting, I will at times put the song on to provide a little peace and excitement.”

—Steve Castino, chief growth officer, Rehmann

Watch: A Playlist for Your Toughest Negotiations

If you’re ready to get psyched up, give the playlist a listen here on Spotify.

Responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

Hilary Collins is ACG’s Associate Editor.

Middle Market Growth is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.