Converse, now a $2 billion Nike-owned company, says it owes its status to the music industry, which organically adopted Chuck Taylors for the stage. So to give back, it launched Rubber Tracks, permanent and pop-up studios that host emerging artists’ free recording sessions. The program also became a key component of Converse’s content strategy. “Converse owes so much to music,” said the brand’s global music marketing director Jed Lewis.