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Urban Meet-Up

New this year, the exclusive URBAN MEET-UP: WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S NEXT brings together Urban retailers and suppliers to examine the future of the genre and what trading partners can do to stay ahead in the ever-changing marketplace.

Group Leader
Ray Arceneaux, StarrClub Entertainment
Ray Arceneaux is President of StarrClub Entertainment, a music consultancy company. He is a 17-year music industry veteran and previously served as VP of Urban Sales & Marketing at WEA; Director of National Sales at Capitol/Priority Records, and as a Marketing Rep. at Polygram Group Distribution. Arceneaux has worked with artists such as Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Snoop Dogg, and Mos Def.

Participants

Andrew Barber, Fake Shore Drive
Andrew Barber is creator, founder and the blogging powerhouse behind Fake Shore Drive, Chicago’s premier Hip-Hop website and hotbed for the Windy City’s Urban music scene; featuring exclusive music, videos, interviews and news items that can’t be found anywhere else on the internet. Fake Shore Drive has taken the Chicago Hip-Hop scene from local to global, with partnerships with MTV and BET and accolades from XXL Magazine, Vibe Magazine, Time Out Magazine and more.

DJ Timbuck2, WGCI
By the age of 21, Timbuck2 had made his mark on not only on the Chicago club scene but also in every major city in the United States. In 2004, Timbuck2 was brought on by the Midwest’s #1 Radio Station: 107.5 WGCI, who were seeking to change the sound of Chicago radio. Consequentially, Timbuck2 became the youngest Mix show DJ and On-Air personality in WGCI’s history and earned his spot in The HeavyHitters, an illustrious worldwide DJ crew.

Ranadeb O. Choudhury, Ch’rewd/Mid C Media Marketing
Ranadeb Choudhury started Ch’rewd Management in 1990 while attending the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign. What started in the college dorm room, now is one of the most successful and innovative Urban marketing and promotion companies in North America, representing a broad base of clientele in the entertainment and advertising worlds. In 2001, Choudhury expanded Ch’rewd to include an artist management company which now represents The Cool Kids and Pac Div. In 2005, he created Mid C Media, a new media company that specializes in video, television and film. Choudhury is CEO of both companies.

Marty Gibbs, Sound of Norristown
Marty Gibbs is owner of Sound of Norristown and President of Rebel Hill Music, two positions he’s held since 1988. From 1998 to 2009, he was President of Family Independent Record Merchants (FIRM) and from 2004-2006, he served on the Board of Governors for NARAS. Over the past 20 years, Gibbs has received awards such as Retailer of the Year by NARM and Billboard Magazine, Revitalization Award by the Borough of Norristown and No. 1 National Retail Coalition by FIRM.

Dedry Jones, The Music Experience
Dedry Jones is the owner of the Chicago-based music retail outlet, The Music Experience. His career began with a short, part-time stint at Spin It records, until he opened Track One Records in 1989. In 2002, Jones created Right Track, a marketing and promotions company that among other things is the promoter for “The Experience.” Over the past 17 years, Jones has become a strong voice for Urban independent retailers, helping to creating midAIR, United Music Retailers, and The Independent Music Group.

Eugene Luckett, All Angeles
Eugene Luckett is the Head of All Angles, a full-service entertainment company that provides a sales and marketing platform for artists in the marketplace. At All Angles, research, analytical rigor, strategy and communication are melded into a comprehensive plan to serve needs of a diverse group of clients. Luckett has over 20 years of sales, marketing, management and radio experience. He began his career in 1991 with CEMA Distribution. He held numerous Urban marketing and sales posts at Polygram Distribution, BMG Distribution and Capitol Records.

Barbara McDowell, WPWX
Barbara McDowell works in the Programming Department as the Music Director at WPWX “Power 92″ Chicago. Her responsibilities vary but consist mostly of selecting music to play for WPWX. McDowell has also worked for WVAZ-V103 Chicago, WEJM-106 JAMZ Chicago and WVON Chicago. She is also a Columbia College alumni and use to work at WCRX the college station.

Ron Spaulding, Fontana Distribution
Ron Spaulding is the President of Fontana Distribution, the independent distribution arm of Universal Music in North America where he oversees day to day operations. A veteran of the music industry, he hails from such powerhouses as ILG, WEA and Priority Records. His unique sales and marketing skills have brought some of today’s most popular entertainers to the forefront of their careers.

We’re excited to offer “The Urban Breakout Package” for just $99!
(pre-registration = $99, on-site registration = $129)

The package includes: