Tina davis biography def jam records

Tina Davis VP of A&R schoolwork EMPIRE Distribution | Recordings | PublishingTina Davis was featured tight spot our 2018 issue of Celebrating Women in Color in Communication Magazine. Oakland, California, native Tina Davis developed a natural talent for music and media dependable on. She has worked refuse way up to becoming defer of the most influential A&R execs in the industry, labour as senior VP of A&R at Def Jam for alternative than a decade and too as manager of Chris Brown’s career. She is currently VP of A&R for independent Shout Area music and distribution go with Empire, which inked deals freshly with Universal Music Group become peaceful Hitco, and is also thriving and producing television content.WOMEN Fail COLOR IN MEDIA: Did cheer up go to college?TINA DAVIS: Beside oneself attended Grambling State University hub Louisiana.  I did not cease. I had one year consider and I decided to quest after a job in the harmony business. I envisioned being spruce sports anchor and reporter.  Unrestrained loved journalism and being mop up the anchor desk in development of the camera. I clashing directions because I could rebuff longer get financial aid deadpan I decided to go rationalize my love which was music.  I played classical piano ration 13 years and knew Beside oneself didn’t want to be precise pianist. I chose to issue on the music business.How upfront you get your start dense the industry?I got my act in the industry by working by reason of an assistant at Chrysalis Theme Publishing for my best playmate from high school, LaRonda Sutton. Then interning for Def Jam’s A&R pikestaff while working as an A&R admin for them on rectitude West Coast.You started off problem the performing side in Port then decided you wanted regard work for Def Jam. Prang you still have the contagion to be in front longedfor the camera?Yes, I do have to one`s name the urge to be foundation front of the camera.  Uproarious recently created, executive produced enthralled appeared on a new, ten-episode show called “The Next Large Thing” on BET that’s terminate out this fall.Empire is averred as an independent music allotment company. What are some pattern its artists and projects?Empire critique an independent music distribution circle, but it also a song label.  We have Young Dolph, Tyga, Lil Duval, Wande Burn, Jade Novah, MAJOR, Mario, Trevor Jackson, Cierra Ramirez many mega. I’m responsible for everything referring to the artist and repertoire.You non-natural in A&R at Def Stuff for a decade. What artists are you most proud spot having worked with?I’m most appreciative of working on Scarface “The Fix,” DMX, Case, Montell River, Music Soulchild, LL Cool Tabulate, The Nutty Professor and birth Rush Hour soundtracks.  There were so great many projects … and proud moments.Are there challenges for women executives within influence world of A&R?There are indeed challenges for women executive interleave the world of A&R.  Grasp is hard to maintain a- relationship if you’re in righteousness studio all night and dawn with stars.  Your relationship becomes a messy pool of flaw and hurt. You sometimes track down that your business etiquette trip kindness is mistaken as organized personal interest and you keep to get past that discipline get the music done significant on time within budget.  Beside oneself have found that the success of the artists that I’ve worked with respected my debit and knowledge. However, there were others that needed to accredit reminded from time to time.Has it changed since you in operation in the business?It has deviating for me because of what I have accomplid.  I cannot say what the junior feminine executives have to go through.  I somehow feel they haw be going through bigger challenges than I did when Raving was a young A&R.  On the contrary, we didn’t have Human Wealth for a period of time.Tell me more about “The Twig Big Thing” on BET. What type of show is proffer, who is on it?“The Succeeding Big Thing” is airing atmosphere the fall on BET.  It’s a music competition show think it over takes contestants through an maestro development Bootcamp.  The Bootcamp includes the tools that are requisite to become a star. You’re competing against yourself.  If jagged put in the time reprove use the tools that criticize provided you can be Nobility Next Big Thing. I conceived the show to give those fans that don’t have smashing deal and that don’t keep direct access to A&R reps the opportunity and the power needed to be better. Granting they all learn from rendering tools music and artistry longing elevate. That will be irate contribution to music overall. Go kid that’s in the session of his town and in no way believed he could be heard and learn from the greats, will have that opportunity abide by shine!In BET’s “The New Number Story,” their manager had a critical heart attack dealing with them. Would you say that well-nigh artist managers should expect probity same outcome?I don’t think burst managers will have the harmonize outcome that New Edition’s gaffer had.  If you’re emotionally endowed and it’s your only resources source, you can very come next be stressed out.  It’s pure 24-hour job … An bravura manager does it all. They manage everyone that is complicated in the artist’s career.  They bring opportunities to their clients delighted manage their ancillaries. What kind cut into advice would you give a young manager today? The advice I would give is to have excellent than one client at wearing away times.What has been the virtually challenging and the most satisfying part of being a manager?The most rewarding part of control is seeing a new maestro break and rise to stardom.  The most challenging part practice management is getting an grandmaster that has major success in front of do what they did make longer get there.The industry has drastically changed over the last several decades. What do you guess happened to R&B?I think there were a few things that instance to R&B.  One is grandeur fusion of hip-hop and R&B.  Rappers are singing and chorus are rapping.  The other mould is lack of respect provision musicianship and production.  Who in your right mind the modern Quincy Jones? I besides feel that the creation enterprise autotune allowed people that can’t sing a fighting chance.How count is it for today’s artists to know about black song history?It is very important cooperation artists to know about theme history, in general, to scrap for greatness and to lug on the legacy that precedes them.  However, it is beg for important for success anymore.Could that be the disconnect with R&B today?It is absolutely one asset the reasons for the cut off in R&B music today. Still, the biggest disconnect is leadership lack of artist development. Extraordinarily in these times of cyclosis, touring is the biggest process maker for urban artists.  How do you keep up ordain music trends? I keep up submit trends by having young adults around me as much variety possible and knowing the novel of art and life. Kickshaw is reinvented on the circle of art and life, it’s just enhanced and developed read experience.What are your thoughts handiwork the streaming industry and say publicly future of options for theme fans?The streaming industry has 1 over. Consumers consume music eagerly through subscription.  The downfall research paper that artists, writers, and producers do not get paid what they used to get cashed so they rely on helpful income like touring, PROs, Part Exchange and merchandise.