Tracy Press - DC Regional Action Coordinator
President, Sweet Soul Entertainment
"There is no greater motivator than
a string of harmonic notes or a uniquely arranged melody,
the power of a diva or the enchanting rhythm of a favorite
song. Love for the music, the business, the personalities,
and the crazy way they all connect is what keeps me endlessly
inspired." -T. Press
Tracy Press has been actively involved in
various parts of the music and entertainment industry for
over six years. She is the founder and president of Sweet
Soul Entertainment, whose services include coordinating industry
events, consulting various entertainment companies and professionals,
and publishing industry related publications. She formed the
company to employ her capabilities in varied aspects of the
industry and have direct control over the management of the
projects she was involved in. By way of the numerous contacts
she had made and experience she'd acquired, she was able to
launch a successful start to her business. Her projects, through
Sweet Soul, have included work with music conferences, record
labels, artists and producers, major corporations, industry
professionals, athletic organizations, liquor distributors
and many other companies.
Like many professionals in the urban music
industry, Tracy began her career promoting parties and events
in New York. Through contacts she made and minor affiliations
she had with the music scene, she nurtured her infatuation
with the business. Her first job in the music industry was
with EMI Music (the conglomerate). She worked as an assistant
to Senior VP & Legal Counsel, Guy Marriott. Under his
wing, she learned about the general operation of the music
industry; sales, legal matters, music publishing, marketing,
strategy & planning, etc.
Tracy came to DC, via her attendance at
Howard University. Motivated by D.C.'s budding music scene,
she decided to continue developing her career there, hoping
to make a impact on DC's growing music market. Her first industry
association in DC was as a local promotions rep for Def Jam
Recordings. As Def Jam's first college rep at Howard University,
she promoted the company's music and co-coordinated projects
and special events, in the metro area, with a focus on the
college market.
Prior to managing Sweet Soul, full-time,
Tracy worked with Chucklife Productions, a record label headed
by super-producer Chucky Thompson (Bad Boy Hit-Man) and distributed
by Epic Records. She began as Promotions Manager, in which
she handled industry relations, retail and radio, and worked
street promotions. In due time, she was promoted to VP of
Marketing and Promotions, and assumed the additional responsibilities
of creating and managing the street team, publicity, developing
marketing/promotional plans, supervising all special projects
and events, and other marketing related functions. Due to
the small size of the company, she was also involved with
strategy and planning, human resources and booking.
Tracy Press' concentration areas within
Sweet Soul include entertainment and marketing consulting,
the Entertainment Opportunities (EO) List, and presenting
various industry-related events. Through consulting, she works
with entertainment companies on individual activities, marketing
and PR, project management and industry involvement. Past
and present clients have included the Philadelphia Music Conference,
producer Chucky Thompson, Tanqueray, Songwriter's Assn. of
Washington, VIBE Music Seminar, Microsoft/NBA, Spark Media,
Washington Sports, etc. She also works with industry professionals
across the country in career development and placement. The
EO List is an email publication distributed to over 1300 members
of the various entertainment, sports, and fashion industries
that list open positions, artist/producer/ screenwriter opportunities,
industry events, entertainment news, and other information
in the business. Tracy also produces various industry events
that bring together entertainment professionals to network
and socialize, as well as showcase artists, new products,
and entertainment companies. She has previously partnered
with companies like Remy Martin, BMG Distribution, American
Express, Def Jam, Kemp Mill Music, Courvoisier, Warner Brothers,
Sister 2 Sister, J Records and many others for her events.
As an Action Coordinator for NABFEME (National
Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment),
Tracy represents the organization in the Mid-Atlantic area
and organizes their monthly events and activities. In 2002,
she received the Action Coordinator of the Year award at NABFEME's
International Summit. Tracy is also a member of NARAS. Though
she divides her energy between these key commitments, her
true enchantment will always be with the music business. Tracy
anticipates continued growth with both her career and business,
as she embraces the concepts of her own philosophy: "Hard
work breeds success, determination promises longevity, and
passion is power."
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