Jubilee Magazine:: Truth.Culture.Style

ATLANTA, GA - The Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Conference was the
premiere event for the industry's who's who to network, share
knowledge and discover new talent.

The 8th Annual Conference & Awards Show came to Atlanta
November 28-30 featuring savvy speakers, must-attend panels,
skills-sharpening workshops, artist showcases, and an Awards
Party.

Now in its 8th year, the Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Conference and
Awards brought together the music professionals that help to
create, produce, promote and distribute the hottest genre on the
charts today. Attendees of this 3 day event included over 700
industry players including agents, artists, managers, producers,
entertainment attorneys, press and record label executives.

The Word Up! session addressed issues like, "Does an us
(Gospel) vs them stance still exist between the genre and its
more traditional counterpart? And where does hip-hop gospel fit
into the picture?" These questions were discussed by Arrow
Records recording artist Canton Jones, Alvin Williams (Gospel
Music Channel), April Essex (Habakkuk Music/Universal
Christian) and Marsha Burke (Gospel Today Magazine)

The Breaking and Entering session addressed the issue of why
only a hand full of females have cracked the business world's
glass ceiling-especially in the music industry. Female
executives who have broken through shared their tribulations,
trials and know-how advice. Speakers included Gail Mitchell
(Billboard Sr. Correspondent), Denise Brown (Entertainment
Attorney), Shelia Eldridge (Sr. VP/Partner, Perry Broadcasting),
Nicole Sellers (Sr. National Director of Urban Promotions, J
Records) and Omara Harris (Entertainment Attorney).

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
(ASCAP) presented a session called The Ear Behind the Music.
This was an in-depth conversation featuring Big Jon Platt, EMI
Music Publishing's newly named President.

Big Jon has signed such notable artists and writers as Jay-Z,
Usher, Warryn Campbell, Mary Mary, Tamara Savage, Rick Rock
and Harold Lilly. He's also worked with Janet Jackson and
D'Angelo.

Big Jon had the pleasure of being interviewed by songwriter
Johnta Austin. Johnta's name is familiar to record buyers who
make note of the songwriting credits on major hit records by
such superstar artists as Mariah Carey and Mary J. Blige. Music
industry insiders know him as the Grammy-winning 'go-to' writer.

Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, global multi-platinum artist
Usher and hitmaker Chris Brown have tracks on forthcoming
projects by this unassuming Atlanta native. While he may have
spent the last eight years behind the scenes, penning songs for
the likes of Toni Braxton, Tyrese, Enrique Iglesias, Ginuwine,
Aaliyah, Faith Evans, B2K, Ciara, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia
Barrino, and Mario, that all changed with the 2007 release of
Johnta's much-awaited debut album, OCEAN DRIVE.

The high energy conference weekend ended with an Awards
Party. Stephanie Mills received this year's Founder Award for
R&B and Salt-n-Pepa received the Founder Award for Hip-Hop.

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