BRE- Black Entertainment's Premier Magazine for 28 Years

Elroy Smith Continues His People Reach

At Radio One Philadelphia Music & Entertainment Conference

By Calvin Terrell

Photos courtesy of Radio One Philadelphia and Alex Macklin

While new to “the city of brotherly love,” the recent Music and Entertainment Conference spearheaded by Radio One Philly Operations Manager Elroy Smith, is not exactly new for Smith since he began it 15 years ago while at WGCI-FM in Chicago. Listeners lined the streets outside surrounding the downtown Philadelphia Doubletree Hotel, many with demo tapes and eager eyes at the ready as the Radio One station cluster of Urban WPHI-FM (100.3 the beat), Urban AC WRNB-FM (107.9) and Gospel WPPZ-FM (Praise 103.9) hosted the one-day event. In addition to five workshops with star-studded panels and a “Listen & Critique” session, a “Networking Finale” honored Mary J. Blige, Michael Bivens, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, and Kirk Franklin.

Smith took a moment from visiting the conference's many activities to stop by BRE's presentation booth to comment on the event's tremendous turnout. “We're offering it to Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware,” he said, adding, “We've even had people coming out of New York because Miss Jones talked about it on Hot 97, which is syndicated in New York and in Philadelphia on The Beat. Did I anticipate this? Yes, because I know people's hearts. People want to get in this business whether it's to make money or whether God said this is where I want you in terms of your talent…it's all about the people.”

The conference drew such notable participants as Mathew Knowles, Fat Joe, Zomba Gospel exec Jazzy Jordan, singer Ryan Leslie, Sharon Heyward, Kindred The Family Soul and even an appearance by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Still, Smith maintains his mission for bringing the conference to town was to lend a helping hand to the unknown stars of tomorrow. “I was just in awe of the amount of people who came out to get educated – just innocent people eager to know what to do to get on track because you can't go to school for this,” he told BRE.

Station programmers and air personalities, including Colby Colb, MoShay LaRen, CeCe McGhee, Lonrrie Hunter, Miss Jones, Laiya, Pooch, Lady B, Envy, and Dyana Williams, joined the event as panel discussion moderators or event participants while a live broadcast was hosted by station newcomer/NBA star Lou Williams and “The Goodfellas” co-host Izzo.

For $75 a pop, listeners were given a wealth of first-hand knowledge and career advice from many of the music industry's top movers and shakers. Music World Entertainment CEO and father of superstar Beyoncé Knowles matched a previous offer by Koch Records to award a “singles” recording deal to an unsigned artist.

WRNB afternoon-driver personality Lady B co-hosted a riveting panel discussion during the Hip Hop Workshop along with DJ Touch Tone that included panelists Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Beanie Sigel, and Mike Jones. Offering real talk advice to the crowd, Lady B said, “Do not depend on a recording artist or a record company to do that hard work for you. And don't be angry when they don't give you that immediate attention. Instead, give them a reason to want to give you attention. Put the package together yourself. Put the product together yourself. Get out there and push it yourself and make yourself popular.”

Among those spotted at the one-day event were Helen Little, Johnnie Walker, Ken Wilson, Troy Dudley, Craig Davis, Veda Brown, and various industry representatives. All seemed eager to participate and share experiences with those seeking careers in the entertainment industry.