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SATURDAY JUNE 15
INNOVATION CENTRE • 460 DOYLE AVE
2:30PM A&R AND BUILDING YOUR PROFILE
What are Lables, Playlisters, and Press looking for when discovering new talent? Hear from our esteemed panelists how to build your profile to stand out from the crowd.
AKIM BRYANT
PANDORA/SIRIUSXM
A&R
NEW YORK
EDDIE BLACKMON
ONE RPM
VP A&R
NEW YORK
SUCCESS DAVIS
ATLANTIC RECORDS
VP A&R
NEW YORK
AKIM BRYANT
Akim Bryant is Director of Music Programming/Head of R&B Programming for SiriusXM/Pandora. He is a programming veteran with over 20 years of experience. He began his career in programming at Music Choice then transitioned to Viacom to help with the rebranding of BET’s music video channels. Akim joined Pandora at the end of 2018 as an independent contractor to assist with R&B, Pop and Hip-Hop programming. Following a series of promotions, Akim now oversees R&B, Caribbean and African programming and also manages SiriusXM’s The Groove channel. Akim also serves as the liaison for cultural campaigns such as Black History Month, Black Music Month, Juneteenth etc. Lastly, Akim has played pivotal roles in launching the careers of the following artists – Muni Long, Coco Jones, Maeta, Khamari, Ambré and more.
EDDIE BLACKMON
Eddie Blackmon stands as a luminary in the music industry, boasting a Grammy Award to his name. His illustrious career, spanning over two decades, has traversed esteemed companies such as Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music (Marketing/Operations), Columbia Records (Marketing), Def Jam (Marketing), John Legend’s Homeschool Records (General Manager) and AWAL (A&R). Presently, he holds the title of Vice President of A&R and Business Development at ONErpm, a modern music company. Beyond his executive roles, Eddie is the visionary behind A Shade of Red Entertainment (ASORÉ), a multifaceted consultancy, management, and publishing enterprise which has work with the likes of Grammy Award Winning producer Camper, Grammy Nominated artists Ro James and Stacy Barthe as well as Noname. Not content with professional success alone, Eddie’s commitment to fostering talent diversity shines through. An Alumnus of Arizona State University, he catalyzed change in 2023 with the establishment of The Eddie Blackmon Popular Music Scholarship. This philanthropic endeavor supports undergraduates, prioritizing those from underrepresented backgrounds pursing degrees in ASU’s Popular Music Program.
Eddie's influence extends far beyond just his musical endeavors. His involvement as a board member of WMN (We Make Noise) whose mission is to advance global gender equity through the intersection of music and technology. Additionally, his status as a Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. underscores his commitment to community engagement and the advancement of industry standards. Through these roles, Eddie is making a meaningful impact not only within the music industry but also in broader societal spheres.
YAASIEL "SUCCESS" DAVIS
Yaasiel "Success" Davis is Vice President, A&R of Atlantic Records and a 15+ year veteran of the music industry. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Davis has worked in multiple facets in the industry including talent management, creative direction, and eventually, A&R where he has signed or contributed to successes of artists like Cardi B, Cordae, Soulja Boy, Kalii, PNB Rock and many others.
Davis attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) where he majored in Economics. In the early 2000's, he relocated to New York City with ambitions to work in the music industry. Previously promoting parties in Chicago as an adolescent, Davis utilized his managerial skills and network to start managing producers brokering multi-million dollar publishing deals for his clients. Soon after, he began managing songwriters as well before being recruited by Atlantic Records CEO and Chairman Craig Kallman to consult for Atlantic in 2011 and eventually becoming a senior-level A&R executive.
Being indirectly responsible for over 20 million records sold, Davis has delivered some of the most successful songs and albums of today. In addition to being named a 2023 Billboard Power Player and a savant in the industry, Davis is also a noted champion of public service. In the past, he has worked with 100 Black Men of NYC as well as mentoring inner city students at risk.