When Wayne Jones, Chairman and Founder of
Wayne Management Company, launched his music division, it was not in the "Tarrot card Readings" that the division would even last. Well, not only has it lasted and made it to it's first year, it has evolved; a lot of things have been happening with the, now recognized, independent record label and entertainment boutique, headquartered in the East New York/Brownsville Section of Brooklyn.
NEW LOOK/NEW APPROACH/NEW STAFF
Wayne returned back to the head of
BLEMG in October 2014, after battling a very scary and dangerous health condition. Returning home, limited because of the paralysis and radiation treatments he had to endure due to Prostate Cancer, he chose to move forward. "He seemed to never lose his drive. He didn't even rest 30 hours before he got back to work.", said his brother, Richard Gary, Owner of
Rich Radio BKNY.
Actually, he was working behind the scenes while he was still in the rehabilitation facility in the Bronx. He finalized the addition of
Mr. Swagg 360 to the artist roster, before he even left the rehabilitation facility. In the time since he came home, he finalized submissions for the next
BLEMG mixtape. In December 2014, on Christmas Eve, he released
WE ARE COMING DA MIXTAPE. Although it started off slow due to low promotion and marketing, it turns out that was the introduction needed to announce to the music industry that the
BLEMG has arrived and that they were not leaving or being pushed out by anyone.
Once the mixtape was released, he then went on to making a number of changes. First, he changed the logo. After looking at several designs and submissions, he awarded the new design to Paul Bentley of Halifax, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom. The new design almost immediately started to attract listeners, supporters and artists alike. Then he decided to lift weight off of his shoulders.
First and foremost, for her relentless drive to keep both companies together while Wayne was getting his strength back, he awarded Synthia "
Blak Cheri" Robinson by giving her the positions of authority. In September of 2014, he gave her the position of Vice President of Operations for Wayne Management Company and Vice President of New Talent for
BLEMG. Effective January 2015, she is now President of
Black Lion Entertainment Music Group as well as Chief Operating Officer of Wayne Management Company. "What else was I to do?" said the Chairman, "If it wasn't for her, I would've had nothing to come back to. She kept both companies together and kept them flourishing with her marketing and promotion strategies. Besides,......It's time that I start sharing some of the duties I do every day, all day. That's why she is now also Head of the A&R Department for BLEMG."
Ms. Robinson was by Wayne's side from the very beginning being dubbed The First Lady of Wayne Management Company. If you let Wayne tell it, she is the reason for Wayne Management Company. "I didn't have confidence in myself to run my own company, although I had the skills, know how and resources. It was Synthia that encouraged and motivated me to take the shot and do what I need to do. Best advice that I ever have taken and actually listened to."
He wasn't done,......after careful considerations and wondering if he wanted to make that type of move, he turned and created a new position. The new Creative Director was awarded to Ms. Cassandra Jones, CEO/Founder of
Simply Ladies with Class Creations, a special event planning and catering company based in Queens.
In 2015, Wayne gave her another assignment. To expand the company's ability to attract only the best talent, he added her to the forever growing A&R Department. She handles all new talent submissions for the entire borough of Queens.
He also promoted longtime artists, Gilbert "
Farrogoummo Madeoff" Barnett, Jr, III and Pearl "
Blak Pearl" Middleton-Stephens to A&R's. He recently came to terms with Ms. Alicia Buie, who is in charge of A&R's for the entire NYC area. "Well, I figured I'd give everyone an opportunity to be an executive. The purpose in the beginning was to guide artists to understand both sides of the music business and this way, the company is fulfilling its objective. This way I can concentrate more on my recovery and rehabiliation.", said the CEO.
NEW ALLIANCES/NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Now that the corporate restructuring was done for the moment, he went against his own word. "When I started this, I did it by myself. I didn't have any help, was scared to make alliances with anyone because I always believed that they was out to take away from me. I eventually learned that if that was the case, it would've happened a long time ago." He came in contact with Raymond Barton, who is the owner of
2 Loco Radio. Mr. Barton came into contact by way of his DJ,
Twizm Whyte Piece. Twizm took a very good interest in the artists of BLEMG and was very interested in learning more about them. He gave Wayne his 2nd Interview (the first being done by
Rich Radio BKNY) of 2015 live on the air and it was then, that Wayne took the opportunity and opened up about not only Black Lion Entertainment Music Group, but also of himself. A lot of people viewed the interview as one of the most inspiring and motivating interviews done this year and it is still being played over and over again by way of Spreaker.com. If you've never heard the interview, you may listen to the entire interview by going to Spreaker.com.
Not allowing the opportunity to slip away, Wayne agreed to terms for a sponsorship package with Fat Cat Radio. Shortly after becoming an official sponsor, Lou Russo passed away. Wayne helped Twizm Whyte Piece to continue the station going. Now, one of the most listened to shows Monday through Friday from 8:30pm to 10pm.
Still not willing to relinquish his relationship with 2 Loco Radio, Raymond Barton introduced Wayne to DJ D West, who hosts a midday show. The Midday Underground Mix show from 1pm to 3pm EST Monday through Friday became the launching pad for the artists of BLEMG.
The two new alliances positioned the artists of BLEMG and the company as a whole on the map and through these two stations, the fanbase for Farrogoummo, Blak Cheri, Blak Pearl, Nyce 1, Blaze Billionz, Mr. Swagg 360 and, his first international artist, Meetsource. Through both of these stations Meetsource was introduced to the United States and has been requested as much as the hip hop artists.
All the changes and additions to the staff of both Wayne Management Company and Black Lion Entertainment Music Group, as well as the alliances he made with 2 Loco Radio and Fat Cat Radio, along with his already longtime relationships with Rich Radio BKNY and Poze Records/Poze Productions, has finally started to show returns for all the work. Longtime BLEMG artist Blaze Billionz is scheduled to tour Ontario and Toronto Canada performing with DJ Twizm Whyte Piece of Fat Cat Radio.
Rarebreed;s smash hit WE ON IT was nominated in June 2015 for an X-Poz-Ing Music Award, which is the annual award ceremony by Poze Records/Poze Productions to recognize the accomplishments of unsigned artists. Also Black Lion Entertainment Music Group's mixtape WE ARE COMING DA MIXTAPE also was nominated for Best Album. Both won awards in their respective categories. Rarebreed recently won the Akademia Music Award for August 2015 also for their song WE ON IT. They are hoping to win more awards from off the mixtape as it has now been nominated for Album/Mixtape of the Year for the Southern Coalition Movement Music Awards for 2016.
Also nominated are Farrogoummo for Best New Artist; Rarebreed for Rap Duo/Group of the Year, Wayne Jones for Promoter of the Year and Small Business Owner of the Year, WE ON IT for Song of the Year, Black Lion Entertainment Music Group for Record Label of the Year, Blak Pearl for Best Indie Rap Artist, Blak Cheri for Best R&B Female artist and Best Slept On Female Artist of the Year, and Nyce 1 for Best Underground/Indie Rap Artist.
I believe it is safe to say that Black Lion Entertainment Music Group and its roster of Hip Hop, R&B and Reggae artists are here to stay in the music industry and they have no problem letting the world know that they have arrived.
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