Finding hip-hop music online is easy. There are literally hundreds of blogs and sites dedicated to the genre and it’s myriad sub-genres but when it comes to R&B it’s a different story. As popular as the genre is there are very few sites that cater to the niche. Sure there are entertainment sites that cover a range of different types of black music but there are very few that focus on the world of R&B, its rising stars and the community of people who are are passionate about it. Enter Singersroom.com. Founded in January 2006 by Gary Gentles and Adeniyi Osimore, Singersroom was created to fill that void. Omisore and Gentles met at Manhattan College, where they both ran track.They became fast friends when they realized they both had a passion for IT and Web design. Partnering to form the MusicLife Entertainment Group (MLE Group) they set out on a mission to “Live.Create.Entertain.”
Their initial approach with Singersroom was to focus on all the budding talent around them and to build an engaged and loyal community both on and offline. They created the successful events Singersroom Live! and Acoustic Conversation to showcase talent adding event producer and promoter W. Deyior Dunbar to mix as the third partner. In just five years Omisore (age 29), Gentles (30), and Dunbar (29), have made the site an authority and major platform in the R&B worldâhelping to launch the careers of current stars like Jazmine Sullivan and Chrisette Michelle and even receiving a 2010 Soul Train Award for “Best Soul Site.” BE Next spoke to the men behind SR to hear how they did it and what they have coming in the new year.
Some excerpts:
Goal of Singersroom: From the start, we approached the execution of Singersroom as a business. Luckily we were able to take our passions for music, socializing and technology to create a business that we enjoyed doing everyday….As far as Singersroom goes, this was a niche that was missing online at the time. There was a lot of hip-hop sites and a few soul sites but no online portal that showcased Rhythm & Blues as a whole.
Initial Approach: Our approach was not to focus only on highly visible artists but highlight the diverse community of artist within R&B, Soul, Pop and Gospel. By not pigeonholing our content to just megastars we developed a strong following of urban music fans. Once you have the consumers [then] artists will come [to you] because that’s their target audience.
Measuring Success: Success is measured by several pieces. This includes, growing revenue, helping to break artists, empowering our consumers, development innovative products, amongst other things.
Noticing success: The Soul Train Award for ‘Best Soul Site’ was a pivotal moment. My parents actually realized “Wow, this is not just a hobby for these guys. Real people are acknowledging them for their work.” If you can make hardworking parents from Liberia (Deyior), Nigeria (Omisore) and Jamaica (Gentles) take notice; I think you’re doing something right.
Visit Black Enterprise to read the full interview.
Do you ever wonder who’s behind some of the most influential voices in entertainment? We did too, so we decided to find out. Black Enterprise ‘Next’ recently sat down with the minds behind Singersroom for an exclusive interview about how they are changing the music industry.
Singersroom is a platform that helps independent and emerging artists get their start by providing them access to top-tier resources, collaborations, and opportunities. It has quickly become one of the biggest influencers in urban music culture today – but it didn’t happen overnight! In this three part series, we’ll take a look at how far Singersroom has come since its inception and what inspired its creators along the way.
We can all agree that there’s something special about discovering fresh talent before anyone else knows their name. Join us as we explore Singersroom’s journey from concept to success story – and hear firsthand why it continues to be a game changer for many aspiring creatives!
Overview Of Singersroom
Singersroom is an online platform dedicated to highlighting emerging artists, producers, and songwriters. It helps music professionals in the industry stay connected with each other and find new opportunities for collaboration. The founders of Singersroom are two seasoned veterans from the music industry: CEO Omar Grant and COO Joe “Spike” Mayne. Together they have created a unique space that combines both their extensive knowledge of the business side of the music industry with a passion for helping undiscovered talent achieve success.
With nearly 15 years of experience working in artist development, management, publishing, major label A&R, and marketing between them, Omar and Spike bring a wealth of insight into what it takes to make it as an independent artist or producer today. Their mission is to create an environment where unsigned artists can network, get feedback on their work, gain exposure and eventually secure deals with labels or publishers. As such, they offer features like exclusive interviews with top-level executives at record labels; reviews of upcoming albums; advice columns written by pros in the biz; forums where aspiring musicians can interact with one another; plus exclusive content which gives fans access to unreleased tracks before anyone else hears them.
In addition to providing valuable resources for up-and-coming talent, Singersroom also serves as a hub for established acts looking to take their careers to the next level. Through its comprehensive database – which includes contact information for key decision makers in the industry – artists can easily reach out directly to those who might be able to help them further their musical pursuits. Ultimately, whether you’re just starting out or already making waves in the music world, Singersroom has something for everyone looking to break into (or advance within) this competitive field.
Interview With Singersroom Founders
In order to gain further insight into the minds behind Singersroom, Black Enterprise ‘Next’ recently sat down with Omar Grant and Joe “Spike” Mayne. They discussed their vision for Singersroom, what sets it apart from other platforms in the industry, and how they plan to help aspiring artists succeed.
Omar began by explaining that their mission was always about creating a platform where unsigned talent could get noticed without having to spend money on expensive marketing campaigns or use shady tactics like buying followers. He went on to say that he believes Singersroom is unique because of its focus on providing real value to musicians – whether through exclusive interviews with top-level executives at record labels; reviews of upcoming albums; advice columns written by pros in the biz; forums where aspiring musicians can interact with one another; plus exclusive content which gives fans access to unreleased tracks before anyone else hears them.
At the end of the interview, both founders emphasized how important it is for independent artists today to have access to resources and contacts within the music industry who may be able to provide assistance along their journey. Through Singersroom’s comprehensive database – which includes contact information for key decision makers in the industry – users can easily reach out directly to those who might be able to help them further their musical pursuits. Ultimately, this allows up-and-coming acts an opportunity to stand out from all the noise and make sure their voices are heard.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Singersroom founders have created something truly remarkable with their platform. It provides a space for aspiring and established singers to showcase their talent and connect with fans. Through this interview, we’ve been able to get an insight into how it works and why they believe in its potential as a powerful tool for music discovery.
The fact that Singersroom offers such a unique service is something I admire. They are providing artists with a place where they can promote themselves without having to worry about labels or publishers getting involved – something which simply wasn’t possible before now. The idea of connecting creators directly with their target audiences is incredibly inspiring, and demonstrates just what technology can do when harnessed correctly.
I look forward to seeing what else the Singersroom team has up their sleeve, as well as watching the success stories unfold on their platform over time!
Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B around the world. Connect with us via social media below.
