The Universal Hip Hop Museum celebrates Women’s History Month and the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop by welcoming eight diverse influencers in the culture. This intergenerational panel spans various fields of entertainment (music, radio, etc.) & politics, and aims to reflect on their impact as women in the culture.
The two-hour discussion, moderated by journalist Nicole Duncan-Smith, will be held at Fotografiska New York.
Date: Tuesday, March. 28th 2023, from 7pm to 9pm.
Location: Fotografiska at 281 Park Ave So, NY, NY 10010
Tremaine S. Wright is a former member of the New York State Assembly who thereafter served as the first Director of the DFS Statewide Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment. Ms. Wright is an attorney, entrepreneur, and activist who is a second-generation Bedford Stuyvesant resident invested in preserving the rich legacy of her community and building a strong foundation for the future. She has dedicated her career to empowering and creating opportunities for her neighbors and her community.
Faith Newman
Faith Newman serves as Reservoir’s Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development, spearheading the company’s pursuit of new catalogs and talent. Faith’s expertise has led to Reservoir’s signing of 2 Chainz, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Migos’ Offset and Takeoff, Young Thug, Joey Bada$$, Young M.A, Joyner Lucas, Killer Mike, and Twysted Genius, among others. She has also overseen the acquisitions of numerous historic catalogs including the Philadelphia soul record label Philly Groove Records and its sister publishing catalog Nickel Shoe Music, The Isley Brothers, Billy Stayhorn, Willie Mitchell, Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Hoagy Carmichael, Leon Ware, Walter Orange and Tommy McClary of the Commodores, Dallas Austin, Fred Parris of the Five Satins, and many more. Additionally, Faith has served as a key figure in Reservoir’s integration of recently acquired Tommy Boy Music, where she works to curate new releases and support the catalog’s legacy acts including De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, House of Pain, and more.
Named to Billboard’s 2022 and 2023 Women In Music Top Executives list, as well as Billboard’s 2022 R&B/Hip-Hop Power List, Faith got her start in the industry in 1987, when she was among the first five employees hired at Def Jam Recordings. She went on to create the administrative foundation of Def Jam, notably including its Artists & Repertoire and Publishing divisions. By 1989, she was named Vice President of Artists & Repertoire, working alongside hip-hop icons like Public Enemy, Slick Rick, and LL Cool J. In 1991, Faith moved to Columbia Records to head its new urban music division, where she signed the renowned artist Nas to his first record deal, co-executive producing his critically acclaimed debut, Illmatic. She also signed the group Jamiroquai and worked with rap legends Big L and The Fugees.
Following Columbia Records, Faith took roles at Jive Records, where she spearheaded the hip-hop A&R division and Mariah Carey’s MonarC Entertainment before moving to Verse Music Group, a music publishing company specializing in the acquisition of historic music catalogs. Faith served as Verse’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, where her efforts led to a multi-million-dollar investment agreement with a private equity firm in 2010. Her endeavors also led to Verse’s acquisition of the Salsoul Records and West End Records catalogs, along with their affiliated publishing companies.
Faith notably was tapped to serve as a board member for the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, working closely on its 2024 launch. Faith holds a degree in Marketing from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She recently relocated to Edgewater, NJ and continues to devote her professional life to pursuing, curating, and developing historic talent and catalogs.
ABOUT RESERVOIR
Reservoir is an independent music company based in New York City and with offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, Toronto, London, and Abu Dhabi. It is the first first female founded and led publicly traded music company in the U.S. Founded as a family-owned music publisher in 2007, the company has grown to represent over 140,000 copyrights and 36,000 master recordings with titles dating as far back as 1900, and hundreds of #1 releases worldwide. Reservoir holds a regular Top 10 U.S. Market Share according to Billboard’s Publishers Quarterly, was twice named Publisher of the Year by Music Business Worldwide’s The A&R Awards, and won Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2020 Music Week Awards.
Reservoir also represents a multitude of recorded music through Chrysalis Records, Tommy Boy Records, and Philly Groove Records and manages artists through its ventures with Blue Raincoat Music and Big Life Management.
Nicole Duncan-Smith
Nicole Duncan-Smith is from West Philadelphia born and raised, in the playground is where she spent most of her days. Born a month and seven days after the recognized birthdate of Hip-Hop, she lives and breathes the culture.Over her career, she has worked as an editor and/or writer for the following publications: Rap Pages, Vibe Magazine, The Source, The Source.com, Jones Magazine, AtlantaBlackStar.com, OprahDaily.com theGrio.com, BET.com, AllHipHop.com, TheShadowLeague.com, FrontPageLive.com, Christian Science Monitor, and Tween Girl Style Magazine. Duncan-Smith has worked at several record labels, distribution companies, and entertainment entities, and has served under executives like Sheri Riley, Russell Simmons, Steve Stoute, and L. Londell McMillian.
Currently, she is the Director of Corporate Communications for the Ultimate Rap League, helping to position the largest English-speaking battle rap league in the world.She is the author of the children’s book, “I Am Hip-Hop” and a writer in the graphic novel series, “Blokhedz.” Her love for authentic rap culture has moved her to start Haymakers Presents Battlecon, the first battle rap convention, and join the advisory board for the Universal Hip Hop Museum.
She is a wife to Gregory Smith and a mother to Broadway and feature film actress Eden Duncan-Smith.
Shelly Wade
An accomplished and versatile media personality, Shelley’s graced the airwaves of legendary radio stations like 97.9 The Box Houston, 104.3 MYfm Los Angeles, and she was the first African American to ever host a full-time show on Z100 New York. Also a TV personality and entertainment journalist, Shelley has appeared on the Today Show on NBC, The Talk on CBS, the Steve Harvey Show, CNN, MSNBC, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition and more. Shelley has been quoted in Time Magazine, the New York Daily News, People Magazine, the Associated Press and many other publications on pop culture news.
Host of the All The Way With Shelley Wade® and All The Rage With Shelley Wade® podcasts & digital reports, Shelley has interviewed boldface names like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Maroon 5, Will Smith, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Jon Bon Jovi, Coldplay, P. Diddy, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson and more.
As a voice-over artist, Shelley narrated a NASA documentary that played at the United Nations and has also voiced projects for Beyoncé, H.E.R., Missy Elliott, Ke$ha, Donnie Simpson, Al B. Sure! and more.
Shelley has hosted several of New York’s top events, such as the Revlon Run/Walk for Women, the U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, and she even sang the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden before a New York Knicks game.
A native of Houston, Texas, where she studied radio and television in high school and college, Shelley is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and former president of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists.
Joi Brown
Joi Brown is an accomplished executive who has made an indelible mark on the entertainment and business industries. Her extensive industry experience spans Atlantic Records, where she has worked with an impressive roster of the biggest names in music and brands, including Cardi B, Bruno Mars, Charli XcX, Janelle Monae, Brandy, Sean Paul, Gucci Mane, Bazzi, Kehlani, Tank, Lizzo, Missy Elliott, Rico Nasty, Rita Ora, Wiz Khalifa, and many more.
Joi’s reputation for excellence continued to soar as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at ICM Partners. She used her extensive connections and expertise in branding to connect ICM clients with some of the world’s leading brands.
As the Founder and CEO of Culture Creators, an influential organization that connects global cultural pioneers with the new generation of diverse creators of culture, Joi has been instrumental in creating a more inclusive world. Under her leadership, Culture Creators has awarded over $300,000 in scholarship money to HBCU students across the United States in the past two years.
Culture Creators also helps develop a talent pipeline and employment and internship opportunities across leading companies, including JBL Audio, Warner Music Group, and Showtime Networks Inc. The organization provides a wide range of networking events, workshops, and leadership training programs that cater to college students, entry-level employees, and C-suite executives. Additionally, Culture Creators hosts college summits to provide additional training, soft skill development, and free mentorship for all students of color.
Culture Creators also creates curricula for company internship programs to level the entry pool for students of color applying for internship and employment opportunities. The organization provides workshops and access to funding for entrepreneurs and start-ups, further promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in every industry. The organization aims to be a global advocate for thought and servant leadership, equity in hiring and retention practices, and comprehensive programs across all industries to ensure substantive influence, economic growth, and cooperative economics.
Mignon Espy
Mignon Espy Edwards is a seasoned brand and sales strategist, with over 25 -years of experience. Recognized for her unparalleled storytelling, Mignon is a leading business executive known for launching and driving trans-formative brand growth. She sites her ability to connect pop culture, cultivate meaningful partnerships, unlock revenue growth, and build empowered teams as keys to her success.
Prior to managing recent client projects (Preakness 148, City of New York )
– HipHop 50 Celebration, HBCU Career and Beyond Tour), Espy Edwards was head of Sales Digital Ideation at BET Networks (a Viacom Company) where she created content partnership opportunities for media, programming, and linear sales teams.
Mignon started her career at the Island Def Jam Music Group, launching entertainment-focused branded marketing and sales campaigns for a diverse roster of talent, including Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, and Kanye West.
Espy Edwards rose through the ranks of the music and media industry in various roles in North America and globally for
15- years. Her most transformative role included EVP of Partnership Marketing and Strategy at Warner Music Group (WMG), leading innovation to create high growth partnership opportunities.
During her tenure, her team developed a disruptive, long-term, blueprint that changed music industry operations, and ultimately affected the artists-influencers career revenue model. Her contributions led to turnaround and delivery of record growth that collectively garnered 10 million dollars in incremental revenue in its second year.
She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics & Marketing from Spelman College.
Espy Edwards has been recognized as one of the Marketing Executives to Watch, providing her expertise to leading industry publications and conferences. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Museum of the City of New York and The New York Women’s Foundation.
Passionate about empowerment for women and girls, Mignon is an active philanthropist, serving as a marketing and pop culture relationship advisor or member of many charitable organizations, including Greater New York Links, Inc, Metropolitan Jack and Jill Chapter, Girls Write Now, and The New York Urban League.
Nyla Symone
Born in Germany, raised in Maryland, made in Manhattan – DJ Nyla Symone knew if she could make it in The Empire State she could make it anywhere. Sinking her gold fronts into the Big Apple over ten years ago, the ambitious DJ took the media entertainment industry by the reigns and has yet to let go. Drawn to the world of music from an early age, Nyla knew it would play a part in her destiny.
She was later introduced to college radio while obtaining her B.S. in Communication Arts at St. John’s University. Fast forward six years. What started out as a creative outlet used for pure fun has turned into a fulfilling career for the bona fide DJ, adding radio hostess/producer and social media extraordinaire to the professional portfolio.
Whether spinning at a party, conversing over the radio waves, or hosting on your TV screen, Nyla’s vibrant light and passion for her craft radiates wherever she travels. A master networker, audiences are drawn to the DJ’s infectious smile and upbeat personality; her ability to connect with those who share good taste and genuine appreciation for the arts is effortless. Although effortless, behind the go-getter’s smile lies a relentless work ethic that has afforded her every opportunity gained. While paying her dues, she has taken notes from some of the industry’s top vets like Angie Martinez and DJ Clue.
DJ Nyla Symone’s dedication and diligence are evident in much of her current work, DJ’ing and co-hosting alongside Charlamagne Tha God on Comedy Central’s Tha God’s Honest Truth and Revolt TV’s Off Top with Big Tigger and Rapsody.
She also hosts a weekly spot on Power 105.1, New York City’s #1 radio station for Hip-Hop and R&B.
In addition to the station’s YouTube channel, Nyla dives deep in sit-downs with some of the industry’s most relevant entertainers on her own channel, Nyla Symone – The Pretty Tomboy. Interviewees include Roddy Rich, Megan Thee Stallion, Migos, Saweetie, Masego, Blueface, and too many more to name. She also co-hosts Black Effect Podcast and The What!? Podcast where she, and Darin Byrne, add a new journalistic spin on Hip-Hop debates.
A Pop and Hip-Hop connoisseur, audience engager, content developer, and one of New York’s youngest DJs, DJ Nyla Symone has her hands in all the pots! When “The Pretty Tomboy” isn’t busy blazing her next trail, lacing your ears or gracing your screen, you might find her knitting her next accessory, exploring nature, or reading.
Wherever you find her, you are sure to be captivated.
Tracey J. Jordan
Over the course of a wide-ranging and groundbreaking career in the music industry, Tracey J. Jordan has played an instrumental role in developing, promoting, and exposing such icons as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Notorious B.I.G., to name just a few. Most recently, Tracey was Senior Director of Talent & Industry Relations for Sirius XM Satellite Radio Inc., overseeing the day-to-day talent booking and development for SiriusXM’s urban contemporary, urban AC, urban classic, hip hop, urban talk, jazz, gospel, Latin and Studio 54 channels. In that capacity, she worked in tandem with the company’s various programming, marketing, and promotional teams on maintaining a presence for the satellite radio giant at large-scale events including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, SXSW, Coachella, Governor’s Ball, The Rolling Loud Festival, The BET Awards/Experience Weekend, the Essence Music Festival, The Soul Train Awards, and The Soul Train Cruise.
Originally from New York City, where she attended the famed High School of the Performing Arts and took business courses at Cornell, Tracey J. Jordan was born with music in her bloodline. She is the daughter of NEA Jazz Master vocalist Sheila Jordan and Duke “Jordu” Jordan, jazz pianist for, among others, saxophone great Charlie Parker. Her own career in the music industry began at the public relations firm of Solters, Roskin, Friedman, where she created and implemented worldwide media campaigns for Motown Records (and its executives and artists, including Berry Gordy, Vanity, Smokey Robinson, and Diana Ross), Tony Bennett, Morris Day of The Time, and Dolly Parton.
Tracey got her first position at a record label at renowned music executive Clive Davis’s Arista Records, where she was Director of R&B Artist Development & Publicity. She then went to Motown Records as Vice-President of Artist Development & Video Production for legendary music man Jheryl Busby, where she became the first African-American to be named VP of Video Production at an American recording label. Jordan then made a leap to MTV, again in a pioneering role as the first African-American Vice-President of Music Talent Development and Video Programming for the music video-based network.
In her ten years at Sirius XM, Jordan curated hands-on recorded content for “Artist Dedicated” Pop-Up Channels and worked closely with Sirius XM’s legal department to secure clearance from the estates of Prince, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G., 2-PAC, and Miles Davis, as well as securing broadcast clearances to build channels honoring Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Motown, Tina Turner, and The Apollo Theatre. She was also responsible for booking talent for the channels and programmers she oversaw, including LL COOL J’s Rock the Bells Radio, Heart & Soul, Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong/Tuff Soca/Tuff Beats, The Joint, The Groove, Soul Town, The Jimmy Jam Show, SiriusXM FLY, Kirk Franklin’s Parise, Silk 330, Real Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Urban View, Sway in the Morning, Studio 54 Radio and the All Music is Black Music podcast. It was also Jordan’s responsibility to be on location, and legally clear sets for broadcast, at many live music events, among them The Apollo Small Stage Series, The Blue Note
Jazz Festival, The Blue Note Jazz Cruise, the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Rolling Loud Festivals in Los Angeles and Miami, The BET Awards (for seven years) and the Essence Music Festival (eight years).
In her professional capacities, she has worked with veteran artists (a long list that extends from New Edition to Boyz II Men to Earth, Wind & Fire and Janet Jackson to A Tribe Called Quest and Run-D.M.C.), as well as contemporary superstars and up-and-coming artists such as The Migos, Cardi B, Wiz Kalifah, NE-YO, Victor Manuelle, J. Balvin, Luis Fonsi, Bad Bunny, Andra Day, Post Malone, Chloe & Halle, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Khalid, Juice WRLD and many others.
Jordan has also been honored for her community-minded endeavors and has served as the Vice-President and currently serves on the Board of Governors, for the NY Chapter of the Recording Academy (the GRAMMYs). Jordan received the and the New York Urban League’s Building Brick Award in 1988, the Environmental Media Award for the video “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology),” the Support Network’s Community Service Award, and in 2022 she received the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Women of Influence Award.
Tracey can be reached at:
Tracey J. Jordan Lazin/Jordan Productions (Lauren Lazin & Tracey J. Jordan)
The road to success is often paved with obstacles. But for women in a male dominated entertainment industry, those obstacles are often covered in spikes. TT Torrez is familiar with the journey, figuring out a way to navigate through the rough terrain. The multi-media personality and music business executive has created her own path, and continues to effortlessly walk through challenges to reinvent herself and maintain a position of power in the ever so competitive world of the music industry. Now sitting as a Multi-Media personality, the Vice President of Artist and Label relations and Music Director at New York’s HOT 97 radio station, TT is a shot caller at Hip Hop’s oldest running radio station and one of the most powerful women in the game. “I came from a space of being an underdog. No cliques, no associations, no helping hand, so I’m used to having to figure out how to maneuver in a place where people don’t expect you to rise to the top,” she offers. At HOT, TT wears many hats, and is the gatekeeper for the radio station. She oversees the station’s music by deciding what to play and put in rotation, making sure FCC regulations are being followed in the process. As Music Director, she is responsible for managing the day to day operations of the staff, as well as the touch, feel and the fabric of the station. As the VP of label and artist relations, she manages the relationships with artists, label reps, or anyone on the outside. And of course, TT is also a multi-media on-air personality. Needless to say, TT does it all, understanding that diversifying her talent and business sense is necessary to survival in the game. Coming from where she’s been, there is no other way to handle her business. “You can’t be a one trick pony. We now live in a world where distractions are dominating and people think everything comes easy,” she begins. “But if you want to have longevity in this business, you have to work. Longevity comes with consistently putting in the work. But it also comes with building relationships along the way. That combination has kept me here for twenty years,” she says. Born in the Bronx to a single mother who had eight children to raise, TT was taught to hustle at an early age. Around the time she attended college, TT took a waitressing job at a nightclub in Charleston, South Carolina that showed her the rewards of radio personalities. They were getting paid to party (or at least, that’s what it
looked like). Soon after, she became curious about a career in radio, so in the early 2000s, she took a job at her college radio station at Norfolk State University, hosting a college morning show on weekdays from 6-10am. “This was back when college radio really mattered,” TT explains. “At the same time, I was also running with a college rep for Atlantic Records, and I saw how college radio really worked, watching the artists go from station to station, doing interviews and promotion.” TT started aggressively building her relationships back then, and soon became entrenched in the business of radio. “When I was in Virginia, I used to help with building music festivals, building artists, managing artists, coming up with dope ideas, there was a lot to juggle and it always helped me stay in tune with what was going on.” Thriving in that position helped motivate TT to keep going, and she soon after landed a part-time gig in Charlotte. She decided that it was time to start betting on herself, so she turned the wheels on, making a name for herself on the radio and making connections behind the scenes. “I came after Wendy Williams, Angie Martinez, Miss Jones—they were amazing beasts and talented at radio. There weren’t a lot of us really making those power moves, so the bar was set really high for women,” she says. “I had to start from the ground up, without a co-sign, so I knew that as much as I enjoyed the lifestyle, I still had to do the work. You can’t ever negate the work, so my hustle grew along with my name.” With her first commercial gig located in Charlotte, North Carolina at WCHH 92.7, she found herself going back and forth from her college to her part time gig in another state every day. After Charlotte, she landed in Charleston, South Carolina at WSSP 94.3 as the morning show producer for the esteemed radio vet Russ Parr—hosting her own midday show in the 10a-3pm slot. When the station decided to flip and go in a different direction, TT found herself back on her grind, landing in the DMV at WKYS as a part time street team rep in a much bigger market. From there on, TT’s career became nonstop, until she eventually found her way back home in NYC. Holding down jobs as the midday host and Music Coordinator at Power 104 in Hartford, Connecticut, the Music coordinator at Music Choice in New York, and even a slot in Philly, TT followed opportunity wherever it was. “I used to have to be in an office at 9am in New York, and then go to Philly. I wouldn’t get home until 3am. It
was definitely a grind.” After that, she interviewed to be the midday personality in Richmond, Virginia. While there, she became the music director. “The DMV market was a big market, I figured out how to brand myself and use the internet as a branding tool. I became the number one personality in the market. “It ended up working out for me. I gambled on myself, kept working, and something just clicked.” By 2014, TT Torrez was at Hot 97, in an executive role. “All of it works hand in hand. To be on the air, I can feel the vibration of the artists, music and people. I’m in the studio, in the streets, at the videos, and everywhere I need to be. It keeps me in tune with the culture,” she says of her diverse role. Managing relationships between artist and label reps, choosing music for the station and creating motivating content, it all falls on top of TT’s lap. Motivated by passion, the multi-talented exec still does what she loves, and she loves doing it. “If I don’t have passion behind it, it’s going to be just a job for me.” Her passion for the culture continues to drive her hustle and work ethic. “Even if I didn’t have the title, I was doing the work. I’ve always operated, work first. I came up working all the shifts that nobody wanted to work. I gambled on myself because I knew it would pay off.” Now continuing in the tradition of diversifying herself, TT is tapping into the worlds of TV, film, podcasting and books. With the mission of growing her brand, TT sees this expansion as the only option for her. “I think it’s always about growth. A lot of us were forced to do multiple things at one time in the household. We were forced to step up to the plate. I have to be able to do it all, because I learned over time that I can get the job done, no matter what it takes. I think people understand now that women of color are the ones who keep the machine going behind the scenes.”
Tremaine S. Wright
Tremaine S. Wright is a former member of the New York State Assembly who thereafter served as the first Director of the DFS Statewide Office of Financial Inclusion and Empowerment. Ms. Wright is an attorney, entrepreneur, and activist who is a second-generation Bedford Stuyvesant resident invested in preserving the rich legacy of her community and building a strong foundation for the future. She has dedicated her career to empowering and creating opportunities for her neighbors and her community.
Faith Newman
Faith Newman serves as Reservoir’s Executive Vice President of A&R and Catalog Development, spearheading the company’s pursuit of new catalogs and talent. Faith’s expertise has led to Reservoir’s signing of 2 Chainz, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Migos’ Offset and Takeoff, Young Thug, Joey Bada$$, Young M.A, Joyner Lucas, Killer Mike, and Twysted Genius, among others. She has also overseen the acquisitions of numerous historic catalogs including the Philadelphia soul record label Philly Groove Records and its sister publishing catalog Nickel Shoe Music, The Isley Brothers, Billy Stayhorn, Willie Mitchell, Norman Harris, Allan Felder, Verdine White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Hoagy Carmichael, Leon Ware, Walter Orange and Tommy McClary of the Commodores, Dallas Austin, Fred Parris of the Five Satins, and many more. Additionally, Faith has served as a key figure in Reservoir’s integration of recently acquired Tommy Boy Music, where she works to curate new releases and support the catalog’s legacy acts including De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, House of Pain, and more.
Named to Billboard’s 2022 and 2023 Women In Music Top Executives list, as well as Billboard’s 2022 R&B/Hip-Hop Power List, Faith got her start in the industry in 1987, when she was among the first five employees hired at Def Jam Recordings. She went on to create the administrative foundation of Def Jam, notably including its Artists & Repertoire and Publishing divisions. By 1989, she was named Vice President of Artists & Repertoire, working alongside hip-hop icons like Public Enemy, Slick Rick, and LL Cool J. In 1991, Faith moved to Columbia Records to head its new urban music division, where she signed the renowned artist Nas to his first record deal, co-executive producing his critically acclaimed debut, Illmatic. She also signed the group Jamiroquai and worked with rap legends Big L and The Fugees.
Following Columbia Records, Faith took roles at Jive Records, where she spearheaded the hip-hop A&R division and Mariah Carey’s MonarC Entertainment before moving to Verse Music Group, a music publishing company specializing in the acquisition of historic music catalogs. Faith served as Verse’s Executive Vice President of Business Development, where her efforts led to a multi-million-dollar investment agreement with a private equity firm in 2010. Her endeavors also led to Verse’s acquisition of the Salsoul Records and West End Records catalogs, along with their affiliated publishing companies.
Faith notably was tapped to serve as a board member for the Universal Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx, working closely on its 2024 launch. Faith holds a degree in Marketing from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She recently relocated to Edgewater, NJ and continues to devote her professional life to pursuing, curating, and developing historic talent and catalogs.
ABOUT RESERVOIR
Reservoir is an independent music company based in New York City and with offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, Toronto, London, and Abu Dhabi. It is the first first female founded and led publicly traded music company in the U.S. Founded as a family-owned music publisher in 2007, the company has grown to represent over 140,000 copyrights and 36,000 master recordings with titles dating as far back as 1900, and hundreds of #1 releases worldwide. Reservoir holds a regular Top 10 U.S. Market Share according to Billboard’s Publishers Quarterly, was twice named Publisher of the Year by Music Business Worldwide’s The A&R Awards, and won Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2020 Music Week Awards.
Reservoir also represents a multitude of recorded music through Chrysalis Records, Tommy Boy Records, and Philly Groove Records and manages artists through its ventures with Blue Raincoat Music and Big Life Management.
Nicole Duncan-Smith
Nicole Duncan-Smith is from West Philadelphia born and raised, in the playground is where she spent most of her days. Born a month and seven days after the recognized birthdate of Hip-Hop, she lives and breathes the culture.Over her career, she has worked as an editor and/or writer for the following publications: Rap Pages, Vibe Magazine, The Source, The Source.com, Jones Magazine, AtlantaBlackStar.com, OprahDaily.com theGrio.com, BET.com, AllHipHop.com, TheShadowLeague.com, FrontPageLive.com, Christian Science Monitor, and Tween Girl Style Magazine. Duncan-Smith has worked at several record labels, distribution companies, and entertainment entities, and has served under executives like Sheri Riley, Russell Simmons, Steve Stoute, and L. Londell McMillian.
Currently, she is the Director of Corporate Communications for the Ultimate Rap League, helping to position the largest English-speaking battle rap league in the world.She is the author of the children’s book, “I Am Hip-Hop” and a writer in the graphic novel series, “Blokhedz.” Her love for authentic rap culture has moved her to start Haymakers Presents Battlecon, the first battle rap convention, and join the advisory board for the Universal Hip Hop Museum.
She is a wife to Gregory Smith and a mother to Broadway and feature film actress Eden Duncan-Smith.
Shelly Wade
An accomplished and versatile media personality, Shelley’s graced the airwaves of legendary radio stations like 97.9 The Box Houston, 104.3 MYfm Los Angeles, and she was the first African American to ever host a full-time show on Z100 New York. Also a TV personality and entertainment journalist, Shelley has appeared on the Today Show on NBC, The Talk on CBS, the Steve Harvey Show, CNN, MSNBC, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition and more. Shelley has been quoted in Time Magazine, the New York Daily News, People Magazine, the Associated Press and many other publications on pop culture news.
Host of the All The Way With Shelley Wade® and All The Rage With Shelley Wade® podcasts & digital reports, Shelley has interviewed boldface names like Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Kelly Clarkson, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Maroon 5, Will Smith, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Jon Bon Jovi, Coldplay, P. Diddy, Lenny Kravitz, Janet Jackson and more.
As a voice-over artist, Shelley narrated a NASA documentary that played at the United Nations and has also voiced projects for Beyoncé, H.E.R., Missy Elliott, Ke$ha, Donnie Simpson, Al B. Sure! and more.
Shelley has hosted several of New York’s top events, such as the Revlon Run/Walk for Women, the U.S. Open’s Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day, and she even sang the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden before a New York Knicks game.
A native of Houston, Texas, where she studied radio and television in high school and college, Shelley is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and former president of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists.
Joi Brown
Joi Brown is an accomplished executive who has made an indelible mark on the entertainment and business industries. Her extensive industry experience spans Atlantic Records, where she has worked with an impressive roster of the biggest names in music and brands, including Cardi B, Bruno Mars, Charli XcX, Janelle Monae, Brandy, Sean Paul, Gucci Mane, Bazzi, Kehlani, Tank, Lizzo, Missy Elliott, Rico Nasty, Rita Ora, Wiz Khalifa, and many more.
Joi’s reputation for excellence continued to soar as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at ICM Partners. She used her extensive connections and expertise in branding to connect ICM clients with some of the world’s leading brands.
As the Founder and CEO of Culture Creators, an influential organization that connects global cultural pioneers with the new generation of diverse creators of culture, Joi has been instrumental in creating a more inclusive world. Under her leadership, Culture Creators has awarded over $300,000 in scholarship money to HBCU students across the United States in the past two years.
Culture Creators also helps develop a talent pipeline and employment and internship opportunities across leading companies, including JBL Audio, Warner Music Group, and Showtime Networks Inc. The organization provides a wide range of networking events, workshops, and leadership training programs that cater to college students, entry-level employees, and C-suite executives. Additionally, Culture Creators hosts college summits to provide additional training, soft skill development, and free mentorship for all students of color.
Culture Creators also creates curricula for company internship programs to level the entry pool for students of color applying for internship and employment opportunities. The organization provides workshops and access to funding for entrepreneurs and start-ups, further promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in every industry. The organization aims to be a global advocate for thought and servant leadership, equity in hiring and retention practices, and comprehensive programs across all industries to ensure substantive influence, economic growth, and cooperative economics.
Mignon Espy
Mignon Espy Edwards is a seasoned brand and sales strategist, with over 25 -years of experience. Recognized for her unparalleled storytelling, Mignon is a leading business executive known for launching and driving trans-formative brand growth. She sites her ability to connect pop culture, cultivate meaningful partnerships, unlock revenue growth, and build empowered teams as keys to her success.
Prior to managing recent client projects (Preakness 148, City of New York )
– HipHop 50 Celebration, HBCU Career and Beyond Tour), Espy Edwards was head of Sales Digital Ideation at BET Networks (a Viacom Company) where she created content partnership opportunities for media, programming, and linear sales teams.
Mignon started her career at the Island Def Jam Music Group, launching entertainment-focused branded marketing and sales campaigns for a diverse roster of talent, including Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, and Kanye West.
Espy Edwards rose through the ranks of the music and media industry in various roles in North America and globally for
15- years. Her most transformative role included EVP of Partnership Marketing and Strategy at Warner Music Group (WMG), leading innovation to create high growth partnership opportunities.
During her tenure, her team developed a disruptive, long-term, blueprint that changed music industry operations, and ultimately affected the artists-influencers career revenue model. Her contributions led to turnaround and delivery of record growth that collectively garnered 10 million dollars in incremental revenue in its second year.
She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics & Marketing from Spelman College.
Espy Edwards has been recognized as one of the Marketing Executives to Watch, providing her expertise to leading industry publications and conferences. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Museum of the City of New York and The New York Women’s Foundation.
Passionate about empowerment for women and girls, Mignon is an active philanthropist, serving as a marketing and pop culture relationship advisor or member of many charitable organizations, including Greater New York Links, Inc, Metropolitan Jack and Jill Chapter, Girls Write Now, and The New York Urban League.
Nyla Symone
Born in Germany, raised in Maryland, made in Manhattan – DJ Nyla Symone knew if she could make it in The Empire State she could make it anywhere. Sinking her gold fronts into the Big Apple over ten years ago, the ambitious DJ took the media entertainment industry by the reigns and has yet to let go. Drawn to the world of music from an early age, Nyla knew it would play a part in her destiny.
She was later introduced to college radio while obtaining her B.S. in Communication Arts at St. John’s University. Fast forward six years. What started out as a creative outlet used for pure fun has turned into a fulfilling career for the bona fide DJ, adding radio hostess/producer and social media extraordinaire to the professional portfolio.
Whether spinning at a party, conversing over the radio waves, or hosting on your TV screen, Nyla’s vibrant light and passion for her craft radiates wherever she travels. A master networker, audiences are drawn to the DJ’s infectious smile and upbeat personality; her ability to connect with those who share good taste and genuine appreciation for the arts is effortless. Although effortless, behind the go-getter’s smile lies a relentless work ethic that has afforded her every opportunity gained. While paying her dues, she has taken notes from some of the industry’s top vets like Angie Martinez and DJ Clue.
DJ Nyla Symone’s dedication and diligence are evident in much of her current work, DJ’ing and co-hosting alongside Charlamagne Tha God on Comedy Central’s Tha God’s Honest Truth and Revolt TV’s Off Top with Big Tigger and Rapsody.
She also hosts a weekly spot on Power 105.1, New York City’s #1 radio station for Hip-Hop and R&B.
In addition to the station’s YouTube channel, Nyla dives deep in sit-downs with some of the industry’s most relevant entertainers on her own channel, Nyla Symone – The Pretty Tomboy. Interviewees include Roddy Rich, Megan Thee Stallion, Migos, Saweetie, Masego, Blueface, and too many more to name. She also co-hosts Black Effect Podcast and The What!? Podcast where she, and Darin Byrne, add a new journalistic spin on Hip-Hop debates.
A Pop and Hip-Hop connoisseur, audience engager, content developer, and one of New York’s youngest DJs, DJ Nyla Symone has her hands in all the pots! When “The Pretty Tomboy” isn’t busy blazing her next trail, lacing your ears or gracing your screen, you might find her knitting her next accessory, exploring nature, or reading.
Wherever you find her, you are sure to be captivated.
Tracey J. Jordan
Over the course of a wide-ranging and groundbreaking career in the music industry, Tracey J. Jordan has played an instrumental role in developing, promoting, and exposing such icons as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Notorious B.I.G., to name just a few. Most recently, Tracey was Senior Director of Talent & Industry Relations for Sirius XM Satellite Radio Inc., overseeing the day-to-day talent booking and development for SiriusXM’s urban contemporary, urban AC, urban classic, hip hop, urban talk, jazz, gospel, Latin and Studio 54 channels. In that capacity, she worked in tandem with the company’s various programming, marketing, and promotional teams on maintaining a presence for the satellite radio giant at large-scale events including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, SXSW, Coachella, Governor’s Ball, The Rolling Loud Festival, The BET Awards/Experience Weekend, the Essence Music Festival, The Soul Train Awards, and The Soul Train Cruise.
Originally from New York City, where she attended the famed High School of the Performing Arts and took business courses at Cornell, Tracey J. Jordan was born with music in her bloodline. She is the daughter of NEA Jazz Master vocalist Sheila Jordan and Duke “Jordu” Jordan, jazz pianist for, among others, saxophone great Charlie Parker. Her own career in the music industry began at the public relations firm of Solters, Roskin, Friedman, where she created and implemented worldwide media campaigns for Motown Records (and its executives and artists, including Berry Gordy, Vanity, Smokey Robinson, and Diana Ross), Tony Bennett, Morris Day of The Time, and Dolly Parton.
Tracey got her first position at a record label at renowned music executive Clive Davis’s Arista Records, where she was Director of R&B Artist Development & Publicity. She then went to Motown Records as Vice-President of Artist Development & Video Production for legendary music man Jheryl Busby, where she became the first African-American to be named VP of Video Production at an American recording label. Jordan then made a leap to MTV, again in a pioneering role as the first African-American Vice-President of Music Talent Development and Video Programming for the music video-based network.
In her ten years at Sirius XM, Jordan curated hands-on recorded content for “Artist Dedicated” Pop-Up Channels and worked closely with Sirius XM’s legal department to secure clearance from the estates of Prince, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G., 2-PAC, and Miles Davis, as well as securing broadcast clearances to build channels honoring Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys, Motown, Tina Turner, and The Apollo Theatre. She was also responsible for booking talent for the channels and programmers she oversaw, including LL COOL J’s Rock the Bells Radio, Heart & Soul, Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong/Tuff Soca/Tuff Beats, The Joint, The Groove, Soul Town, The Jimmy Jam Show, SiriusXM FLY, Kirk Franklin’s Parise, Silk 330, Real Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Urban View, Sway in the Morning, Studio 54 Radio and the All Music is Black Music podcast. It was also Jordan’s responsibility to be on location, and legally clear sets for broadcast, at many live music events, among them The Apollo Small Stage Series, The Blue Note
Jazz Festival, The Blue Note Jazz Cruise, the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Rolling Loud Festivals in Los Angeles and Miami, The BET Awards (for seven years) and the Essence Music Festival (eight years).
In her professional capacities, she has worked with veteran artists (a long list that extends from New Edition to Boyz II Men to Earth, Wind & Fire and Janet Jackson to A Tribe Called Quest and Run-D.M.C.), as well as contemporary superstars and up-and-coming artists such as The Migos, Cardi B, Wiz Kalifah, NE-YO, Victor Manuelle, J. Balvin, Luis Fonsi, Bad Bunny, Andra Day, Post Malone, Chloe & Halle, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, H.E.R., Ella Mai, Khalid, Juice WRLD and many others.
Jordan has also been honored for her community-minded endeavors and has served as the Vice-President and currently serves on the Board of Governors, for the NY Chapter of the Recording Academy (the GRAMMYs). Jordan received the and the New York Urban League’s Building Brick Award in 1988, the Environmental Media Award for the video “Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology),” the Support Network’s Community Service Award, and in 2022 she received the T.J. Martell Foundation’s Women of Influence Award.
Tracey can be reached at:
Tracey J. Jordan Lazin/Jordan Productions (Lauren Lazin & Tracey J. Jordan)
The road to success is often paved with obstacles. But for women in a male dominated entertainment industry, those obstacles are often covered in spikes. TT Torrez is familiar with the journey, figuring out a way to navigate through the rough terrain. The multi-media personality and music business executive has created her own path, and continues to effortlessly walk through challenges to reinvent herself and maintain a position of power in the ever so competitive world of the music industry. Now sitting as a Multi-Media personality, the Vice President of Artist and Label relations and Music Director at New York’s HOT 97 radio station, TT is a shot caller at Hip Hop’s oldest running radio station and one of the most powerful women in the game. “I came from a space of being an underdog. No cliques, no associations, no helping hand, so I’m used to having to figure out how to maneuver in a place where people don’t expect you to rise to the top,” she offers. At HOT, TT wears many hats, and is the gatekeeper for the radio station. She oversees the station’s music by deciding what to play and put in rotation, making sure FCC regulations are being followed in the process. As Music Director, she is responsible for managing the day to day operations of the staff, as well as the touch, feel and the fabric of the station. As the VP of label and artist relations, she manages the relationships with artists, label reps, or anyone on the outside. And of course, TT is also a multi-media on-air personality. Needless to say, TT does it all, understanding that diversifying her talent and business sense is necessary to survival in the game. Coming from where she’s been, there is no other way to handle her business. “You can’t be a one trick pony. We now live in a world where distractions are dominating and people think everything comes easy,” she begins. “But if you want to have longevity in this business, you have to work. Longevity comes with consistently putting in the work. But it also comes with building relationships along the way. That combination has kept me here for twenty years,” she says. Born in the Bronx to a single mother who had eight children to raise, TT was taught to hustle at an early age. Around the time she attended college, TT took a waitressing job at a nightclub in Charleston, South Carolina that showed her the rewards of radio personalities. They were getting paid to party (or at least, that’s what it
looked like). Soon after, she became curious about a career in radio, so in the early 2000s, she took a job at her college radio station at Norfolk State University, hosting a college morning show on weekdays from 6-10am. “This was back when college radio really mattered,” TT explains. “At the same time, I was also running with a college rep for Atlantic Records, and I saw how college radio really worked, watching the artists go from station to station, doing interviews and promotion.” TT started aggressively building her relationships back then, and soon became entrenched in the business of radio. “When I was in Virginia, I used to help with building music festivals, building artists, managing artists, coming up with dope ideas, there was a lot to juggle and it always helped me stay in tune with what was going on.” Thriving in that position helped motivate TT to keep going, and she soon after landed a part-time gig in Charlotte. She decided that it was time to start betting on herself, so she turned the wheels on, making a name for herself on the radio and making connections behind the scenes. “I came after Wendy Williams, Angie Martinez, Miss Jones—they were amazing beasts and talented at radio. There weren’t a lot of us really making those power moves, so the bar was set really high for women,” she says. “I had to start from the ground up, without a co-sign, so I knew that as much as I enjoyed the lifestyle, I still had to do the work. You can’t ever negate the work, so my hustle grew along with my name.” With her first commercial gig located in Charlotte, North Carolina at WCHH 92.7, she found herself going back and forth from her college to her part time gig in another state every day. After Charlotte, she landed in Charleston, South Carolina at WSSP 94.3 as the morning show producer for the esteemed radio vet Russ Parr—hosting her own midday show in the 10a-3pm slot. When the station decided to flip and go in a different direction, TT found herself back on her grind, landing in the DMV at WKYS as a part time street team rep in a much bigger market. From there on, TT’s career became nonstop, until she eventually found her way back home in NYC. Holding down jobs as the midday host and Music Coordinator at Power 104 in Hartford, Connecticut, the Music coordinator at Music Choice in New York, and even a slot in Philly, TT followed opportunity wherever it was. “I used to have to be in an office at 9am in New York, and then go to Philly. I wouldn’t get home until 3am. It
was definitely a grind.” After that, she interviewed to be the midday personality in Richmond, Virginia. While there, she became the music director. “The DMV market was a big market, I figured out how to brand myself and use the internet as a branding tool. I became the number one personality in the market. “It ended up working out for me. I gambled on myself, kept working, and something just clicked.” By 2014, TT Torrez was at Hot 97, in an executive role. “All of it works hand in hand. To be on the air, I can feel the vibration of the artists, music and people. I’m in the studio, in the streets, at the videos, and everywhere I need to be. It keeps me in tune with the culture,” she says of her diverse role. Managing relationships between artist and label reps, choosing music for the station and creating motivating content, it all falls on top of TT’s lap. Motivated by passion, the multi-talented exec still does what she loves, and she loves doing it. “If I don’t have passion behind it, it’s going to be just a job for me.” Her passion for the culture continues to drive her hustle and work ethic. “Even if I didn’t have the title, I was doing the work. I’ve always operated, work first. I came up working all the shifts that nobody wanted to work. I gambled on myself because I knew it would pay off.” Now continuing in the tradition of diversifying herself, TT is tapping into the worlds of TV, film, podcasting and books. With the mission of growing her brand, TT sees this expansion as the only option for her. “I think it’s always about growth. A lot of us were forced to do multiple things at one time in the household. We were forced to step up to the plate. I have to be able to do it all, because I learned over time that I can get the job done, no matter what it takes. I think people understand now that women of color are the ones who keep the machine going behind the scenes.”
Tremaine S. Wright
Faith Newman
Nicole Duncan-Smith
Shelly Wade
Joi Brown
Mignon Espy
Nyla Symone
Tracey J. Jordan
TT Torrez
