meet our panelists BRANDI GARCIA / DJ & radio personality, KBXX-Houston – DJ Panel (Houston, TX) The bit of sunshine Brandi Garcia took from her native state of Florida has paved a bright future. Garcia worked the radio ladder to become the proud owner of Houston’s #1 night show on 97.9 The Box, host of the music video show “Hot TV,” creator of the sultry Southern Stilletto mix CD series, and becoming 2006 Southern Entertainment Award’s Female DJ of the Year. A proud member of the Murder Mamis & NoizeMob, Garcia is en fuego! BRYAN LEACH / TVT Records – Indie Exec Panel (New York, NY) Bryan was largely responsible for propelling acts like Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz, the Ying Yang Twins, and Pitbull to national success during his time as VP of A&R at TVT Records. Now on the verge of launching his own label, Bryan’s thorough knowledge of the music business and hands-on approach to artist development will guarantee him success. CARL CHERY / SOHH.com – Media Panel (New York, NY) CAVARIO HODGES / Don Diva Magazine – Media Panel (Atlanta, GA) CHAKA ZULU / Co-CEO, Disturbing Tha Peace & Ebony Son – Indie Exec Panel (Atlanta, GA) Chaka Zulu has been making his mark in the music industry for the past 10 years. Much like his namesake, Zulu relies on education and tenacity for success while giving back to his people. Chaka Zulu has worn many hats including Music Director for Atlanta’s Hot 97.5, radio promotions for Sony & Universal, and currently serves as Co-CEO and manager for entertainment icon Ludacris and the Disturbing Tha Peace brand. CLINTON SPARKS / DJ, Producer, Entrepreneur – DJ Panel (Hartford, CT) Music is universal as Clinton Sparks proves through the syndication of his “SmashTime Radio” heard in the USA, Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands, Canada and on Sirius Satellite’s Shade 45. Sparks takes full advantage of his entrepreneurial skills with two merchandising websites MixUnit.com & FlixUnit.com. While cats from Kanye West, 50 Cent, Eminem, & Pharrell have all blessed his famous mixtapes, the world is just now “getting familiar” with Sparks the producer. And as Sparks continues to push it to the limit with a new album plus deals involving video games and Pepsi, the world is about to become very familiar with Clinton Sparks. COOL & DRE – Producer Panel (Miami, FL) Production credits include Ja Rule f/ Jadakiss & Fat Joe “New York New York,” The Game f/ 50 Cent “Hate It Or Love It,” Christina Milian f/ Young Jeezy “Say I,” Juvenile “Rodeo,” and DJ Khaled f/ Paul Wall, Rick Ross, Pitbull, & Fat Joe “Holla At Me.” COREY LLEWELLYN / Digiwaxx.com – Technology Panel (New York, NY) CRISTAL BUBBLIN / Vice President, Bum Squad DJz – DJ Crew Panel DART PARKER / Dir. A&R, Shady Records – A&R Panel (New York, NY) Most folks in the industry base signing new talent from charts and bandwagons, but true A&R’s such as Dart Parker rely on their ear and the conviction to stand behind the music they sign. Parker has trusted his instincts ever since leaving Raleigh, NC via Amtrak armed with $800 and a dream. Parker has continued living his dream beginning as a producer for DMX and De La Soul then eventually moving up to becoming Director of A&R for Shady Records, signing Stat Quo and Ca$his to the house Em built. DJ CHUCK T / DJ & CEO, Port City Productions – DJ Panel (Charleston, SC) Frustrated with the lack of opportunities available to independent artists, Chuck T dropped his mic and picked up the turntable. He decided to fight the game from within the system and has opened doors for many artists in and
around his hometown of Charleston, SC though his mixtape series, Ghetto Gangsters including dropping 45 titles in one year! DJ Chuck T has already had coverage in The Source, Ozone Magazine, Scratch Magazine, and MTV’s Mixtape Mondays to name a few. His hard work is paying off as DJ Chuck T was nominated for 14 Southern Entertainment Awards in his first year of eligibility and looks forward to watching his label Port City Productions become a super power in the music industry. DJ JELLY - DJ Panel (Atlanta, GA) DJ MARS / Founder, World Famous Superfriends – DJ Crew (Atlanta, GA) As the President and founding member of the World Famous Superfriends Crew, DJ Mars single handedly changed the DJ scene in Atlanta. While attending Clark Atlanta University, DJ Mars started his career DJing in the cafeteria during dinner for only $75. Mars went from being Outkast’s original DJ to touring with Usher. Currently Mars is living the life of legends and happily on tour with Ciara. DJ NASTY / DJ & Producer, Nasty Beatmakers – DJ Panel (Orlando, FL) Now that his partner DJ Prostyle has departed for NYC and BET, Nasty virtually holds a DJ monopoly on the city of Orlando, dominating radio and clubs. Widely considered one of the best on the one’s & two’s, Nasty and his brother LVM have also used their industry connections to venture into production. Their tracks have appeared on albums by everyone from Camron to Ludacris. DJ TOOMP – Producer Panel (Atlanta, GA) Production credits include T.I.’s “Dope Boyz,” “U Don’t Know Me,” “Motivation,” “What U Know,” “Be Easy,” and Ludacris’ “Two Miles An Hour.” DJ WALLY SPARKS / DJ, syndicated – DJ Panel (Chattanooga, TN) Once upon a time Wally Sparks was OZONE Magazine’s music editor, but he left us to pursue his true love 24/7: DJing and breaking new music. He can currently be heard on 3 commercial radio stations in 3 different states in addition to his own weekly show on Sirius Satellite Radio entitled “League Crew Radio.” Wally Sparks currently has globally distributed mixtapes featuring big names such as Ludacris, Chamillionaire, Yung Joc, Trae, and 8Ball & MJG. DONYA FLOYD / Programmer, AOL Radio Network – Technology Panel (New York, NY) Donya Floyd programs nearly 40 urban music stations for the AOL Radio Network, including R&B, dancehall and gospel – acting as a liaison between AOL Music and labels and artists. In addition to her radio responsibilities, she is a contributor to AOL Music’s news and feature articles, AIM interviews and Sessions. Ms. Floyd’s background includes programming and on-air stints at WOWI-FM in Norfolk, WPGC 95.5 FM in Washington, DC, and WUSL Power 99 FM in Philadelphia. Most recently, she also appeared as a weekly entertainment news contributor on Philadelphia’s top-rated TV station, NBC-10. ELORA MASON / Founder, E. Mason & Associates – Women In the Industry Panel (Atlanta, GA) Elora Mason is the founder and CEO of E. Mason & Associates, a Miami based Events Management and Publicity Firm. She is also the co-founder of Young Florida Vote, a non-profit, non-partisan voter empower program and the Florida Entertainment Summit, Florida’s most important entertainment networking summit. Elora, born in St. Croix, has worked with Atlantic Records, Bigga Rankin, Benji Brown, Caribbean Reggae Fest, DJ DEMP, DEMP Week, So South, Tarvoria, The Core DJs, The Core DJs Retreat, Trick Daddy, Trick Luvs Da Kids Foundation and a host of others.
ozone 10 awards
1st LADY EL / Founder, Murda Mamis Ent - DJ Crew Panel (New York, NY) 1st Lady El is the architect of the largest collective of