Today, the Living Legends Foundation is celebrating the Heroes of Black Music & Culture. Join us in congratulating CHRIS AYEARS, VP of Urban Marketing & Digital for Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), our recognized “Hero Behind The Culture”.
Chris has been in the music industry for over 30 years working in various fields ranging from marketing, management, product management, sales & streaming. Starting at EMI Music Group in 1994 as a Field Marketing Rep, Chris has gone on to work for EMI Records, Virgin Records, Universal Music Group, Fontana Distribution, Music World Gospel, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment, Sound Cloud & now Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the catalog division for Universal Music Group.
While at Virgin Records, Chris was the Director of Urban Marketing for the Southwest region. After moving over to Universal Music Group (UMG), he was able to lend his marketing expertise to the urban releases from Def Jam, Universal-Motown, Republic, Interscope Records and more. When UMG started its Independent Distribution arm, Fontana Distribution, Chris was named Director of Urban Marketing.
In 2010, Chris accepted the VP of Artist Management role for Music World Gospel, reporting directly to Mathew Knowles and helping to guide the careers of their clients. Mr. Ayears was also Kirk Franklin’s Tour Manager for the King’s Men tour which featured Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin & Israel Houghton. The King’s Men tour was the first Gospel Tour backed by Live Nation.
After a stint at SoundCloud as Senior Manager of Artist Marketing, Chris reunited with UMG where he and his team are charged with keeping classic albums from iconic artists relevant by celebrating key milestones, anniversaries & creating campaigns that reintroduces the music to longtime fans and new listeners.
Follow him on IG @chrisayears, FB @Chris.Ayears and LI @Chris Ayears
Chris, the Living Legends Foundation recognizes your hard work and love for the culture. We see you and now others will too!
#livinglegendsfoundation #LivingLegend #HeroesBehindTheCulture #hero
Chris has been in the music industry for over 30 years working in various fields ranging from marketing, management, product management, sales & streaming. Starting at EMI Music Group in 1994 as a Field Marketing Rep, Chris has gone on to work for EMI Records, Virgin Records, Universal Music Group, Fontana Distribution, Music World Gospel, Fo Yo Soul Entertainment, Sound Cloud & now Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), the catalog division for Universal Music Group.
While at Virgin Records, Chris was the Director of Urban Marketing for the Southwest region. After moving over to Universal Music Group (UMG), he was able to lend his marketing expertise to the urban releases from Def Jam, Universal-Motown, Republic, Interscope Records and more. When UMG started its Independent Distribution arm, Fontana Distribution, Chris was named Director of Urban Marketing.
In 2010, Chris accepted the VP of Artist Management role for Music World Gospel, reporting directly to Mathew Knowles and helping to guide the careers of their clients. Mr. Ayears was also Kirk Franklin’s Tour Manager for the King’s Men tour which featured Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin & Israel Houghton. The King’s Men tour was the first Gospel Tour backed by Live Nation.
After a stint at SoundCloud as Senior Manager of Artist Marketing, Chris reunited with UMG where he and his team are charged with keeping classic albums from iconic artists relevant by celebrating key milestones, anniversaries & creating campaigns that reintroduces the music to longtime fans and new listeners.
Follow him on IG @chrisayears, FB @Chris.Ayears and LI @Chris Ayears
Chris, the Living Legends Foundation recognizes your hard work and love for the culture. We see you and now others will too!
#livinglegendsfoundation #LivingLegend #HeroesBehindTheCulture #hero