My name is Mario Singleton, National Director at Rescue Agency, where I run a hip-hop entertainment-based public health campaign, funded by the FDA, www.freshempire.gov. My father is Ernie Singleton, one of the music industry’s top executives. He’s the former President of MCA & Sr. VP at Warner Bros. Records.
Growing up, I would accompany my Dad when he would go to conventions & Soul Train tapings. I also caught the artist bug & was featured dancing in music videos and even had my own rap group. I realized I wanted a career in the industry when I got to spend the day at the office with my Dad & sat in on meetings he had with BBD & Teddy Riley.
My first job was as the promotions coordinator for Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def Records, which led to me starting my own promotions & marketing company, M.S. Entertainment where I handled mix-show & radio promotion for various major labels. I also produced concerts & showcases for emerging artists & worked for a stint as a producer for the Guy Black Show on KJLH.
Over time, my goal & interest in the music industry has grown way beyond the music. Having had so much exposure to the BUSINESS of music and seeing what having black leadership like my father at the helm meant for the success of these entertainment companies, it’s inspired me to want to gain a seat at the table as an executive within the urban media landscape. My ultimate goal is to become a decision maker at one of the emerging media companies to ensure that urban entertainment is given the proper platform, opportunities & budgets they deserve. Technology has had the biggest impact on the industry since my father’s time, from the death of the CD to the rise of online music & how that has affected sales & distribution channels. Artists can produce & market an entire album via their laptops.
The growth of music streaming has given the future of the music industry some hope, but its future still lies in the hands of the creatives who write & produce music in terms of pushing the industry forward.
T.I.‘s song “Motivation” inspires me. Follow me on IG @mosing3000 and Twitter @mosing.
#LLF2019 #BlackHistoryMonth #NextGeneration