#AHHPowerfulWomen: HOT97’s Music Executive, TT Torrez Describes the Importance of Enjoying the Process
(AllHipHop Features) “Being focused on success wasn’t a choice it was a need. It was literally a need to succeed.” -TT Torrez Within minutes of our call with Music Executive, TT Torrez, we felt the vibe and an understanding of the grit and determination that this powerful woman embodied. The multi-media personality and music executive at HOT97 humbly made it clear that she’s worked very hard to be where she is. From a rocky start, being on her own since she was 14-years-old, she dealt with the harsh realities of many inner city kids. It wasn’t until she got to college that she discovered her love and passion for radio. Torrez made it her mission to make her way into the radio world and locked in her first professional role at WCHH Hot 92.7 in Charlotte, NC as a part-time radio host. She then moved further south to WSSP Power 94.3 in Charleston, SC to be a midday personality and producer for the esteemed Russ Parr Morning Show. After her time at The Russ Parr Morning Show, she spent four years traveling for Music Choice, writing and producing for television shows, and hosting on-camera interviews with celebrities. She even found time to work weekends as an on-air talent for the legendary WUSL Power 99 in Philadelphia. Torrez worked full-time as the afternoon personality and Music Director for WCDX iPower 92.1 in Richmond, VA prior to moving to New York’s Hot 97. Given her humble beginnings, Torrez ensures that she makes time to give back to the community through philanthropic efforts including her “Pink Birthday Party” charity event benefiting breast cancer research and the “I Will Wait Until I Graduate” campaign which was founded by Torrez to encourage young girls to graduate before parenting a child. Torrez recently received the award for “Best Community Service” from the VA Association of Broadcasters for her “Prom-A-Thon” campaign that provided over 500 girls with prom dresses, make-up and hair to attend their high school prom. Despite being an exclusive media source in her own right, Torrez has also been featured in various media outlets including The Source, Star, and VIBE magazine, television’s Nancy Grace, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, and blog sites like necolebitchie.com, bossip.com, and globalgrind.com. She also continues to cover the red carpet at the MTV VMA’s, the BET Awards, the BET Hip-Hop Awards and The Grammys. Ms. Torrez says the radio world can be a bit of a “boys’ club,” but through hard work, knowing what she wanted and successful networking, she’s managed to land her dream job. With the hustle and bustle of curating what hits the HOT 97 air-waves, AllHipHop got a few moments of her time to discuss her world as a female music executive: AllHipHop: Please explain what your job entails: TT Torrez: I am responsible for developing, coordinating, and supervising all music programs, production and overall day-to-day operations of the station. I also plan and produce special musical concerts and/or workshops and coordinate fundraising efforts. The main job of a radio station’s Music Director is to find the right music for the station, but it’s more complicated than just picking quality music. It’s making sure out of the music that’s available to us, we’re finding the right music our audience wants to hear, which generates the best ratings, which in turn helps our sales department sell airtime.” AllHipHop: What’s the most enjoyable part of the job and your duties? TT Torrez: Interacting with the community AllHipHop: What is the hardest part: * TT Torrez: Balancing work life and personal life AllHipHop: Do you remember and can describe a time of adversity in your career? TT Torrez: I remember the first time I got fired from my first radio gig. It was in Charleston, South Carolina, and I was producing The Russ Parr Morning Show. The company said they were selling their station and as of tomorrow, you no longer have a job. I remember crying wondering what I was going to do. I wasn’t making that much money, but one thing I’ve always been good at was networking. Russ Parr and I became really good friends –he became a mentor to me, and I told him ‘Hey I’m out of a gig,’ and he said there weren’t any positions available, he created an opportunity for me to connect with the program director and see what happens. So I packed up my Honda Accord, put my furniture in storage and drove to D.C. This taught me that you really have to humble yourself and be open to doing other things. I went from literally having nowhere to stay to gaining a great gig in Connecticut. You have to go through the trials and tribulations to get to where you want to be. AllHipHop: How do you express the pride of being a woman of color in the industry, being humble but owning your position and how does that transpire within the music and entertainment industry? TT Torrez: I mean, it’s very easy to get lost in this business. You have to be strong-minded and have a strong personality. Black women already face so many stereotypes when it comes to reality television and from what others perceive us to be. I think for me it was all about me being authentic to who I am…and I had a lot of people on the way that tried to change that or turn me into things that I’m not. I always had to stay strong to who I am while still maturing. You can’t get caught up in what this industry can do to you. You always have to strategize and not always wear your heart on your sleeves. You are smart and you can be on the same level as men. AllHipHop: How do you balance work and personal life? TT Torrez: I definitely I have the situation, but I have a 6-year-old son and I raise my nephew, and you really have to find what you want and how […]
#AHHPowerfulWomen: Gwendolyn Quinn Shares Why Balance is a Key to Being Powerful
Gwendolyn Quinn an Award-winning media strategist, publicist, writer, and producer. She is currently the founder of one of the nation’s leading independent publicity and public relations firms. Founded in 2002, GQ Media & Public Relations, Inc. (now Gwendolyn Quinn Public Relations) which is a full-service publicity and marketing firm that specializes in developing media strategies, coordinating special events and brand development for clients who span the worlds of music, theater, corporate, not-for-profit, faith-based, publishing, and the visual/fine arts. Quinn’s roster has included a wide range of clients including Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Isaac Hayes, Kirk Franklin, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Andraé Crouch, Deborah Cox, Johnny Gill, Fred Hammond, Fred Hammond, Karen Clark Sheard, Smokie Norful, Regina Belle, Keke Wyatt, Terri Lyne Carrington, T. S. Monk (Thelonious Sphere Monk, III), Coca-Cola (Nu Classic Soul Campaign), the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention, Mandela Day Concert in New York City, the Museum of Moving Image Salutes Will Smith, Radio One’s 25th Anniversary Gala, the Living Legends Foundation, Odyssey Network: The Ultimate Business Retreat, and numerous others. Quinn career encompasses stints as vice president of publicity at Capitol Records (two tenures at the label), senior director of publicity at Arista Records during legendary executive Clive Davis’ tenure, and senior director of publicity at Island Records under the regime of Rock and Rock Hall of Famer Chris Blackwell. She has also held positions at Mercury/PolyGram Records, Flavor Unit Entertainment and ASCAP. Her work has paired her with some of the industry’s brightest stars, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Prince, Queen Latifah, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, the Isley Brothers, Monica, CeCe Winans, Rachelle Ferrell, Lisa Stansfield, Faith Evans, Notorious B.I.G., Vanessa Williams, Oleta Adams, Brian McKnight, Tony! Toni, Toné and countless others. In addition to her publicity and public relations work, Quinn founded the African-American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC), a national and international group of more than 1,000 public relations and communications specialists that provide professional support to their peers in the communications industry. Quinn is the recipient of numerous awards including the Media Award by the Living Legends Foundation, Inspired In Music Series, the International Black Broadcaster Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2014 Stellar Women of Gospel Awards. She was named one of the Top 20 Power Players in Roots magazine’s Annual Industry Stellar Gospel Music Awards Edition (2013), Black Enterprise magazine named her one of the Women In Black Music’s Top Women Executives Behind the Scene (2011), the Atlanta Post named her one of the nation’s top African-American Public Relations Agents (2011), and Madamenoire.com named her one of the Top African-Americans Public Relations Agents in the country (2011). In 2010, Quinn was honored by the Talladega College Alumni Association of Greater New York on behalf of the African American Public Relations Collective. She is the recipient of the National Black Public Relations Society Network Award (2007). She has been honored by then Council Member Yvette D. Clarke (Brooklyn, New York), and the Council of the City of New York (2006), and on Capitol Hill by Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (2004) for her professional work and community service. Quinn is a contributor to Souls Revealed (Souls of My Sisters/Kensington) and featured in Handle Your Entertainment Business (Grand Central/Warner Publishing). She is a freelance writer with Huffington Post, BlackEnteprise.com, BE Pulse, and EURWEB.com. She is also the curator of The Living Legends Foundation’s “The State of Black Music and Beyond” series published in the Huffington Post. With a resume of this MAGNITUDE, Ms. Quinn’s proves her measure of influence and prowess, not only in music and entertainment but in the ever-evolving field of public relations. AllHipHop quickly gained some details on her extensive career: AllHip-Hop: What’s the most enjoyable part about working in Public Relations in the Entertainment Industry? Gwendolyn Quinn: I love and enjoy my work. I get to travel, work and meet some great people. As a publicist, I get to positively impact and influence the careers of many of my clients. I am part of a team that builds and develop their brand and image. AllHipHop: What is the hardest part? Gwendolyn Quinn: One of the most challenging aspects of my job now is that I am trying to transition into other areas of entertainment. So, I’m doing double duty; trying to stay focus on my current career, while pursuing new goals and making inroads in other areas. Also with that shift comes many sacrifices and financial challenges to consider. Also, I am one of the caregivers for my elderly parents. I’m fortunate and blessed to still have both parents. A few years ago, I had to move back home to help care for them. I have one sister and brother, so we try our best to provide the best care for our parents. AllHipHop: Who inspires you and why? Gwendolyn Quinn: First and foremost, I am inspired by the gifts that God gave me, and I feel it’s my responsibility to make good use of those gifts. I am inspired by positive people who are doing great things; especially many of my former publicist friends and industry colleagues who have transitioned to other careers. More recently, there are a few people that inspired me: Ava DuVernay, and one of my clients, Terri Lyne Carrington. AllHipHop: What does it mean to you to be a powerful woman and a boss in the urban music and hip-hop industry? Gwendolyn Quinn: I’ve been in the music and entertainment business for over 25 years. To be named as a powerful woman in urban and hip-hop music simply means that I have put in my time and I have done the work. During the journey, I have made mistakes and learned from the mistakes. It also means that I have gained significant knowledge and access and that I have used that power to move artists, clients, and the genre forward. AllHipHop: Any advice you would like to give on growing into a powerful person in your career? Gwendolyn Quinn: My advice to young people would be to incorporate more balance […]
#AHHPowerfulWomen: Emmy-Nominated Producer Elon Johnson is a Force to be Reckoned With
With more than a decade of experience in television production and journalism, Emmy Award-nominated producer, Elon D. Johnson has facilitated in the creation and execution of some of the most critically acclaimed and highly rated shows on several networks including syndicated channels (ABC, NBC, FOX), and cable channels BET, VH1, MTV, and FUSE. As a journalist, Elon’s work has appeared in Essence, Giant, Honey, Jewel, Juicy, King, Latin Girl, Long Island Village Voice, Mixmag, One World, Poz, Request, Set, Suede, The Ave, The Source, Unleashed, Uptown, Vibe, Vibe Vixen, XXL, XXL Presents Eye Candy, XXL Presents Hip Hop Soul, and on AllHipHop.com, Amazon.com, AOL.com, Barnes&Noble.com, BET.com, Hookt.com, MartiniPink.com, MTV.com, Papermag.com, VH1.com and Vibe.com. As the grandchild of immigrants, Elon and has maintained close ties to her family roots in Barbados, working on a number of international projects including entertainment TV shows and the marketing and advertising of women-centered and empowering tourism events. As you can see, this powerful woman is one to be reckoned with. AllHipHop.com got a moment to ask Ms. Johnson a few questions: AllHipHop: please, explain what your job entails? Elon Johnson: There are several levels to being a producer in television depending on the network or production company, but my job, essentially, is to manage, execute and produce an event, worthy of being on television. While there is no easy way to explain it, my job is really to make sure all elements of getting a show from conception to air are complete. Typically I start with a proposed creative perimeter, source out the right production team for said content, brainstorm ideas, and work with several departments – from legal, to clearance, to standards and practices, to sales and branding, all while making sure the content tells a full story, is entertaining and engaging and nothing is left unaddressed. AllHipHop: What’s the most enjoyable part of the job and your duties? Elon Johnson: The most enjoyable part of the job is having the ability to create television about things that interest me. I started in music news and had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in entertainment. It was a regular day at work to interview Destiny’s Child, Wu-Tang Clan, Britney Spears, Nas, Ja Rule, 50 Cent, Outkast, Christina Aguilera, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, U2, The Fugees, and so many more. I moved on to talk television which was more lifestyle, women-centered and centered on A-List TV and movie stars, and now, the content that is before me can be anything from a large live awards red carpet show to developing a cult web series into a TV series, so being able to keep my finger on the pulse of pop culture is very much a dream job in many ways. AllHipHop: What is the hardest part? Elon Johnson: The most difficult part, currently, is viewer engagement. The face of television, how television is viewed and what keeps the viewer’s attention is ever changing and it is my job to not only stay abreast of those changes but to also be ahead of the TV trends. AllHipHop: What advice do you have to offer people that want to be where you are or aspire to make it in the business? Elon Johnson: Channel your passion, present your ambition, and most importantly let your reputation precede you. So if you’re an intern, be the standout intern. If you’re a production assistant (an entry level TV position), be sure to offer more than your job requires while at the same time, staying in your lane. I find the people who ask the most questions, seek out counsel to get ahead, and pay close attention to all the moving parts of production, often have the best success in moving forward fast. And if you’re DIY, take it seriously. Study the craft and elevate your idea. You have the audience, keep them. AllHipHop: Can you describe a moment of adversity personal and in your career? Elon Johnson: Who can’t? Nothing about the work force is easy. I have storiessssssss…. Especially in the uber emotional industry of entertainment. I once had a very popular female rapper threaten me because she found out I interviewed her former fiancé as part of her cover story for a magazine. I felt terrible that she was so angered by this but it was part of my job to get all sides of the story. I was once in a car with a very popular male rapper who decided to drive full speed ahead down the sidewalk because the cops had blocked off the street. I honestly thought my crew and I might lose our life that night behind his aggression. I’ve had hardships in the workplace just dealing with people wanting to pigeonhole me as a Black woman, despite the fact that I have seamlessly transitioned between producing a hip-hop news special that looked a beef between Nas and Jay-Z, to a talk show with top model Alexa Chung, to a show that required a full-fledged house renovation with Nate Berkus to producing 11 hours of live television in less than a week, all celebrating the BET Awards. As for the personal, I have freelanced as a producer and showrunner for over 10 years now. This lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. It is essentially a business you’re running as an individual so YOU are responsible for marketing yourself, staying relevant, and making sure people know that you are capable of doing this job in various mediums and doing it better than others. So that can weigh on your personal life as the hustle tends to take precedence. AllHipHop: What keeps you from giving up working within a male dominated industry… Elon Johnson: One thing I don’t focus on is gender in the workplace. I know I’m damn good at what I do period. I’ve had so much experience in so many facets of media that it is a gut sensation for me to produce. I deal with men […]
#AHHPowerfulWomen: AllHipHop Pays Homage To Powerful Female Leaders, Influencers And Bosses in Hip-Hop & Entertainment
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