FEATURE/Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey, and Motown's Kedar Massenburg Among Entertainment's Most Powerful.Feature Writers FEATURE... NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 15, 2002 Black Enterprise Picks the 50 Most Influential People in Show Business BLACK ENTERPRISE announced today its list of the Top 50 Black Power Brokers in Entertainment, which includes professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs who wield the most power and influence in show business. Those chosen have the ability to develop content, negotiate and sign off on deals, oversee the production process, control budgets, and hire and fire talent. BE chose individuals such as Motown CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Kedar Massenburg, Soul Food Producer Felicia Henderson, and HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy Home Video President Henry McGee Henry McGee (May 14, 1929 – January 28, 2006) was a British actor best known as straight man to Benny Hill for many years. McGee also served often as the announcer on Hill's TV programme, delivering the upbeat intro "Yes! It's The Benny Hill Show!" because they exert influence at entertainment's highest levels. Music and television have the same number of representatives, 16 each, listed. Film has eight representatives. There are six lawyers/agents on the list and four individuals who delve equally into film, television, and music. Roughly 50% of these power brokers are entrepreneurs who own their own record label, production company, artist management business, or law firm. Despite the recent progress in the industry, such as the appointment of Richard D. Parsons as CEO of AOL (A division of Time Warner, Inc., New York, NY, www.aol.com) The world's largest online information service with access to the Internet, e-mail, chat rooms and a variety of databases and services. Time Warner, African Americans still have a way to go to get their slice of the power pie. The statistics speak volumes: There are no black studio chiefs and only one black CEO of an entertainment network, billionaire Robert Johnson Robert Johnson may refer to:
ICM Integrated Crop Management ICM International Congress of Mathematicians ICM Information Classification and Management ICM Intelligent Contact Management (Cisco) ICM International Creative Management ). In contrast, African Americans consumers pump millions of dollars into the industry, representing $908.8 million in sales on prerecorded pre·re·cord tr.v. pre·re·cord·ed, pre·re·cord·ing, pre·re·cords To record (a television program, for example) at an earlier time for later presentation or use. Adj. 1. music and $369.9 million in sales on movie theater tickets for the first six months of 2002. Moreover, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Nielson Media Research, blacks watch 14 hours and 29 minutes of television per week, more than any other group in the nation. The BE list of power brokers offers the best hope for diversifying the industry's upper ranks and changing the world of entertainment. Highlights include: Clarence Avant Clarence Avant is a music executive who is widely renowned for his sincere dedication to pioneering opportunities within the recording industry. During his 40 year career, Avant has represented the likes of blues artist Little Willie John, rock and roll pioneer Tom Wilson, and jazz , Principal, Avant Garde Publishing, Interior Records, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, Chairman and CEO, Bad Boy Entertainment, Damon Dash & Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Partners, Roc-A-Fella Enterprises, Felicia Henderson, Executive Producer, Soul Food for TV (Showtime Networks), Robert L. Johnson Robert L. Johnson (born April 8, 1946) is an American businessman and the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), and was its chairman and chief executive officer. , Founder and CEO, BET, Quincy Jones, CEO, Q West Productions, Spike Lee, CEO, 40 Acres & a Mule Productions, Kedar Massenburg, President and CEO, Motown Records, Henry McGee, President, HBO Home Video, Eddie Murphy, President & CEO, Eddie Murphy Productions, Richard D. Parsons, CEO, AOL Time Warner, Inc., Antonio "L.A." Reid, President and CEO, Arista Records, Sylvia Rhone, Chairman and CEO, Elektra Entertainment Group, Russell Simmons, Chairman and CEO, Rush Communications, Denzel Washington, CEO, Mundy Lane Entertainment, and Oprah Winfrey, Chairman, Harpo Inc. The complete story appears in December's BLACK ENTERPRISE, which hits newsstands on November 19. Download this release plus additional news items and images at www.blackenterprise.com/press.html. BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate guide to financial empowerment, is the premier business and investment resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. The publication provides 4 million readers with monthly information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. As the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, BLACK ENTERPRISE is the authority for business news and trends. The magazine is published by Earl G. Graves Publishing Co. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion