Top 50 black powerbrokers in entertainment.

Beyond the hoopla and hype of Hollywood, there are the power brokers. Some of their faces may not be familiar to the readers of People magazine or the viewers of Entertainment Tonight. But they are the stars behind the scenes. They can be found in a lawyer's office reviewing contracts, or in a boardroom pitching a project, or in a comfortably secluded setting orchestrating deals.

That's where the real power is. And here are the powerful people operating within that inner circle: The black enterprise entertainment power broker 50 - a fierce 50 - who covertly and brazenly shape the music, television, cable and film industries.

This list is not a popularity contest. In many cases, popularity is a measure of hype. Hype is not power.

Nor is this list etched in stone. In fact, the fortunes of the people in our power broker pantheon are changing as you read this - some for the better, some for the worse. The mercurial nature of the entertainment industry is such that who's "hot" today, may not be "hot" tomorrow. Unceremonious falls from grace are run-of-the-mill occurrences in the entertainment business.

What this list is, is a snapshot of the 50 African-Americans who exert the most influence on the entertainment industry today.

If you look at the different segments of the entertainment world, you'll find two constants: 1) There are a greater number of highly skilled African-Americans in the talent pool; and 2) African-Americans are seeking more control and equity through independent enterprises.

These two trends are unmistakably reflected in our list. There is a solid mix of old and new faces wielding the power. At the same time, a full 50% of these power brokers own their own businesses, whether it's a record label, production company or artist management firm.

The largest number on the list, 19, comes from the music industry. Combined television and cable representatives come next at 15. Both the film industry and lawyers/agents have eight representatives. These figures mirror the historical triumphs and continuing struggles experienced by blacks in the entertainment industry.

For this inaugural look at black power in the entertainment business, black enterprise started with a list of more than 125 names, consulted industry experts and chose a set of criteria that we believe demonstrates how these individuals have come to power:

* Ability to develop and sign deals. Can they get the right people to the bargaining table, work out a deal and sign off on it?

* Ability to "green light" projects. Do they have creative and financial control of projects?

* Decision-making power. How high up on the chain of command are they, and what influence do they have with those above them?

* Ability to shape industry trends. Have they made successful cutting-edge moves? To what degree is the industry following their lead?

After taking the above into account, black enterprise also factored in, to a lesser degree, a candidate's ability to create jobs or other opportunities for African-Americans, and their influence on entertainment consumers.

Two pioneers in this movement to gain behind-the-scenes control are the legendary Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee - black America's "First Couple" of entertainment. This gifted team leveraged their fame, talent and influence to write, direct and produce books, documentaries, plays and television shows emphasizing positive black images. Carrying on in this tradition, the members of this prestigious list are charged with keeping blacks in the entertainment industry on that course. The stakes are higher now, since the means to disseminate entertainment images - and influence public opinion - are proliferating, and the financial potential is skyrocketing.

Black executives and artists are striking deals to start their own recording labels (see "A New Rhythm Takes Hold"). More blacks are creating and producing their own television shows (see "Fighting For Air Time"). Meanwhile, in Hollywood, more black directors are forming their own production companies to gain greater creative control (see "The Making of Hollyhood").

With all these moves underway, it's a sure bet that the black enterprise entertainment power broker 50 will be at the forefront of defining the images of African-Americans in this country. The sounds and images that are the handiwork of these influential artists, attorneys and businesspeople will be a major part of popular culture in the years to come. African-Americans are hoping that the images come from the heart - and not the hoopla of Hollywood hype.