GospelPundit.com continues its prayer series this week, adding a new name to The Prayer List– Jojo Pada.

Jojo Pada, CEO of Ignition PR, is one of the most highly-regarded and sought-after publicists in gospel music.  Having worked in-house at Motown Cafe, as the head of publicity at Verity Records and Light Records, and as an indie consultant for Light Records and EMI Gospel, her clients include practically every artist in gospel music– including Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Shirley Caesar, Commissioned, Richard Smallwood, the Clark Sisters, VaShawn Mitchell, and many others.  Let’s lift her up…

Father, thank You for the life of Jojo Pada. Thank You for being a Sustainer– a God who clearly had a plan for Jojo since before she was born, and a God who was committed to keeping Jojo, and using her despite anything that threatened to stop her.

Lord, I pray for continued success for Jojo– not only in the practical sense, but spiritually as well.  I pray that her spiritual “success” would look like a heart that is perpetually molded to resemble Yours. I pray that it would look like a heart that continues to hunger and thirst for righteousness, that stands for justice, that lives a life of boldness, for Your glory.

I pray that the decisions Jojo faces would be guided by Your Truth, Lord.

I ask that You allow the many gifts and skills that You’ve invested into her to be used to the utmost, for Your purposes. I pray that she would continue to be a trailblazer in this music industry, an example of excellence among her close peers and those who watch from afar.

God, I pray that You would assure Jojo that all of her prayers have been heard, that her heart’s desires have been considered, and that You have orchestrated Your very best life for her to live– and I pray that she would find unbelievable rest, comfort and joy in that, and in You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Okay, fam– please join me in lifting up our sister, Jojo Pada, in prayer.  Post your prayers in the comment section below.

THIS series is so good that GospelPundit is teaming up with two other new media heavyweights to cover it– GospelFlava.com and The Gospel According To Torrence at BET.com.  It’s THAT major.

I wanna introduce to some, and present to others, the one and only Jojo Pada, gospel’s publicist extraordinaire.  She is probably one of the BIGGEST personalities in the gospel music industry.  She knows everyone and everyone knows her.  Now 15 years into this biz, she is THE go-to person for PR (public relations) in this game and she has worked very hard to be where she is.  On a personal note– I was her intern at Verity many moons ago and she is one of the people that laid the foundation of my knowledge and know-how in this business.

FINALLY, she’s sharing her PR prowess with the masses– pay close attention, take notes, and be educated in this historic three-part series across multiple media platforms.

Your roadmap:

1.  Visit GospelFlava.com to read more about Jojo and what motivated her to write this editorial– http://www.gospelflava.com/articles/confessionspublicistpart1.html.

2.  Read the section below, in which Jojo shares 5 tips for becoming a great publicist.

3.  Hop over to The Gospel According To Torrence to read the conclusion of Jojo’s PR advice.  She’s giving 5 amazing tips for anyone who’s seeking help from a publicist– http://blogs.bet.com/ontv/thegospelaccordingto/2010/02/confessions-of-a-gospel-publicist-part-3/.

Make sure you visit all three websites to read everything Jojo’s got to say– it won’t make much sense if you don’t.  She wrapped up at GospelFlava by saying “I know that I’ve been called to be a publicist.  But have you?”

Let’s pick up there…

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5 helpful hints if you want to be a publicist:

1.  Learn how to write.  I’m lucky – I actually went to college and got my degree in Public Relations.  I was taught how to write for newspapers and news releases; I was taught how to analyze media and media trends and I was taught how to pitch.  And I’ve had excellent training.  My first real job in the biz was with the legendary Terrie Williams.  Ms. Williams was probably the preeminent Black publicist for years.  In her heyday she was simultaneously handling Eddie Murphy, Johnnie Cochran and Janet Jackson.

The most important thing that was constantly drilled in my head was LEARN HOW TO WRITE.  Writing is our lifeline.  Bios, press materials, sales pages and creative copy – it’s all something PR people must know how to do.  If you want to work in Music PR, writing bios is probably the best thing to do. For me, when I write a bio, I take the time to interview the artist and listen to the CD over and over.  That gives me a hands-on, intimate sense of what the artist likes to talk about as it pertains to that particular project AND what the music really sounds like – both are essential items in being able to pitch the artist and the project to different media.

After I write a bio – I know exactly what the highpoints of the CD’s are, I know what things are important to the artists – I know how to craft what media should ask.

2.  Understand the story you’re pitching.  One of my strengths is knowing the right story for the right media outlet.  I love creating just the right pitch that works.  If a gospel client says to me, “I want to be in non-traditional gospel magazines,” I have to think of a way to make it work.  I wouldn’t pitch Black Enterprise with a new-CD-release pitch; I would find out if the client has a businesses or entrepreneurial ideas that would make sense for a magazine like Black Enterprise.

3.  Know your media (Part 2 of understanding the story).  Befriend your media compatriots.  Learn their dislikes, likes, when they like to be pitched, when their deadlines are, etc.– it will help make you a better publicist.  When I was doing celebrity events for the Motown Café, our job was to bring celebs in and get as much press surrounding their appearance at the restaurant.   A good friend Richard Corkery, was THE celebrity Photographer for the Daily News in New York City.  We all knew that if he came to one of your events and took pictures, there was a good likelihood the photo would run in the paper the next day.  One thing about him is he LOVES to drink Amstel Light.  The minute I saw him walk in to the restaurant, I’d have one ready for him.  I know it’s a little thing … but he’d always remembered that and made a point of coming to ALL my events.

And don’t just reach out to media people just for a pitch.  Actually care about their lives outside of “what can you write about this week.”

4.  Specialize. Create a niche for yourself that makes you the BEST in your area of specialty.  Publicity is contact and network-driven.  If you start in TV publicity and stay in that field, in a few years you will know all the key players, writers and media outlets.  Like in any profession, making a name for yourself is important to success.  Once you’ve established yourself as a knowledgeable, experienced publicist in that particular field, your reputation will spread – a publicist’s value is based in what other people (potential clients, press people, artists) think of you.

Also, create camaraderie with other publicists in your area of expertise.  So often, people try to pit PR people against each other but you never know when you’ll need to call upon other people for help on a particular project or you might even garner work from another publicist.  For example, veteran publicist Bill Carpenter (Capital Entertainment) provides links to different publicists (including me) on his website.

5.  Network with media and with other publicists.  I know I just said pick one field and stay there, but it doesn’t hurt to get to know and connect with publicists in different genres.  You can learn tips on strategies for media pitching, social networking campaigns, find out about upcoming events and TV specials.  Knowing what other publicists are doing can elevate your game.  Join PR societies and groups. One great example is run by another awesome veteran Publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn of GQ Media, who runs the PR listserv – a database to whom she sends all things germane to PR (job opportunities, upcoming events for clients, media stories, etc).

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I LOVE THAT INFORMATION!  Kinda makes me wanna be a publicist. LOL

Okay, now head over to The Gospel According To Torrence RIGHT NOW for the conclusion of the matter (churchy!), where Jojo gives FREE advice to aspiring artists in search of a publicist.

And, leave a comment here to let me (and Jojo) know what you think of this advice!!!

Oh wowwwwwwww.  Yesterday was insanely busy, but soooo much fun.

The Gospel Announcer’s Guild (GAG) held its annual luncheon and showcase at the Duke Energy Center.  The event, co-hosted by David Mann, featured a BUNCH of artists with new music either available now or coming soon.  Among them– Sheri Jones-Moffett, Melinda Watts, Tamela Mann, Bishop Paul Morton, New Direction, Philip Carter, Karima Kibble…

And let me say this real quick… that Bishop Paul Morton is a preaching and singin’ somebody.  I NEVER get tired of hearing him sing.  By the way, it’s his BIRTHDAY week, so there’s much celebrating going around.  In any case, he sang his new single, “Don’t Do It Without Me” (with son, PJ Morton on keys), and got the entire GAG Luncheon crowd HYPED.  I’ll do some feature stuff soon.  In the meantime, some pics are at the bottom of this post.

Donald Lawrence, Dorothy Norwood and Vashawn Mitchell were among several artists in the house to support… and a BUNCH of industry vets and execs were milling around including Jojo Pada, Neily Dickerson (The ND Co.), Torrence Glenn (BET.com), Vicki Mack-Lataillade (LillyMack/Central South/CCLI/etc.), Larry Blackwell (EMI), Mitchell Solarek (Maximum Artist), Tammy Taylor (One EnTiTy), Sheilah Belle (The Belle Report), Lisa Collins (Gospel Industry Round-Up), Kia Jarmon (Light Records) and soooo many more.

I tried to take a quick nap, but I didn’t quite make it.  My wife and I were invited to an intimate little dinner celebrating the release of Melinda Watts’ debut project, People Get Ready.  Special shout-out to her incredible team, with whom my wife and I have kinda fallen in love!

No rest for the weary… I had about 45 minutes to freshen up for the highly anticipated Donald Lawrence concert, sponsored in part by Verizon Wireless & How Sweet The Sound.

IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!  Maaaaan… he’s like… becoming one of my absolute faves.  He and his singers ministered with songs from his latest project, The Law Of Confession Part 1, including the title track, “Let The Word Do The Work,” “The Blessing Is On You,” and the hit single “Back II Eden.”  He also dipped back a bit and performed “Healed,” “Giants,” ”The Blessing Of Abraham,” and brought Sheri Jones-Moffett to the stage to take us STRAIGHT in on “Encourage Yourself.”  It was better than I could ever recap.  GEEZ.

Sheri also performed her rising single, “Renewed,” from her debut solo album of the same name, due on August 11th.  Such a sweet spirit (and her family is THE BEST).

The whole shebang ended at about 2am and I was knocked OUT shortly thereafter.  Where’s my coffee?!

More recaps later!

Yesterday was the first full day of action-packed GMWA stuff.

I was bouncin’ around between the hotel lobby, the press office (shout out to Jojo Pada of IgnitionPR), the airport to pick up folks, and back to the convention center.

Last night, we went to the Youth & Young Adult Forum at the Hyatt in Downtown Cincinnati.  By the end of the week, I’ll be annoyed cuz the musicals start so LATE at night, but for now, I’m napping when I can and making it through!

There are so many events happening simultaneously, I can’t go to all of ‘em.  But at the Youth thingy, there were some GREAT performances from new and developing artists across the nation.  Special shout-out to Algernon, Bubby Fann and his group, and Melinda Watts, each of whom did a GREAT job.  It was an awesome time… I even got to catch-up with manager extraordinaire (and Gospel Dream judge) Mitchell Solarek.  SUPER cool guy.

Random sightings included Dorothy Norwood, Donald Lawrence, Albertina Walker, Vashawn Mitchell, Stephen Hurd, Kervy Brown, Earnest Pugh, Bishop Eric McDaniel… TONS of folks are here and more are continuously arriving.

I didn’t get to bed until around 3:00am (what in the WORLD?!), then back up at 6:30am to do it all again.  Whateva!  I’ll sleep next week.

More recaps tomorrow… and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for ongoing ramblings about stuff.

At the 106 & Gospel taping, I got to hang out with Damita Haddon.  She’s absolutely HILARIOUS and incredibly down-to-earth.

As we were talking in her dressing room, her background singers came in… one of ‘em is a childhood friend that I used to sing with in the Soul Children of Chicago over 13 years ago!  SMALL world!  Shout-out to Toni Stephens.  Great to see ya!

Damita did a great interview (for the record, who you see on TV is who she is behind closed doors, which is great to see) and she did a great performance of her single, “No Looking Back,” from her recent solo album of the same name.  I encourage you ALL to check out that album cuz it is reeeeaaaally good and ridiculously underappreciated in the industry.  In particular, check out the title track, check out “Pray,” check out “I Won’t Complain” (you’ve never heard it so mellow and so right).

Actually, watch her video for “No Looking Back” here:

What do y’all think???

MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR MAJOR shout-out to Jojo Pada of Ignition PR for, among other things, inviting me to kick it with y’all.  We had a gooooooood time, as always!

For some reason, the Red Carpet event is the night before the actual Stellar Awards, but it was nice all the same.  Somebody at the check-in table tried to play me about my media credentials, but I still ended up on the Red Carpet next to Dorinda Clark-Cole and running past someone doing an interview for Gospel Music Channel.  You may see me on TV because, really… I was standing in places I was NOT supposed to be standing.  LOL.  Whatever!

Basically, the Red Carpet was a time for everyone to get photos and interviews with the nominees (which, I guess, is why it comes before the Nominee Dinner).  There were cameras clickin’ and flashes flashin’.  Fun.  Shout out to Jojo Pada (Founder/CEO/RULER of Ignition PR) for giving me some incredibly official responsibilites– I was her cameraman while she led a long-time favorite artist, DeLeon Richards, around and stuff.  (Cool trivia tidbit: At age 9, DeLeon became the youngest person ever nominated for a Grammy Award, pushing Michael Jackson out of the top spot… so there!) 

After that, I RAN up the hallway to my room, changed my clothes and sprinted right back to the ballroom for the Nominee Dinner.

Info on that in a bit!