From her humble beginnings as an assistant at Chrysalis Music Publishing to her current role as one of the industry’s influential A&R executives, Tina Davis has truly left her mark on the music industry over the past couple of years. The Oakland, California native has made her way to the top, working for over a decade as senior VP of A&R at Def Jam, before taking up her current post as VP of A&R for Empire, an independent Bay Area music company. Aside from inking deals with Universal Music Group and Hitco, Davis is also heavily involved in the development and production of television content.
How Tina Davis Broke Into the Industry
Davis’ journey into the music industry started when she worked as an assistant at Chrysalis Music Publishing for her high school best friend, LaRonda Sutton. She also interned for Def Jam’s A&R staff while working as an A&R admin for them on the West Coast.
Education and Career Shift
Despite attending Grambling State University in Louisiana with an initial vision of becoming a sports anchor and reporter, Davis chose to follow her passion for music when financial aid was no longer available. With 13 years of experience playing classical piano under her belt, Davis decided to focus on the business side of music.
Camera and Beyond
Even though her path took a different direction, Davis still maintains her love for being in front of the camera. A testament to this is her recent creation, executive production, and appearance on a new show titled “The Next Big Thing” on BET.
About Empire and its Artists
Empire, where Davis currently serves as VP of A&R, is not just an independent music distribution company; it also acts as a music label. It represents artists like Young Dolph, Tyga, Lil Duval, Wande Coal, Jade Novah, MAJOR, Mario, Trevor Jackson, and Cierra Ramirez. Davis is responsible for everything concerning the artist and repertoire.
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