The last time Music Industry Quarterly spoke with Big Top Entertainment LLC (BTELLC) in 2015 they were riding high with their fourth Billboard charting project and a new distribution situation with Sony Music’s digital affiliate The Orchard. Big Top Entertainment’s current roster includes country singer IMAJ (daughter of Miami Vice star Phillip Michael Thomas); rapper-singer/shoe designer J Jordan; Christian Hip-Hop group King James III; rapper/producer SF1; and R&B/Pop singer Cicely O’kain, to name a few. The company’s most recent project the “Already On” compilation, is a collection of current and future hitmakers, primarily in the genres of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop.
So, who are the executive players not only behind the Already On compilation, but the Big Top Entertainment LLC group? Curtis Johnson (Marv) is the CEO and primarily responsible for negotiating the business deals, seeking new partnerships and handling the day to day operations, as well as signing new artists. Jay Johnson is the COO and responsible for discovering and acquiring talent, artist development and artist management. Bobby Robinson is the President, responsible for seeking new partnerships, funding, capitol ventures, sponsorships/endorsements, and road and tour management.
“We decided to executive produce a various artist compilation because we saw the strength in promoting a larger body of work to a larger audience,” says Curtis Johnson. “We have built platforms for our artists over the years and are now branding BTELLC and exposing our brand worldwide.”
To help promote and market the compilation, BTELLC is working closely with Micah Schure from the Schure Media Group (http://schuremediagroup.com/). “We took a unique approach in our marketing campaign by launching a 13- day video countdown featuring a different artist every day,” says Johnsons.
With the compilation and its roster of artists as a priority for the independent music group, the company also has robust plans to expand beyond music. BTELLC is in position to distribute film to digital stores (iTunes, Hulu, Netflix), cable, on demand channels and in some cases theatrical release. BTELLC is also accepting film submissions. “Yes, we are still a record label, but through our distribution and creative partnerships, we have gained access into the film distribution world,” says Johnson. “Once a film is properly screened and accepted, we can deliver to online stores and possibly for theatrical release.”
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