Parkwood Entertainment’s Damien Smith, Salt-N-Pepa’s Cheryl ‘Salt’ James among board members
As part of its relaunch, nonprofit organization More In Music is announcing its new advisory board for 2024-2025. Dedicated to making the music industry accessible to aspiring professionals through education and mentorship, the organization is also planning its first More In Music Conference for 2025.
The board is comprised of three groups: legacy, bridge and future gen. The legacy advisors include Salt-N-Pepa’s Cheryl “Salt” JamesFull Stop Management manager/Parkwood Entertainment head of music and touring Damien Smith and Recording Academy vp, membership and industry relations Kelley Purcell. Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Kenyon Dixonartist Yannick “Thurz” Koffi, Interscope Records director of urban marketing Lauren Gaspard and Gala Music head of marketing Chrystal Anderson are among the bridge advisors. The board’s future gen level includes two college students and a recent college grad.
More In Music is helmed by Noelle Chesnut Whitmorewho founded the organization in 2019. “Our goal at More In Music is to be everything that we needed when we were first navigating or even discovering a career in music; to change the landscape and raise the bar for all us in the music industry to make it mandatory to give back,” explains Whitmore. “My hope is that we can center and remember that ambitious young person within ourselves that is now grown up and has literally accomplished our wildest dreams. It’s our responsibility to not just fulfill that purpose and dream within ourselves but to break barriers and help those coming after us, no matter if you’re the Intern or the svp.”
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The Made In Music advisory board will be working closely with a student cohort to produce the its forthcoming multi-day conference next spring, which will feature workshops, panels and mentorships from industry leaders. Find additional information about joining the student cohort here.
A 15-year industry veteran whose background includes prior posts at Bounce, AEG and Goldenvoice, Whitmore founded her own experiential marketing agency P+P Agency (Peace and Purpose Agency), curating activations for companies such as Netflix, Footaction, BMW and AFROPUNK. She was recently co-lead of artist relations for Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out: Ken & Friends. Whitmore also serves as a tour manager for the Gentry Touring team, working with acts like Jon BatisteSalt-N-Pepa and Snoh Aalegra.
“My hope is to bridge the gap and help provide the tools needed to help people no matter where they are in their journey,” adds Whitmore. “Because at the end of the day we all need help.”