Annual Gala

Tracey Artis has served the gospel music industry since 1996 in a myriad of ways such as marketing, managing and music radio promotions. Her love for music has afforded her the opportunity to work for several labels and serve as Vice President of Gospo Centric Records, Vice President of Sony Gospel before launching her promotions and marketing firm I Hear Music Inc. In 2010. Tracey Artis has helped drive the industry power and success of some of contemporary Gospel music’s biggest names. Under her watch and visionary promotions plans, the world witnessed the Gold and Platinum Certification of groups and award-winning artists including Trinitee 5:7, Kirk Franklin and the Family, God’s Property featuring Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Ricky Dillard, Brian Courtney Wilson, Andrae Crouch, Shirley Caesar, Kurt Carr and The Kurt Carr Singers, The Clark Sisters, Dorinda Clark Cole, Byron Cage, J. Moss, Evie McKinney, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Vashawn Mitchell, Kierra Sheard- Kelly, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Fred Hammond, Vicki Winans, Charles Jenkins, Israel Houghton, Joshua Rogers, E. Dewey Smith, and many more. Her most recent executive producer credits are for the projects by Charles Jenkins “Gospel Music Changed My Life” and E. Dewey Smith “Let Christmas Ring”.

 

Tracey received her Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in Communications degree at Ohio University. Upon commencement, Artis ventured to Atlanta, GA to begin working with Byron Cage, a then emergent contemporary Gospel artist. Greatly contributing to the success of his debut release, Artis was hired at AIR Gospel in 1996 as the company’s National Marketing Director. A year later, she joined the staff of Gospo Centric Records under the leadership of her mentor, Vicki Mack Lataillade, yet another revolutionary Gospel music industry veteran. Prior to Gospo Centric’s merger with Verity Records (Sony BMG) in 2004, Artis was promoted as the Vice President of Gospel Promotions; and the rest is “herstory.”

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Over the years, Artis began to develop groundbreaking ideas and concepts to enhance the exposure of the artists she’s had the pleasure of working with side by side. These concepts later proved to be the foundation for her company I Hear Music, Inc which Artis launched in 2009 following her departure from Verity Records. I Hear Music, Inc. is a promotions and marketing firm that represents gospel artists and produces special events such as the Urban League Evening of Faith, The Health Care Connection Jazz Benefit, and her signature event; The I Hear Music in the Air Conference. The brainchild of the CEO herself, the I Hear Music in the Air Conference is the firm’s premier occasion. Now in its 22nd year of operation, the conference is held every summer in her hometown of Cincinnati, OH, and is designed with specific educational tools that teach business-minded individuals how to market this genre of music. The conference features an exciting and multifaceted three-day Gospel music conference that includes a kick-off concert, The Legends Ball. This event gathers an unprecedented amount of industry executives, a plethora of new and established recording artists and fans from across the country.

 

Artis is the daughter of the former Woodlawn, Ohio Mayor, the late Ms. Susan Upton Farley and is one of seven children. She is now a published author as she recently wrote a book titled “Susan’s Story” about the life and career of her mother and the impact it made within their community. She is a devoted wife to Bobby G. Artis, and the mother of two children, Jazmyn and Jordan. Artis’ humbleness is a feat that far outweighs her many accomplishments. Her entire outlook on life can be summed up with the phrase, “Only what you do for Christ will last."