Annual Gala

Tracey Farley-Artis is a renowned CEO, music executive, speaker, philanthropist,
and published author. Tracey is known as a “heavy hitter” in the gospel music industry
specializing in marketing, brand consulting and radio promotions since 1996.

Artis studied Mass Communications at Ohio University and moved to Atlanta after college
to see a new part of the world and while there, she met Byron Cage, a then emerging
contemporary Gospel artist who was her entrance into the music business. Greatly contributing
to the success of Cage’s 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.”

In 2010, following her departure from Verity Records, Artis launched her promotions and
marketing firm, I Hear Music, Inc. that has helped drive the industry, power and success of some
of contemporary Gospel music’s biggest names. Under her watch and visionary marketing &
promotions strategies, the world has witnessed over 50 #1 singles and the Gold and Platinum
Certification of groups and award-winning artists.

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The Annual I Hear Music In The Air Conference is the firm’s premier occasion. The conference
has been in operation over 23 years, and is held every summer in her hometown of Cincinnati,
OH. 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 also a sought-after speaker and contributing expert to many publications and media
outlets. She tirelessly works on community projects including organizing the annual Midwest
Black Family Reunion as the Executive Director and dedicates time to serve on several other
Cincinnati organizational committees and boards. The Midwest Black Family Reunion has
garnered the attention of the New York Times, Essence Magazine, NPR and Waymaker Magazine
and many other local and national outlets.

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Tracey has been repeatedly honored for her services over the years. Her most recent awards
include the John F. Barrett 2022 Entrepreneur Vision Award, being recognized as a 2023 Fifth
Third Bank Black History Month Honoree and one of the 2023 African American Chamber of
Commerce Business Hall of Fame Inductee ( I Hear Music, Inc.) and Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati
(2023), one of the 2024 YWCA Career Women of Acheivement and one of the 2024 Cincinnati
Regional Chamber of Commerce “We Are Making Black History” honorees.
Artis is also a prominent and key figure in the music industry and has exhibited leadership
qualities by working with her peers and colleagues on community projects and serving on
national/local organization committees and boards including:

o Executive Director/Organizer, The Midwest Regional Black Family Reunion
o Member, The Cincinnati NAACP
o Member, Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce
o Chair, The American Heart Association -Circle of Red Women
o Chairperson, The Princeton High School Alumni Association
o Exec. Board Member(Arts Facet Chair), Cincinnati (OH) Chapter of The Links, Inc.
o Board Member, LHOI
o Voting Member, The Recording Academy
o Grammy U Mentor, The Recording Academy
o Member, The Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA)
o Member, National Association of Gospel Radio
o The Collective Empowerment Group (CEG)
o Co- Chair, Guiding Light Mentoring Program (2023, 2024)

Artis is the daughter of 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.

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www.ihearmusicintheair.com