Beyond Beats: How the Urban Music Symposium Inspires Connections and Local Impact

By Ms. Janna Malone, Chair of the Department of Entertainment Industry

The University of North Alabama’s School of the Arts and the Department of Entertainment Industry hosted the fourth annual Urban Music Symposium at the Mane Room on April 5, 2025. Sessions covered diverse and engaging topics including Music and Technology, The Rise of Southern Soul, Studio Engineering, Women in Music, and Southern Hip-Hop Music. Participants shared their expertise, discussing global trends and collaborative experiences, thereby enriching local, regional, and international music scenes.

Urban music, recognized universally as a language that transcends cultural borders, provided a dynamic backdrop for this year’s symposium. The event facilitated meaningful interactions among community-based artists, activists, academics, and industry stakeholders, enabling the development of lasting collaborations spanning musical projects and social activism. Such partnerships are designed to have a sustainable and positive impact both locally and internationally. Through strategic community alliances, the symposium amplifies collective efforts toward social good, charitable initiatives, music education programs, and advocacy aimed at raising awareness of global issues.

This year’s symposium successfully brought together artists, scholars, industry professionals, and fans, promoting robust cross-cultural dialogue. Distinguished panelists included Jordan Alston, founder of Inviktus, an innovative platform empowering creatives and redefining the global creator economy; Jay Black, an industry veteran with twenty years of experience nurturing the creative community in Montgomery; DJ Burn One, a seasoned music producer with credits including A$AP Rocky, Don Toliver, Lil Durk, and Nicki Minaj; Adia, an acclaimed singer-songwriter whose Billboard chart-topping single “Amazing” received the Stellar Award for Inspirational Single/Performance of the Year; Brad Franklin, president of Ourglass Media Group, specializing in branding, entertainment consulting, and artist management; and Sebastian Kole, renowned singer-songwriter and producer noted for his work on Jennifer Lopez and Flo Rida’s single “Goin’ In,” and contributions to the television series Grey’s Anatomy.

Panel moderators included Codie Gopher, who possesses over two decades of experience fostering economic sustainability and community development for future creatives; GMANE (Geoffrey Keith Robinson), an underground rapper and owner-operator of Alabama Hustle Unlimited, widely recognized for his independent label Slave Kamp Music; and Sharona Henderson, an innovative entrepreneur, creative visionary, and philanthropist dedicated to advancing culture and elevating artists.

Awards were presented to The Soul Serenaders, Shirley Rowell Carter, Fonda Skipworth Productions, and Dalton Swinney of Shoals Music Group, LLC, honoring their significant dedication, inspirational contributions, and profound impact within the urban music community.

For the past four years, the Urban Music Symposium has consistently served as a critical conduit for connecting local, regional, and global communities, fostering cultural exchanges, social progress, and collaborative partnerships. Through its inclusive programming and welcoming environment, the symposium continues to reinforce urban music’s pivotal role in global engagement and community empowerment.

        Ms. Janna Malone