User:KennedyJordan/Billy "BC24" Calloway

Billy "BC24" Calloway (Born December 9) is a veteran of the music industry who is currently a CEO and Founder of WhosLooking.com [1] in Beverly Hills, CA. Prior to running WhosLooking.com, Billy was Senior Creative Director of Urban Music at Famous Music Publishing in Los Angeles, CA. At Famous, he oversaw an urban roster of several Grammy Award winning artists, producers, and songwriters that included Akon, Irv Gotti, Teairra Mari, Busta Rhymes, 7 Aurelius, Fred Jerkins, The Co-Stars, Carlos McKinney, and others. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Billy worked in Atlanta, GA; where he discovered and signed several Grammy Award winning songwriters/producers: Bryan-Michael Cox, Sean Garrett, j. Que, Carl Mo, and Jason "Koko" Bridges.

After being a student/athlete playing Division I basketball and graduating from The George Washington University with a B.A. in Marketing, Billy's journey into music took him to Atlanta, GA to work at LaFace Records. Calloway took an internship opportunity that lasted six months and matured into a full time position in the Product Management Department. It was there, that he began his maturation into the seasoned music executive that he is today. In his role as Product Management Coordinator, Calloway was instrumental in the development and implementation of the marketing plans for several Grammy Award winning, platinum [2] and multi-platinum LaFace Records artists, including Toni Braxton, Usher, TLC, and Outkast.

After LaFace Records, Calloway began managing an aspiring producer, Bryan-Michael Cox, and was instrumental in getting him signed to Noontime Music. While shopping Bryan's material to a partner in the company, Chris Hicks [3], he accepted a job with the start-up production company. As Vice-President of A&R, he was responsible for managing the production company and studio facilities, as well as soliciting placements for the material that was created. At Noontime, he learned the dynamics of crafting music and honed his skills at working the creative side of the music industry. During Billy's tenure at Noontime, the production company went from being a relatively unknown start-up, to being one of the most sought after production houses in Atlanta, completing songs with superstars like: Toni Braxton, Aaliyah, Puff Daddy, Jay Z, Ginuwine and Jagged Edge. Within the two years that Calloway was a part of the company, Noontime played an instrumental role in achieving more than 20 Million album sales combined from these artists and were awarded two 2001 Soul Train Music Awards for Jagged Edge's J.E. Heartbreak Album.

Billy's next position took him to Family Tree Entertainment, where he learned the ins and outs of managing artists and producers and sharpened his hands-on approach. Heading up their South office, Calloway worked with their roster of artists including: Outkast, Donell Jones, Youngbloodz, Nicole Wray, producers Eddie F and Darren Lighty, and was integral in the company celebrating their biggest accolades: winning an American Music Award for Best New Artist in 2001 for Donell Jones, a #1 single by Eddie F & Darren Lighty with Ruff Endz, "No More," and the recording of the now 3x Platinum Album, STANKONIA by Outkast. After understanding what the management business was about, Calloway decided to venture into music publishing and accepted a job offer to work with LA Reid again and his music publishing company, Hitco Music Publishing.

While at Hitco, Calloway did not rest on his past achievements. He took his new challenges and succeeded tremendously with songwriters that he signed to the company. During 2003, his first #1 single was achieved from a producer from St. Louis, MO, Jason “Koko” Bridges. Koko, as he is called amongst friends, produced the Grammy-Award Winning Summer Blockbuster Classic, “Shake Your Tailfeather,” which featured Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee. The song spent 4 weeks at the top of the Hot 100 Billboard Charts and is featured in the Blockbuster Movie and Platinum Soundtrack, Bad Boys II (Soundtrack) [4]. Calloway also signed producer, Carl Mo, who completed the single, “The Way You Move” for Big Boi (Outkast). This single was certified platinum and the album was certified 10x Platinum. Thia album also won a Grammy Award for Best Album in 2004. Finally, Calloway put together and was instrumental in securing a solid placement for two songwriters that he signed to Hitco in 2002 (Sean Garrett and Patrick "j.Que" Smith). The song, Yeah! (Usher song), performed by Usher and featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris, was this multi-platinum superstar’s first single from the album, CONFESSION'S [5]. At the time, this single was the biggest record ever, with respect to BDS' radio listening audience. In addition, “Yeah” spent over 12 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. This song propelled Usher’s CONFESSION'S Album [6] as the first R&B Album to ever sell more than 1 Million copies in its first week in stores. During the time that Calloway was at Hitco, he signed extraordinary songwriters with phenomenal talent and proven track records that continue to reach the top of the Billboard Charts.

Today, Calloway is an experienced music consultant and manages his website, WhosLooking.com, for aspiring songwriters and producers to obtain the coveted Who's Looking List on who is looking for what kind of music in the industry today. Calloway also has a daughter that he is raising in California that was born in 2008.

External links

• example.com