Jason Reddick is Atlanta's Leading Executive Pushing the Culture Forward

I walked into the Epic Records BET celebration unaware that Rick Ross and Sylvia Rhone were getting awarded. While soaking in the greatness in the room, I met the Director of A&R for Epic Records, Byron Wright.

As the event went on, he introduced me to Jason Reddick, ASCAP's Director of Urban Music. I was unaware of how much my life was really going to change.

Some say tough love is the best love. Let's just say, Jason delivers it with a huge red bow. He has taught me so much all within one year of knowing him.

He’s the big brother of the entire Atlanta music scene. In my years in the industry when his name is brought up, it’s always with respect. From my perspective, his name has always been respected whenever its brought up within the industry.

This has been one of the most passionate and heartfelt interviews I’ve done in a while by far. Let’s dive into our convo:

(Nia Rice) Tell everyone who Jason is and how you've become the leader you are today?

(Jason Reddick) I’m an unapologetic Black man in America. I was fortunate to be a military child, so I lived all over the world and experienced countless cultures from 1-15 years old.

I came back to Atlanta for high school and attended Georgia State University and graduated with a degree in P.R. and Marketing with a minor in Music Management. I think what has afforded me to become a “leader” is that I’ve always been a “follower” and a student.

And not a follower in the sense of no direction or lack of vision but follower in playing my position so if I was on a team and there was a leader, I would carry out the vision and plan set forth. By doing that I gained experience and knowledge that was priceless and has aided in me being able to lead today and create plans and carry out a vision I have for myself and my team.

(NR) How has your position at ASCAP changed the narrative of the music industry?

(JR) I’m fortunate to be on a team with an amazing group of people who all have strong and unique voices on the Black experience. So, we’re positioned at the heart of the culture and have a hand in helping guide the ideas and connect the dots between the company and the culture.

We’ve helped change the narrative of “there’s a lack of talented Black executives' ' or “we don’t think that an artist has star potential”. We’re on the ground level and see so many talented artists, writers, and producers that we have an opportunity to see the growth possibilities and the potential a lot of times before the world sees it.

With what we’ve been able to accomplish and create the proof should be in the results. Yes, Black music is popular music and there are so many people behind the scenes that help and contribute to pushing it to the forefront for all to experience.

(NR) Now, everyone knows you don't play about Atlanta! Talk about the current music scene there and the part you played in it.

(JR) Haha! These are facts, I am Atlanta and Atlanta is me and I rep it no matter where I am in the world! The current music scene here is amazing!

Even in these crazy times, there are so many artists still cutting through and creating their waves. Also, everyone still comes here to record and some actually move here once they “make it” or “get on” because they feel that “thing” here.

It’s contagious! I’ve helped to add to the eco-system. From helping artist understand their publishing, to connecting up and coming producers with artists to helping brands bridge the gap and connect with the artist that can help take their product to the next level.

The next big thing for Atlanta is to be the hub for the big executives. I know a lot of my peers and people coming up behind us believing the only way to be on the executive side is to leave and go to LA or NY. I’ve shown you can be a successful executive here (in Atlanta) and build or execute your vision with a 30318 zip code.

(NR) The social injustice marches have created a huge impact on the culture and the music industry. What are your thoughts and actions on moving forward?

(JR) My thoughts are this is an amazing time to be living. Now don’t get me wrong it’s a very dangerous time for Black America but because of social media and the ability to get messages out in real-time, we are starting to see changes happen in real-time.

We have a long way to go, possibly years but we are starting to gain some traction and head in the right direction hopefully. I’ve started to pay more attention to politics and thinking about the marketing of politics as the door to creating sustainable change.

We need the marches, we need the rallies, we need the outcries and we need to vote and have people in place that have our best interest as Black people in hand. We are fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, son’s and daughter’s and we all want what is owed to us.

I’m not afraid to say it but we literally create and make everything! We are magical people and that magic is only getting stronger.

(NR) What would young Jason tell now Jason?

(JR) I would say do everything the way you have been doing it and keep believing in yourself. Every loss or lesson is necessary.

Every time you were on the brink of being evicted or every floor you had to sleep on was necessary. Every time you missed a meal or had to decide to eat or pay for a ticket to a conference was necessary.

Every time you had to stand outside in the snow passing out club flyers or in the heat with poster boards in front of the club and not inside having fun with everyone else was necessary. Every tear shed and friendships lost was necessary.

Every no and every disappointment was necessary. All of the pain is necessary to build the character and lends a chapter to the book of Jason that is still being written.

(NR) What can we expect from Mr. Reddick in the future?

(JR) You will see Jason the manager, label owner, and president of Urban or Black music at a record label. One of my greatest inspirations has been the Black executive era.

From LA running LaFace or Shakir Stewart being President of Def Jam to Jay-Z’s tenure as President of Def Jam. Kevin Liles Presidency at Def Jam to Clarence Avant is the ultimate connector.

Big Jon Platt running the biggest publishing company in the world to Michael Kyser being the head of Black music at Atlantic or Mark Pitts being the head of Urban at RCA. Steve Stoute head of urban at Interscope and Sony music.

And the legend Andre Harrell and Uptown records, I want to be listed amongst those names as someone who did it until he couldn’t do it anymore and gave you countless stars and timeless music.