Black Enterprise Magazine - Tavis Smiley: . For months, his [Tavis Smiley’s] office had been bombarded by missives, e-mails, and calls from friends and strangers alike—one vitriolic detractor labeled him “a sellout and a traitor to your race.” In fact, Smiley said staff members were “literally berated” by family and community members. . But such blows had more than an emotional impact. His media empire-in-the-making took some severe financial hits. “I went from making about $1 million a year in speaking fees to barely $100,000 because people stopped inviting me to speak in certain places,” he recalls. “Personalities like me have a Q rating, and mine dropped lower than Michael Vick’s after the dog fighting conviction. I couldn’t engage new sponsors or get the ones who have been with me to raise their spending levels . . .” . “So what did Smiley do? He rallied his troops to “stay focused on the work” as he conjured up new ideas and led his team to launch a new radio program, publish a slate of books that became top sellers, and create a traveling museum backed by Walmart, a long-time sponsor, among other ventures to fortify the company. “He kept going full steam ahead . . .” [Poverty Tour? Hmmmm...] . “Talk show host. Advocate broadcaster. Self-made entrepreneur. Smiley has created platforms to advance social, political, and cultural commentary and diversify the voices in media. Building a $12.9 million enterprise from scratch, he owns and produces vehicles where he can control the conversation as he finds unique ways to monetize the content. As evidenced by the Obama flap, his approach has produced a number of critics but has amassed a strong mainstream following. Now, he seeks to expand his personality-driven brand through the extension of new offerings . . ,” . Drive down Crenshaw Boulevard to Leimert Park in the heart of South Central Los Angeles and you’ll find the house that Smiley built. Once you enter his 6,000-square-foot office building, you’re immediately struck by the immaculate, contemporary facility that houses a radio broadcast studio—named after the late Sheryl A. Flowers, Smiley’s long-time executive producer who died in 2009 of breast cancer—and an array of striking black art and sculpture. It’s here where some of his team of 40 manages the operations that comprise TSG, a holding company dedicated to three core principles: to “enlighten, encourage, empower.” . His numerous holdings include: • TS Media Inc., which produces the Tavis Smiley talk show that airs weeknights on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), viewed in 96% of U.S. households with approximately 400,000 viewers nightly. • Smiley Radio Properties, producer of his radio programs, The Tavis Smiley Show and Smiley & West, which he co-hosts with Cornel West, a close friend and one of the nation’s leading black intellectuals, for Public Radio International (PRI). Together, the programs reach more than 500,000 listeners daily. • High Quality Speakers Bureau, which, in addition to Smiley and West, offers lecture representation for approximately 17 social commentators and motivational speakers such as Henry Louis Gates Jr., Iyanla Vanzant, and Dr. Robin Smith. (Denise Pines, Smiley’s partner and marketing guru for 15 years, holds a minority stake in the company.) • SmileyBooks, a co-publishing venture with Hay House Inc. that has published 22 books to date including several best sellers. • Tavis Smiley Presents…, a unit that has managed and produced company-sponsored public events. • SIVAT Productions, a company that develops documentary films. • America I AM: The African American Imprint, a four-year traveling museum that has developed a number of spin-off publications and products.” . wattree.blogspot/2013/01/poverty-pimp-inc.html
Posted on: Mon, 02 Sep 2013 23:40:59 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015