I Hear Music Inc., is the brain child of Gospel Industry Executive Tracey Artis. Over the past twenty years, Artis has developed ground breaking ideas and concepts to enhance the exposure of the artists she has had the pleasure of working with side by side. These concepts later proved to be the foundation for her company I Hear Music, Inc which she began in 1999.
I Hear Music Inc., is a promotions and marketing firm that represents gospel artists and produces special events. The company’s most noted event, the annual I Hear Music in the Air Conference (now in its sixteenth year of success) is held every summer in Cincinnati, OH and is designed with specific educational tools that teach business-minded individuals how to market and be successful in the music industry and beyond. This innovative approach to teaching and enhancing individuals serves as the base of the company.
Tracey Artis
Tracey Artis has served the gospel music industry since 1996 in a myriad of ways such as marketing, managing and music radio tracking. Her love for music has afforded her the opportunity to work for several labels and serve as Vice President of Gospo Centric Records, Vice President of Sony Gospel before launching her promotions and marketing firm I Hear Music Inc. In 2010. Tracey Artis has helped drive the industry power and success of some of contemporary Gospel music’s biggest names. Under her watch and visionary promotions plans, the world witnessed the Gold and Platinum Certification of groups and award-winning artists including Trinitee 5:7, Kirk Franklin and the Family, God’s Property featuring Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Ricky Dillard, Brian Courtney Wilson, Andrae Crouch, Shirley Caesar, Kurt Carr and The Kurt Carr Singers, The Clark Sisters, Dorinda Clark Cole, Byron Cage, J. Moss, Evie McKinney, Marvin Sapp, Donnie McClurkin, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Fred Hammond, Vicki Winans, Charles Jenkins, Israel Houghton, Joshua Rogers and many more.
Tracey Artis received her Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in Communications degree at Ohio University. Upon commencement, Artis ventured to Atlanta, GA to begin working with Byron Cage, a then emergent contemporary Gospel artist. Greatly contributing to the success of his 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.”
Over the years, Artis began to develop groundbreaking ideas and concepts to enhance the exposure of the artists she’s had the pleasure of working with side by side. These concepts later proved to be the foundation for her company I Hear Music, Inc which Artis launched in 2009 following her departure from Verity Records. I Hear Music, Inc. is a promotions and marketing firm that represents gospel artists and produces special events such as the Urban League Evening of Faith, The Health Care Connection Jazz Benefit, and her signature event; The I Hear Music in the Air Conference.
Artis has been repeatedly honored for her services over the years. In 2010, she was recognized by The Eye of the Artists Foundation through a permanent collection of art at the Cincinnati Museum and she was presented Cincinnati Herald’s Nefertiti Award by the Ohio Senate for her Outstanding Achievement. In March 2013, she received the William P. Abney Spirit Award from the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau. She also has received the Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati Award, The Radio One Unsung Hero Award, 2018 Urban Soul Café Award Honoree, Cincinnati NAACP Marian Spencer Award, The Ebony J Media “Queens Living Legend Award”, Morgan A. Owens “I Am Black HERStory Honoree, The Health Gap “Black Women’s Health.
Champion Award, Princeton High School Distinguished Alumni Award and her most
recent award includes the John F. Barrett 2022 Entrepreneur Vision Award.
The brainchild of the CEO herself, the I Hear Music in the Air Conference is the firm’s premier occasion. Now in its 21st year of operation, the conference is held every summer in her hometown of Cincinnati, OH, and is designed with specific educational tools that teach business-minded individuals how to market this genre of music. The conference features an exciting and multifaceted three-day Gospel music conference that includes a kick-off concert, The Legends Ball. 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, in the music industry and has exhibited leadership qualities by working with her peers and colleagues on several community projects and serving on several organizations committees and boards including:
- Executive Director/Organizer for the Black Family Reunion
- The Cincinnati NAACP
- The African American Chamber of Commerce
- The American Heart Association Circle of Red Women
- Chair of The Circle of Red Women
- A “Go Red” Woman
- St. Jude (Community/Industry Projects)
- Chairperson of The Princeton High School Alumni Association
- Exec Board Member of Cincinnati (OH) Chapter of The Links, Inc.
- LHOI Board Member
- Voting Member, The Recording Academy
- The Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy (SAGMA) Member
- GMA (Gospel Music Association) Member
- Member, Music Business Association
- GMWA Delegate
Tracey Artis is the daughter of the 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. Artis’ humbleness is a feat that far outweighs her many accomplishments. Her entire outlook on life can be summed up with the phrase, “Only what you do for Christ will last.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
- 2007: Listed as a member of “10 to Watch” in arts and entertainment by the Cincinnati Enquirer
- 2009: Chosen as an “Unsung Hero” by Radio One
- 2010: Awarded CincinnatiHerald’s “Nefertiti Award” for Outstanding Achievement
- 2010: Named a “Dada Rafiki Honoree,” a Celebration of Sisterhood. Honored by the Eye of the Artists Foundation with a permanent collection of art at the Cincinnati Art Museum
- 2010: Recognized by The Eye of the Artists Foundation through a permanent collection of art at the Cincinnati Museum
- 2012: Awarded the “Wendall P. Abney Spirit Award for Diversity” from the Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau
- 2013: Earned two Gospel Music Workshop of America Awards: “The Crystal Mic Award” and “Lady of Distinction”
- 2013: Received the William P. Abney Spirit Award from the Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau.
- 2016: Voted “Most Influential” by the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio Leadership Academy
- 2016: Received the “Exemplar Award” at the All-White Party & Showcase, a Stellar Award event. Award presented by Byron Cage, Vicki Mack Lataillade, and Pastor Charles Jenkins
- 2018: Urban Soul Café Award Honoree
- 2021: Cincinnati NAACP Marian Spencer Award
- 2022:John F. Barrett 2022 Entrepreneur Vision Award
- Received the Gospel Heritage Conference Award for “Outstanding Achievement”
- Received the Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati Award
- The Radio One Unsung Hero Award
- The Ebony J Media “Queens Living Legend Award”
- Morgan A. Owens “I Am Black HERStory Honoree
- The Health Gap “Black Women’s Health Champion Award
- Princeton High School Distinguished Alumni Award
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND EVENT PARTICIPATION
- Member of the Princeton Education Foundation (2013 – current)
- Former president of the Princeton High School’s Alumni Association
- Current member of the community advisory board for The Hoxworth Blood Bank
- Current member of the Princeton City Schools Scholarship Board
- Produced the annual “Evening of Faith” event for the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio
- Her company, I Hear Music, Inc., awards a scholarship annually to a senior at Princeton High School (her alma mater)
- Scheduled entertainment for the National Baptist Convention in Cincinnati (2017)
- Produced 3CDC’s Summer Gospel Series for Washington Park (2017) and Summer Gospel Series on Fountain Square (2016)
- Scheduled entertainment for the NAACP’s 107th Annual National Convention in Cincinnati (2016)
- Was a “Go Red For Women” member of the American Heart Association’s Greater Cincinnati chapter (2016 and 2015)
- Member of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Ambassador Group (2016)
- PTA president for Stewart Elementary School (2011- 2016)
- Produced two Gospel concerts for the Cincinnati Reds. Headliners: Grammy-award winning artists Fred Hammond (2015) and Donnie McClurkin (2014)
- Girl Scout Troop Leader for 8 years (2006 – 2014)