Interep To Host 6th ‘Power of Urban Radio’.

Interep will host its 6th Power of Urban Radio symposium on February 24, 2004 in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency. Over 300 advertisers, media decision-makers and urban marketers are expected to attend the event, focusing on African-American consumers and Urban Radio.

The symposium will take place during Black History Month with a mix of speakers, panel discussions, appearances by radio personalities, and live musical entertainment. Themes of the conference will include the tremendous consumer power of the African-American marketplace, the growth potential to companies who actively embrace ethnic-marketing, and the competitive disadvantage for companies who continue to ignore these growing markets.

A spectacular agenda is already shaping up. The host of the 2004 Power of Urban Radio event is legendary Tom Joyner of the ABC Radio Networks, “The Tom Joyner Morning Show.” The keynote speaker will be Renetta McCann, President/CEO, Starcom North America. Some of the most prestigious names in African-American advertising have pledged their support including; Burrell Communications Group, Anderson Communications, Carol H. Williams Advertising, Uniworld Group, Matlock Advertising and Public Relations, Muse, Cordero, Chen and Partners, Fuse Advertising, SWG&M Advertising and E. Morris Communications.

Representatives from major brands such as Home Depot, Burger King, Procter & Gamble, BMW, Nationwide Insurance, Bank of America and Champs Sports will be discussing their personal success stories surrounding Urban Radio. In addition, top executives from some of the largest urban radio broadcast groups including Radio One, Inner City Broadcasting, Emmis, Access One, Infinity Broadcasting, Tama Broadcasting, Cumulus Broadcasting, American Urban Radio Networks, Excelsior Radio Networks and ABC Radio Networks are featured speakers.

“The success of our last Power of Urban Radio event, which was held in February in Atlanta, was unprecedented. There is obviously a real hunger among advertisers to learn more about reaching the African-American segment of their customer base,” said Sherman Kizart, VP/Director of Urban Radio for Interep. “This symposium allows advertisers, media professionals and broadcasters to share the challenges and successes of their ethnic marketing efforts, particularly as it applies to Urban Radio.”