JONNICE SLAUGHTER

Chatter Box Publicity

Growing up in Virginia Beach, VA, Jonnice Slaughter knew that she would someday end up working in the entertainment industry, specifically dealing with the spotlight. As a trained dancer and cheerleader, she never shied away from the limelight but felt just as comfortable and more fulfilled working behind the scenes. With a growing fascination television, Jonnice pursued a B.A. in Mass Communication at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. While attending, she took advantage of every opportunity to explore all aspects of broadcasting. Despite many suggestions to concentrate on a career in front of the camera, she decided to concentrate on broadcast production. "I learned quickly on internships at news stations that if your only skill was reading a teleprompter or reporting the news and not being able to operate a camera or edit a story, you missed out on a lot of breaking news. Besides, if you could edit the story, you had more impact on how the story was told," states Jonnice.

In 1996, Jonnice worked for the Atlanta Olympic Broadcast Committee, where she worked on the production team for fencing, gymnastics and wrestling. This was further confirmation that a career in the decision seat, behind the scenes, was where she felt most comfortable. Upon graduating, cum laude, with a B.A. in Mass Communications, Jonnice relocated to Atlanta. Realizing the Atlanta was quickly becoming the new mecca for your entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry, she sought to get her foot in the door. Her first introduction was an internship with Intersound, a label responsible for soundtracks, compilations, and pop music. Intersound had just started their urban music division, Platinum Entertainment. After only a year as an intern, Jonnice was promoted to Publicity Coordinator. "My job was to oversee the publicity campaigns of our artists, which had been outsourced to various reputable entertainment PR firms and freelance publicists," recalls Jonnice. She learned quickly that PR firms prioritized their clients based on retainers, the client's marketability, and the firm's passion for the project. With a number of the label's projects being compilations and a lot of the artists being up-and-coming, the price of the retainers didn't appear to reflect the results. Jonnice realized that she could accomplish the same thing that the high-paid publicists could and save the label money. She began implementing her own version of guerilla marketing to get the attention of the trade and fan-based magazines and was successful. Some of projects and clients that she worked for included Sammy Sam, Big Oomp Records, Cherrelle, Vickie Winans, Rudy Currence, Too Short's Rimshop Compilation, and a host of Bass music compilations among others.

In 2000, Jonnice left Platinum Entertainment and began freelancing as a publicist. She worked projects for labels including Tricycle Records, So So Def/ Jive/ Zomba among others. Her main focus was on indie labels and emerging artists. Her major accomplishment came when she was able to get consistent national attention in the urban fanzines for the new artist, Jarvis, who at the time only had one single and one video, both playing in limited rotation. She accomplished this using her savvy business networking skills and media relationships. "This was unheard of, to get your client, with only a single and a video, on the cover of fanzines alongside Ciara, Bow Wow, Omarion, and Mario, who all had albums, especially without buying ads," she proudly states.

 

Realizing her niche and the need for indie artist PR representation, Jonnice decided to open a firm that would cater to area. Jonnice founded ChatterBox Publicity in 2005 and continued to work indie artists and projects. Her first major client outside of the music industry was Nik, of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 5. By January of 2006, ChatterBox Publicity had landed the PR campaigns for two of the biggest events of Super Bowl weekend, Super Bowl Unplugged featuring the Fugees, John Legend, and Kanye West and Diddy's House Celebrity Super Bowl Bash.

Today, ChatterBox Publicity's clients and services range from entertainment to technology and community projects. "I've been blessed, I've acquired a lot of my clients through referrals and networking. I have yet to pay for advertising or promotion. My clients value the benefits of a boutique firm and appreciate my passion and creativity and that's what I think cements the deal with potential clients. I started PR to focus only on music publicity but through referrals and relationships, I've expanded my services to facilitate the PR needs of so many other industries that are indirectly related to the music business," says Jonnice. Her current clientele represent industries in music, sports, technology, internet, fashion, film, event planning, art, non-profit and community out-reach. " Everything happens when God wants it to happen. He knows when you are ready, so I wait and will continue to wait on his direction," resolves Jonnice.

Involvements

Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV)

Hands On Atlanta (HOA)

National Association of Black Female Executives in Music & Entertainment (NABFEME)

Black Public Relations Society of America (BPRSA)

African American Public Relations Collective (AAPRC)

Give 'N Take Network (GNTN), Atlanta Event Manager