Heat Holders
By Cindy Huggins

Heat Holders is driven to achieve a task that seems next to impossible; making people love unknown and unfamiliar music. Heat Holders was formed as a collaboration between DJ Cosmic “Strictly Skillz” Kev, music industry executive Jason Johnson a.k.a. Jay Ones, and visionary Raymond Brockington a.k.a. Brock. Cosmic Kev has worked in radio for over 15 years; currently holding the position of Assistant Music Director for Philly’s, WUSL Power 99. Jay Ones has been climbing to the top of the promotions and marketing side of the industry for over 15 years. As the National Director of Rap Promotions for RPM, he works daily with DJs and recording artists. Brock has a variety of experience in and out of the music industry which helps to make the team complete. He also attended Temple University in Philadelphia.

Brock believes that music exposure in addition to media influence go hand-in-hand in making an artist number one. The importance of Heat Holders is that it builds awareness and then familiarity of new music through their Record Pool and Street Team. The goal is, as Brock puts it, “to keep it (the music) playing”. Visual aides are often used by the street team to promote the music. Flyers and posters are displayed at retail stores, restaurants, lifestyle establishments (clothing stores, shoe stores, beauty/ barbershop) and everywhere people are. The Heat Holders Street Team distributes promotional items across the city at all major events, concerts, schools, and lifestyle establishments. “The city must be covered, that’s how it’s done.’

Heat Holders Record Pool, is a powerful way for record companies to get their music heard from the airwaves to the dance floor. The Heat Holders team brings together the hottest mobile, club, and radio DJ in the tri-state area (Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware). Their trend setting, hit-breaking talents are combined to create a strong network between the business side of the music industry and these vital intermediaries of sound. New music is provided weekly to handpicked DJ’s. The DJ’s then play the music for the public at the many venues they serve.

The exposure of new music and artists by the Heat Holders team is a powerful promotional vehicle and resource for record companies and industry executives. Heat Holders has worked with a number of artists such as 50 Cent and Young Jezeey; and worked with record labels such as Universal, Sony, and Warner Bros.

With all of the work that has to be done neither Cosmic Kev, Jay Ones, nor Brock can do it all. Zanzi works to assistant with all that needs to be done from day to day. She conducts conference calls, sets up interviews with artists, escorts artists to events, conducts meet and greet parties for artists, manages promotional products, pictures, documents reports and income that is generated.

This year Heat Holders worked with the Jr Music Executive interns to help accomplish some of the many tasks that had to be completed. The goal was to provide the students with an idea of the reality and work that goes on in the music business. The students were selected because of their passion and because “youth are the people who really listen to and consume music”.