The Hit Seat
w/ Jared Lane of Downtown Music Publishing
coming April 18 | 4pm
The Hit Seat is our monthly seminar series providing next-level access to top music industry figures for personalized feedback on your music.
Connecting Aspiring Artists to the Music Industry since 2009
Next level Songwriting - Production - A&R Consulting
About Amp U
Amp U is the brainchild of childhood friends, Jake Mckim and Neeki Bey. The music industry veterans after attending high school at Houston renowned High School for the Performing Arts both went their separate ways with Jake attending the University of Houston and Neeki, Morehouse College. Jake decided to take the path of music business, eventually working with Mathew Knowles and helping to shape the career of Beyonce among others. Neeki's roots were in making music which has led him to perform and music director on stages across the world, working with artists as diverse Celine Dion to Maddie and Tae to countertenor John Holiday. In 2015, they decided to reunite their efforts with the express purpose of helping to advance the careers of the developing artists they were both working with. Amp U was born as an A&R-based company focused on catering to the biggest challenges that many artists face - great songwriting and great production. Leveraging their 20 plus years of industry experience and relationships, Jake and Neeki along with their team, provide Amp artists next level access to songwriters, producers and top industry connections helping artists to go from ground zero to successful independent artist careers, publishing or record label deals, including artists like Maddie and Tae, the number selling country female group since the Dixie Chicks. Amp U takes a team approach with its artists, working with each artist individually while yet bringing together important artist allies and partners including their parents, current vocal coach relationships, songwriters, producers all to serve the mission of creating success for the artist.
Jake Mckim
Mr. Cool
Since entering the music industry in 2002, Jake has steadily worked in artist development with many of today's biggest recording artists and songwriters including Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Janet Jackson, Solange, Maddie & Tae, Chloe & Halle, Ray J, and hit songwriters Shane Stevens (Selena Gomez, Carrie Underwood), Michelle Buzz (Katy Perry, Steve Aoki), and Cam Wallace (Chris Brown, Beyonce) among others.
Most recently, Jake launched the nonprofit Amp Ur Room in 2016. AUR brings music and entertainment experiences to the bedsides of cancer patients at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Tx., Dell Children's in Austin, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Recent visits have included Fifth Harmony, Pentatonix, Luke Bryan, Hailee Steinfeld, Chloe & Halle, and Maddie & Tae.
Alton Hawthorne
The Nice Guy
Alton Hawthorne is Senior VP, Artist Development & Branding for Birch Street Music and is someone who is in tune with the pulse of the music industry. His attention to detail and passion for the music business has put him in a position to work amongst major music executives across the country and he has been successful in connecting creative minds in the music industry to create sustainable projects and careers. With Birch Street Music, Alton has handled artist development for artists signed to Beyonce's Parkwood Entertainment and Epic Records and works with producers and writers signed to Warner Chappell, Sony, and Atlantic among others. Alton is also Managing Director for the nonprofit Amp Ur Room which brings music experiences to the bedsides of cancer patients at Texas Children's Hospital. Past visits include Fifth Harmony, Pentatonix, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Robert Glasper, Hailee Steinfeld, and more.
Neeki Bey
Silent Assasin
Neeki Bey has had the privilege of being a part of some amazing musical stories: as a choirboy in the Houston Boychoir, attending the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, singing in the Glee Club at Morehouse College, studying voice in Vienna and sacred music at Southern Methodist University, along with working with many amazing talents like John Holiday, #1 Female Country Duo Maddie & Tae, Sister C, Music World Music (Home of Destiny’s Child) and Sophie Beem. Bey is co-founder of Amp U Music which specializes in A&R and artist management and he owns a Dallas-based production company called Ikeen Music. When not making music or building shows, Neeki enjoys traveling and gardening.
Brenna Moses
Ms. Positivity
Brenna Moses handles logistics for Amp U including scheduling with clients and coaches and finances with a smile. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Brenna, the youngest of five, grew up with a passion for sports, playing Junior Olympic Volleyball for 6 years and Division I college volleyball at the University of Dayton. She’s transitioned her passion for sports into entertainment having in the past served as personal assistant and brand manager for singer Yasmeen, as well as Operations Director and Lead Producer for runway shows for Phoenix Fashion Week, the leading fashion event in the Southwest.
