CEO. Music Executive. Author. Philanthropist. #SusansDaughter #IHearMusicInc

www.ihearmusicintheair.com

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.