Toronto Urban Music Festival 2009

Friday, February 25
Urban Music Conference - Keynote Address
The Delta Chelsea Hotel, Mountbatten Salon, 33 Gerrard St. W. @ Yonge St.

Chris Hicks will be the keynote speaker during the Luncheon on the first day of the two-day conference.

Admission: Luncheon Pass - $50 in advance. (Includes Luncheon, Keynote Address and Networking Reception)

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Christopher Hicks' resume reads like a dream actualized. In his current roles as Executive Vice President of Def Jam Recordings as well as a partner in multiple independent holdings: Noontime and Content, Hicks has positioned himself at the helm of a fast growing music empire.

A native of Richmond, California, Chris moved to the East Coast in 1989 to attend Howard University where he was a student until 1993. His first music venture began in 1994 when he co-founded Ivory Coast Entertainment. Two years later he relocated to Atlanta and in 1997 co-founded Noontime Music with Partners Henry "Noonie" Lee, Ryan Glover and Terrance "TR" Ross.

Under Hicks' direction, Noontime quickly grew into reputable music management company with a highly sought-after roster of producers and songwriters like Jazze Pha, Bryan Michael Cox, Teddy Bishop and Johnta Austin, recognized for creating hit records. Eventually Chris parlayed Noontime's success into a joint venture publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music.

Chris Hicks' reputation for staying on the pulse of music trends eventually caught the eye of Senior Management at Warner Music. In a rare move, he was tapped for double duty serving as Senior Vice President, Head of Urban Music for Warner/Chappell Music and Senior Vice President of A&R, Urban at Atlantic Records. After several years at Warner Music Group, Antonio LA Reid was among several top executives to notice Hicks business savvy and asked Hicks to join his team as Executive Vice President of Def Jam Recordings where he oversees several projects including pop phenomenon, Justin Bieber.

The Content Group is Hicks most recent endeavor. The objective is to create a firm of managers that represent the creative talent that is among, if not absolutely, the best talent in their respective area of Urban Music. Gathering a consortium of talent brokers under the Content umbrella, Hicks and crew will hold "The Thumbprint of Urban Music."

See Chris Hicks at Urban Music Week 2011