Corey Johnson (UK)
Corey Johnson (UK) (music and film producer, record label owner, rapper, songwriter, actor, businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist)
| Corey Johnson (UK) | |
|---|---|
| Born | Corey Johnson April 22, 1978 London, UK |
| 🏡 Residence | London, U.K. |
| 💼 Occupation |
|
| 📆 Years active | 2001–present |
| 🌐 Website | coreyjohnsonuk |
Corey B. Johnson's most notable achievement to date is being a record label owner, music producer, publisher and songwriter of Drake's 'One Dance'[1] which reached number one in 15 countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, becoming Drake's first number-one single in all 15 countries as the lead artist.
Background
Corey was born and raised in Brixton, South London. Corey’s first experience in the music world began at age 10 when he was signed to Universal Records (with 6 other youths) as a group called “New Frontier”. New Frontier toured the UK in 1988-89, promoting the government’s anti-pollution and protection of the ozone layer project. They received national acclaim and were featured in several newspapers and in shows such as BBC 1 - Timmy Mallet’s “Wacaday“ show and BBC 2, TV show - Normski’s “Dance Energy”, receiving sponsorship from 90’s sports brand “Pony”.
Career
Having first embarked on his career in entertainment at the tender age of 10 as part of the group ‘New Frontier’ where he developed his passion for music including recording, touring and various appearances. After the group disbanded Corey then moved on to events promotion after leaving school which saw him invest in various Garage and Urban club nights both in the UK and internationally including the infamous ‘License to Rave ‘which propelled him into promoting concerts and high-end parties with high profile guests including US rappers Eve, The Lox and Rah Digga. He also hosted the launch party for UK Urban magazine RWD.
After his endeavour into events, Corey chose to pick up the mic once again and began rapping under Defenders LOS (which later became Defenders Ent.), a label he set up with the support of Jenny Francis, Choice FM’s (Now CapitalXtra) Lady of Soul in 2003. Label mates/artists included the legendary Blade Brown. Corey not only had a thriving underground music career but moved into acting which led to him having a song on the soundtrack for and starring in the UK film ‘Rolling With The Nines’ in 2006 which he also helped to produce, one of the first films based on the lives of the black urban community in Britain.
The record label Defenders Ent. has worked with well-known artists from both underground and commercial music genres, through production, promotion and marketing - on a worldwide platform. Artists such as Drake, Akon, Tinie Tempah, Jessie J, Swedish House Mafia, The Vamp, Stormzy, Red Cafe, Big Brovaz, Dizzee Rascal, D-double E, Ghetts, PDC, SMS, Blade Brown and Asher D and many more have released music via Defenders Ent or used the creative hub, The Digital Holdings to film or record projects.
Although he continued performing and appearing in further acting roles he took over a studio in January 2006 and by mid-2007 had his sights on bigger goals as he had developed a keen interest in being on the other side of the camera, being behind the artist and began moving away from performing instead focusing on management, the entertainment ‘Business’ and production. That same year he also established independent youth charity Community Youth London – CYL an organisation that supports and encourages young people aged between 13 and 25 but most importantly allows young people to lead creative projects, learning whilst having fun.
Business and Charitable Success
Corey Johnson is CEO of 4 successful commercial businesses and a London youth charity:
Defenders Ent - (Def Ent) since 2003
Digital Holdings Empire - (DH) since 2006
Digital Musical and Media publishing - (DMMP) since 2006
Community Youth London - (CYL) since 2007
Three Point Solutions – (3PS) since 2010
Corey has received numerous awards for his achievements in music, business and his charity work plus youth development, both Nationally and Internationally.
In 2008, Corey and Community Youth London were given by the UK Government the New Technology award, alongside Lambeth Council for Broken Mirrors a Bluetooth campaign addressing social and domestic issues. Southwark Council’s new business award in 2007 for SABA BBI for Creative Industry award.
Defenders Ent
Established in 2003 producing and promoting music genres: Rap, Grime, Underground and Dance music. It is also to-date the most successful Independent underground record label in the UK having sold the most units across compilation series on record. As well as promoting the latest underground sound.
Defenders Ent. first released was “Best of British”. A compilation of the best British Rap music in 2003. Since then compilation releases include UK Grime, This is UK Rap, Dancehall, Afro. To-date Defenders Ent in coalition with Warner Records smashed UK sales with the release This Is UK Funky House in 2010. This album sold 9,000 units in its first week– out-selling every other Funky House compilation on official sales records.
Digital Holdings Empire
A creative hub founded in 2006 by Corey Johnson. The facilities house a film/ photo studios, music studios, live room and teaching rooms which are used to support youth projects and charities who develop young creative. As a hub, Digital Holdings is the first stop for many a creative, artist, producer or platform - long before they cross over into the mainstream. Recent young talents include Stormzy, Tinie Tempah, GRM Daily, Link UP TV, SBTV, Stylo G and more.
Digital Musical and Media Publishing
Digital Music and Media Publishing (DMMP) is the one of the UK’s fastest-growing independent urban music and film publishing companies, with a vast catalogue of music and film titles, stretching across Pop, Grime, Rap, RnB, Dancehall, Afro Beats and House. DMMP has gained its market share and reputation by providing popular music to record labels, charities, fashion brands, communications services, content owners, productions houses and television stations.
To date, DMMP’s catalogue and services have furnished compilations, television series, movie soundtracks and short films for clients such as; Universal Records, Ministry of Sound, The Home Office, La Senza, JD Sports and Adidas.
Digital Musical and Media Publishing sits under Digital Holdings. It is a creative hub which houses different companies and a networking space for emerging brands such as SBTV, Grime Daily and LinkUp TV. Artists and acts such as Stormzy, Skepta, Section Boyz, Harlem Spartans all visited to “be creative” during the early stages of their music careers. Digital Holdings is respected as a hub where new talented kids come first before making it on the main public stage. It is also the starting block for comedians too.
Digital Musical and Media Publishing is the official publishing company for the hit song “One Dance”. On September 7, 2016, Billboard named "One Dance" the 2016 Song of the Summer. As of December 2016, it had sold 2 million copies in the US, thus being the fifth-best-selling song of the year. For Apple Music it was the best performing song of the year. On October 15, 2016, "One Dance" became the most played song ever on streaming media service Spotify, with over one billion individual streams, overtaking the previous record held by Major Lazer and DJ Snake's "Lean On". "One Dance" was the best-performing single worldwide of 2016 and is one of the best-selling singles of all-time.
Digital Musical and Media catalogue includes a number of well known Urban/Dance music tracks. The most popular being “Do You Mind” which was then remixed to create Drake’s first worldwide no.1 “One Dance”
Three Point Solutions / Three Point Marketing – 3PS
Three Point Solutions (3PS) started in 2010 before changing its name in 2013/14 from Three Point New Media.
3PS creates bespoke mobile apps, websites and successful app led campaigns for major brands such as JD Sports, Adidas, K Swiss and KA Drinks as well as smaller outlets such as Janson Wholesale (the leading black beauty products distributor in the UK) assisting them to manage their inventory and stock levels through a bespoke IT programme. 3PS has also developed apps and social media campaigns to promote well-known artists such as Lady Gaga, Dido, Garry Barlow, Swedish House Mafia, The Vamps and Jason Status.
3PS ran JD Sports first two campaigns to launch their “Supply and Demand” clothing brand. 3PS developed and created a bespoke social media widget and delivered the campaign from start to finish, including creating the music video that formed part of the campaign, as well as promoting the video online too.
Charity
Community Youth London (CYL)
The youth charity was set in January 2007. It has received accolades for its campaigns to raise awareness by local and central government including the Home Office including well known DJ’s from One Xtra and Capital Xtra, the Mayor’s Office, Transport for London - Learning Resource for Road Safety, Arts Council, Operation Trident (with the Metropolitan Police) and Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark Local Authorities. CYL has also ran campaigns with live broadcasts on TV Channel 5 Street Crime Live, Channel 4 and T4 Sunday with mobile phone companies Orange and Erikson. Other coalition charitable campaigns include BBC Radio 5, BBC Radio London with featured pieces in the UK’s national newspapers.
One of the charities most noted works include the 'Broken Mirrors' short film campaign focusing on relevant scenarios affecting young people.[2][3]
Acting
Rollin' with the Nines - an independent British film released on Flapjacket films in cinemas nationwide in 2006 with artists/actors such as Dizzee Rascal, Kano, Simon Webb, Robbie, Vas Blackwood, Bill Murray.[4]
Clockwork - an independent film released at the 2009 Raindance Festival – won an award at a Festival.
Corey has developed other ventures/artists, who have then gone on to build a worldwide brand. Be it young people, talented creatives or businesses, Corey is respected as the Urban Simon Cowell.
Awards and Nominations
BMI Writers Award 2017 - “One Dance”[5]
BPI British Recorded Music Industry Award 2016 – “One Dance”
National Music Publisher Association (NMPA) Award 2016 – “One Dance”
Business Address: 3A Juno Way, London, SE14 5RW
Websites
www.thedigitalholdings.com
www.digitalmmp.com
www.cyltd.org
www.threepointsolutions.co.uk
_____________
- ↑ https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/search/performer/drake/title/one%20dance
- ↑ CYL Broken Mirrors Gangs 2010 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-3Kog1rSr8
- ↑ CYL Broken Mirrors Substance Misuse 2010 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsXMEvlacHM
- ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437459/
- ↑ https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2017-bmi-london-awards
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