Jamal has a lifelong passion for music and DJing. After retiring from a 20-year career in the US Air Force, he is pursuing his dream of becoming an A&R representative at Def Jam Recordings. He is currently enrolled in a music business program to help him transition into the industry. His goals are to start as a junior A&R, get promoted within 5 years to focusing on mainstream artists, and become the head of A&R within 15 years to help restore Def Jam's former success in hip hop.

1. PERSONAL BRAND EXPLORATION
Jamal D. Mikel
Project & Portfolio I: Week 1
April 1, 2021

2. Jamal is a music lover. He’s wanted to be DJ for
longer than he can remember. Growing up a
military brat in Germany, he learned to love all
types of music. His dad would often complain
that his music was too loud. Jamal loves people
and loves to be the life of the party. He
discovered through DJ’ing, he can have the best
of both worlds. After spending 20 years in the
United States Air Force, he’s now retired and
can pursue his life long drive of being a full time
Artist and Relations representative at Def Jam
Recording. He’s currently enrolled in the Music
Business program at Full Sail University.
IDENTITY

3. PROFESSION
Potential Job Titles:
• A&R Coordinator
• A&R Manager
• VP A&R
ENTERTAINER ARCHETYPE -
natural Entertainer. Use my energy
and personality to attract new and
exciting talent as well retaining more
established artist.
Artist & Relations Executive at Def Jam Recordings
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to Your Industry
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4. • DEMOGRAPHICS: Adults
18-35, mixed race, target 35%
of all music listeners, all
education levels
• PSYCHOGRAPHICS: Enjoys
music, nightlife, partying, family
gatherings, more liberal types,
likes to have a good time
• IDEAL AUDIENCE MEMBERS:
Paul Rosenberg President Def
Jam Recording, Noah Preston
Executive Vice President A&R,
Brock Korsan Vice President A&R
Recruiters and Program Managers at Def Jam Recordings
TARGET AUDIENCE

5. GOALS
Short Term: (Immediately After Graduation, 2023)
• Begin career as Junior A&R
‣ Increase the talent roster and resurrect some
older talent that have fallen by the wayside by
August 26, 2026
Mid Term: (2026)
• Promoted to A&R rep for more mainstream artists
‣ Start coordinate tours and work with artists to
coordinate different revenue streams for
themselves and the label August 26, 2026
Long Term: (2040)
• Promoted to Head A&R rep with my own staff.
‣ Help to return Def Jam to the success it once
had within the hip-hop genre. With a team of
A&R reps that will do bring us back to
prominence. August 26, 2040

6. SKILLS ANALYSIS
Notable Skills & Current
Proficiencies:
Notable Skills REQUIRED in TRADE & Current
Proficiencies:
Adobe Systems Adobe Audition 80%
Social Perceptiveness 80%
Speaking 90%
English Language 100%
SOFT
HARD
Communication and Media 90%
Telecommunication 90%
Written Comprehension 90%
Speech Recognition 90%
SOFT
HARD

7. I help Def Jam Recordings find the best
talent all over the globe buy using my
background as a DJ and my ear for music.
PROMISE

8. CREDENTIALS
Work Experience:
• 20 Years service in U.S. Air Force
• 5 Years as an Equal Opportunity
Specialist
Education:
• Human Resources AA, Park University
• Music Business, B.S., Full Sail University (2023)
Awards:
• 2 U.S. Air Force Commendation Medals
• 1 U.S. Meritorious Service Award
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to Your Industry
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9. COMPETITION
Ebony-hope Diggs
Industry Experience:
• Urban Intern For Red Distribution/
Stache Media
Education:
• Full Sail University Bachelor of Sceince (BS) Music
Business (2012-2014)
Leadership Experience:
• Assistant/PR (East Coast) Lorie (Tre Azure) Moore
• Team Promotion Street Excecutives Management
• Marketing /Events/Promotion Good Life Radio
Skills and Proficiencies:
• Music - 12 endorsements
• Music Industry - 7 endorsements
• Facebook- 3 endorsements
Jamal Mikell
Overall Online Presence:
• More than 500 connections, banner image is
customized, professional headshot, profile contains
good detail, no published articles, did not see activity
on other social medial, LinkedIn url is not customized
• Grade: Average 50 out of 100
HEADSHOT HEADSHOT
Industry Experience:
• Does not have any industry
experience
Education:
• Full Sail University Bachelor of Sceince (BS) Music
Business 2020-2023
Leadership Experience:
• 20 years USAF (Retired) supervised over 15 Airmen
• Currently supervises 4
Skills and Proficiencies:
• Team Building - 3 endorsements
• Government - 2 endorsements
• Military - 2 endorsements
Overall Online Presence:
• Less than 200, banner not customized, headshot is
professional, profile not very detailed, 0 published
articles, not active on other social media, LinkedIn URL
is not customized
• Grade: Poor, 15 out of 100

10. COMPETITION
Noah Preston
Noteworthy Experience:
• Excecutive Vice President, A&R Def Jam Recordings
2021 - Present
• Senior Vice President, A&R Def Jam Recordings Jan
2018 - Dec 2020
Jamal Mikell
HEADSHOT HEADSHOT
Industry Experience:
• 10 Years Experience as an A&R
Education:
• Loyola Marymount University (BA) political science
2010-2012
• California State University, Northridge Incomplete
Business Management 2008 - 2010
• Barry University, Incomplete Sports Management 2006
- 2008
Skills and Proficiencies:
• Entertainment - 3 endorsements
• Music Industry - 1 endorsement
• A&R - 1 endorsement
Overall Online Presence:
• Over 500 connections, banner image is not customized,
professional headshot, very detailed, 0 published
articles, very active on other social media, LinkedIn
URL is not customized
• Grade: Good, 70 out of 100
Industry Experience:
• Does not have any industry
experience
Education:
• Full Sail University Bachelor of Sceince (BS) Music
Business 2020-2023
Leadership Experience:
• 20 years USAF (Retired) supervised over 15 Airmen
• Currently supervises 4 employees
Skills and Proficiencies:
• Team Building - 3 endorsements
• Government - 2 endorsements
• Military - 2 endorsements
Overall Online Presence:
• Less than 200, banner not customized, headshot is
professional, profile not very detailed, 0 published
articles, not active on other social media, LinkedIn URL
is not customized
• Grade: Poor, 15 out of 100

11. BRAND POSITION
Integrity first, service before self, and exellence in
all we do are the core of values I learned to live by
while serving my country. These are core of
values I will bring to Def Jam upon my arrival.
JAMAL “J-MILLIE” MIKELL

12. NETWORKING &
MARKETING
Industry Events & Organizations
• Launch Music Conference & Festival
‣ September 9 - 12, 2021 I Lancaster, PA
• Music Business Association
‣ Member since Nov 2020
• World Wide Music Conference
‣ 22 - 23 April 2021 | Online
Digital Marketing
• Primary Content: Search for new talent, market the talent
that are currently signed to us. Advertise new streaming
service that exclusively features Def Jam artists
• Primary Tools: Tik Tok and IG will be the primary social
media platforms to promote our artists. IG will be more the
individual artists, while Tik Tok will be used to break new
music
• Website: Website will showcase all my talents, with a focus
on DJ’ing and my knowledge of music
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13. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Mentor
• Seeking mentor with about 10-15 years experience in
A&R, hopefully someone who will groom me to
possibly takeover when they move on or retire.
Formal Education
• Human Resources AA, Park University 2012
• Music Business BA, Full Sail expected graduation in
2023
Technical Skills
• Adobe in design certification, Dec 2024
• Financial Accounting Course, Dec 2024
• Presentation Course, Dec 2024
Soft Skills
• Contract Manager Certification, Dec 2024,
• Toastmaster’s Certification, Dec 2024
• Professional Writing Certification, Dec 2024

14. Jamal Mikell
Def Jam Recordings was once the premier record
label in the hip-hop genre. It was a who’s who in the industry.
Somehow it has lost it’s luster and new acts are not seeking to be a part of
the Def Jam family. My goal is to use my background as a DJ to bring that
feeling and prestige back of being a Def Jam artist.
“
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15. REFERENCES
Artists and Relations Job Search, Retrieved from https://
www.onetonline.org/find/quick?s=artist+and+relations.
Noah Preston Executive Vice President Retrieved from https://
www.linkedin.com/in/noah-preston-71317144/ Artists and
Relations Job Search Retrieved from https://
www.ziprecruiter.com/candidate/search?
radius=25&search=a%26R&location=Texas%2C
Retrieved from https://www.defjam.com/#/
Retrieved from https://www.universalmusic.com/labels/
Executive Management Leadership Retrieved from https://
www.universalmusic.com/company/
Universal Music Group Job Search Retrieved from https://
jobs.jobvite.com/universalmusicgroup
Music Organization Search Retrieved from https://
www.riaa.com/?s=Music+organizations
https://musicbiz.org
Ebony-hope Diggs Retrieved From https://www.linkedin.com/in/
ebony-hope-diggs-139bab58/