Joyful Noise Promotions founded in 2000, services its’ clientele in the areas of Radio Promotions and Strategic Marketing. With over 20 years of experience in the music industry, founder Tawanda Shamley has created a niche in the Gospel Music Industry working with major and independent Record Labels. Her quality work ethic along with her relationships in this industry, has made Joyful Noise Promotions one of the premiere Radio Promotions/Marketing companies in the country.

Biography

TAWANDA SHAMLEY
Tawanda Shamley has become an experienced and successful radio promoter by upholding the values of faith and integrity. As President/CEO of Joyful Noise Promotions and Vice President of Radio Promotions for Emtro Gospel, this wife and mother gracefully balances her time and energy and gives glory the God for all that she has accomplished.

Shamley was born in Atlanta, GA and was raised by her mother and grandmother. Although Shamley wanted to be a teacher growing up, she always loved music and was involved in musical activities throughout elementary school, high school and college. Shamley was also a studious young lady and earned a partial scholarship to attend Howard University.

At Howard, this future music industry executive started thinking about career possibilities within the communications field. Howard had a good communications program and Shamley was able to get a broadcasting internship at WHUR-FM. In 1988, she graduated with a BA in Communications and her internship turned into her first job.

After college, Shamley began to refine her career goals and decided to work on the business side vs. the broadcasting side of the music industry. She left WHUR-FM for a position at Capitol Records in New York City, where she would stay for the next five years and would eventually be promoted to the Northeast Regional Promotions Manager. It was during her time at Capitol that she married her now husband of over 20 years, Donn. Upon leaving Capitol, Shamley moved back to her hometown of Atlanta and continued to find success while working on the promotions side of the music business.

The mid 90s was a pivotal time for Shamley’s career. She was laid off from her position at Scotti Brothers Records around the time of her first pregnancy and realized that she didn’t want to get back into promoting mainstream artists. Instead, her desire had shifted to promoting gospel music. For the first time in her life, Shamley had to go out and really search for a job. The sales position she found at ATCO International was a complete departure from her career thus far, but it ultimately allowed her to prepare for the transition into the gospel world.

In 2000, the resilient Shamley was pregnant with her second child and had been praying about when to step out and start her own company. Her faith led her to believe that this was the right time. This company, Joyful Noise Promotions, has grown into a viable force in the industry, having represented gospel labels and artists such as Pure Springs Gospel (CeCe Winans, Vicki Yohe), JDI Records (Norman Hutchins, Denetria Champ) Word Records (Shirley Caesar, Anointed, Nicole C. Mullen), Integrity Music (Jonathan Nelson), Mack Ave. Records (Kirk Whalum) and Black Smoke Music (James Fortune & FIYA). Through Joyful Noise’s continued development, Shamley has been able to mentor three stellar promoters who uphold the company’s good name. “There is so much music out there but very few promoters with experience and integrity,” says Shamley. “Joyful Noise has allowed me to help others get their careers started while working on great projects.”

Shamley has also been a part of Emtro Gospel for the past six years. She considers herself to be very blessed to work with and be friends with its founders, Emily and Troy Sneed and wants to help them make the company all that it can be. Shamley has worked on Emtro projects such as Troy Sneed, Alvin Darling, Pastor Rudolph McKissick, Bruce Parham, Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir, Wilmington Chester Mass Choir and Youth for Christ.

Tawanda Shamley knows that life is about more than just personal success, but that a life well spent is about helping others succeed. Whether it is her family, her employees, her clients or her colleagues, Shamley has found the secret to taking everyone with her to the top.