Two years ago, corporate business strategist and marketing expert Kimberly Manuel-Dickens formed a partnership with urban inspirational recording artist Latice Crawford. The collaboration has proven to be a winning formula that has resulted in the success of Crawford’s current project, Diary of a Church Girl.
While Manuel-Dickens’ entry into the music world might seem like a departure from her professional experience in the banking and industrial sectors, she is a classically trained musician with noteworthy experience across the music and arts landscape. She was raised in a strong musical family where creativity was strongly encouraged and pursued. Manuel-Dickens’ musical influences manifested during her late teens and early ‘20s, when she secured several key positions—including music director, musician, and choir director—at various churches in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Over the years, she also tried her hand at music production and investment in a variety of artist projects.
Although the arts were a strong part of her core, she also developed a keen eye for business through her education and career pursuits. Manuel-Dickens, a Wharton School MBA graduate, has a nearly 20 year career working with Fortune 100 companies and lending her marketing, new business, and product development expertise to growing top and diverse brands globally. One of her most recent executive posts was a Chief Marketing Officer of a multinational financial services firm.
After many years of corporate experience, Manuel-Dickens was looking to diversify and explore new opportunities. She received an unexpected call from Crawford, whom she had met previously. At the time, Crawford was searching for someone to consult on independent music marketing. Fully aware of Crawford’s extraordinary talent and musical gifts, Manuel-Dickens saw her call as a potential opportunity to pursue a new venture combining the two things she loves most: music and business.
“I initially became aware of Latice Crawford during an appearance on a popular television show,” says Manuel-Dickens. “Like many, I was floored by her talent and was moved at that time to reach out to her to offer support and encouragement by way of a small investment in her endeavors. Over several years, we kept in touch occasionally but never worked together. When I received the official offer to be part of the team, I felt the timing was right.”
What started off as an independent music consultancy turned into a general manager role with Crawford. Eventually, Manuel-Dickens served as the executive producer of the Billboard-charting album and a Stellar Award-nominated album project. “Latice wanted to do something organic that kept her connected her to her fanbase in an authentic way while we strategized her next move,” she explains.
As Manuel-Dickens develops new business opportunities for Crawford both inside and outside of music and entertainment, she also plans to pursue other business partnerships with recording artists from various music genres and other areas in entertainment.
Nominated for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year, Crawford recently had an opportunity to perform at the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award Pre-Show at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. This week, Crawford’s single “Choose Me” from Diary of a Church Girl is featured on Apple Music’s A-List Christian and Gospel playlist and is in its fourth week on Billboard’s Top Gospel Airplay Radio Charts. Diary of a Church Girl debuted at No. 15 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart.
“Choose Me” BET’s Joyful Noise Performance
Retail and streaming Links for ‘Diary of a Church Girl’
iTunes: http://smarturl.it/DiaryOfAChurchGirl
Amazon: http://smarturl.it/DOACG_Amz
Google Play: http://smarturl.it/DOACG_GPlay
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/DOACG_Spotify
Latice Crawford’s Website:
http://www.laticecrawfordonline.com/
