Arnold Taylor

CEO

IG: @arnoldtaylor

Arnold Taylor is a 23-year veteran in the music industry, and he brings along with him a plethora of success stories of epic portions. Arnold has always had an entrepreneur way of thinking; and working for himself was has always been his goal. Arnold began his music career by creating his DJ Record Pool "Taylor's Record DJ Pool," which serviced registered DJ's with new vinyl from major & independent labels. As his record pool grew, label's started inquiring Arnold for marketing and promotion service, which launched "South Coast Marketing." Impressed by the success & continuous growth of South Coast Marketing Black Ground Records CEO Barry Hankerson offer Arnold his first label opportunity. Most people would have automatically jumped at the job, mainly because Black Ground Records was the home of Aaliyah and Timbaland. However, Still, Arnold's entrepreneur thought process had to weigh his options before finally taking the role "It might sound funny, but I had to discuss the pros & cons of the job with myself. Looking back at it now, I'm glad I said YES," says Arnold.

Yes, he is glad he did say YES, because taking the job with Black Ground Records started his successful career in the music business. After leaving Black Ground, Arnold continued his music journey by excepting a position at Def Jam Records, which lasted eight years. His status and strategic placement in today's music industry departed from Def Jam to become the National Promotions Director at Interscope Records the next three years. While working with various artists at Interscope, he quickly became a key player for the label, which led to his next position as an executive in the marketing department at Universal Republic Records.

Arnold became known for breaking records for major artists and solidifying their placement in a vastly growing music industry. This caught the attention of Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid, who presented Arnold with his next opportunity as VP of Marketing & Promotions reporting directly to him.

Five years later, in 2014, Arnold decided to leave Epic Records and bet on himself. "At this point in my career, I felt I received the greatest music education anyone could receive. All my professors were the Great Industry Leaders, and with my job experience from working at major labels, it was time for me to challenge myself and put my knowledge to the test," said Arnold. Arnold rebranded his South Coast Marketing Company by turning it into a record label and rename the company "South Coast Music Group (SCMG)." Arnold further said, "My dream has always been to make sure Charlotte & The Carolina's are recognized in Music Industry"! Arnold's dreams are coming true with the success of his first artist DaBaby. To continue the company's success, SCMG has signed the additional Carolina artists Blacc Zacc, Toosii, and Big Mali to the label.

Daud Carter

EVP, Head of A&R

IG: @kingcarter

If you are a real student of the Hip-Hop culture and know anything about the Charlotte Hip-Hop movement, you have heard of Daud "Carter" Carter AKA King Carter. King Carter became a local/regional success in the Carolina's Hip-Hop scene in the late 2000s. After retiring the mic, Carter shifted his focus to A&R and Artist Development, "When I was coming up, there was not any true local representation for artists besides Arnold Taylor’s South Coast Marketing. I knew with my ear for talent and Arnold's expertise with working with labels, we could a force to be reckoned." said Carter. In 2014 Arnold launched South Coast Music Group (SCMG), and Carter started looking for the labels first act. After a year in half of searching, Carter found a young artist named Baby Jesus. Once Arnold gave his approval on Baby Jesus, the marathon began. Fast forward five years later, DaBaby (formally known as Baby Jesus) is one of Hip- Hop's Elite Artists, and SCMG EVP Carter continues his journey working to develop the labels next SUPERSTARS!!!!

Garrett williams

vp oF marketing & operations

IG: @POOHJANKINS

From two early experiences with music legends - a Michael Jackson show at Dodgers Stadium and mee ng Kur s Blow - Garre Williams knew the music industry was his dream calling. Star ng as an assistant to Interscope Records’ Kevin Black, Williams ascended the label’s ranks to become the Director of Urban Promo ons and captained campaigns for hit records for ar sts such as 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, 2Pac, Robin Thicke, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Schoolboy Q, Common and many more. But his eagerness to keep expanding his skills led Williams to marke ng, where he again climbed the ladder to become Vice President of Urban Marke ng, leading strategic plays for superstars including Machine Gun Kelly, DaBaby, Lil Mosey, Kamaiyah, K Camp and Keyshia Cole. DaBaby, in par cular, rapidly soared to massive heights - two No. 1 albums and Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with “Rockstar” by mid-2020. That same year, Williams joined SCMG as Head of Opera ons and Marke ng, helping con nue to build the SCMG Empire, with breakout stars Toosii, TiaCorine and Lil Shordie Sco among hip-hop’s most-watched acts. Williams’ keen eye for breaking hits and ar sts has won him recogni on from leading industry publica ons, including Variety’s Hitmaker, Billboard’s Power Players, and XXL Magazine Execu ve Board lists.

Craig Martin

Head of radio promotions

IG: @cmartin1919

You can't think of South Coast Music Group (SCMG) without thinking of Craig Martin. Craig has the most tenure in SCMG, starting back to the beginning of South Coast Marketing. Craig a native of Columbia, SC, and graduated from Johnson C. Smith University, where he expressed his love of music by playing in the school's marching band and joining the Great Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. After graduation, Craig decided to stay in Charlotte, NC, as the music scene started to grow. Craig launched his CM Productions, which focused on street marketing, local press, radio consulting, etc. for independent and major labels for the Charlotte market. After years of working with countless record labels, as many industries do, the music business started making changes, and Craig teamed up with South Coast Marketing. As a part of the South Coast Marketing, Craig used his relationship with the DJ's in the market (which a handful of them worked at the local radio stations) to break records in the radio stations mix show. In 2014 Craig transition into Radio Promotion, where he became recognized as one of the top record promoters in the Southeast Region. When Arnold launched South Coast Music Group, he named Craig the Head of Radio Promotions, which covers the entire US. Craig has many #1 Records under his belt, but none have felt more important to him than reaching #1 on SCMG artist DaBaby.

Cemeka Lewis

Executive office manager

IG: @4meka2u

Cemeka Lewis AKA The Glue of South Coast Music Group is no stranger to the music business; she started at the young age of 16 years old doing street team promotions for the Hip-Hop group The Lost Boyz. During high school, Cemeka continued working promoting local acts and working at 92.1 FM as a On-Air Personalities. Her passion for Music sent her back to what she loved and that was breaking New Artist. In 2001 she moved to Charlotte, NC, to attend Johnson C. Smith University. While in school, Cemeka was hired by multiple radio stations to help with the Promotional Events. Her creativity, attention to detail and overall success with events made her standout for the promotions business. She caught the attention of a South Coast Marketing employee. Arnold was impressed by her drive, started Cemeka as an intern. Within a few short months she was promoted to Atlantic Records Street Team Representative for the company. After graduation, Cemeka was promoted again to a full-time employee of South Coast Marketing, where she held many positions. When South Coast Music Group was launch, Arnold gave Cemeka the title Executive Office Manager AKA The Glue. The Glue, you might ask, only Arnold can explain it the best “Glue makes everything stick together, and Cemeka is SCMG Glue! SCMG is growing every day, and when you have multiple moving parts, everyone has to be on one Accord. I don’t know how she does it, but Cemeka must have multiple arms & hands I can’t see because, at the end of every day, everything is together because of THE GLUE!”

Davian Hall

head of creative & merchandise

IG: @davian_scmg

When it comes to Davian Hall, the quote “Apple DoesN’t Fall Far From The Tree” goes perfectly. The nephew of South Coast Music Group (SCMG) CEO, Arnold Taylor, Davian has watched the company grow from a boy to a man. In high school Davian interned at (then) South Coast Marketing, learning hands-on marketing and promotions from the staff. As a student at North Carolina A&T State University, he tested his knowledge and skills by promoting South Coast Marketing clients at his university. Impressed by his marketing ideas, drive, and the reactions from his promotions, South Coast Marketing made Davian their first College Rep. In 2016, Upon graduating from college, SCMG offered Davian a job as the Director of Creative and Merchandising. “I was super happy to continue my journey in the music business. Everyone always says I received my job because I’m Arnold’s nephew, but what they don’t know is I had to work hard and continuously have to work harder because I am the CEO’s nephew. My uncle expects more out of me because I watched him build this company, and now I’m helping build this Empire,” says Davian.