A music marketing specialist, music publicist and video production specialist, Thomas creates touchpoints amongst music artists and their fanbases by capturing an artist’s backstory, vision and performance moments. Thomas uses a variety of digital media artifacts to weave together compelling stories, casting information useful to artists and consumers. He amplifies an artist’s presence and promote their music’s relevance, examining it through filters of history, news and more.
Thomas produces promotional videos for recording artists and writes editorials, album reviews, album analyses and articles that cover live music performances and new music releases. At Rappurview.com, explore societal topics and phenomena, such as the divinity and personal finance, through the lens of rap music.
He also delivers dynamic, live-streamed and in-sanctuary video production as technical director and camera operator at a mega church and ProPresenter operator at a small church.
Beginning his work with the end objective in mind, he carefully considers how each step of a strategy will build a final communication product and yield desired results — compelling, informative media and positive exposure.
Skills
Associated Press style writing
Video editing
Camera operation
Academic research
Live stream video production
Interviewing
Data analysis
Media pitching
Tools
Nikon Z50
DJI RSC 2 gimbal
Blackmagic ATEM
Ross Vision 2M video switcher
Network of recording artists, music producers, event coordinators, videographers, journalists, disc jockeys, audio engineers and recording studios
Software
Adobe Audition
Adobe Premier
Final Cut Pro
ProPresenter
WordPress
IBM SPSS
Highlights
- Promote and assist in producing hip-hop artist Big Sean’s first headline concert (in 2010 at The Loft in Atlanta).
- Interview and produce article on fashion designer Dapper Dan (Time 100 Most Influential People of 2020)
- Secure performance/interview placement on America’s most-listened-to public radio station, NPR-member radio station WNYC, on “All of It” show, hosted by Alison Stewart (formerly of MTV News), for new age funk drummer and singer Josh Stokes
- Academic research publications and manuscripts, including one on news media in the digital age, as well in two other disciplines
- New York Emmys Gala Awards band associate and New York Women In Film and Television Muse awards transportation captain
- Pitch stories, coordinate and conduct interviews for Rutgers School of Social Work News and podcast
Experience
Public Relations Intern
HGD Media Group
Anaheim, California
2025-Present
- Execute public relations campaign and develop social media strategy for San Diego rock band, The Reckless
- Collaborate with music business and A&R development team for digital creator song placement and PR strategies and social media strategies
Music Publicist & Agent
2025-Present
- Secure performance/interview placement on America’s most-listened-to public radio station, NPR-member radio station WNYC, on “All of It” show, hosted by Alison Stewart (formerly of MTV News) for new age funk drummer and singer Josh Stokes
- Secure placement on VSG Ent’s “For the Culture” playlist for music artist Tony Newbury‘s “Route 9 ” single. “For the Culture” playlist has 3,595 saves to date
- Film performances, curate and promote playlists and promote concerts via social media
- Contact talent buyers, booking agents and venues for concert bookings
Media Production Specialist
Eternal Life Christian Center
Somerset, NJ
2023-Present
- Produce live stream and in-sanctuary graphics and video with 5-member production team
- Assist worship team with field audio
- Coordinate graphics according to run of show
- Operate ProPresenter software to punch up graphics and licensed music lyrics (Christian Copyright Licensing International)
Senior Project Coordinator
Rutgers University Center for Research on Ending Violence
New Brunswick, NJ
2023-2025
- Co-author research manuscript for academic social work journal
- Secure $10k to produce and appear in corporate, table discussion video for Enhancing Victim Services Project, collaborating with University Communications video production crew and directing editing decisions
- Produce articles for Rutgers School of Social Work News and publicize faculty research (i.e., pitch stories, develop script, conduct interviews and edit audio)
- Manage $2 million, four-campus Office of Justice Programs‘ Victims of Crime Act grant that enhances services for victims/survivors of violence
- Lead coordination of school-wide (Rutgers School of Social Work) event, develop new achievement awards for Rutgers School of Social Work faculty, staff and students and advise Rutgers School of Social work dean and associate dean on growth in areas of inclusion, intersectionality, diversity, equity and advancement (as research/academic/educational programs representative on IIDEA Committee)
- Serve as a university-wide, multi-campus liaison and facilitate reporting compliance
- Consult website renovation for Center for Research on Ending Violence
Technical Director & Camera Operator
New Psalmist Baptist Church
Baltimore, MD
2023-2025
- Collaborate with production director, camera operators, colorist and stage managers to deliver dynamic, livestreamed Sunday church and communion services in a high-paced production environment
- Operate video production switcher and cameras for livestream, for 45k YouTube subscribers, and in-house church services at a 7,000-member megachurch
Writer and Video Journalist
Rappurview.com
2018-Present
- Produce promotional videos for music artists and regularly attend performances
- Conduct, film and edit talent interviews
- Write editorials and articles covering live music performances and music releases, album reviews and artist interviews
- Generate playlist placements for artists
- Curate thematic playlists
Transportation Captain & Assistant
New York Women in Film & Television
New York, NY
2024-25
- Manage honoree arrivals and departures at 44th and 45th Annual New York Women in Film & Television Muse Awards.
- 45th annual honorees include Lisa Cortes, Pamela Anderson, Marissa Bode, Celia Costas, Amy Entelis, Versha Sharma
- 44th annual honorees include
Alex Borstein (actor, writer, producer), Raney Aronson-Rath (editor-in-chief and executive produce of FRONTLINE), Tantoo Cardinal (actor and activist), Fran Drescher (actor, writer and SAG-AFTRA president) Latasha Gillespie (head of DEI and Accessibility for Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video and Freeevee), Kyra Sedgwick (actor, producer, director), Millicent Simmonds (actor) and Michele Stephenson (film maker, actor, author)
Band Associate
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter
New York, NY
2022-24
- Ensure timely rehearsal, performance set arrival and green room accommodations for 66th Annual NY Emmy Awards Gala act, Max Sangerman, and publicist Aaron Meier (DCK/O&M) and, with board member Jeffery “Jet” Lesser, for 65th Annual NY Emmy Awards Gala act, The West Point Band
- Escort award presenters (i.e., journalists, anchors, reporters and producers) to green room and backstage for prompt stage arrival
- Four of five presenters escorted were awarded at the 67th Annual NY Emmy Awards (i.e., anchor and reporter Lia Lando, producer and reporter Walt Kane, anchor, reporter and editorialist Jacquie Walker and reporter Cheryl Wills)
Research Project Assistant
Rutgers University Center for Research on Ending Violence
New Brunswick, NJ
2018-23
- Host Rutgers School of Social Work’s third season of “Toward a More Just Future” podcast and draft podcast scripts
- Produce articles for Rutgers School of Social Work News and publicize faculty research (i.e., pitch stories, develop script, conduct interviews and edit audio)
- Contribute to Rutgers School of Social Work’s Partnering for Change alumni magazine
- Serve as a university-wide, multi-campus liaison and facilitate reporting compliance for $2 million Office of Justice Programs’ Victims of Crime Act grant
- Won violence education training program naming competition
- Advise School of Social work dean and associate dean on growth in areas of inclusion, intersectionality, diversity, equity and advancement (as staff representative on IIDEA Committee)
Journalist Intern
The Borgen Project Seattle, WA (remote) 2018-19
- Write Associated Press style articles on global poverty alleviation efforts and awareness for Borgen Magazine and The Borgen Project Blog
- Interface with publication editors for topic approval and content quality control
- Raised funds through personal fundraising campaign
Consumer Intelligence Analyst
BarkleyOKRP
Kansas City, MO
2017-18
- At advertising agency, provide business strategy to Spirit Airlines, Planet Fitness, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Kansas City Mavericks with quantitative data analyses and data presentations on consumer insights and brand perceptions
- Analyze primary and secondary research data (e.g., U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Mintel, and CubeYou) on fitness memberships, Generation Z spending trends and perceptions of convenience store food offerings
- Program surveys for quantitative studies on consumer insights and behaviors and brand perceptions
Institutional Analyst
Northwestern Health Sciences University
Bloomington, MN
2017
- Submit enrollment and graduation reports to external accreditation agencies
- Report internal enrollment, retention and graduation data for university administration and individual academic programs
- Serve on standby for faculty and staff data collection and analysis needs
Academic Associate
Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA
2014-16
- Provide individual academic support and retention services for undergraduate psychology students
- Communicate problem solving techniques to students for research methods and statistics coursework
- Edit and critique American Psychological Association style writing
- Recruit and supervise three undergraduate assistants
Program Manager & Research Technician
Morehouse College, Division of Science and Mathematics
Atlanta, GA
2012-14
- Author manuscript for academic article published in International Journal for Science and Mathematics Education
- Develop instrument measuring scientific literacy and analyze and report survey data
- Managed and recruited undergraduate research assistants and reconciled $60,000 in participation fees
Research Associate
Morehouse College, Division of Science and Mathematics
Atlanta, GA
2011-12
- Develop test to measure scientific literacy in an effort to predict retention and success in STEM disciplines by providing descriptive and inferential statistical analyses and reliability and validity testing
- Communicate preliminary data to external advisory board
- Design and administer survey and garner 1,200+ respondents across seven colleges and universities
- Conduct program evaluations for 2011 and 2012 Coca-Cola Leadership Program with qualitative and quantitative methods by conducting focus groups, administering surveys and cleaning, analyzing and reporting data
Blogger
Gold Ice Circuitry Media
Atlanta, GA
2010-11
- Promote and produce hip-hop artist Big Sean‘s first headline concert featuring his “Finally Famous” mixtape series (opening acts included Pill, FKi, and Plane Jane)
- Provide video content, covering live music performances for acts such as Big Sean, Devin the Dude, Rapper Big Pooh and Chip tha Ripper (a/k/a King Chip)
- Work with blog editor for quality control
Thomas E. Benjamin 