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Sheroe Executive Profile Vivian
Scott Chew
Vivian's career in the entertainment industry began with a stint as executive assistant to Louise C. West, Esq., an entertainment attorney. While maintaining her duties for Ms. West, she was also the personal assistant of producer, artist and author Kashif. In 1985 Chew landed a job at ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and became the first African-American woman to become a membership representative. Recognizing the need to honor songwriters and producers, she fought hard and was in the vanguard of creating the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards, currently in its 12th year, and organized several seminars and workshops for aspiring young songwriters. In 1987, at a time when the African American female was an unknown species in the land of A&R, she carved her own path, forged her own frontiers, and built a bridge for others to follow. Joining the PolyGram family as the Director of A&R, Chew orchestrated the signing of Third World and platinum-selling, international Latin Hip Hop sensation, Safire. Excited with the challenge of nurturing new talent and watering the seeds of ambition into fruition, Chew accepted the position of Director of A&R at Epic Records in 1990. Not missing a beat, she followed the drums to the island of Jamaica and signed Shabba Ranks. It was a royal union - the "natty" king of dancehall and the "nubian" queen of A&R - that spawned one platinum and gold album and back-to-back Grammys. She had proven her point and a promotion was not only well deserved but inevitable. When reggae music was considered a "hard-to-understand" entity, it was Vivian's vision that made it popular and platinum. In 1992 she became the Vice President of A&R, and in 1993, she was named Vice President of the Urban Music Division. She yielded to temptation and returned to Jamaica to sign Patra, laid a gift of "gold" at her feet and crowned her "dancehall queen." In 1995, the position of Head of the Urban Music Department for the newly created 550 Music/Sony label was tailored specifically for her. During her tenure, Chew personally signed George Clinton and was responsible for overseeing all of the urban acts. Two years later, she returned to Epic to head the A&R/Urban Music Division. Today, Vivian is Founder/ Principal of TimeZone International - an international marketing and promotions firm in the U.S., with a mission to market urban culture globally. She is also co-founder of Chew Entertainment, along with her husband Ray Chew, writer/musician/arranger/producer and musical director of "It's Showtime At The Apollo" and the Apollo Theatre Foundation. She provides entertainment services in coordinating bands for live shows, concerts, special events presentation and tour schedules for performing artists and entertainers from all musical genres. In 1993, Vivian founded the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Music Industry Dinner, which over the past five years has raised close to two million dollars for research to find the cure for juvenile diabetes. As the mother of a diabetic daughter, she, along with Jerry Ade, President of Famous Artist Agency, recognized the need for education and information about a disease that could go easily undetected in many households. Chew also serves on the Board of Directors of the Black Rock Coalition and the Winston Prepatory School. We salute Vivian Scott Chew... a NABFEME Shero!
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Philanthropist, international executive, visionary, wife, mother and active church member, Vivian
Scott Chew has distinguished herself as an individual of integrity, foresight and indomitable will. In an industry that ebbs and flows like the changing tides, Chew has remained constant - a constant
source of inspiration to her colleagues, family and friends, a constant vigilante on the lookout for talent, and a constant reminder that hard work and dedication to duty is still the best way to climb the ladder of success.