Jackie Asare

A graduate of Howard University's School of Communications, Jackie O. Asare started her career at Columbia Records as a publicity coordinator and publicist. After several years at Columbia, she was offered a Manager of Publicity position at Priority Records, which led to another opportunity as Director of Publicity at Loud Records where she remained until the company merged with Sony Music. At the peak of her career in 2001, Jackie was unexpectedly laid off from the company. "When I was laid-off, for some strange reason, I was pretty calm. In fact, I was so excited to launch my own PR firm. That has been a dream of mine for a long time," explains Jackie O. "I already had a vision and had saved a few bucks to hold me, so all that was left for me to do was trust the Creator's divine plan, listen to my inner voice, and wait for everything to unfold. The name 4Sight came to me when I released hold and allowed the Creator to direct me." Jakie's company 4Sight Media Relations, Inc. is a diversified public relations firm based in New York City, whose areas of media specialty include, recording artists, special events, television and motion picture personalities, and other corporate and individual projects that require unique entertainment industry experience. The eldest of four siblings raised by a single mother, Jackie O. credits her mother for instilling self-worth, compassion, strength and independence. "My mother allowed me the freedom of self-discovery. She's always accepted my independent nature, allowed me to make mistakes, and encouraged me to grow into myself. She struggled as a single parent to put all of her children through college, so I never wanted to do anything to disappoint her. My family is my motivation for starting 4Sight Media Relations. I remember they were pretty worried when I told them I was planning to start my own company - partly because I had just purchased property. But one thing lay-offs and company mergers had revealed is that no job is stable, so why not take a chance on yourself? After all, your first investment should always be in yourself." 4Sight Media Relations, Inc. was launched three days after Jackie was laid-off. When word got out that she was a free agent, Jackie received a call from another independent publicist referring a client, Lil Jon and The EastSide Boyz, the first act represented by the newly formed independent PR firm. "After my first client, projects started coming in from all directions. Some of the artists I represented while I was still at the “labels” hired me to work on their independent side projects and I really got to see just how much my work was valued. Being an independent publicist is truly a revelation because you don't have a company to hide behind anymore and that's when you get to see how rooted your real relationships are." Her hard-earned reputation for achieving great results has lead to an impressive roster of clients representing almost every genre of urban music including hip-hop (Lil Jon and The EastSide Boyz, Proof, Naughty By Nature, Cormega, Stimuli, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Swing, Xzibit, Infamous Mobb, Project Pat, Big Pun, Tha Liks, Sauce Money, Three 6 Mafia, Gangsta Boo, The Next Friday Soundtrack), world music/reggae (T.O.K., Buju Banton, Gokh-Bi Sytem, Ex-Centric Sound System), producers (Tony "CD" Kelly, Dame Grease, and Easy Mo Bee) and finally the Queen Of All Media, Wendy Williams compilation album released on Virgin Records. Through work with JLM Public Relations, Inc. she represented 112, SunN.Y., T.O.K., T. Waters, and two reggaetòn events for LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS, the BMI Awards, and the historic Million More March in Washington DC. In 2006, she opened Manhattan location and added UK Soul icon Omar, B.G., Daron Jones of 112, The Square Egg, and Razia to her growing roster. Jackie O.'s five year plan is to develop a company that is truly multi-dimensional, representing clients within, and outside of, the entertainment industry. Through the event management division of her company - Red Carpet Treatment - 4Sight Media moved into event publicity with GMHC's "You Rock My Soul" benefit, the Hip Hop Weekly Magazine launch party, and several AllStar Vegas '07 events for P.Diddy, T.I., Young Jeezy, Idris Elba, Too $hort, and Ice T & Coco. Jackie has also ventured into fashion with Intricate Concepts, a full-service design firm that designs apparel for Sean John, Phat Farm, Marithe Francois Girbaud, Avirex, DKNY, Mecca Femme, Champion, FILA, And One, Timberland, Joe Boxer, O.T.B. and the NBA's new line UNK. Jackie is working to expand her company's international reach as part of a mission to bridge cultures through music and entertainment under a newly created division, 4Sight Selects. "We all have aspirations for greatness; sometimes it takes a dramatic change in life to propel us towards our dreams. It's a thrill to wake up every day and do something you love in an environment which you can control. Of course it's more demanding, but when your passion is mixing entertainment with media, it's a great feeling." g