Biography

Black Pearl Entertainment is an all-inclusive artist development,  promotions, and public relations company offering administrative support for artists and labels in the entertainment industry.  Founded in 1996 after recognizing a need for quality services, Black Pearl Entertainment has successfully pooled the knowledge, resources, and experiences of its partners to create a unique music consulting experience.

Jeanette Bartholomew’s introduction to the music industry came right after high school.  Her persona, the ‘Queen Informer’ kept Bay Area inhabitants informed on the local happenings of the San Francisco Bay Area music scene for the cable-access show “1-2, 1-2 Let’s Do This.”  After the television program ended, Jeanette, a true lover of music, created Black Pearl Entertainment.  Jeanette is the chief promoter for BPE, and serves the Vice-President of Artist Development.

It was during her days at UC Berkeley that Claudette Oatis decided to enter the music industry. Looking for a career she had passion for, her first clients included the singing group Fourte’, of which the Pointer Sisters’ niece, Nandi Pointer, was a member. Upon the suggestion of Jeanette, Claudette became 1-2, 1-2’s publicist, gaining interview access for the 8-person crew for artists such as Janet Jackson, Sommore, Cedric the Entertainer, Master P, Cheryl Underwood and others.  During her tenure at 1-2, 1-2, Claudette secured the exclusive rights to film the BET Comedy Jam auditions for the San Francisco Bay Area. Claudette serves the Vice-President of Artist Relations and handles public relations for Black Pearl Entetainment and is a member of the Bay Area Black Journalist Association.

Arnette Oatis joined Black Pearl Entertainment at the request of Jeanette and twin sister Claudette.  Arnette, a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications.  She has primarily worked in the Accounting field.  An administrator extraordinaire, Arnette handles contract negotiations, legal affairs, and accounting for Black Pearl. Because of her business acumen, Arnette serves as the Operations Manager for Black Pearl Entertainment.

Previous Black Pearl Entertainment clients include Zion I, J. Official, Kofy Brown, and Shawnee Shawn Capone.  Black Pearl has done promotions for the Gavin Music Conference, the Refugee All-Stars, Miss Melody, Kanye West, Raekwon, IceWater Records, the TUNE Music Business Conference, and local Bay Area companies.  Of note, Black Pearl Entertainment was the recipient of a 2005 Global Education Fellowship.  Black Pearl worked closely with Oakland city officials and community organizers to teach young adults the elements of entrepreneurship thru the creation of S.T.R.O.N.G.  S.E.E.D.  Black Pearl Entertainment also serves on the executive board of the San Francisco Bay Area network of the National Association of Black Females Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME), where BPE produced the infamous Women Who Jam! Showcase.

Black Pearl Entertainment is working with Mario B. Productions on the event, A Black Tie Affair: An Evening in the Secret Garden, is the Sponsor Ambassador for the California Music Industry Summit, and recently served on the entertainment committee for the 2010 Black Expo at the Oakland Arena. For more information regarding Black Pearl Entertainment and its services, please email us at info@black-pearl-entertainment.net, pr@black-pearl-entertainment.net, or promo@black-pearl-entertainment.net.  We are also on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlackPearlEntertainment, Linkedin.com, and Twitter: Black_Pearl_Ent.