The History of T M H/UBG
The History: The E-zines UrbanBridgez.com, TMHxone and T M H Entertainment!
T M H Entertainment launched a message-board online in 1998. Early in 1999 an e-zine launched of the same name. In late 2005, T M H folded into Urban Bridgez Group. Earlier 2009, UrbanBridgez.com changed their format from website to blog format. In their 11 year history, the e-zines have conducted exclusive interviews with some of the most recognizable names in music. Including R. Kelly, Jody Watley, New Edition, Brandy, T-Pain, Tamia, Young Jeezy, Ciara, Kelly Rowland, Macy Gray, Nelly, T.I., Vivian Green, John Legend director Lee Daniels and actors Flex Alexander, Derrin Henson and a host of others.
The History: T M H Entertainment & Urban Bridgez Group
T M H eventually expanded in the realms of fansites by creating sites especially designed for promoting artists new projects. Aries (CEO) worked day in and out creating sites online viewers would notice. After opening a fansite for Faith Evans, he was determined to meet someone from the Bad Boy Records camp to let them know of the site. Faith happened to be visiting the Twin Cities for a concert with Dru Hill and Total. With his driven nature in overdrive, his dream came true when he met Todd Russaw, Faith's manager and husband. He gave him the site information and in return was invited to Faith's after party. This chance meeting eventually led to phone calls placed to Aries to create Faith's official site for her third album, Faithfully. In 2001, Faith Evans first ever official site debuted in time for the release of the album. The site was designed and maintained by T M H Entertainment. That wasn't all, T M H also had creative and full control of the site. In English terms, not even Bad Boy Entertainment, could go in and access or modify the site content without T M H Entertainment's permission. T M H had its first major project under their belt and little did Aries know, more was on the horizon.
Shanice World, another fansite created by Aries, was visited by Shanice's family whom he became acquainted with via the message-board. The success of Shanice's fansite led her assistant to invite Aries down to Wisconsin to meet Shanice while she was on tour with *N'Sync. A conflict within his schedule wouldn't permit him to attend, he eventually received his chance on her final night on the tour in Atlanta. Aries interviewed Shanice for the site and the two became friends. T M H Entertainment went on to develop a plethora of websites for artists such as Janet Jackson, Lil Mo, Mint Condition, Usher (T M H was responsible for his official site name, Usher World) and Monica's official fansite for J Records.
In 2005, Aries and business partner Jason Richards decided to take T M H in a new direction. They both decided to re-invent their mission and provide more services than fansites. "I've always wanted to do so many things but it seemed with T M H, people expected us to do sites and that's it," Aries said. Urban Bridgez Group was now founded with a mission to tackle multi-media, marketing and management, with their first artist debuting late this year. In order to capture the mainstream audience Urban Bridgez's e-zine was dubbed as, "bridging music + lifestyle together." The 2005 launch of the new business and e-zine proved to be a successful.
With Urban Bridgez Group as a whole, some of UBG's present and past clients include RnB productions, Sonja B. Norwood/Norwood & Norwood, Music World Entertainment, Blackground Records, KnockOut Entertainment; recording artists Brandy, Ray J, Shanice, 702, Trey Songz/Songz 4 Peace and Faith Evans. "It amazes me when I think of the wonderful opportunities I've gotten from starting this small little e-zine in the late 90's. It's been a wild ride and I look forward to what's to come!," Aries says with a smile!
UBG has enjoyed seeing their hard work pay off from album thank yous from various clients, to UrbanBridgez.com being featured on every major label site and numerous artist official sites and even on the now defunct MTV daily countdown show TRL. And just this year, CEO Aries was mentioned on the top rated VH1 reality show "Brandy & Ray J's A Family Business!"
With upcoming projects with UBG's recording artist Poison IVY and projects planned with actress/singer and Knockout Recording artist Tasha Scott and new recording artist London Taylor, it's safe to say Urban Bridgez Group aren't slowing down anytime soon! Proving that old saying "You don't have to be the biggest, to be one of the best!"
