The Rise Of Atlanta's The J. Hardy Agency

PR FIRM, THE J. HARDY AGENCY, A PROVEN WINNER The J. Hardy Agency Contributes To The Rising Success Of Music Executive Marquis Boone, Box-Office Smash Motion Film War Room, Grammy-Nominated Female Trio VIRTUE, Image Award Nominated Pop Male Group COMMITTED, Emerging Soul Band SENSERE, and Chart-Topping New Artists AsOne, Royce Lovett, and Trinity Dawson

ATLANTA, GA (Friday, December 11, 2015) -- No longer one to merely watch, Atlanta-based Entrepreneur and Publicist Jason Hardy is the one to call on for next level results. Hardy has transformed the careers of relatively unknown artists and with the launch of his boutique PR firm, The J. Hardy Agency in 2007, Hardy's overall 11 years of expertise and unparalleled professionalism at the age of 30 has propelled his clients into mainstream recognition. He has forged lasting relationships with artists via both contract and a la carte services crafting and executing aggressive publicity and grassroots niche marketing campaigns. There are many words to describe Jason Hardy, one of the hardest working in the faith-based and mainstream entertainment industry. Average, however, is not one of them. The J. Hardy Agency represents a wide range of clients including major label and unsigned artists, corporate companies, noted personalities, and motion picture films. Hardy has crafted a winning formula that consistently rewards those that call on him with next level results: Billboard chart positions, award nominations and national, industry-wide recognition.

Each client’s surpassed expectations are easily accredited to Hardy’s work ethic and his rich network of industry partnerships which are readily available when his services are secured. 2015 has been a year of thrusting forward for both Hardy and his clients. While, under contract with the J. Hardy Agency, Hardy landed the season 2 winners of NBC’s “The Sing-Off” and Image Award nominated Pop group Committed an appearance on NPR Morning Edition. The two-hour newsmagazine airing weekdays and hosted by David Greene is public radio's most listened-to program and the highest rated and most popular radio show in America, according to NPR with more than 13 million weekly listeners. In its 70 plus year history, the show has hosted only five or six faith-based musical acts. It’s been quite a whirlwind year for the group as they add a performance at the White House to their growing and already impressive resume and their song "Do You Hear What I Hear?" track received a 2016 Grammy Award nomination in the “Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella”category.

When his days on the field as a top rusher ended, Urban Inspirational recording artist Trinity Dawson came running back to God’s greater purpose and drafted The J. Hardy Agency to draw up a winning game plan. Dawson’s freshman album "With All I Am" debuted in the Top 5 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart landing at No.4 while also making an impressive showing on Billboard’s Combined Christian/Gospel Top Albums chart and the all-genre Independent Albums chart. Dawson's "With All I Am" achieved the third highest charting debut by a new gospel artist, duo or group this year to date, behind Casey J and Travis Greene. He has forthcoming national TV appearances on The 700 Club (ABC Family), News One Now with Roland Martin (TV One) and CBN News.

When Grammy-nominated super girl trio of sisters, Virtue decided to end their eight-year recording hiatus, they enlisted the J. Hardy Agency. Their single “You Are” spent nine weeks atop Billboard’s BDS and Mediabase Gospel Airplay Top 20 chart and helped create a groundswell of opportunities for the group, redeeming the time of the sister’s absence. The J. Hardy Agency secured marquee appearances and illustrious performance opportunities for the trio. Of note, The J. Hardy Agency secured an appearance at the 30th Annual Stellar Awards - which drew over 1.2 million viewers, the sisters performed alongside BeBe Winans at the Salute to Selma Special in Selma, AL in March which aired on CENTRIC, BET, TV LAND and MTV Networks garnering over 1 million collectively in viewership. The sisters appeared on News One Now with Roland Martin and The AllState Gospel Superfest - both on TV One - and on Radio One’s nationally syndicated #1 Hip Hop show in the country The Rickey Smiley Morning Show reaching over 53 U.S. cities, Hip Hop/R&B's The Russ Parr Morning Show heard weekdays by more than 3.2 million listeners in 45 U.S. cities, The Yolanda Adams Morning Show - the largest nationally syndicated Inspirational morning show in the country reaching over 60 markets -, and The Nightly Spirit with Willie Moore, Jr., (the largest nationally syndicated Urban Inspirational radio show in the country reaching 3 million listeners in 19 markets) among more. The trio performed and made appearances at Radio One’s largest sponsored event: The Women’s Empowerment in Raleigh, NC in front of over 20,000 attendees. The sisters shared the stage with Bishop T.D. Jakes, Eric Benet, KEM, Empire's Jussie Smollett, Ne-Yo, and Russ Parr. The trio capped off their successful return with two 2nd and final round 31st Annual Stellar Award nominations for Group/Duo of the Year and Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year .

A proven winner, Hardy’s reputation precedes him and is the foundation upon many careers are built and bolstered. When groundbreaking interracial female duo AsOne sought to ensure mainstream breakthrough, the J. Hardy Agency answered the call and delivered yet another stellar publicity and grassroots marketing campaign. Following the blockbuster release of their self-titled debut album, the duo shot to No. 1 on the Inspirational Albums chart with a six-week reign. The group also debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums chart and maintained a top 15 position for six consecutive weeks. The group was featured in the Huffington Post and made high-profile appearances on News One Now with Roland Martin, CBN News, The Donnie McClurkin Morning Show, Radio One's The Nightly Spirit with Willie Moore, Jr., and recently presented and performed at the 46th Annual Dove Awards Pre-Telecast.

Proving that greatness isn’t limited to one genre, The J. Hardy Agency again proved to be a successful industry connection for breakout inspirational Pop Soul artist Royce Lovett. The Motown Gospel Artist’s debut EP “Write It On the Wall” debuted in the Top 10 on Billboard's Top Gospel Albums and made an appearance on the Top 100 BDS Adult R&B Airplay chart for his single "Write It On The Wall". With the J. Hardy Agency, Lovett performed and/or appeared on The Nightly Spirit with Willie Moore, Jr., Rapzilla.com, the foremost Christian Hip Hop source, the Tom Joyner Morning Show Red Velvet Cake studio, CBN News, leading Pop and Soul web portals RollingOut.com, JET Magazine, SoulTrain.com, and Great Day Houston to name a few.

The J. Hardy Agency came on board to handle a la carte publicity efforts for emerging Gospel soul band SENSERE after their sophomore CD "Kingdom Therapy" debuted in the Top 50 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. After the nine-piece band enlisted the expertise of The J. Hardy Agency for their PR efforts and without aid of national Gospel radio airplay, their album propelled to No. 13 and astounded the gospel music marketplace with four consecutive weeks of sales increases of +999% (week ending Sept.10); +26% (week ending Sept. 17); +4% (week ending Sept 24); and +152% (week ending Oct.1). The band maintained a Top 30 position on the Gospel Albums chart for nine consecutive weeks and received accolades among critics, peers, and fans. Their sophomore album softly extends the sound that made such generally gospel-phobic outlets like MTV even take notice. They're currently on the 2nd and final ballot for the Stellar Awards for Group/Duo of the Year and Contemporary Group/Duo of the Year for your voting consideration.

The J. Hardy Agency has been part of successful media campaigns for Rising Music Executive Marquis Boone (known for giving new artist Casey J her first #1 album and two Top 10 singles "Fill Me Up" and "I'm Yours") and the #1 box-office smash, American Christian drama film War Room. Hardy secured a feature in Ebony Magazine for Pastor Boone - the largest urban lifestyle print magazine reaching 1.2 million readers monthly. Hardy also was on the PR team (spearheaded by D3 Entertainment) that contributed to the serendipitous success of the Kendrick Brothers’ War Room which shattered box office records last August as he handled AA Urban (African American Urban) publicity efforts. As of November 19, 2015, the film has grossed $67.5 million at North American theaters and a worldwide total of $71 million.

With so many crowning achievements and signature accomplishments, Jason Hardy and The J. Hardy Agency are celebrating one of his best years ever. The erudite publicist remains confident his best days are yet ahead of him.