Mary Datcher is a Senior Staff Writer and Arts & Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Defender, the oldest African American newspaper in the United States focusing on news breaking stories, politics, entertainment, business and community stories. Prior to joining the Chicago Defender editorial staff, she has written stories for the Windy City Word newspaper and served as the Interim Managing Editor.
For the past 26 years, Ms. Datcher has enjoyed a creative and passionate career in the music and entertainment industry. During her career she has held positions at WGCI FM (Chicago), BMG Distribution, UNI Distribution (Universal Music), Def Jam Music Group, and George’s Music Room. In 1992 she formed On the Street Promotions and Marketing where the company specialized in field and event marketing programs with its primary focus on the music industry. Within 25 years of the company’s existence, Ms. Datcher has worked with over 250+ companies, consulting and developing marketing campaigns, producing national and local events, consulting on artist development and brand conceptualization.
In 2000, On the Street Promotions & Marketing created and executed the Chicago DJ Summit conference that targeted over 500 DJs throughout the Midwest. In 2004 she co-founded the world renowned Core DJ Retreat, going on to form the Global Mixx DJ Retreat and now known as the Global Mixx Music & Film Forum since 2005. Global Mixx Music & Film Forum was created to bring music business education and seminars to aspiring professionals and students seeking a career in the entertainment, arts and film business.
Over the years, the company has produced several music driven events that have included celebrated industry leaders such as Kanye West, Jaheim, Kindred the Family Soul, Bilal, Eve, Chingy, Faith Evans, DJ Tony Touch, KRS-One, Grammy-Award winning artists, Luther Vandross, Common, Naughty By Nature, NBA star Antoine Walker and the list goes on.
Mary Datcher has guided her company on projects that have included political clients–Commissioner Jerry ‘Iceman Butler, Congressman Bobby L. Rush, and Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. and State of Black Chicago Congress. Corporate clients have included–Jeep, American Family Insurance, Gentle Hair Treatment, Tanqeray, Baileys, Nike, KBA Marketing/Draft Worldwide, Salem (RJ Reynolds), Seagram Americas, K Cider, Target, Cingular Wireless, UBO, Warner Bros. Records, RCA Records, Sony Music Group, Motown Records, Def Jam Music Group, Effen Vodka, Frontline Marketing, Geffen Records, New Music Seminar, Hidden Beach Recordings, DreamWorks and Martell Cognac.
In her current role as the Senior Staff Writer and Arts & Entertainment Editor for the Chicago Defender, her features have included reports on the City of Chicago mayoral and councilman electoral race, hard-hitting investigation stories, business profiles, community stories, special events and entertainment interviews that engage interests and feedback from our readers.