Biography - Simone Smalls

Entertainment, celebrity and special events publicist Simone Smalls is the Founder and  President of Simone Smalls Public Relations, Inc., a full-service public relations and strategic marketing agency based in New York. Founded in January 2008, the company specializes in entertainment, sports, lifestyle and corporate brand public relations and marketing.

Prior to launching her own agency, she served as Senior Vice President of a New York music and lifestyle publicity agency, leading the company's music and entertainment division. She was instrumental in propelling the company’s growth and client roster. Her publicity and marketing expertise afforded her the opportunity to work with diverse clients in music, sports, film, fashion and more. 

Serving as the longtime publicist for pop superstar Usher, Ms. Smalls guided and transitioned him from teen R&B singer to one of music’s biggest global talent brands. She managed all facets of Usher’s career including his music and album campaigns, film and television projects, his Broadway debut in Chicago, special events and parties, and non-profit foundation and fragrance and business endeavors

Simone Smalls is an industry expert who has created comprehensive media campaigns for some of the biggest high-profile music artists, personalities, companies and executives.

Ms. Smalls has worked with an array of the most prominent names in a wide variety of music genres, creating and supervising highly effective publicity campaigns for “Godfather of Soul” James Brown (serving as Mr. Brown's last publicist), Michael Jackson, Prince, Britney Spears, Ne-Yo, Lil Jon, Mario, Sean Paul, Joan Jett, Aerosmith, LL Cool J, Keyshia Cole, Lyfe Jennings, Mario, Kat DeLuna, Toni Braxton, Mya, Ronnie Spector, The Neptunes / N.E.R.D, The Underdogs, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Talib Kweli, among many others.

Building on her music PR proficiency, Ms. Smalls was instrumental in publicizing events such as Michael Jackson’s 30^th Anniversary Celebration and Clive Davis’ Grammy Parties, and Tony Award winning Broadway shows including “Spring Awakening” and “Chicago,” as well as several MTV and BET programs.

Her expertise also extends into devising cohesive brand strategy and engagement marketing for major corporations and brands such as NASCAR’s most popular franchise Dale Earnhardt Inc., Cirque De Soleil, Target Stores, McDonalds, Diageo, Bong Spirit Vodka, Lagardere North America and The Nelson Mandela Foundation. Ms. Smalls’ client experience through the years have included supervising and working on fashion brands such as A/X Armani Exchange, 310 Motoring, Run Athletics, and Request Jeans, among others.

Simone Smalls was recognized as Publicity and Media Relations Executive of The Year at the 2007 NABFEME conference.