Business of Entertainment: Vanita Thompson The Thompson Rose Agency

Vanita Applebum

Vanita Thompson, the principal partner at The Thompson Rose Agency, has over 25 years
experience in media, entertainment business management, marketing and event
proproduction

​After attending Howard University, Vanita moved to the NYC metropolitan area and worked
at a music production, management and music publishing company (MCA). While there
she worked directly with international artists on Capital Records, RCA, Warner Brothers
and Atlantic. She became first Director of Artist Development at a boutique NYC public
relations firm. She moved from there to work for Jackson Communications, Inc.
(JOMA/JCI) the company owned by the Jackson Family. That company managed artists on
Jive, RCA, Mercury and Motown. Vanita began to specialize in artist liaison projects and
worked for several NYC law firms dealing with sample and cover clearances, copyright and
royalty issues, unions, guilds and performance rights. Vanita moved to St. Louis and began
a royalty recovery business that has recovered over $150,000 for songwriters signed to
EMI, Sony and Universal. She and her team have coordinated several national
conferences for various organizations.


Moving into the digital age, she is currently the Integrated Marketing Manager for Radio
One St. Louis and with launching The Thompson Rose Agency now consults for small
businesses by helping them craft and execute strategic marketing campaigns to strengthen
their business. She also consults with various musical artists and industry professionals,
coordinates conferences, runs large entertainment stages and sits on entertainment panels
nationwide. Vanita has a Certificate in Audio Engineering with a focus on Live Sound. She
belongs to ASCAP, NABFEME, WEEN and Women In Digital and participates actively in
social fundraising.