Ebonie Ward Has Official Grand Opening Of 550 RMG In Atlanta

On Might 17, Atlanta’s Previous Fourth Ward was buzzing with celebration as leisure government and entrepreneur Ebonie Ward formally opened the doorways to 550 RMG, her firm’s new headquarters, eleventh & Co. The ten,000-square-foot multiuse house represents a return to her hometown and a daring funding in Black creativity, collaboration, and neighborhood.

“In all honesty, it actually means all the pieces,” Ward mentioned of proudly owning the brand new headquarters outright. “You’re employed so exhausting to realize a sure stage of success. I’ve been within the enterprise for 13 years, and I’ve rented lots of areas. I’ve partnered with lots of different corporations and types, however to have one thing of my very own… it simply feels very completely different.”

Ward’s journey within the leisure business spans over a decade, together with managing rap superstars like Future, Gunna, DDG, and Flo Milli. As one of the vital influential Black girls in music, she’s recognized for combining her sharp enterprise acumen with a deep dedication to neighborhood, tradition, and mentorship. 

550 RMG is the brand new dwelling of 5 Black-owned companies, together with eleventh & Co, the inventive company Six Levels, the manufacturing collective Genius Membership, the nonprofit initiative A Seat At The Desk, and the upcoming 9 Distribution, a brand new distribution firm set to launch in September 2025.

“It provides me so many capabilities to assist so many extra folks,” Ward mentioned. “Particularly different Black girls who’ve an curiosity in being within the music enterprise, leisure enterprise, tv, music, movie… It permits me to open myself up and help so many different folks.”

Ward has a protracted historical past of collaboration with the founders of the companies housed at 550 RMG.

“I’ve labored with B. Wright[ Brian “BWrighteous” Wright] since 2011 when he was at Morehouse,” she shared. “I used to personal a sneaker boutique on Peter Road, and I used to be promoting his t-shirts. We’ve been working collectively for years, and this allows us to help one another’s companies in a extra intentional approach.”

The brand new facility can be an area the place creativity and neighborhood coexist. Designed by Atlanta-based inside designer Annysa LaMantia, 550 RMG features a recording studio, modifying and manufacturing bay, wardrobe showroom, open kitchen, patio, and a number of convention rooms.

“The studio is the place the magic is made,” Ward mentioned, although she additionally emphasised the significance of the house’s versatility. “I actually needed to tug power out of this house. I needed the flexibility of getting the open house for folks to collaborate and be communal, however even have an area the place folks could possibly be targeted and have some stage of privateness.”

The intention behind 550 RMG is deeply rooted in service. “To me, that’s actually what it’s all about—neighborhood,” Ward mentioned. Her nonprofit, A Seat At The Desk, not too long ago hosted its third annual dinner celebrating HBCU scholarship recipients. “I’ve all the time been about music, artwork, philanthropy, trend, and finance. That’s what I name my huge 5. However philanthropy holds such a close to and pricey place in my coronary heart.”

Ward’s dedication to neighborhood care is as complete as her enterprise acumen. From occasions supporting girls who’ve skilled loss throughout Mom’s Day, to breast most cancers consciousness programming in October, to vital monetary funding in scholarships for younger Black girls attending HBCUs, her work by way of A Seat At The Desk is altering lives. “I’m a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Included, and repair is all the time first. However extra so, service with a mission,” she mentioned.

Constructing a crew of powerhouse Black girls can be a significant a part of Ward’s legacy. Whereas Ward serves as CEO, proprietor, and supervisor of the enterprise, her right-hand, Jenna Tyson, is chief advertising and marketing officer (CMO), Alexandria Kindle is eleventh& Co’s chief monetary officer (CFO), Krishna Lee is EVP of Touring & Logistics, and Zita R. Brack is the agency’s in-house authorized counsel.

“I’m nothing with out them,” Ward mentioned. “As a lot as I’m celebrated, if I might put them on a pedestal—on each pedestal that I’m on—they might be proper beside me. I noticed it and I sought lots of them to come back in and work with me due to how unbelievable I assumed they have been.”

With the launch of 9 Distribution on the horizon, Ward is laying the groundwork for a extra equitable music business. “Independence is prospering,” she mentioned. “You don’t must be signed to a significant label now to succeed, however to have the ability to function a enterprise, it takes a crew. That’s what we’re going to have the ability to do in another way—you’re capable of come into an incubated system the place all the pieces is already working.”

550 RMG was born out of necessity as a lot as imaginative and prescient. “I needed a one-stop store,” she mentioned. “There wasn’t a facility or enterprise the place you have been capable of do all the pieces multi function.”

Whereas work commitments require Ward to journey repeatedly to Los Angeles, returning to Atlanta to construct 550 RMG felt important. “It’s a must to be the change that you really want on the planet,” she mentioned. “If I’m not offering folks with jobs, with sources and instruments, then I’m not really creating alternatives. Black girls must see that it’s potential.”

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