Got to Believe Entertainment is hosting its first showcase at the Green Room tonight at 9.

The showcase will feature a variety of music such as hip-hop, folk and funk and feature music by Tropidelic, 2Fly, Synphony, Nate LaPrairie and Ty Kellogg. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets cost $5.

GTB Entertainment is a student-run record label that is a part of the record promotions class taught by assistant professor Gene Shelton.

Halley Miller, director of new media, said many of the musicians on GTB’s label are local bands from the Kent and Akron area.

“We have a really good local scene in Kent,” Miller said. “Everyone should have a favorite local band.”

Shelton said GTB Entertainment is a work in progress. This semester, the record promotions class has now expanded to two classes: record promotion and record promotion II.

Shelton said one of the reasons the class split into two was because he did not have time for traditional teaching with one class. Now the record promotion class will learn from a textbook and develop a press kit and Web site presentations. The record promotion II class will be working with the artists.

“I definitely regret that I took the class last year and not this year,” Miller said as she spun on a chair in the BSR studio. “The record promotion class is working on projects with local artists and is better prepared to work with the artists.”

Miller has spent hours on the computer promoting the music and showcases online through Facebook and MySpace. She has more help this year because the students from record promotions are helping to promote the musicians online.

Ty Kellogg, senior electronic media major and GTB president, said one goal for GTB is to get lyrical content from artists they are representing copyrighted.

“The bands have potential to do something with their music,” Kellogg said. “The copyright goes a long way. Even if the band doesn’t make it in the industry, other people might want to use the music.”

Miller said it is important to get the music copyrighted so the musicians do not get ripped off.

“We’re promoting the groups on the Internet,” he said. “That is working on a global level, and it is really easy for musicians to get ripped off.”

Shelton said that he would ultimately like to see GTB become a part of student media.

“I would hope it becomes revenue generating, and students can apply for paid positions,” Shelton said.

Kellogg said he believes that GTB can go further because it is better than an internship. He said it is one of the most real jobs on campus because it brings in different aspects like print writing, public relations and personal relationships.

Contact College of Communications and Information reporter Brittany Senary at [email protected].