Summer I Give G Ager Johnny Wright Says

Home , Ciara, Danja (record producer), Fantasy Ride, High Price

"The key to any success is to be creative and Yo- assisted "Super Natural." "The music flows It's a scaldin to take chances," her recently appointed man- together. It's about the journey and having fun summer I give g ager Johnny Wright says. "This is how artists through music. can you a basic album stay on top: by challenging themselves and in- in a 12 -song layout, but I wanted to be more day Los Angeles creasing their fan base, and by bringing some- creative," Ciara says. in For The oppor- thing unexpected to you." "Fantasy Ride," format presents challenges and as some of the music industry's most Ciara is pushing the envelope creatively by hav- tunities alike for marketing, says Lisa Cam- ing the set feature three distinct musical styles. bridge, VP of marketing at Zomba Label Group. distinguished urban artists made their way to the As of now, the three sounds will tentatively be "The dance aspect of this album has made Shrine Auditorium for the 2008 BET Awards. called "Groove City," full of sensual songs; international want to get their hands on it, es- "Crunk Town," with Atlanta -based crunk music pecially the U.K.," Cambridge says. "She has This year's bill featured all the heavy- hitters: Usher, similar to her introductory single, "Goodies "; [had] some success overseas, but this is her real Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys and T Pain assisted by and "Kingdom of Dance," with uptempo, breakthrough. We're really hoping to set up op- house -leaning, freestyle -tinged cuts. portunities to spend time in the territories and DJ Khaled, Ludacris and Rick Ross. But "There are three elements of her music in combine it with touring; this way, she can be what drove the audience wild was Chris Brown's this record and to me that's growth," Wright more in command of her time." However, Cam- says. "That could never bridge says because Ciara set with Ciara. For a performance of Brown's be a bad thing. She's `My mission is somewhat of a "new "Take You Down," she ditched her traditional not stepping away from artist" overseas, she will her original fans; in- is to take fans most likely start by doing oversized sweat pants and bedazzled sports bra stead, she's exploring all -day promotional stops a -tight -style new opportunities on on a musical instead of a formal tour. in favor of black, skin dominatrix this record." As far as online promo- cat -suit, thigh -high black stiletto boots and a Producers include journey to tions, there will be lim- Danja Handz, Jasper ited- edition digital matching black wig. The choreography included Cameron, L.O.S. and three diferent versions of the three ele- straddling Brown mid -air as he laid on the stage Tricky Stewart, who is sounds that ments on the album floor, scaling her hands up the right side of his co- executive producing made available, Cam- the album alongside represent me.' bridge says. body and a dance trick in which Ciara slithered her Ciara. Akon, Lil Jon, the - -CIARA In addition, she says Dream and Ludacris Ciara will make appear- head down his back, and rested it on his right calf make guest appearances, while Ne -Yo, T -Pain ances on urban TV music shows like BET's "106 while bending her lean frame backwards. and Frankie Storm (from Rihanna's "Don't & Park," as well as the traditional stops on MTV's Stop the Music ") are all contributing writers. "TRL," daytime talk shows and late -night TV. The performance ended with Brown and Ciara "It will still definitely be three different And amid all the promotion for the album, seductively staring at each other, as the crowd gave sounds in one package," Ciara says. "My mis- Ciara is planning how to make a bigger impact sion is to take fans on a musical journey to three in the entertainment scene. She recently inked them a standing ovation. The message couldn't different sounds that represent me so that they a deal with Wilhelmina Models, which cur- be more clear: Ciara isn't the teen princess of Crunk get a chance to see the sides of me they still rently represents such acts as Fergie, Natasha haven't seen." Bedingfield and the Veronicas. & B any more. Now 23 and with two platinum "High Price," featuring Ludacris, and the Wilhelmina president Sean Patterson was records under her belt, she is reinventing her career uptempo dance song "Work" are both in con- one of the first to notice Ciará s recent worn - tention for debut single. ( "High Price" has al- anish air and decided to jump onboard. "We've with a bold new creative and business plan that ready been leaked online. "My feelings were been talking for years, but definitely recently includes "Fantasy Ride," a conceptual album due in so hurt, because I wanted to present that track saw the opportunity to market her, create en- to the fans the right way," Ciara says.) Other dorsement deals and image- enhancing deals the fourth quarter via LaFace /Zomba, tracks on the set include the feminist track "In- that would be good for her brand," Patterson and an intensified focus on branding with a dependent Woman," the go -go -esque "Echo," says. "She is the complete package. She is the bass -heavy "When I," the energetic "I'm model made, with perfect size, perfect height modeling contract and movie roles. On," the melodic "Lover's Thing" and the Ne- [Ciara is 5 feet, 7 inches tall], a beautiful body

GROOVE CITY CRUNK TOWN KINGDOM TRIPPIN' On "Lover's Thing ": "This On "High Price ": OF DANCE track is very melodic -it's a "This song features On "Work ": "This feel -good record. It's a track Ludacris [right] is a high- energy WITH for those nights when you and it is like [Ciara's record. This is the want to be wrapped up with previous single] 'Oh' type of song you CIARA your boo." but to the 10th power. can work out to; On "Fantasy Ride," Ciara divides the album It's so futuristic to me." you're going to sweat into three "cities ": "Groove City" for slow On "Super Natural ": "This up a storm in the club." jams, "Crunk Town" for tributes to her Crunk song takes me back to the On "Echo ": "This song is & B roots and "Kingdom of Dance" for, you times of Biggie and [R &B about swagger, attitude On "I'm On ": "One thing: guessed it, dance. Here she talks about the in- group] Total." and having fun. The beat is The energy is sick!" spirations for some of the tracks. -MC produced by Danja Handz."

24 BILLBOARD AUGUST 2, 2008