Mike Johns is the Founder and President of Digital Mind State formerly known as UrbanWorld Wireless, the Los Angeles based company that bridged wireless technology and hip-hop culture. Mike Johns is the driving force behind the Digital Mind State brand, responsible for planning, business development, marketing and the company expansion. A true liaison between urban youth culture and the mobile industry, Johns has been successful at building and maintaining profitable business relationship with some of the biggest company names in mobile industry including T-Mobile, Zed, Fun Mobility, Nokia, Microsoft, amongst others. Motivated byleveling the playing field of the “Digital Divide,” he’s been dubbed “ambassador” of the urban/hip-hop lifestyle segment as well he’s achieved numerous “first” in the mobile entertainment space.UrbanWorld was a vision Johns had early in his career while working as Marketing Director for Larry Flynt’s Rap Page Magazine. In 2001, he turned his dream into reality, brokering the company’s mobile content provider deal with T-Mobile; partnerships with Infospace, Jamster, and AT&T (UrbanWorld’s voicetones have been featured in the top ten voicetone category on AT&T for three consecutive years). Capitol Records become the first record label to conduct mobile marketing with the “urban” audience, utilizing UrbanWorld’s mobile platform followed by such industry players as Def Jam, Vibe Magazine, Adidas and Fox Network. UrbanWorld Wireless has become a worldwide leader in the distribution of urban content, while earning praise from executives at ABC Radio, BBC Radio, XXL Magazine, and an endless list of partners, vendors and clients.
With more than ten years in the industry and an unrivaled understanding of the global wireless ecosystem, Johns is creating a unique, digital entertainment experience for the youth and young adult market with the international distribution of top urban brands in music, video & film across new media platforms including Xbox Live, Playstation, mobile and digital television.
Prior to founding UrbanWorld Wireless and fresh out of college, Johns was Marketing Director for Larry Flynt owned Rap Page Magazine and was key in the marketing the Rap Page brand which quickly emerged as one of the world’s premier urban music magazine and website. By fostering relationship with artists & record label in addition to building strategic partnership with various consumer brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Johns was able to increase circulation and readership by 12%.
Prior to Rap Page Magazine, Johns worked for Fortune 500 Company, W.W Grainger moving from customer service representative to becoming account manager for Grainger’s largest client in Northern California- Pacific Gas & Electric. As manager of the $1.7 million account, Johns effectively trained more than 50 employees, lead focus groups on new product development and served as liaison between the needs of PG&E and the Grainger’s company mission. Mr. Johns began his career as Entertainment Director for University of Las Vegas responsible for booking talents; negotiate contracts, marketing and promotion of campus & city wide events including Jay-Z Hardknock Life Tour, UNLV’s annual Rebelpaloza Concert, celebrity basketball tournaments & college tailgate concert series.
Johns holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing and Sociology from Western Illinois University. Johns is a frequent speaker at industry events including CTIA, Mobile Marketing Forum, iHollywood Forum, Billboard, Multi-Cultural Media Expo, Showbiz Expo and a slew of music industry panels covering a wide range of topics such as on-deck and off-deck strategies, examining business models for mobile music, and how to market, promote & monetize with social network.
Mr. Johns began his career as Entertainment Director for University of Las Vegas responsible for booking talents; negotiate contracts, marketing and promotion of campus & city wide events.
Beyond education and professional experience, Johns’ passion and personality gives him a natural ability to reach young people on the streets of Crenshaw as well as the power brokers on Wall Street. It is a skill that has made his company a recognizable force in the wireless industry and the hip-hop world.
Johns is single, enjoys international traveling, works and lives in Culver City, California.
