By Chris Cunningham
The Scene staff
Many college students work part-time jobs, but Forest Park’s Julian Keaton is already running his own business.
The business administration major owns and operates Stereo Assault, a music marketing and management company.
“The business (involves) reaching out to venues, dealing with artist’s managers and booking agents, and sometimes renting audio equipment,” he said.
Keaton, 22, helped organize a five-city Missouri tour for the rapper June. He has managed the local hip-hop acts Souls of Liberty and Jadwal and promoted shows for Enemy.
“Our goal was to get our clients represented by booking agents,” he said.
Keaton is also in charge of booking acts for a monthly show at The Demo on Cherokee street and is working to promote a show by Run the Jewels, a national touring hip-hop duo.
He began promoting local acts in 2009 and later broadcasted a music show on Webster University’s radio station, The Galaxy, when he briefly attended the college.
“We wanted to provide a platform for musicians to showcase their music,” he said.
Keaton left Webster in 2011 and enrolled at Forest Park. His friend, Andrew Hoskins, 22, a Webster advertising and marketing major, took over the Stereo Assault radio show.
“I was always interested in the music industry,” Hoskins said. “But I wasn’t interested in being at the forefront. I wanted a hand in music and entertainment though.”
The radio show has featured artists from Australia, Canada and throughout the United States.
“Sometimes we stumble across them. Sometimes they stumble across us,” Hoskins said. “They might hear us on the radio show and contact us for a submission on the site or interview on the radio.”
Julian Keaton is a cousin of Forest Park celebrity student Byron Keaton, who is known for his flashy clothing, outgoing personality and theater involvement. He works in the Campus Life office.
Last year, Byron Keaton won a contest to attend the BET awards, as well as a new car from Ford Motor Co.
“We all have goals, and we all have dreams,” Julian Keaton said. “Byron and I both worked towards our goals and dreams way before we were in college.”
Julian Keaton is enrolled in adjunct instructor Maria Schomaker’s Event Planning I class at Forest Park.
“He is extremely bright,” Schomaker said. “So much so, I want him to share it more with the other students.
“Sometimes you are teaching and you see the light go on. There is no better feeling for a teacher than when you feel like you’ve got a student … Julian came in with that.”
Keaton said he is taking his time earning a degree from Forest Park while getting real-world experience.
“I am for education, but I am also for practical experience and knowledge,” he said. “I have been focused on strengthening my own business.”
Keaton said he has entrepreneurship in his blood. His parents even met at an entrepreneurial conference.
He plans to major in international business at a university after he graduates from Forest Park. His dream is opening and running an “incubator” to help people start businesses in Africa.
“I want to start a network or organization that helps businesses use the resources in Africa to help strengthen the black community and to help weaken white supremacy,” he said.