~ Internship ~
Any official or formal program to provide practical
experience for beginners in an occupation or profession.

" The Program " was established in 1999 under the direction of Steve McKeever by Charles Whitfield and Mike Parker as an opportunity to find talented and hungry young students passionate about the music and artists on the Hidden Beach roster. Through forming " The Program " we have been able to achieve the goal of finding some of the best young students all over the world. By reaching and mentoring these students it has become a unique and ideal situation not only for the students we have touched, but also for the artists and employees at the label. In the past, we have hosted intern conferences in New York, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Ga, New Orleans, Chicago, and Los Angeles as a way to further expose the students to other ideas and opportunties inside the music business. In moving foreward, our goal is to continue to find and develop outstanding young students and mentor them in all aspects of business. We look forward to hearing from you.


Regards, Charles Whitfield

The HB Crew

Join Charles Whitfield of Hidden Beach Recordings for the 2008 College Internship Tour

1. September 1-5…Howard University- Washington, D.C.
2. September 8 …N.C. A&T State University- Greensboro, N.C.
3. September 11 …Winston Salem State University- Winston Salem, N.C.
4. September 12 …Bennett College for Women- Greensboro, N.C.
5. September 15-18 …University of Nevada Las Vegas- Las Vegas, Nv.
6. September 23 …Virginia Union University- Richmond, Va.
7. September 24 …Hampton University- Hampton, Va.
8. September 25 …Norfolk State University- Norfolk, Va.
9. September 29 …Morehouse College …Atlanta, Ga.
10. October 1 …Wilberforce University …Wilberforce, Oh.
11. October 15-17 …Lemoyne-Owen College …Memphis, Tn
12. October 30 …Savannah State University …Savannah, Ga.

1st South East Intern Conference Atlanta,Georgia 2002

Always Work Toward A Specific Goal
Article from BlackMBA Summer 2008 interview with Charles Whitfield

As head of Artists & Repertoire (A&R) for Hidden Beach Recordings, Charles Whitfield has spent more than a decade scouting recruiting and grooming R&B stars and aspiring music business moguls alike. Regardless of the skills they bring to the table, Whitfield is most impressed by students who do their homework on the label and it’s artists, know what they want to achieve, speak with confidence ,look him in the eye, show persistence and present themselves professionally.

" It’s just about being confident,being prepared and doing your homework," Whitfield says."And not being afraid,especially in the entertainment business,to hear people tell you no."

And according to Whitfield, working toward a specific goal will not only make a better impression on the people who decide whether to hire you,but will get you where you want to go faster.

" I like the students who want to be an artist manager or in the legal side to ask, " What contacts do you have that can help me? " Whitfield says. " I appreciate someone being honest and saying, " This is what I need help with…here’s what I want to do in a specific place. " I will open up my rolodex to those who I know are really hungry,and not only hungry,but hungry about a specific task or topic they want to do. "

Whitfield also believes that internship candidates should seek quality over quantity when reaching out to potential contacts. As an intern,seeking out the top two or three people who could help you achieve your goal, rather than handing out a business card or resume to everyone at a mixer,shows you have done your homework and makes it more likely you’ll catch someone’s eye. Maintaining the same level of goal-oriented enthusiasm once accepted into an intership program is just as important. Some interns,once they are in a program, don’t work as hard as they worked to get there. For instance,they may slack off in the office or ruin their professional image at social functions related to work." Some students get complacent, " Whitfield notes. " [The work] is still about how passionate you are and doing the things that got you in the program. Some students,once they get in,forget that same hunger and drive. "