While many MSU students spend their free time sleeping or relaxing in front of the television, Ian Wallace partakes in another kind of recreation.

Wallace is the Michigan College Marketing Representative for urban music.

“My duties are to get contacts at all college radio stations, college newspapers, media and television shows to try to get reviews and make sure our artists are getting enough airplay and publicity,” he said.

The supply chain management junior hopes to be involved in the record industry someday and sees his current status as a good segue into the profession.

“I’m leaning toward the music industry and this has really changed my focus,” he said. “(Kambiri Amadi) and myself are trying to get a record label together, which is something else I want to do.”

And Wallace makes sure he allots a certain amount of time every day for his job.

“Right after I get out of class from 3 to 6 p.m., I handle all my Warner Brothers business,” he said. “It’s really cool because my duties are to go to things I already wanted to go to, such as parties and clubs.”

All in all, Wallace said he puts in 20 to 25 hours a week of work doing promotions for Warner Brothers.

Amadi, a general business junior, is currently in New York doing an internship with Warner Brothers, where he is the senior vice president of urban music.

He is the one who recommended Wallace for the position.

“They originally wanted me to be the college representative, but since I was coming out (to New York) I asked Ian to do it,” he said. “I know he was interested in music and I needed somebody who would really do it well.”

Wallace said he didn’t plan on getting too involved in the music industry until he was done with college, but this experience has opened his eyes.

“Now since we’re both doing things at Warner Brothers, we’re learning a lot and getting a lot of good contacts,” he said.

Some of his duties as the college representative include attending various functions throughout the state, such as concerts, parties and promotional events for the label.

“I enjoy it a lot because I really love R&B and hip-hop,” Wallace said. “I go to places like record stores and set up displays, contact DJs about airplay and send out promo packs with albums samplers.”

Jason Hill, the college/lifestyle marketing coordinator for Warner Brothers, said he takes many aspects of candidates into account when considering them to be a state college representative.

“A very aggressive mindset is very important,” he said. “Obviously with them being in school they haven’t had much time in entertainment.

“If they are active in campus events and planning, and have connections with organizations that may throw some banner events, it definitely makes them a more attractive candidate.”

Hill said the position entails dedication on the part of the representative.

“Obviously, school takes first priority. But they have to have enough time to devote to something of this sort,” he said.

“He’s been doing a tremendous job so far,” Hill said of Wallace. “Every week he sends e-mails with new contacts linking our network with not only MSU, but also with colleges across the entire state.”

Wallace is required to submit a biweekly report and participate in a conference call with other representatives from across the nation.

“We list the schools covered and the list of artists’ names and a summary of the tools we used for promoting them,” he said.

“We distribute CD samplers, postcards, posters, fliers and we monitor the student response while including schools we’re targeting for future events and the expected turnouts.”

Wallace said even though there is no competition between different representatives for each state, it’s nice to be ahead of the rest sometimes.

“When (Hill) goes around each week and asks what’s happening, you always want to have something good to tell him,” he said. “So it’s a little competitive in that concept.”

Warner Brothers Records has college representatives all over the country, including Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, California, Virginia and Texas.

And Wallace recently had the opportunity to hang out with up-and-coming star Jaheim at “Frat Madness,” a statewide charity basketball game and step show in Flint last weekend.

“This was the biggest and best event I covered,” he said. “I got to hang out with a star and received special attention when I was with him.

“I look forward to more events like this.”