We had the good fortune of connecting with Georgia McClintock and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Georgia, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I love music! Music has helped me get through many phases of my life. My favorite genres of music are Hip Hop, R&B, and Gospel. However, I love all genres of music. Those genres include Country, Soft Rock, Pop, and even BlueGrass.

The idea behind the Sophya D Radio show was that artists in the Upstate of South Carolina needed a platform to showcase their talent. Being an intern at the local radio stations, I was amazed at the struggle that artists had trying to get their music air time. There was a price to pay for their music to be in rotation. The conversations with the Program Directors and artists were negative. These leaders would inform the artists that their music was not good enough to be featured on air. These artists just wanted a chance.

I knew that if I could create a platform for artists, it would change the game on an independent level. In 2010, our first artist on the Sophya D Radio Show, the show was under a different name at the time, was Jus K from Charlotte, North Carolina. Jus K is an R&B singer. He was super talented and the ladies loved him. I thought I had hit the jackpot when he agreed to be on the show. Jus K’s name, his talent, and appearance opened so many doors for my show. There was a buzz that started going around in the community. I offered excellent interviews and knew how to have fun on my show. Now, the quality may not have been the best, but I had to start somewhere. Jus K’s interview was done on my HP laptop with the built-in microphone. If you would have told me my interview sounded horrible, I was going to punch you in the throat. I am not a violent person, but in my mind, I was going to get you. I later discovered that my theory and business idea actually worked. The idea was needed in my community. Provide a platform for artists and small business owners to use at no charge.

I screen all artists and small business owners that come on my show. I cannot and will not have everyone featured on Sophya D Radio. I want all guests on my show to meet our values:

1. We are people of faith
2. We love everybody
3. We go the extra mile
4. We do life together

As a business owner, it is important to not lower your standards. I provide a service that cannot be explained. Only experienced.

As the show was doing well, I birthed the Sophya D Network. Many artists would speak with my husband for us to capture their album release shows or performances. We only did photography and videography for the radio show only. We decided to give it a try to capture album releases. Needless to say, the Sophya D Network has been doing very well. My husband, Tony, co-founder of TS Creations, captures the majority of the videography.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
There are so many things I enjoy about being in this world of creativity. It is simple. Just be creative. You are a piece of artwork. You do not have to explain yourself. Step out on faith. Be bold in your creativity. Be confident in your creativity. You have the power to change your artistry. There is freedom in creativity. Define what your story looks like.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
You must visit downtown Greer! Greer is historic and beautiful at night time. At night, Greer looks like a Hallmark movie. If Hallmark hosts Greer, as a city to film a movie, I am definitely auditioning. Trust me, you must visit downtown Greer. We have so many restaurants, parks, and a variety of events in downtown Greer. Greer is a neat city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to my Papa. He recently transitioned to be with the Lord on November 16, 2023. I remembered how excited I was to tell him about starting Sophya D Radio. He lit up like a baby. He then said, “Georgia, baby girl, if you want to start your own business like me and your grandmother did, you have our full support, ok.” Not only was my Papa a staple to my business, I learned how to become a successful business owner from their hard work on the farm. I had one final conversation with my Papa, while he was in the hospital. This is the first time I am sharing this conversation. I asked my grandmother and husband to step out, so I could have two minutes with Papa. I asked Papa, “How can I honor your business?” He said, “You honor my business by honoring God through your business.” I paused because I recognized there are so many wisdom points in that one statement. I asked, “Is there anything else I need to know about this statement?” He said, “Always show grace.” This shoutout is dedicated to my Papa, Alton B. Spurgeon.

Website: www.sophyadnetwork.com

Instagram: @sophyadnetwork

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/sophyad/

Twitter: @sophyadnetwork

Facebook: @sophyadnetwork

Youtube: @sophyadradio

Other: Threads: @sophyadnetwork

Image Credits
Photographer: TS Creations Photographer: Sophya D Network Photographer: Atom Blk

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