By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Trendz Media Group LLC, the multi-faceted entertainment duo made up of cousins Jaynell Riley and Herbrena Godfrey, will hold a Independent Artist Showcase for unsigned religious talent this weekend at Greater Golden Grove Baptist Church.
The pair said that all forms of talent are welcome at their event, including singers, dancers, musicians, poets and rappers. Participants will have a shot at winning an all-expense-paid trip to Los Angeles, Calif., to share the stage with a celebrity gospel artist during the annual Fall Gospel Concert, courtesy of Brighter Day Entertainment.
Along with preferential seating, a special VIP package will include a gift bag and a photo meet and greet opportunity with Alexis Spight, a season five contestant from Black Entertainment Television’s popular reality televsion gospel singing competition “Sunday’s Best.”
The pair thought up the idea for the showcase because they saw many young artists fall through the cracks throughout their years in the entertainment industry.
“I realized that artists weren’t being properly represented — If you don’t pay, you don’t play. And instead of educating them about what it was they needed to do to be in the industry, they just took their money and left them hanging,” said Godfrey.
The twosome has their hands in a number of pots. In addition to event production, the women coordinate two live-talent based television shows that air nationally on Direct TV, “Trendz” and “Trendz Gospel.” They also write and produce a handful of reality series and head their own foundation, Trendz Stop The Violence, which is dedicated to fostering talent and academic excellence while discouraging violence and self-destructive tendencies. The pair said they’ve been involved in the entertainment industry for at least 20 years.
“Our motto is trends — make them, don’t follow them. Meaning make your own. There is so much positive out here that we need to push toward our kids and the generation to come, rather than all of the negative that’s in front of their face. Trendz wants to make a difference in their lives, whatever they want to do in their lives. But at the same time, we need them to invest in themselves so we can help them,” said Riley.  
The pair is also planning a concert on Friday, May 31, at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner that will feature R&B artists Avant, Keith Sweat and KeKe Wyatt.
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the showcase begins at 7 p.m. Greater Golden Grove Baptist Church is located on 127 Mulberry Ave. in Gramercy. General admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door — VIP tickets are $20. For more information on the independent artist showcase, contact Brighter Day Entertainment at 1-888-368-2188 or 310-670-0969.