Show Your Love For Jody Watley

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Admin

A close-up portrait of Jody Watley smiling, wearing a denim jacket, with large curly hair, holding a disco ball. The text 'JODY WATLEY' and 'LET'S DANCE VOL. 1 Hit Them Beats' is prominently featured in a colorful font.

Black t-shirt featuring a photo of Jody Watley smiling and holding a disco ball, with the text 'JODY WATLEY' and 'LET'S DANCE VOL. Hit Them Beats' overlay.

Show Your Jody Watley Love 💫

Step into the rhythm and celebrate the iconic style, music, and legacy of Jody Watley with the official Let’s Dance merchandise collection.

Inspired by the energy of the #1 Dance / Electronic iTunes Album Let’s Dance Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats), this exclusive merch drop is designed for fans who live for timeless grooves, bold fashion, and authentic artistry.

From statement pieces to everyday essentials, each item reflects the spirit of independence, creativity, and evolution that defines Jody Watley’s enduring influence.

✨ Whether you’re updating your wardrobe or looking for the perfect fan collectible—this is your moment.

Explore and Shop the collection now: Jody Watley Merchandise

Download the album on iTunes / Amazon Music +more

Streaming out music platforms of your choice.

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a Best New Artist GRAMMY®️ award winner, 3 x Solo Nominee, Multiple -platinum selling singer /songwriter/producer with a diverse ongoing music discography spanning decades.

R&B / Pop / Dance /House Music/ Downtempo Electronica / Jazz – 80s, 90s, 2000s.

Jody Watley recognized as a style icon (VOGUE, People Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar +more) ranked by Billboard as one of the Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, Top 25 Dance Artists of All Time, Top 100 Black Solo Artists Of All Time. Crossover Music Icon from Black Music Honors 2017, Inductee in Women’s Songwriter Hall of Fame + more.

As a solo artist, Jody Watley has amassed 6 Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten Singles including Iconic chart toppers “Looking For A New Love” (#1 R&B), “Don’t You Want Me”, “Real Love” (#1 R&B) and the groundbreaking R&B/Rap collaboration “Friends” featuring Eric B. and Rakim. 6 Top 10 Hot 100 Singles, 7 # 1 Dance Singles, which led to a Billboard Magazine Dance Chart Lifetime Achievement Award; 2 R&B Number 1’s, 15 Top 40 Singles, Gold and platinum albums in the USA, Canada and Asia, a million selling fitness video and video compilation, groundbreaking ad campaigns + more.

Add a 2007 Billboard Dance Lifetime Achievement Award with 7 #1 Dance Singles, 2017 recipient of the Black Music Honors Crossover Music Icon Award and nominations from the American Music Awards, MTV Awards, NAACP Awards and Soul Train Awards.

A visionary and trailblazer, she set the blueprint for the independent artist movement by launching her own label, Avitone, in 1995—decades before it became a trend. A former member of the R&B group Shalamar (1978-1983) , a participant in the historic Band Aid recording of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” in 1984: Jody Watley’s solo career continues to thrive with critically acclaimed and chart-topping releases.

Jody Watley Shares New Updates and Latest Album

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Admin

Close-up portrait of a smiling woman with curly hair, wearing a denim jacket, holding a disco ball, with vibrant makeup. Text overlay reads 'Jody Watley Let's Dance Vol. 1 Hit Them Beats'.

Stay connected with the latest from Jody Watley. The Official YouTube Channel continues to feature new uploads including the inspirational ‘Wattage Thoughts’, career highlights celebrating decades of music, style and culture and lots of music including new releases.

Question:

“What’s the latest on Jody Watley—what’s she up to now?”

Answer:

Still thriving. Still creating. Still evolving.

Fans can also stream Watley’s latest album “Let’s Dance Vol. 1 – Hit Them Beats” released on her independent label Avitone Recordings – a vibrant dance project celebrating the 30th anniversary of the label founded in 1995. “Let’s Dance Vol. 1,,” reached Number 1 on the iTunes Top Dance / Electronic Albums Chart and Amazon Music UK July 11, 2025.

iTunes charts displaying the top 40 US Dance Albums, featuring Jody Watley at #1 for 'Let's Dance Vol. 1 Hit Them Beats'.

Just announced on her channel another new project is on the way in 2026. Jody Watley will be one of the headline acts of the Ultimate Disco Cruise sailing February 2027 in a very rare concert appearance, since she stepped away from concerts and touring. “It’s a perfect opportunity to do some of the cuts from Let’s Dance including the classic “Love Hangover” along with many classics spanning decades from Disco to Pop, R&B, Dance, Funk, Contemporary Nu Disco from her discography. Plus, who doesn’t love a cruise full of festive people?!”

Promotional poster for the Ultimate Disco Cruise featuring Jody Watley and various artists, scheduled for February 21-26, 2027, in Fort Lauderdale, Grand Turk, and Puerto Plata. Includes images of Kool & The Gang, Gloria Gaynor, The Spinners, and others, with a call to use a discount code.

The Ultimate Disco Cruise and Beyond is BACK in 2027! 🪩 Put on your dancing shoes, pack your disco glam and get ready to celebrate the greatest Disco, Dance, Soul, Funk, & Party Music EVER! Use promo code JODYFAN for special cabin savings.

www.UltimateDiscoCruise.com/JodyFan

About The Artist:

Grammy Winning Music Icon Jody Watley. Jody Watley is a GRAMMY® Award–winning Best New Artist and 3x nominee, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and style icon.
Renowned as one of the most defining female artists of the 80s and 90s with Top 10 hits including the iconic “Looking for a New Love,” “Don’t You Want Me,” “Friends” ft. Eric B. & Rakim, and the gold-certified “Real Love,” she has built a genre-spanning, critically acclaimed catalog across R&B, Pop, Dance, Jazz, Electronica. Learn more: Here

Jody Watley’s The Makeover: An Innovative Album Release Journey

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Admin

Album cover for Jody Watley's 2006 release 'The Makeover,' featuring a stylized image of Watley with text stating '#1 iTunes Top Dance/Electronic Albums 2006.'

On this day in 2006, Grammy-winning artist Jody Watley released her 8th full-length album, The Makeover — a bold and forward-thinking project that fused timeless style with modern electronic dance grooves. This aligned with the concept rooted in reminding people to not get so caught up in celebrity culture which was becoming ‘a thing’ with the onset of social media at the time. In addition she spoke on superficial beauty standards, inspired ironically by a layout she’d seen in a VOGUE Italia cover story called “Makeover Madness”. Jody Watley says in the liner notes to be your own personal superstar.

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Shifting Paradigms in Music Releases

Long before independent releases and creative brand partnerships became standard practice, Watley redefined the album rollout experience. For The Makeover, her Avitone label partnered with Virgin Megastore, high-end cosmetics brand Shu Uemura, and select beauty salons for an exclusive direct-to-retail launch. Fans were treated to live performances, meet-and-greets, autographs, and even full beauty makeovers — turning the album release into a glamorous, multi-sensory event.

“Cannily cross-marketed with her appearance on Bravo’s “Workout” .. finds space in the material for layers of fresh meaning.- Time Out NY

“new paradigms..damned if the album didn’t debut as the chain’s best selling release..” Hits Daily Double

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Chart-Topping Success Without Radio

Screenshot of the Virgin Megastore top ten album sales chart from August 15, 2006, featuring Jody Watley's album 'The Makeover' at number one.

The results were undeniable. The Makeover debuted at #1 on Virgin Megastore’s chain-wide sales chart, holding the position for five consecutive weeks — without the push of a radio single. On iTunes, it entered at #3 on the Top Electronic Albums chart, rising to #1. Eventually spawning three Top 5 Billboard Dance hits:

• #1 – “I Want Your Love” (also #1 UK Commercial Pop, giving Watley her first UK #1 in 20 years 🇬🇧)

• #2 – “Borderline”

• #5 – “A Beautiful Life”

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Reimagining the Familiar, Creating the New

The Makeover masterfully blended fresh originals with inventive reworkings of pop classics. Watley’s interpretations of “Borderline,” “Love Hangover,” “Waiting in Vain,” and CHIC’s “I Want Your Love” sat seamlessly alongside originals like “Bed of Roses,” co-written with acclaimed UK collective 4Hero.

Production credits included Watley herself alongside Rodney Lee, with contributions from King Britt, DJ Spinna, Ron Trent, 4Hero, and Mark de Clive-Lowe — a roster that underscored the album’s genre-crossing sophistication.

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Legacy & Influence

As the follow-up to 2003’s Midnight Lounge, The Makeover solidified Watley’s reputation for innovation in both music and marketing. Its success foreshadowed the now-common trend of artists creating immersive, lifestyle-driven release campaigns. Nearly two decades later, The Makeover still feels fresh — proof that style and substance never go out of fashion.

Jody Watley holding her album 'The Makeover' at a promotional event in front of a Virgin Megastore backdrop.

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Listen to The Makeover: Streaming at digital platform of your choice.

Follow Jody Watley on her official social media pages.

#TheMakeover #JodyWatley #Avitone30 #DanceMusic #Electronica #IndieArtistPower #JodyWatleyDiscography

Jody Watley: A Legacy Of Sound, A Vibe That Endures

Posted on July 24, 2025 by Admin

Jody Watley Takes Control Of Her Own Destiny With New Label Avitone

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Admin

-Billboard Magazine, The Rhythm & The Blues – J.R. Reynolds
June 1995

A feature from the archives of Billboard Magazine, 1995.

“Watley Takes Control Of Her Own Destiny”

Jody Watley launched Avitone Records to release her own music, beginning with the album “Affection” (July 11, 1995). The debut single made waves at R&B radio while the album, co-written & produced by Watley and Derrick Edmonson, blended uptempo grooves with soulful intimacy and live instrumentation. Affection was manufactured, marketed and distributed by Bellmark owned by music veteran Al Bell. Al Bell is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive. He is best known as having been an executive and co-owner of Stax Records Al Bell is an American record producer, songwriter, and record executive.

He is best known as having been an executive and co-owner of Stax Records. He later started his own label, Bellmark, whose releases included Tag Team’s single “Whoomp! (There It Is)” (1993) and Prince (1994 single) The Most Beautiful Girl In The World for Prince’s NPG label.

“I’m an artist who likes to keep changing and developing. It was time to take another chance.” – Jody Watley

By year’s end, Billboard named:

#7 Top Indie R&B Label – Avitone

#8 Top Indie R&B Single – Affection

Do it yourself. Believe in your vision.

Fast forward 3 decades, we celebrate the milestone with Jody Watley – “LET’S DANCE Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats)”

The album vaulted to #1 iTunes US Dance Albums 7.11.25 and #1 Amazon Music U.K. Top Dance Electronic Albums. Let’s Dance becomes Jody Watley’s third #1 independent album release following “The Makeover” in 2006 and “Midnight Lounge” 2003 Top Dance Electronic Albums iTunes.

Let’s Dance Vol. 1 is a nonstop dance extravaganza featuring mixes by Craig C. Quentin Harris, Josh Peace, Mark de Clive-Lowe, John “J-C” Carr, Morgan Page, Love To Infinity, Jodie Harsh, Alex Di Ciò, Ron Trent, Brian Power.

Celebrate 30 years of Jody Watley’s Avitone Recordings label with “LET’S DANCE Vol. 1 (Hit Them Beats)” — a sizzling new album of indie dance gems, remastered Avitone club classics and chart-topping faves.

Available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms worldwide.

About The Artist:

Jody Watley is a GRAMMY-winning, multi-platinum singer/songwriter/producer and style icon. Named Best New Artist in 1988, she’s one of Billboard’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time, with 6 Top 10 Hot 100 hits, 13 No. 1 Dance singles, and genre-spanning success across R&B, Pop, Dance, and Jazz. A visionary in music and fashion,

Watley helped pave the way for Black women to break boundaries. Honored as a Crossover Music Icon by Black Music Honors, her influence continues—decades strong.

Explore Jody Watley’s Genre-Defying Discography

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Admin

Jody Watley has an eclectic genre defying discography spanning decades 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s. The Grammy winning artist shares insights on the significance of The Saturday Night Experience with Jody Watley album on the Official Jody Watley Youtube Channel.

The Saturday Night Experience with Jody Watley was originally released exclusively to Japan in partnership through her Avitone Recordings imprint and Universal Victor (a subsidiary of Universal Music Group).