Micheal Sykes, globally known as M.I.A.M.I. Mike, has been making major moves since before he got in the music industry. The acronym M.I.A.M.I. stands for “Money Isn’t A Major Issue” which is fitting for the CEO of a multi-platinum independent recording label, Palm Tree Ent. Micheal learned at an early age that in order to make it in this world, you have to work hard for what you want.
The only son of six children, Micheal was born and reared in Panola County, MS. He was a skinny kid, always in church and one of the top students in the class. Micheal was brought up from a young age to know and understand the difference between right and wrong and was encouraged to always make the right choices. However, things change when situations change and the thin line between right and wrong becomes blurred.
By age 9, his parents divorced, and Micheal rebelled by getting into trouble both in and out of school and spending more time in the streets. Within three years, he began selling drugs and even saw death first hand when he witnessed the death of one of his friends. By the time he was fifteen years old, Micheal was a major drug dealer and supplier of other drug dealers. His life changed forever when he was caught with 1.2 million in cash, and a murder and assault charge that he didn’t even commit. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in the Mississippi Department of Corrections in January of 1996. He was left in a prison cell with no hope of getting out any time soon. After serving many years in prison, Micheal was given a second chance. It was this life-changing event that impacted all of his future endeavors. He began to focus his energies on giving back to the community and making a name for himself in the positive way.
In 2000, Micheal started an independent record label and signed his first artist, Yung Keyz from Phoenix, AZ a few years later. He also begin giving back to the community, visiting schools, churches, colleges, universities, and prisons providing words of encouragement through motivational speaking, and in the fall of 2002, Micheal founded the Palm Tree Foundation, and began helping low income families, widows and homeless men and women in the community. The Palm Tree Foundation also hosts free annual concerts and car shows in Batesville, MS, sponsors a Little League Baseball Team called “Team Palm Tree/S.O.D. in his childhood neighborhood of Patton Lane Park also in Batesville, MS.
Two years later, he added Palm Tree Booking, a premiere booking agency of which he has booked the likes of for major artists such as 50 Cent and G Unit, Young Jeezy, T.I., Soulja Boy, Gucci Mane, L.L. Cool J., New Edition, Bobby Brown, Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Lil-Wayne, Kanye West, Birdman, Drake, R. Kelly, Trey Songz, Yo-Gotti, Frankie Beverly & Maze, and many others. Not only has MIAMI Mike put his phenomenal talents and drive toward his work in the entertainment industry, in 2005 with De’Shea Townsend (Pittsburgh Steelers) he started the Palm Tree Foundation, which is sponsored by Budweiser and De’Shea Townsend.
In 2008, M.I.A.M.I. Mike was awarded the Key to the City in Greenville, MS and in 2010, the Annual SCM Awards named an award for him called “The M.I.A.M.I. Mike Up & Comin’ Award”. Three years later, he was awarded “Humanitarian of the Year” in 2013 for his contributions to the community. In 2018, M.I.A.M.I. Mike was presented with the “Hustler of the Decade” award at the Annual SCM Awards in Memphis, TN for producing multi-platinum recording artists on an independent record label.
As an influential executive, Micheal oversees a number of businesses and provides support for artist promotions and strategic ventures for a collection of Palm Tree Ent. brands. He was a key figure in securing a major record deal for Soulja Boy Tell’Em. Prior to his signing, M.I.A.M.I. Mike assisted Soulja Boy Tell’Em in becoming one of the only artist in the country to get $4,000-$8,000 a show without being signed to a major label. Palm Tree Booking booked Soulja Boy Tellem’s first one hundred shows and still books for mega-star to date.
In addition to his role as C.E.O. of Palm Tree Ent., he is the president of Soulja Boy’s S.O.D.M.G. (Stacks on Deck Money Gang), a nationwide concert promoter (Palm Tree Promotions), an executive producer, booking agent (Palm Tree Booking), entertainer manager (Palm Tree Management), professional barber, motivational speaker, author, hype-man and DJ. M.I.A.M.I.
Watch Soulja Boy MTV Episode "When I was 17"
Mike is also business partners with Chris Lighty, CEO of Violator Management, De’Shea Townsend of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with whom he throws the annual Car and Bike Show in Batesville, MS., and Jay Shields, CEO of S.C.M. Awards and Jay Shields Promotions, with whom he owns Palm Tree Radio (PTE Radio).
Micheal has been instrumental in the success of many up and coming artists, entertainers, and comedians. His management company, Palm Tree Management, manages artists, models, comedians and entertainers and has been pivotal in managing a host of other Industry executives, models, producers, R&B singers, comedians, dancers, artist, and DJs.
Micheal’s father, the late James Lee Sykes, as well as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the famous Boxing Promotor, AL Haymond, Sean Combs, Sean Carter, Percy Miller, Curtis Jackson, Chris Lighty, and the novels of authors Stephen King and John Grisham serve as his inspiration. M.I.A.M.I. Mike is in the process of writing a book about his life story and struggles before the success. Through hard work, determination and an enthusiasm for life, Micheal has inspired many people in the music industry and many who come from the hoods that also had gone through the struggle.
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Accolades
Nominations
- 2016 – SCM Awards “Internet Hustler of the Year” (won)
- 2016 – S.E.A. “Power Player / Industry Executive of the Year” (won)
- 2017 – SCM Awards “Power Player of the Year” (won)
Industry Panels
- 2008 – The Southern Entertainment Awards Industry Panel (Judge)
- 2009 – BET’s “Free-Style Friday” (Judge)
- 2010 – K-97 FM’s “Next Big Thing” (Judge)
Magazines
- 2007 – Street Masters Magazine
- 2008 – Street Masters Magazine
- 2009 – Street Masters Magazine
- 2009 – Rolling Out
- 2009 – O-Zone Magazine
- 2009 – The Kut Magazine
Television
- 2008 – BET’s Access Granted (Yahhh!!!)
- 2008 – The BET Awards in L.A.
- 2008 – BET’s 106 & Park (DJ for Soulja Boy and as a judge for Free-Style Friday)
- 2008 – The BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, GA.
- 2009 – MTV’s Swagg 18 (Soulja Boy’s Swagg 18th Birthday)
- 2009 – MTV’s “Celebrity Teen Cribs” – Soulja Boy Edition
- 2009 – L.A. Ink
- 2009 – MTV STYL’D
- 2009 – MTV’s “It’s On with Alexa Chung” (DJ for Soulja Boy)
- 2009 – BET’s “The Deal”
- 2009 – BET Awards Red Carpet”
- 2009 – The BET Awards in L.A.
- 2009 – The BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta, GA.
Music Videos
- 2007 – Soulja Boy Tell’em “Crank Dat”
- 2008 – Soulja Boy Tell’em ft. Sammie “Kiss Me Thru The Phone”
- 2008 – DJ Unk “Show-Out”
- 2008 – Soulja Boy Tell’em “BirdWalk”
- 2008 – Soulja Boy Tellem ft. Shawty Lo & Gucci Mane “Gucci Bandana”
- 2009 – Gucci Mane ft. Juelz Santana & Big Boi “She Got a Friend”
- 2010 – Gucci Mane ft. Waka Flocka Flame & Soulja Boy Tell’em “Bingo”
- 2010 – Jbar ft. Soulja Boy Tellem “Daze”
- 2010 – Snoop Dogg “Malice N Wonderland”
- 2010 – MTV’s “When I was 17” (Soulja Boy
