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January 2013 - Music Connection
January 2013 - Music Connection
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Kim Stephens cont...<br />
HOW IMPORTANT IS THE ARTIST’S TEAM?<br />
Artists need a great team behind them if they<br />
hope to succeed. A strong, knowledgeable<br />
manager is most important. Although there are<br />
a lot of DIY acts, most can’t do it all on their<br />
own. They usually need some kind of support.<br />
HOW LONG IS YOUR COURTING PERIOD?<br />
It could take awhile; it’s not as quick as it used<br />
to be. You have to be sure that you can work<br />
with an act.<br />
But delays are not always the fault of A&R or<br />
labels. Sometimes it’s the act’s representatives<br />
(managers, lawyers, etc.) who cause the delay.<br />
When they get an offer, they’ll shop around for<br />
a better deal.<br />
It’s risky, though, to do that You could lose the<br />
original offer that way.<br />
ARE LIVE PERFORMANCE SKILLS<br />
IMPORTANT?<br />
They are if you’re a touring act, and pop and<br />
rock acts must tour. But some of the acts I’ve<br />
worked with didn’t have those skills at first.<br />
In fact, a couple of them were very weak in<br />
that area. It took them some time to develop a<br />
strong show. Once they did though, they were<br />
great.<br />
DO YOU THINK ROCK WILL BECOME<br />
POPULAR AGAIN?<br />
I’ve always been a rock guy, and I think it’s due<br />
for a resurgence. Right now, in the UK, it’s very<br />
popular. And I believe it will <strong>com</strong>e back strong,<br />
but with a different sound. It will probably be<br />
less edgy and not as hard, more along the lines<br />
of pop-rock.<br />
CONTACT INFO<br />
Artists can email me with links to their music<br />
at kimstephens710@gmail.<strong>com</strong>. Do not send<br />
attachments.<br />
x<br />
CENTURY MEDIA<br />
RECORDS<br />
Paul Gargano, A&R<br />
http://centurymedia.<strong>com</strong><br />
entury Media Records is an independent record<br />
label with offices in the US, Germany and<br />
Australia. The label specializes in many different<br />
styles of metal and hard rock music. Paul Gargano<br />
heads up A&R for Century Media Records and also<br />
handles day-to-day operations for Century Media’s<br />
progressive rock imprint InsideOut Music.<br />
IS CENTURY MEDIA ONLY INTERESTED IN<br />
METAL ACTS?<br />
Although we’re known for our metal acts, we<br />
are trying to diversify our roster. In fact, I was<br />
brought in to find more mainstream acts, like<br />
Buckcherry who we recently signed. Currently,<br />
we’re looking for some radio-friendly acts that<br />
could cross over. And at this label we have<br />
everything an act needs in-house, including<br />
management and booking.<br />
DO YOU DEVELOP ACTS?<br />
Every A&R rep has a different approach<br />
regarding development. Many, especially at<br />
the major labels, like acts that are already<br />
pretty <strong>com</strong>plete. I like to work with a balance,<br />
i.e. a few new acts that need development<br />
and a few that don’t. Sometimes I’ll even help<br />
“We’re looking<br />
for some radiofriendly<br />
acts<br />
that could<br />
cross over.”<br />
to develop them before signing them. It really<br />
depends on where they are and what they<br />
need.<br />
HOW IMPORTANT IS ORIGINALITY?<br />
Obviously, it’s great to have your own signature<br />
sound. But, it can’t be so different that it’s not<br />
marketable. Most acts have influences, but we<br />
don’t sign acts that sound too much like them.<br />
You have to have your own identity so you can<br />
stand out.<br />
IS LIVE PERFORMANCE A CRITICAL<br />
CONSIDERATION?<br />
It’s a big concern. In many genres it is<br />
essential. If you don’t have a great show and<br />
tour with it, you don’t sell records. So, we look<br />
for acts that know how to put on a <strong>com</strong>pelling<br />
show. If they’re not very good on stage it could<br />
hurt their chances for a deal.<br />
WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE COMING?<br />
I see brand associations be<strong>com</strong>ing very<br />
important. With a brand sponsor on board<br />
you can cross-promote and market to a wider<br />
segment of the population. Today, brands are<br />
be<strong>com</strong>ing great partners in the music scene.<br />
In fact, at Century Media we’re associated with<br />
Monster Energy drink, and looking to expand<br />
our brand partnerships.<br />
CONTACT INFO<br />
You can contact us through our website, which<br />
has submission information.<br />
x<br />
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC<br />
MUSIC<br />
Jeffrey B. Clyburn, VP<br />
http://natgeomusic.net<br />
eff B. Clyburn is the Vice President of<br />
Music for National Geographic Global<br />
Media. He overseas National Geographic<br />
Music, a full-service independent record<br />
“We like to<br />
see acts that<br />
use social<br />
networks in<br />
a smart and<br />
effective<br />
way.”<br />
label that features the best in modern<br />
global sounds, including Grammy Award<br />
winning Grupo Fantasma, Balkan Beat<br />
Box, Bedouin Soundclash, Palenke<br />
SoulTribe, and more. The label spotlights<br />
music and artists from around the world.<br />
WHEN DID NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC FORM<br />
A LABEL?<br />
The record label was founded in 2010 as part<br />
of the National Geographic brand. It’s a fullservice<br />
label with worldwide distribution. Our<br />
focus is on global music. We recently won our<br />
first Grammy Award with Grupo Fantasma, a<br />
Latin funk orchestra from Austin, TX. We believe<br />
we’re in a sweet spot right now because<br />
geographical and cultural boundaries are currently<br />
crumbling—especially in music. Just look<br />
at “Gangnam Style,” a Korean artist (PSY) who<br />
became a global star.<br />
42 January 2013 <strong>www</strong>.<strong>musicconnection</strong>.<strong>com</strong>
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