TruSource Technology DL2 Integrated Digital Mixer

!".#$%&&'(#)(*+,
Label: Sony Music
Contact: Heathcliff Berru
Web: http://facebook.com/mrlittlejeans
A&R: Drew McFadden / Will Larnach-Jones
hen it comes to signing her label deal,
WNorwegian electro-pop artist Mr. Little
Jeans, aka Monica Birkenes, credits the
Myspace craze from a few years ago. According
to the songstress, Sony Australia contacted
her via the site after checking out her profile.
Birkenes and her manager, Drew McFadden
(who she also met through Myspace), didn’t
take the interest seriously until Sony A&R
rep Will Larnach-Jones flew out to her thenresidence,
Stockholm, Sweden for her first
gig as Mr. Little Jeans. Birkenes adds, “A few
dinners, Skype and phone calls later and I was
on my way to being signed.” What MC likes
most about this Signing Story is the songstress’
emphasis on signing a deal only when ready.
Before the signing, she says, “I was concentrating
more on developing myself as a writer,
finding a sound that I wanted and hopefully
getting great songs together along the way.
The plan was always to have most things in
place before signing with anyone.”
-%.#/0102030#
Label: Island Def Jam
Contact: alexandra.
bianchi@umusic.com
Web: http://bigkrit.
com
A&R: Sha Money XL
round 2009,
Amanager
Jonny Shipes,
formerly with
Bad Boy, offered
rapper Big K.R.I.T.
(Justin Scott) a unique
deal—partner with him
for six months, free of
attachment, and see
what happened. “That was the first time somebody
offered to work for me for free,” marvels
the 25-year-old. Under Shipes’ tutelage, K.R.I.T.,
(King Remembered In Time), shot three videos,
including one for “King.” Soon, the joint was
dropping all over the ‘net, and drew the interest
of Sha Money XL, who’d helped make 50 Cent a
household name. Sha Money was impressed by
the reams of performance footage and the many
free, self-produced albums Scott had released
through his website, particularly K.R.I.T. Wuz
Here––proof that the artist could gain attention
without outside help. Sha Money then convinced
Scott to sign with Def Jam. Scott advises artists
to remain independent for as long as possible
and expose their early work, warts and all.
“People want to know who they’re buying into,”
he advises. “Normally, there’s no trail. But what
about when you weren’t super jamming or you
didn’t have the money to go into a studio?”
34(+&5#6+(#7%'8&,
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Contact: christina.kotsamanidis@atlanticrecords.com
Web: http://twentyonepilots.com
A&R: John Janick, Pete Ganbarg
ere’s a solid career strategy that paid off:
HPrior to label interest, the Columbus, OHbased
piano pop/rock duo Twenty One Pilots
built a fan base playing dynamic shows that
drummer Josh Dun says are inspired by “vulnerability
and energy.” As their local buzz rose, the
duo kept their sites close to home. “A lot of bands
think they need to travel as much as possible.
Our approach was to travel our home state,
Ohio, and maybe a little outside of that.” They
were also careful to be strategic about what and
when they posted on Facebook. “We didn’t really
promote the smaller shows. We would show up
at a venue and the goal was to make friends out
of those people rather than bring existing fans.
Then when we had one big show, we put as
much effort as possible into promoting it and had
people coming from all locations.” It was at the
Pilots’ biggest show, at a sold-out 1,700-capacity
Newport Music Hall, at Columbus’ LC Pavilion,
that they announced their signing with Fueled By
Ramen.
9:(""%#-8;<
Label: Hollywood Records
Contact: sharrin.summers@disney.com
Web: http://cherribombband.com
A&R: Matt Harris
family friend can sometimes be the key to
A a label deal, and that is the case with this
all-teen, all-girl rock squad. Cherri Bomb had a
great connection in former Hole and Motley Crue
drummer Samantha Maloney, as sisters Rena
and Nia Lovelis’ mother had been in a band
with Maloney years before. “Sam was in a band
called Chelsea Girls, had heard us and asked if
we wanted to open for her,” explains 14-year-old
lead vocalist Julia Pierce. “She saw our potential
and wanted to take us under her wing.” Maloney
was instrumental in getting the girls on a number
of prestigious European festivals, playing with
acts like Foo Fighters and Smashing Pumpkins,
proving they could hold their own in front of major
audiences. Explains Pierce, “Hollywood Records
wanted us to be on their team, and they treat us
like family.”
!*=:%+(#>?+#
/(''5
Label: EST/Bad Boy/Interscope
Contact: randy.henderson@
umusic.com
Web: http://mgklaceup.com
A&R: NA
hough this Cleveland
Tnative had boldly stood
up P. Diddy when the
mogul had initially pursued
him, the two did meet
up later in N.Y.C., where
Diddy took Kelly (Richard
Baker) to a hotel to
meet Jimmy Iovine. Both
industry titans professed
their belief in Kelly, the
first-ever white rapper to
win at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater. “They
didn’t want to [mess up my project] and paint it
over with corporate bullshit,” he remembers, “plus
the fact that he took me to Jimmy Iovine so early
was crazy.” MGK snagged a $1.5 million advance
on a two-album deal that includes an imprint for
his crew.
@