KOAR: Tell us about how you got started in the music industry- your first job, position etc…
The Rev: Funny story actually, I got into some trouble with the cops in college and as a result couldn’t move home for the summer. I ended up getting a job moving furniture where I met a guy who DJ’d at Michigan State University’s radio station. One night they asked him to fill in on the Heavy Metal show and he didn’t know squat about the music and knowing I was a huge fan, he asked if I wanted to come up and pick out the music. I of course I said yes and he let me do a segue over the air. The program director heard me, called in and asked me if I wanted to host the show permanently!! Long story short, a half-year later, I was the program director of a 3500 Watt FM college station. Through WDBM I made tons of contacts in the music business and during my last semester I lead the station to #2 in the ratings 18-34 females and got an offer to move to New Jersey to be an independent radio promoter at the now defunct AIM Marketing. Pretty crazy turn of events!
KOAR: The Syndicate you formed- tell us about the background on the company, departments, services, clients, roster of bands.
The Rev: The story continues, 3 months into my job as director of the Loud Rock Radio department at Aim, my immediate supervisor, Anya Feldman, left for a job at TVT. I didn’t feel like I was qualified to run the department at the time, so I suggested they bring in Marc Meltzer. Marc interviewed and got the job. Within a year we had the department doing more business that it had in years. At the height of our success, the owner of the company decided to disband the company, which left 15 employees out of a job. Marc and I decided to team up with Tracey Zucatti and Jon Landman who were running the College Radio department and Bernie Mueller who ran the Retail Promotions department and do exactly what we were doing at AIM but as the owners of our own company. On December 17, 1997 the AIM offices closed and on January 5, 1998 The Music Syndicate was born. Click to read more CONTINUE READING
I Hate Kate – So. Cal – The lead singer Justin Mauriello is the former front man for rock band Zebrahead that released 3 albums on Columbia/Sony which sold a several hundred thousand units combined worldwide, went gold in Japan. Booked by the MOB Agency [No Doubt]. Recently picking up spins at radio stations like X96 in Salt Lake City where they have been #1 continuously beating out similar major label bands via requests. “Bed of Black Rosesâ€? has recently been serviced to 270+ stations and is on the FMQB sampler. For more information contact Lawyer Ben Mclane at BCMcLane@aol.com. Check out the track Bed of Black Roses which is stronger than Arctic Monkeys lead off single. Speaking of Arctic Monkeys………….I have heard the chatter on Arctic Monkeys. Hyped bands don’t often live up to the chatter (i.e. Block Party). After watching the video on Fuse at 2:00am in the morning, I can honestly say I don’t get the band. How these faceless bands gain this type of momentum is a mystery. It goes to show you how powerful the media has become. Helmet has signed to Warcon Enterprises
The Wall Street Journal :
One after another, British acts awash in homeland success like Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and the Darkness have hit American shores riding a global wave of hype, thanks largely to the Internet. British rock band Arctic Monkeys has so far failed to generate blockbuster sales in the U.S. British acts are hyped so routinely, critics take the hyperbole as a given — and then try to take the superlatives even further. Publications from Australia’s tiny Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper to America’s giant People (“Britain’s Next Great Things live up to the hype,” the magazine declared) have noted the overstatement but declare this newest arrival different
Thousand Oaks, CA
berko@worldaudience.com
Nick Ferrara ncf@srfllp.com
Under the influence of Giants such as The Beatles, The Bee Gees, The Who and Led Zeppelin, the southern California rock band called Under The Influence of Giants seem to have found the right combination for writing modern classics. The bands latest EP, called ‘Mama’s Room’ was produced by former Blind Melon members, Chris Thorn and Brad Smith. Under The Influence Of Giants have been making a name for themselves throughout southern California, drawing over 500 at their shows and getting airplay on Indie 103 with their single ‘Mamas Room.’ The strength of their songs alongside the strength of their determination have been capturing the eyes and ears of many majors. The band will be performing June 9th at the Viper Room in LA and July 8th at The Roxy.
For more information, contact berko@worldaudience.com or legal Nick Ferrara ncf@srfllp.com
Congratulations on Breaking Benjamin. Certified gold and still going strong.
Jason: Thank you. It’s always exciting to watch a band have success after they have worked incredibly hard for years. We’re close to platinum now which, in this day and age, is incredible for any act, especially a rock band.
Guns, sex, incarceration, violence, addiction and getting ready for prom… These are all very dramatic situations that plague our every day lives while living in the wealthy neighborhoods of California. Will Brenda break up with Dylan? Is Pacey going to die? These are the questions that ensure our summers won’t end soon enough, however for those that don’t really care (and don’t even know that Pacey isn’t a character), The OC still manages to leave us with probably the most puzzling question of all- why are Abercrombie clones rocking out to a Matt Pond PA cover of a Neutral Milk Hotel song? Who is responsible for this apparent injustice and how can they be stopped?
Her name is Alexandra Patsavas, music supervisor for The OC.
My initial intention was to grill her. To do some serious investigative reporting and uncover the dark exploitative truth about indie rock being on The OC. However, and I am somewhat sad to report, it’s all legit. Indie snobs, do not read on because as I was doing this interview not only did I learn that Ms. Patsavas is 100% on the real, but the cast and staff are as well. *sigh* It’s a dark day for elitism.
reprinted with permission by AJ at Altsounds.com
Can you give me a brief work history, pre-OC?
I used to be a college promoter and bring bands to campus. Then I was in Los Angeles working in the Film/TV department of BMI which is where I got started in the music supervision. In 1995 is when I officially started working with Roger Corman on Roswell and Boston Public.
How did you end up working on the OC?
I was working with the executive producer when he was working on Fastlane and he introduced me to Josh who created The OC.
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