Month: August 2015

Categories
Job Board News

Laughs And Music: A Conversation On Balancing Personas With Jeff Michaels

We spend a lot of time on this blog talking about how to manage your career in music, but it’s important for us to note that there are many who have lives outside of music they must promote and balance as well. Jeff Michaels is an incredible solo artist with a world of potential, as well as a comical YouTube talent who makes parody videos under the alias Johnny Fiscal. He’s also an author. Jeff has built his career in every field one step at a time, and recently we had the chance to speak with him about how he balances everything, as well as his advice for others trying to balance multiple passions amidst an already busy life.

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me! Can you tell me a little about yourself, and your current projects and releases?

Sure! By means of introduction I’m a solo artist and writer from Boston, MA. I’ve rereleased several independent albums and have performed for the past ten years on both the west and east coasts, primarily as a piano player with my indie band. Right now I’m still heavily involved in the promotion of my latest record, “Townie Paradise,” which was released this past June. We’re working on several new videos and I plan on continuing to perform in support of this record well into 2016.

You’re a man that wears a lot of different hats, from solo artist to author. Some might even know you by the YouTube channel, Johnny Fiscal, which creates satirical political videos. How do you juggle all these projects?

Yes, I do quite a variety of things… but I don’t think the juggling is all that difficult. In fact, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t have five or six projects going simultaneously! I’m entrepreneur at heart, and I look at each project, whether its an album or a book or a website (I design websites as well) as a business opportunity with a start, middle, and end. When one project is completed, I simply move on to the next one.

You mention you’re an entrepreneur at heart. Do you think that’s something that’s inherent in people, and how (if at all) do you think we can hone in on those skills?

Actually, no I don’t thing being an entrepreneur comes naturally to most people. Yet, it’s incredibly important for artists who aspire to grow their brand and career to learn as many additional skills as possible, and be willing to try different things in order to keep moving forward. I think for anyone who struggles with this, a good idea is to develop a list of talents that you feel are your strengths, then spend a little time each day working in the area that scares you, but you know could possibly lead to something big. In fact, these are generally clues as to what the next step in your career may be. For instance, if you are incredibly good at performing, yet are not seeing your fan base expand much beyond your local area, maybe it’s time to focus on another aspect of yourself where you could connect with people in other cities, or across the globe. It could be as simple as starting a small online business and selling something that you yourself use. You can create videos using your natural ability to perform in front of an audience. Then, when you start to make new connections in new locations, you can drive people to your website where they could discover your music.

Although at first glance your solo career, Johnny Fiscal Youtube channel, and work as an author may seem very separate, I’d argue that they have also become fairly intertwined. Do you view each persona as a separate business, or do you ever find them overlapping?

This is a great question. You know, at first I really thought they were separate, and I think a lot of artists struggle with this identity issue. I viewed myself as a piano player and singer, and published several books and was writing for blogs as a means to sort of fund my music career. Yet, as the years have passed, I’ve realized the form of expression from one medium to the next is not really all that different—from writing a song to writing a book or a blog to creating a video, you are still trying to impart some knowledge or feeling you have about the way the world is or isn’t working to others, to hopefully enlighten them and provide a viewpoint they might not necessarily have considered. For instance, I might go on and on about why it’s cruel inhumane to judge others based on sexual preference in a blog post, while at the same time I can write one line in a song like “we all live under the same f’ing sun” and it’s all the same thing. I just feel my job is to try as many different avenues as possible to get my message across… luckily I’ve developed skills in many mediums to be able to do this, and I hope to continue to do this on a much larger scale.

You also bring up an interesting point,  that your job (and arguably, any artist’s job) is to try as many avenues as possible to get your message across. How did you figure out which avenues were right for you and how have you seen success from that?

So, back in the day, there was no recorded music. Messages and teachings were repeated over and over so that people absorbed the material. Today, it’s the opposite. Nearly everything we do is documented on Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, and probably soon a 24/7 live feed of our lives streamed right to the Internet. I feel that the challenge now is not so much which avenue to choose, but to remain consistent with your branding and your message across everything you do, so that people can understand what it is you’re trying to say. For instance, look at a band like U2. They might rock a stadium, they might partake in an online Twitter chat, or they might be the first band to broadcast a show from the moon. But no matter what they do or where they are, they will all be wearing black coats, and Edge will be wearing his beanie cap. Their brand and their message screams through every single thing that they do, and consistent message is how you get successful across any medium.

As far as the avenues I’ve tried, I have a natural tendency to write, so I’ve found books and blogs to be a wonderful area to reveal a little more about myself to the world. I also think Twitter is a great avenue right now for an artist of any genre. I don’t particularly care what people eat for lunch everyday, so I try to stay off Facebook and Instagram, but if that’s your thing, go for it!

As a fan of music, as well as someone on the industry side, I completely agree that a lot of artists struggle with identity. Do you have any advice for artists looking to shape their identity, and really figure out who they are and what their message is?

This is definitely something artists of every level struggle with, from a young singer/songwriter just starting out in a coffee shop, to a mega-selling artist like Billy Joel, who stopped writing rock music in 1993 and switched over to composing classical music because he didn’t feel he was that same artist anymore. Or Katy Perry, who started off as a Christian artist before she wrote about girls making out. I don’t think anyone can really know their true self until you have lived your life for many, many years. It’s very rare that someone comes out of the gate with a message of hope or tolerance or a political agenda and is ready to speak to millions. Even Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen took years before they were able to intertwine political views into their songs. Long before Springsteen became best buddies with Jon Stewart and the proponent for the blue collar American worker, he was writing about young love and hooking up with girls under the boardwalk. It simply comes down to always being true to yourself, and reflecting as much of yourself in your songwriting as you can–without forgetting that a song without a proper chorus is simply a poem!

You just released a new album, “Townie Paradise” in late June, and shortly after released your latest Johnny Fiscal video, “If Donald Trump Were President.” Was the timing of the Donald Trump video planned in conjunction with the album release? Is that kind of strategy something you think about when juggling both projects?

No, it wasn’t. How can you plan what The Donald is going to say next? Ha ha! I don’t ever really plan songs or videos, as they need to come from experience, and the heart. My latest song “If Donald Trump Were President” simply popped into my head after his comments about Mexicans made the news, and the fact that I released it shortly after my album was just coincidence.

I have a great deal of respect for artists who continue to put out album after album well past the point that their career has peaked, as this represents a true dedication to the craft of songwriting. I have been fairly consistent with putting a new album out every 2-3 years, and continue to write daily in order to have the material to do this. Yet, each song on each record has to come from somewhere, and that’s where the magic and fun happen. The Johnny Fiscal tunes became a sort of side project that reflected current happenings in the media, starting with the Fiscal Cliff crisis. How I ever got on CNN Radio for a spoof song that took me five minutes to write and two hours to shoot a video for, while getting a single spin for an album that we spend three years and thousands of dollars recording has proved beyond challenging is beyond me, but that’s the way the world works sometimes!

I think what you said about a spoof song that takes no time/money getting on CNN Radio, but an album you poured years and thousands of dollars on is a challenge to promote, is something a lot of artists can resonate with. It seems the things we spend the most creative energy on become the hardest to get recognized. Do you think part of this has to do with creating content people can instantly relate to, (such as a song that directly ties into politics, where one people tend to hold a strong opinion) whereas with a typical song or album it requires an investment of time to get to know?

This is a question that if we were able to answer, you and I both would be zillionaires! I was just reading an article about a top LA TV producer, and she was saying how there is literally no formula for instant success. People right now have more opportunity than ever before to change over to another channel, flip the screen to a new webpage, or scroll immediately past whatever you are trying to promote on their phone. Whether it’s music, movies, art, or books, attention spans are so short, it’s really challenging to form a bond with your audience and expect that they absorb everything you do. Here again, I think consistency is key. I will forever support the artists I admire, because they have been consistent for decades in putting out the quality of music I have come to expect and enjoy from them. Yet, I’ve noticed that some of the one-off things they’ve done have seen immediate success, and brought them a whole new legion of fans. Ben Folds singing with the Muppets comes to mind, or Bruce Springsteen inviting young kids up on stage to sing “Waiting On a Sunny Day.” It’s pretty much the worst song he’s ever written, but it’s so adorable to hear a six-year old on the microphone singing this in the middle of a concert… pure genius.

If there is a formula, I think it’s Consistency + Willingness to think outside the box = Greatest shot at success.

In my case, I hope people appreciate the time I spend writing and recording, because while the world has jumped on the instant mp3 release and EP train, I’ve remained true to the album. I feel that you need tell a full story with an album, and each album you put out can take writing 20-30 songs in order to find 10 that work together. Given that music sales are down, and people want that instant gratification, not a lot of bands are putting in this time anymore. Especially the younger ones. I was actually disappointed to discover a major artists like Rachel Platten who is blowing up right now has only a single EP available. I would have bought a double album had she had the material, as I immediately fell in love with her sound. In my case, I’ve worked extremely hard to create a catalog of material that should someone discover a humorous song or hear something I do on NPR, they’ll be rewarded when they come to my website and join my mailing list and find several albums worth of material making their way to their inbox.

To sum it up, people want something they can instantly relate to, but if you can also give them a real, tangible brand full of quality music or whatever it is you do, I think you have a real shot at gaining a lifelong fan base… just don’t expect any of this to happen overnight!

Do you think artists can benefit from using multiple avenues outside of typical merch/CD sales to build their brand and online presence? (For example, creating a separate online persona to build buzz, authoring a book, etc)

Absolutely! In fact, I feel very strongly this is a MUST for artists right now. Especially younger artists who have no choice but to give away their music in order to reach new fans. If you are an established band with a dedicated fan base, you could conceivably sell just your CDs and merch and make enough money to survive. Yet, for the vast majority of indie acts, selling even a few dozen CDs is a massive effort. People just aren’t buying music. Yet, they are supporting artists and individuals in unique ways, and if you put in the effort, you will find those people who will become not just your fans, but your customers. Anyone who wants a sustainable music career should consider whatever else they can do, or whatever else they happen to have a natural talent for, and then see how they can introduce that to their network. Maybe it’s baking cupcakes, or maybe it’s working in fitness and nutrition (or nutritious cupcakes!) Whatever it is, you need to spend time developing a business model around that idea so that you can sustain yourself for years to come. If you happen to have a huge hit, or a breakthrough in your music, you’ll be able to gain even more customers for your business through your spike in popularity. But planning on only trying to make money in music, right now at this point in history, is nearly impossible.

I’d also like to add, while this might be perceived as “selling out” or admitting you don’t have what it takes, I don’t think this is really anything new. Successful A-level artists like Brittney Spears, Jay Z, or Justin Timberlake have always gone into other aspects of marketing themselves—it’s just shifting now as the independents are also dipping into this world. If you want a great example of a woman who has succeeded in many careers, look at Gwyneth Paltrow–actress, singer, author, health advocate, web entrepreneur, CEO, are just a few of her many talents that encompass millions of dollars worth of global brands, all based on marketing herself. If I can achieve even a fraction of that, I’d be pretty stoked! But am I still searching for that one worldwide hit song? You bet.

Angela Mastrogiacomo is the owner of Muddy Paw Public Relations. Muddy Paw specializes in working with up and coming artists on personalized campaigns designed to bring their careers to the next level. To date, we’ve secured placements on sites such as AbsolutePunk, Property Of Zack, PureVolume, and many more. You can find us at www.MuddyPawPR.com

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News

Monday Motivation: The Dear Hunter

If you’re anything like me, you probably started the day by recognizing that the start of a new work week had indeed arrived and then immediately began shaking your fists at the sky in anger. Monday is rarely anyone’s favorite day, and from what I have seen firsthand it feels safe to say it’s the one day of the week some people outright hate. I guess to them the arrival of the work week symbolizes the end of their quote/unquote freedom, and as a result they head into the office/factory/restaurant/store with a negative outlook already on their mind. This leads to bad attitudes, which only makes the experience of being at work worse, and for some reason it also seems to make time slow to a crawl. We’re not about that life, and we hope this post can do the same you that the song contained within it did for us.

Sometimes in life you encounter an artist who continues to impress with each and every creative endeavor they pursue. They become so impressive, in fact, that you are willing to follow any and every future idea they have sight unseen. Call it being a fanatic or simply a diehard believer, but whatever label you place on it that relationship is special. It’s something is reserved for only the deepest of connection with someone or some group we as people can never really know. It’s intimate.

In my life I have known four artists I can say I have felt this way about, and there is none that I feeling more strongly for than The Dear Hunter. Their albums share both an ongoing story, as well as a series of unique listening experiences that challenge that concept of modern alternative music in every way. It’s as if founder Casey Crescenzo set out to make the most complex, yet undeniably infectious cinematic rock band the world has ever known, then challenged himself to raise the bar for quality and diversity in every facet with each release while simultaneously telling several stories stretched across numerous recordings over what is quickly becoming a decade. To say there is a high concept idea or twelve at play would be an understatement, but there is something very inviting about every release. An experimental, genre-defying band for everyone, if you will.

I have tried over several years and reviews to convey my appreciate for The Dear Hunter’s music, so I’m going to try and not repeat those efforts here. I’m a fan, and I think that is established at this point. The reason I’m a fan is because the sheer fact a band like this exists and receives the support of not only a respected label like Equal Vision, but countless thousands of fans around the world, inspires me to chase every big idea I have in my own life. Casey Crescenzo had an idea for what his future could be, and he set to making it a reality in spite of what may have seemed safe or popular at the time. He carved his own path from day one, and with each subsequent release or tour he continues to do things in a way only he can conceive. Each record may not play out the way you expected, but you know it’s exactly what he wanted and you have to respect it. There is no blueprint for such a band, and yet they have found a way into the hearts of people who love any one of a variety of genres, including rock and singer-songwriter shoe gaze. The Dear Hunter is whatever Crescendo wants it to be, and he’s cultivated a following that embraces that ambiguity with open arms.

There is nothing I wouldn’t do to feel confident enough in my own creative endeavors to do exactly what I wanted at all times. To fully express my vision, regardless of what twists and turns arise through doing so, and not allow the pressure of pleasing the outside world influence my work. There may be things Crescenzo feels he is still unable to do, but when I hear the challenging and thought-provoking work he creates I get the feeling he’s content in what is being delivered to the listener. He knows he has done his best and he’s prepared to his work with the world feeling secure in the quality of his effort. He’s not concerned with criticism because he’s already challenging himself to outdo whatever came before because it’s the only way he can ever hope to accomplish such a task. He must always be thinking ahead. Focusing on what is to come, and doing he best to stay true to himself.

I’m definitely projecting what I aspire to be onto Crescenzo and his music, but it works to inspire me to reach such heights. The Dear Hunter’s latest album, Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise, is no exception. Over the course of well over an hour the band delivers a lush and entirely entrancing near masterpiece that intricately weaves elements of previous albums into an entirely new collection of material. The first time I heard it I felt the need to sit in a room without distraction and let the album wash over me. I let it carry me to whatever sonic landscape Crescenzo wanted to explore, and I was happy I did. This album is The Dear Hunter’s best yet, and it leads me to believe there is even better work to come in the band’s future.

This week, give Act IV a chance. It’s a big undertaking in comparison to the short and sleek sugary pop albums dominating charts today, but it’s definitely worth your time. If you don’t walk away feeling inspired you can at least find peace in the fact you heard what is amongst the best examples of true art being created in music today.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

Categories
Job Board News

Music Industry Job Board (8/30/15)

A lot has been written about the supposed dire state of the music industry, but truth be told there are a number of successful and growing companies, including record labels, that are thriving in 2015. In this column we bring together every job opening we can find from the companies responsible for building the future of the business and present them to you, our reader, in hopes of aiding you on your journey to join the global music industry professional family.

Each week we scour the internet for the latest and greatest job postings throughout the music industry. You can help us better serve our community by sending any job openings you find or have to james@haulix.com. Be sure to include the name of the company hiring, a detailed description of the position being offered, a desired start date, contact information, and any additional supplemental information you feel may be needed.

New Openings

Account Manager, Performance (Pandora – Oakland, CA)

Job summary: This individual will work with a designated Sales Rep to ensure seamless campaign execution while providing high level of client service support for Advertisers and Agencies. The right individual will be responsible for planning, implementing, maintaining, and enhancing/optimizing online and mobile advertising campaigns of various cost structures including CPM, CPC and CPA. This position involves working strategically with sales and advertisers/agencies to have a thorough understanding of campaign objectives and success metrics. The successful candidate will be an independent self-starter who has a high level of attention to detail, strong communication skills, a knack for reporting and interest in Excel, and the capability to interpret data in order to provide suggestions to improve campaign performance.

Promoter (Storm Group Entertainment – Houston, TX)

Job summary: Do you want to make money while earning FREE music festival tickets and merchandise? Have you always wanted to get paid to party?! Storm Group Entertainment is an expanding event promotion company that is actively seeking dedicated promoters for future events in your area. Promoters can earn commission and get paid cash for getting the word out about these upcoming events and products. In addition, they can earn free tickets to the Music Festivals, nightclubs, raves, and will also receive free merchandise!

Music Marketing Coordinator (Touchtunes – TBA)

Job summary: The Coordinator, Music Marketing will play an integral role in key marketing initiatives for the company. Must have marketing experience, be knowledgeable of the music industry, able to juggle multiple projects, thrive in a deadline-driven environment and be a true team player

Global Experiential Director (Spotify – NYC)

Job summary: We are looking for a Global Experiential Marketing Director that will drive creative development and execution, of physical and digital experiences across brand, partner, and internal activations. Above all, your work will impact the way the world experiences music.

Music Department Coordinator (Univ. Of Alaska – Fairbanks, AK)

This position provides administrative support to the Music Department faculty and students by managing and coordinating daily office activities. It also provides accounting, purchasing and expenditure tracking support for all fiscal operations for the Department of Music.

INTERNSHIP Artist Management (New Age Media Management – NYC)

Job summary: NYC based New Age Media Management is currently seeking interns for the Fall 2015 semester. Candidates must be enrolled in college and able to receive college credit. Responsibilities include assisting in day to day tasks in areas including but not limited to management, marketing, public relations, social media and more. The right candidate will be self-motivated, detail oriented, hard working and most importantly have passion for music. All interested applicants should email acowsert@newagemm.com with ‘Fall 2015 Internship’ in the subject line.

Digital Marketing Manager (Velvet Hammer – Los Angeles)

Job summary: Velvet Hammer Music And Management Group, a boutique artist management, record label and publishing company based in West Hollywood, CA, is looking to hire a full-time Digital Marketing Manager, who will report directly to the Senior Vice President and CEO. Anyone interested in learning more about this position should contact info@velvethammer.net.

INTERNSHIP Events And Marketing (trillfit – Boston)

Job summary: trillfit is looking for interns for the Marketing and Events division. Events including, but not limited to the trillfit pop-up fitness series and other new brand partnerships and event series. trillfit’s events are aimed at young (20-34), active, urban audience who likes to workout. The fitness pop-ups are designed to attract key influencers and celebrities within the hip hop and wellness spaces.

Advertising Manager (Beats By Dre – CA)

Job summary: To direct, create and distribute world-class advertising and content that inspires a generation of passionate Beats followers. Build great work that gives Beats a powerful voice and drives business.

Programming Specialist – Digital Music (Red Bull – Santa Monica, CA)

Job summary: The Programming Specialist, Digital Music will program owned and third-party playlists to get Red Bull Sound Select artists heard millions of times over, across leading and emerging music platforms. The Programming Specialist, Digital Music is responsible for choosing the best tracks and creating the best playlists for all of Red Bull Sound Select’s third party streaming partnerships, including: Soundcloud; Spotify; 8Tracks and more. He/She will have a through understanding of how and where consumers listen to digital music today. This person will ensure that the right Sound Select songs are delivered to the right consumers on the right platforms at the right time. Just like a DJ carefully curates his song catalog based on venue and audience, this role will expertly curate the Sound Select song catalog for each music platform to delight listeners every day.

Senior Product Manager (PledgeMusic – NYC)

Job summary: Want to help change the way music is sold and made working with some of the world’s top artists? Do you want to be the owner for groundbreaking products with a customer base that spans the globe? If you answered yes, you may be right for this opportunity

Junior Music Publicist (Cornerstone – NYC)

Job summary: Cornerstone Agency has an immediate opening for a Junior Music Publicist with 2-3 years minimum Public Relations experience in the music and entertainment industry. Candidates must be highly motivated with existing entertainment/music experience. We’re looking for a strategic, creative thinker who is pro-active, eager to learn and a self-starter with established media contacts.

Marketing Assistant (IMG World – NYC)

Job summary: The department is looking for a qualified candidate to work as an assistant to the EVP of Marketing and Brand Solutions in our New York office. Ideal candidate must have a strong interest in marketing and making a career in the entertainment industry.

INTERNSHIP – Music Marketing (Career Artist Management – Beverly Hills, CA)

Job summary: Career Artist Management, a full service music management company, is seeking interns for the Fall. Department focus can be in Artist Management, Tour Marketing, or Digital Media. Interns need to be able to commit to at least two full days and must be able to receive school credit. Desired skills include being an AMAZING listener and learner, having a solid foundation of common sense, and being able to get tasks done quickly. Must be proficient with Microsoft Excel and Word for budgets and Itineraries. Career Artist Management is a subsidiary of Live Nation and part of their Artist Nation group. We have an average of 20 artists ranging from Super Stars to development acts. Come intern to learn how a major music management company runs.

Live Music Marketing Assistant (Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC)

Job summary: Enthusiastic, creative, self-motivated with passion for live music. Approx 15 hrs/wk. Assist w/ all marketing on & off line. Must have laptop, be internet savvy & have vast knowledge of social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram…) Familiarity w/ Excel, Google, Spotify, Apple products. Graphic design a plus.

Junior Publicist (LUCK Media & Marketing – Los Angeles)

Job summary: LUCK Media & Marketing is a full-service boutique entertainment publicity and marketing firm seeking a full-time Jr. Publicist in the L.A. area with experience in music who is looking for an opportunity to learn and grow within the company, and work with exciting clients.

Blogger and Content Marketer (Nabi Music Center – Boston)

Job summary: Nabi Music Center is the only marketplace thriving to give families and children a chance to grow and explore new things musically. We are seeking someone to blog regularly and create unique resources to help drive leads, subscribers, awareness, and/or other important metrics (examples include ebooks, whitepapers, infographics, guides, templates, etc.).

Marketing Director (The Fader – NYC)

Job summary: The Fader is looking for a dynamic and strategic Director of Marketing. This is a BIG opportunity for someone to make his or her mark in a successful and fast growing environment. Day-to-day responsibilities include building strong and lasting agency/client relationships, ensuring the performance of the marketing team and their ability to execute branded events and content programs and collaborating and influencing across departments to get buy in with out director authority.

96.5 AMP Account Executive (CBS Radio – Bala CynWynd, PA)

Job summary: An appetite for engaging business owners, C-Level executives, marketing directors and advertising agency contacts is a prerequisite. Prospecting, cold-calling, effective client needs analysis, idea integration and proposal creation are all core competencies of an AMP account executive. Primary candidate characteristics include affability, strong work ethic, persistence and a competitive and positive attitude.

Contents Partnerships, Account Manager, North America (Spotify – NY & LA)

Job summary: We’re looking for amazing Account Managers to join our new video and non-music audio content team in New York and Los Angeles. Spotify has already connected millions of listeners to music and artists they love and now we want to give them news, information and entertainment shows for more moments of their lives. You will be the human connection point for our new content providers to all areas within Spotify to help create the most entertaining Spotify ever!

Coordinator, Interactive Marketing (The Orchard – NYC)

Job summary: We are looking for an Interactive Marketing Coordinator who is passionate about music, creative marketing, tech trends and analytics. In order to provide top-notch service to our clients, you will work with labels, artists and managers to conceptualize creative and compelling campaigns and then execute measurable initiatives in order to increase interaction, sales, views and subscribers for our clients.

Marketing & PR Coordinator (Music Box Films – Chicago)

Job summary: Music Box Films seeks an organized, enthusiastic Marketing & Publicity Coordinator. This position contributes to every facet of Music Box Films’ efforts to grow audiences and exposure for a robust slate of independent films, from acquisition through theatrical, home entertainment and digital releases. This position is ideal for a junior publicist seeking experience in entertainment marketing and publicity as a part of a fast-paced, exciting Chicago-based film company.

Copywriter (Crosley Brands – Louisville, KY)

Job summary: Do you have a way with words that will make Miley Cyrus blush? If you can craft stories like whoa! and consider yourself an avant-garde alliteration aficionado, you may be just the person we’re looking for to join our talented team. You see, Crosley Brands is on the hunt for a copywriter to work directly with the Marketing Manager to develop, implement and manage the Crosley voice across our social media presence, websites, blog, PR campaigns, and other channels of communication.

Assistant, Business Development & Partnerships (Superfly – NYC)

Job summary: The Assistant, Business Development & Partnerships will provide administrative and organizational support to the Business Development team tasked with generated revenue via festival sponsorship, content monetization, and creative agency work. The BD team works diligently to develop deep relationships with bold and creative companies looking to impact culture. Our ideal candidate has previous administrative experience, is extremely detail oriented and organized, and has an infectious positive attitude! We are looking for someone who will excel in the role of Assistant with the desire to learn and grow within our team.

Executive Assistant/Entertainment, Marketing, & Event Coordinator (Trudell – Lake Orion, MI)

Job summary: STE is searching for a self-motivated individual who works well within the music/entertainment industry. We are a management and production company that prides itself on creativity and developing big ideas into even larger realities.

Marketing Campaign Manager (Reverb – Chicago)

Job summary: The Reverb Marketing Campaign Manager will be responsible for organizing the marketing campaign schedule and implementing various components including email, print, social media, digital campaigns, and more. Reporting directly to the Reverb Brand Director, this staff member will work closely with graphic designers, content creators and other Marketing Team members to plan and execute ongoing campaigns.

Categories
Job Board News

Haulix Weekly Update #100 – “Don’t you even know dignity when you see it?”

Hello and welcome to the 100th Haulix Weekly Update. Can you believe it? We have spent over two years writing this blog, and every Friday for the majority of it we have had these recaps. It’s amazing we haven’t repeated a Simpsons quote yet, to be honest. I thought that shtick would die early on, but so many of you recognized the quotes we just kept using them. Why fix what isn’t broken, right?

As I mentioned above, each and every weekend we like to take a brief break from our regularly scheduled programming to update and reflect on everything happening at Haulix HQ. We are far more than a music blog, as many of you already know, and posts like this give us an opportunity to share more our efforts with all of you.

DEVELOPMENT NEWS:

Work on our impending relaunch continues, but at this point we have no new information to share on the development front.

That said, we have begun planning a series of online learning sessions to help introduce clients, as well as members of the press, to the new version of Haulix. Signups for these courses will begin in early September.

BLOG NEWS

The blog was very busy this week, but we don’t actually have many announcements to share. Our goal right now is to simply offer the best content we can while doing what we can to recruit new clients for Haulix. If you have yet to start your free 30-day trial of our promotional distribution platform and want to, please email james@haulix.com for details.

We have been messing around with more podcast stuff, but we’ll have more on that next week.

If you missed any content this week, use the links below to catch up:

Would You Attend A Conference For Music Bloggers?

7 Things You Think Hiring A Publicist Will Fix, But It Won’t

3 Questions to Ask Yourself the Next Time You Feel Like Giving Up on Music

Can Dead Musicians Help End Piracy?

Journalism Tips: No One Is Safe

Journalism Tips: You Need To Relax

How Concerts Gave Me Confidence

Monday Motivation: Make War

Music Industry Job Board

That’s all the content we have this week. Stop in over the weekend for a new job board, then again next week for a slew of interviews and advice columns.

Best,

Haulix

Categories
News

Would You Attend A Conference For Music Bloggers?

Working in the music industry has provided me with the opportunity to attend numerous industry conferences, panels, and events. I’ve spoken at some places, but more often than not I’ve sat in the same crowd alongside many of you, hoping something would be said on stage that related to my career. What I have found however, is that the vast majority of music conferences do not put much time or effort into engaging music writers, despite the fact a good portion of these events are attended and covered by people currently trying their best to make a living with words. I think a change is needed, and I’m writing this today to see if I am alone in my belief.

I believe we need a yearly music blogger conference. This event would start as a one day gathering, but in time it would ideally become something much bigger. The day would be filled with panels, workshops, and a keynote from an influential industry figure, as well as a few performances to cap off the night. I have brainstormed a few topics/events to provide a better idea of what might be covered at this event:

  • Monetization Is The New Selling Out: Making money without betraying your readers
  • How To Handle Controversy: A beginner’s guide to breaking news, checking facts, and telling the whole story.
  • You’re Here To Work: Maintaining professionalism at shows and events
  • Tour Sponsorships: What are they, what do they entail, and why should I care?
  • Embracing Video: A crash course in creating great visual content
  • Branding: The Dos and Don’ts of Marketing Your Blog
  • Keeping Exclusives Exclusive: Making the most of every premiere you get
  • Conflicts Of Interest: How to keep your projects separate, yet equal
  • It’s Bigger Than Me: Building a community with your readers
  • Stop Asking Bad Questions: Interviews tips, tricks, and pitfalls

These are literally the first things that came to mind, but I think it provides a good range of topics and possibilities. Given the number of controversies that have arisen in 2015 alone, the need for a formal workshop on properly reporting such stories is very much needed in blogging right now. Likewise, I think we all have seen a blogger who was less than professionals when covering a live event. Maybe they want a selfie with the band, or maybe they blow off interviews to catch their favorite artists’ set. Whatever the case, we need to try and stop that trend before a select few make us all look like fools.

Having given almost a decade of my life to music blogging, nothing bothers me more than when people treat my chosen career path as a hobby or something to be laughed at. I have dedicated myself fully to this craft for a very long time, and though I am still not where I want to be I take great pride in everything I have accomplished. I know many of you do as well, which is why we should find a way to come together as an industry and push for real, meaningful change. I know not everyone who needs a conference like this will attend, but simply have the option available to people would be better than what we have now, which is essentially nothing.

I understand that the beauty of blogging stems from its ability to give anyone a voice, but as music writers trying to make a living with our words we need to hold ourselves and our peers to higher standards than simply doing whatever makes us happy. If we want people to take us seriously then we need to be serious about what is happening in our industry as well as what we as individuals are doing to make it better. So far, I see a lot of people complaining that things need to change, but no one is actually doing anything to make a difference. I want to change that, but only if you are willing to help me make it happen.

So tell me, what do you think?

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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7 Problems You Think Hiring a Music Publicist Will Fix, But Won’t

This post is brought to you by the fine folks at SonicBids.

Hiring a music publicist isn’t the same as waving a magic wand and boom! you’re famous. Your music is the ultimate tool, along with touring and activity. Those are tools with which your publicist gets his or her work done. But if the music isn’t good, or if there’s no ancillary activity, no amount of publicist cheerleading is going to make a monster difference or move the needle. Or you could have awesome music, but if you don’t promote it properly, then it will not find its audience. There are lots of moving parts that have to work in concert. Here are seven problems a music publicist won’t solve for your band, unfortunately.

1. Your lack of fans

Publicists will find you media champions and supporters. They’ll get your name out there in all forms of media and help it become more widely recognized, which leads to fans. But again, the most important thing is the music. If it’s terrible, no amount of “rah rah rah!” will turn heads.

2. Your need for a manager

That’s putting the cart before the horse. I have had tons of bands contact me saying they were told to get a publicist and then everything else will follow. Nope, sorry. That’s just not how it works. You need a manager running the whole show first; publicity is part of that show, which is overseen by a manager.

[Is It Time to Hire a Manager?]

3. Making the media love your music

Press coverage is hopefully the endgame, sure, but everything else has to fall in line, like good touring, a good work ethic, and a good buzz. Publicists ensure that the media at least opens an email or listens to a pitch about your band, but they cannot guarantee the media will love you or cover you. They will do the heavy lifting and use their relationships to get you in front of the media. As a writer, I have had good publicists push garbage and drek. And no matter how much I love them or their tenacity, if the music is shit, it’s shit.

4. Your low attendance rates at gigs

Your draw isn’t really our problem. We get the media writing about, attending, or covering your shows. We don’t deal with the fans. The fans get their information from the media.

5. Your desire for only “good ink”

Publicists generate buzz, that’s for sure. They will talk to as many members of the media as they can to get your name familiar and repeated in publications, online, and more. But they will not be able to direct the buzz being good or bad. If the media ain’t feeling it, publicists can only resort to finding a positive spin. It’s not their job to put out the flames if the music isn’t strong enough to stand on its own.

6. Your need for a scapegoat

My PR pals and I always joke about this. A publicist is always the person to blame when something goes wrong. I’ve seen it happen. But you know what? The publicist is always the first line of defense. You can’t lay the blame at his or her door if the media doesn’t react, if you’re not touring, etc.

7. Creating a buzz when you’re not doing something buzzworthy

You have to have an album come out, a tour, content, ideas, and a constant flow of activity. Without those tools, a publicist doesn’t have much to work with in terms of getting media attention.

Remember, nothing about music PR is instant. Pitching, following up, and executing a press plan takes time, tenacity, and effort. There is no instant snapping of fingers. All hands have to be on deck, including your own. Publicists lead the charge, but they do so with the entire team grinding its gears. That starts and ends with you as an artist.

Amy Sciarretto has 20 years of print and online bylines, from Kerrang to Spin.com to Revolver toBustle, covering music, beauty, and fashion. After 12 years doing radio and publicity at Roadrunner Records, she now fronts Atom Splitter PR, her own boutique PR firm, which has over 30 clients. She also is active in animal charity and rescue.

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3 Questions to Ask Yourself the Next Time You Feel Like Giving Up on Music

The following post comes to us courtesy of the fine folks at Sonicbids. Enjoy.

If you’re reading this, know that you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in very good company with thousands of other people who have felt the exact same way. A career in music isn’t easy, but you knew that long before your embarked on this journey. And why have you gotten this far? Because you didn’t let the naysayers and statistics deter you. Because you have a song in your heart and a deep passion for sharing that with the world. Yet we all find ourselves in this low place from time to time. And if anyone tells you differently, they’re either lying, in denial, or both. But before you allow yourself to wallow any deeper into your sorrow, or worse, make a devastating, life-altering mistake that will take you off the path of fulfilling your dreams to their full potential, ask yourself these three simple questions.

1. Why did I want to pursue music in the first place?

I believe that music is a calling, not a hobby. It’s something that speaks to your soul and lights a fire within you. And for the special few, it’s a way of life and career. But it cannot be more than just a personal joy if you don’t give it the chance. You could have chosen anything; there are a million different jobs to explore in life. And frankly, the vast majority of them would provide a lot more financial stability and security than your standard music career. But none of that has deterred you, because you know you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. You owe it yourself to see it through and pursue music with all the passion you have.

2. Why is failure an option?

As they say, nothing good ever comes easy. But why would you ever accept failure as being an option for something that means more to you than anything else? You know as well as anyone that you’ll never forgive yourself or live a day without wondering what could have and should have been if you were to ever give up on music. There’s no such thing as overnight success, and it’s true that this may be something you work at for years and years before seeing the type of return you’d hoped for. But that’s no reason to throw it all away. The years of education, development, and experience have led you to this point where you need to lay it all on the line and decide what it’s going to mean. Are you going to be one of the sad mass of people that let all of their talent fall behind and become overtaken by a life consumed with mediocrity and regret? Or will you pull yourself out of this rut and realize that you shouldn’t waste another waking moment not moving forward with making your musical aspirations a reality?

3. Could I ever be as fulfilled doing anything else?

Most importantly, you need to be honest with yourself and determine whether music is what you are ready to dedicate your life to. Though every professional musician has inevitably had to have this evaluation with themselves at some point, it’s clear when coming out the other side thatmusic isn’t the best option, it’s the only option. I believe it’s imperative that people pursue what it is that fulfills them inside, as that is the only way to find true happiness. Instead of spending your life underwhelmed with your daily existence in order to satisfy someone else’s definition of success, why don’t you allow yourself to do what you know you were meant to do and let that lead you to your own success? In the words of my old buddy Confucius, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Now that’s the kind of wisdom you need to refocus and get back on track, so get after it, my musical grasshoppers!

Christine Occhino is the founder and artistic director of The Pop Music Academy and has experience working at Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment, in addition to working as a performing artist for over a decade. She has a bachelors degree in music business and management with a concentration in entrepreneurship and vocal performance from Berklee College of Music, where she was a vocal scholarship recipient and former editor-in-chief of the Berklee Groove.

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Can Dead Musicians Help End Piracy?

The music industry has made many attempts to stop piracy through advertising campaigns over the last twenty years. Tech Dirt actually posted a great roundup earlier this year highlighting some of Universal’s best and worst ads, including one that tried to connect illegal downloading with stealing a limb from one of your favorite musicians. Needless to say, the response were not what the company was hoping for.

The latest campaign comes courtesy of the Leo Burnett agency, allegedly working on behalf of Virgin Radio. As first reported by TorrentFreak, these ads use the tragic life stories of Marvin Gaye, Elvis Presley, and Amy Winehouse to explain why people need to think twice before downloading or sharing pirated music. The idea seems to be make people feel as if their download could have contributed to the death of these celebrities, which is a pretty deplorable idea if you ask us. See for yourself:

“The goal was to create a connection to each musician and the blood, sweat and tears that created the now-legendary music,” said Leo Burnett in a statement.

While readers will certainly form their own opinions on the campaign, Leo Burnett have already given it their gold seal of approval.

Using a 10-point assessment mechanism known as the “HumanKind Scale”, the company’s Global Product Committee has rated ‘If you knew what went into it, you wouldn’t steal it’ a 7.3.

“Work that receives a 7-point rating is considered to be the benchmark for excellence in craft,” the company says.

I have been looking at these images for a while now and I just don’t get it. I don’t understand the motivation behind it, I don’t know who on Earth would take time to read every word, and I don’t know who, if anyone, they could win over through this campaign. It’s well designed enough, I guess, but that is purely cosmetic and has no real value in terms of convincing people to stop pirating music.

Do these campaigns work on you? Comment below and let us know.

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Journalism Tips: No One Is Safe

If you live online like most writers do then you’ve no doubt seen the footage of two news team members being shot and killed on live television this morning in Virginia. The incident happened amid an otherwise typical morning broadcast, during a segment that had nothing to do with politics or anything else that could be considered controversial. Two people were simply doing their jobs, the same job we all hope to be paid to do, and moments later their lives were over. If you somehow missed the story until now, please let this except from Gawker fill you in:

WDBJ reporter Alison Parker was interviewing a woman at Bridgewater Plaza, a shopping center in Roanoke, VA, when the apparent gunman strode into the shot, firing what sounded like at least six shots.

Both Parker (27) and her cameraman, Adam Ward (24), were killed in the attack. The woman being interviewed was shot, but she was transported from the scene to the ER in critical condition. At the time of this post reports are unsure whether or not she will survive.

The reasons for this shooting remain unclear while I write this post, but the explanation as to why this happened is nowhere near as terrifying as the fact it did happen. This is both the saddest and most terrifying thing imaginable. We read about these shootings ever week it seems, and we cry for something to be done, but this time we actually saw it. This happened on LIVE TV. Families were probably eating breakfast together when these shots rang out. Children saw this happen, in real time. Parents, likely preparing to leave their kids for the day, watched their children take this in while trying to grasp it themselves. As a news writer and human, my heart has broken many times over.

This is not a political blog, and we admittedly don’t understand gun control laws enough to comment on them, but we would have been lying to ourselves if we made today’s update about anything other than this incident. This is the only thing I can think about. The footage has played on a loop in my mind since I witnessed it around 8AM and I worry it won’t cease anytime soon. I’m frustrated, saddened, and altogether upset that such cruelty exists. This news team may not have been a part of the music industry, but they are journalists just like you or I, and they did not deserve to die in this fashion.

The recent rash of random shootings in the United States seems to only be growing worse, and it’s just one of a myriad of things people have to worry about every day. It’s one of the most concerning, for sure, but there are a million things that we as writers and people have to fret about in addition to simply doing our jobs. This story strikes close to home for me, I guess, because it just feels so random. It seems any reporters anywhere could fall victim to a gunman seeking attention and that shakes me to my core. People don’t think it will happen in music, or they tell themselves it won’t, but I’m sure everyone at WDBJ7 never imagined something like this would happen to their own team. It’s honestly a matter of time rather than a matter of chance. Remember the man who killed Dimebag Darrell? We forget all too quickly that these things have happened, and most likely will happen again, in our own scene.

I think the scariest aspect of this entire affair is the fact it’s entirely unpredictable. Underoath have a song titled “It’s Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door,’ and though it was written a decade ago it’s never been more fitting than it is today. 2015 has been the year we as people realized just how exposed we are no matter where we go. The places we once felt safe and communal, like malls or theaters, have turned into games of chance that we play because we refuse to let fear prevent us from living our lives. We have no choice. We either fight the fear we will be killed leaving our homes or we live sheltered lives cut off from the world. This has more or less always been the case, but in a time where we can’t go more than a week without a major shooting hitting the headlines the stakes seem higher than ever.

A part of me wants to beg you, all of you, to be as safe as possible when going about your daily lives. I want to tell you that there is chance and risk in every good story, but also that no bit of coverage is worth your life. At the same time, I realize Alison Parker and Adam Ward believed they were safe when headed into this morning. Today probably felt like any other day right up until the moment the first shots rang out, and that may be the most terrifying realization of all. The best any of us can do is to stay alert and report anything that doesn’t feel right, but even then there is no guarantee of safety.

Be brave, but not stupid. The world is crazy place and it’s only going to get crazier if things stay the way they are. I have your back if you have mine, but I can’t promise that will be enough to keep either of us safe.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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Journalism Tips: You Need To Relax

Every music writer today, regardless of experience or genre preference, deals with stress on a daily basis. Whether you’re fretting over the quality of content posted, the happiness of your fellow staff, the happiness of your readers, or worried you may have simply not posted enough, there seems to always be something worth losing sleep over. At least, that is how we see things. Writers, just like site owners, have a big problem with internalizing every single thing that could possibly frustrate them and never taking the time to actually deal with any of it. We just keep going, day in and day out, with the hope that one day we will feel the increasingly heavy weights on our shoulders being lifted off. We don’t know when that will happen, and most probably couldn’t tell you a single scenario where they would actually be able to stop stressing for good, but it’s a lie that has helped countless creatives push through and it will continue to serve its purpose for the foreseeable future.

Having spent nearly a decade of my life writing, it wasn’t until I had already put five years of hard work in that I really began to notice the impact stress and its constant presence in my life took on everyday existence. My brain had rewired itself over time to revolve around the internet and what I saw as the time of day when posting ‘must’ happen. The first thing I thought about when I woke up was whether or not any headlines had broke while I was asleep, and the last thing I did before bed last night was a scroll through my RSS feed for any late breaking headlines. “If I could just be on top of the next story,” I thought. “Then I will be satisfied.”

What I eventually realized, and what I still struggle with today, is that there is no true end point for creative people. Our drive to create content the world enjoys will never be satiated with a single post, or even a single day’s worth of great content. Our pursuit is one that seeks for to create high quality work over an extended period of time, and no amount of day-to-day success is ever going to subdue that desire. The best we can do is learn to live with our drive rather than letting it rule over us, and that begins by learning to relax. I know that may sound like a foreign concept to many writers reading this now, but it’s true. If you cannot relax then you cannot create your best work, and if that happens that constant itch to create something truly great will slowly begin to eat you alive.

Before your passion gets the best of you, use the tips below to shake off the stress of creating content and find what I assume I probably some much needed rest. You deserve it.

It’s never a bad idea to have a plan. In fact, it’s a damn good idea.

I wish someone had told me when I was just starting out that life as a writer is 100x easier when you have a plan. More specifically, life is easier when you have a content calendar that outlines every major feature and piece of content you will need to create in the next several weeks, as well as the deadlines to complete each item. Doing this periodically makes it easier to plan your day-to-day work load, which in turn lowers your stress. You know what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and exactly how much time you have to get everything accomplished. For added help, I suggest making daily to-do lists as well. I use Asana to make mine, but you can use whatever works best for you.

Even if you have a plan, be careful not to take on too much at once.

When I first started making calendars and to-do lists I thought it best to try and see just how many things I could accomplish on any given day. I would make lists with twenty or thirty tasks, and anything left incomplete at the end of the day would be the first thing tackled the following morning. What I didn’t realize at the time, and what I hope to save you from now, is that leaving so many tasks unfinished made it impossible for my mind to fully shutdown at the end of the day. Whenever I wanted to get up from my desk and walk away I would see them, mocking me from the page, and I would feel as if I had somehow failed myself by leaving them incomplete. Sometimes this forced me to stay up late, cranking away on subpar content because at least it would be completed, but other times I would walk away online to find the need to do more work keeping me up at night. No one was telling me I wasn’t doing enough other than myself, but that was the only voice I needed to hear to feel inadequate.

Educate yourself

The more you know about how the independent music and digital journalism world works, the better prepared you’ll be to conquer it. This is the entire reason the Haulix blog you’re reading right now even exists: Education. Every member of our staff learned about the industry through trial and error. No one held our hand or showed us what to do. We simply woke up every morning and dedicated ourselves to improving what little skills we had and in time things slowly began to improve. Looking back now we realize that was the hard way to learn about life in music, so we created this blog to make life in music easier for future generations.

Step away from the laptop. Put down your phone. Walk outside. Breathe.

Chronic stress is the response to emotional pressure suffered for a prolonged period over which an individual perceives he or she has no control. This is a good way to explain how most writers feel in the digital age. We know we can create great content given time and space, but there is a constant demand from the world at large to produce more and more content and it’s easy to perceive that cry for posts as a call that must be answered. After all, it’s because of our readers that we creatives have a purpose in the first place.

Before you can give your readers what they need you must first care for your own well being. Planning and organizing will get you far, but in order to truly shake off the stress and worries of life in writing you need to disconnect. You need to close your laptop, put your phone in ‘airplane’ mode, step outside, and breathe. Take a walk, take a nap, catch a movie (that you don’t review), or call a friend and catch up. Find something that has nothing to do with your writing and let it be the only thing you focus on for a period of time. Your mind needs time to rest, just like your body. You can only push yourself so far before your work will begin to suffer, and if you continue to push beyond that point things will only go from bad to worse for everyone involved. Trust me – it’s okay to unplug. Just do it.

James Shotwell is the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. He is also a professional entertainment critic, covering both film and music, as well as the co-founder of Antique Records. Feel free to tell him you love or hate the article above by connecting with him on Twitter. Bonus points if you introduce yourself by sharing your favorite Simpsons character.

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