Music Business Radio

Episode #112 - Marian Leighton Levy and Ken Irwin

Marian Leighton Levy and Ken Irwin are two of the founders of Rounder Records.

Rounder Records was founded in 1970 and is now the third largest independent record label in the United States with over 4000 releases.  With countless Grammy Awards and nominations, Rounder has found a place in American music history.  Artists on Rounder include  Alison Krauss, Robert Plant, Ralph Stanley, Wilson Pickett, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Buckwheat Zydeco, Woody Guthrie, Irma Thomas, Steve Martin, JJ Cale, Nanci Griffith, Bela Fleck, Riders in the Sky, Rush, The Tragically Hip, Godsmack, and Duran Duran, among others.  

Marian and Ken talk about founding Rounder Records, while in college, selling records our of their van at music festivals, and how things went from that to what Rounder Records is today.

For those not on the podcast...

Episode #46 - Ross Asher

Ross Asher is Director of A&R for Brentwood-Benson, a division of Universal Music Publishing.

We talked about how he discovers new artists, the differences (and similarities) between secular and Christian music marketing, and more. Ross also had some unreleased music from Jars of Clay, which we played.

Can't wait? Check out video from Ross' visit.

Demos Reviewed: Quincy, Brooke, Baby Loc, and Lorien.

I liked Baby Loc so much, I posted about her on my blog.

For those not on the podcast...

Episode #26 - Autumn House

Here's the episode with Autumn House, Director of A&R at Capitol Records.  She is responsible for bringing us such acts as Cyndi Thompson and Dierks Bentley.

Before her work in A&R, Autumn worked at Starstuck Entertainment and Maverick Music, where she was involved with publishing.  She secured cuts for artists like Reba McIntire, Lee Ann Womack, Mark Willis, and Deanna Carter.

We talked about how songs get cut, from both the song plugger and A&R perspective.  We talked about Dierks Bentley and how he got signed.  And of course, we reviewed demos.

For those not on the podcast...

Episode #16 - Tracy Gershon

Here's the episode with Tracy Gershon...  She's VP of A&R at Warner Brothers Records and has worked with artists such as Faith Hill and Blake Shelton as well as signed a number of well known artists including The Mavericks. Carlene Carter, James House, and Buddy Jewell.  If you watched the first two seasons on Nashville Star, you'll remember Tracy.

We talked about how she got her start in the business, what she's discovered by going through the "reject pile," what gets her attention, and why she signs acts...and why she doesn't.

Episode #11 - Anastasia Brown

Here's the show with Anastasia Brown...

Legendary music mogul Miles Copeland has said of his former partner, “Anastasia Brown has the ears and the eyes to spot and develop talent, create brilliant music opportunities and has the relationships to bring international songwriters and artists together for a common cause.” 

Anastasia is credited with discovering Keith Urban and has worked with artists of all genres including Sting, Peter Frampton, John Berry, and Junior Brown.  You've also seen her as the hard-hitting judge on USA Network's Nashville Star.