Music Industry Boot Camp

Monday, October 2nd
6:30 pm at Lucky Lounge

"Indie Labels:  The Real Deal"

AMF would like to thank all of our panelists who spoke at MIBC.  They all had great insights and helpful information for independent artists, and we greatly appreciate their time and knowledge.

If you missed our most recent Boot Camp, you missed a very interesting discussion and great turn-out!  Check back soon for the top 5 take-aways on "Indie Labels: The Real Deal."

AMF is proud to present a rare opportunity to hear from a stellar group of panelists:

Mathew Knowles, President & CEO of MusicWorld Entertainment, Houston TX
(Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Lil J. Xavier, Sunshine Anderson)

Phil Hinkle, Head of A&R Century Media, Los Angeles CA
(Arch Enemy, Celtic Frost, Lacuna Coil, Strapping Young Lad)

Randy Miller, Partner at Brando Records, Dallas TX
(Blue October, Greatness in Tragedy, Zayra Alvarez, SouthFM)

Joe Swank, Yep Roc Records, Chapel Hill NC
(Billy Bragg, Robyn Hitchcock, Apples in Stereo, Jim Lauderdale)

Brad Turcotte, President Compadre Records, Houston TX
(Billy Joe Shaver, Honeybrowne, James McMurtry, Townes Van Zandt)

(Please see below for more info about each panelist.)

AMF is thrilled to bring together such a knowledgeable group of experts, each of whom is traveling to Austin specifically to donate their time to the Austin music community by participating as speakers in this Boot Camp seminar. 

This Boot Camp will cover many issues surrounding the label/artist relationship, including latest methods of artist development, challenges and paths to successs in keeping control in creative development, what independent labels expect of talent, as well as how the independent business model has evolved over the past several years.  AMF will offer a roundtable discussion after the panel in which audience attendees can discuss individual questions with panelists in a small group format.  This Boot Camp is definitely a not-to-be-missed event!

As always, Music Industry Boot Camps are free to the public.

BRANDO RECORDS
Dallas, TX
http://www.brandorecords.com/

Randy Miller, partner

Following a 23-year career as a senior marketing executive for major record companies, Randy J. Miller left the record business in 2006 in order to pursue a career in the music business. He is currently a partner in Rainmaker Artists, the artist management company that oversees the careers of Blue October and Bowling For Soup amongst others, and Brando Records, the independent label that is home to Blue October, Zayra Alvarez (recent contestant on Rock Star: Supernova), Greatness in Tragedy, SouthFM and Sara Overall.

In addition, Randy is partner in Primary Wave Music Publishing � home to Kurt Cobain/Nirvana, Daniel Johnston, Hall & Oates and Blue October. He has worked for Jive Records, MCA Records, Virgin Records and Sire Records and overseen the marketing campaign for album releases by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mary J. Blige, Gorillaz, The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson, Sublime, Live Courtney Love, and many, many more.

CENTURY MEDIA
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.centurymedia.com/

Phil Hinkle, A&R

As head of A&R for metal label Century Media Records, Phil Hinkle has helped the label grow from an underground specialty label into one of the world�s largest rock indies. Under his watch, groups such as Shadows Fall and Lacuna Coil reached the Billboard Top 30, while the next generation of heavy music heroes � including Arch Enemy, Behemoth, God Forbid, The Haunted and Strapping Young Lad � are poised to follow in their footsteps.

Before joining Century Media nearly four years ago, Hinkle � a graduate of the University of Texas San Antonio � was A&R and label manager for Nuclear Blast America, a sister imprint. There, he worked with such stars of extreme music as In Flames, Dimmu Borgir and Meshuggah, the latter of which he also tour-managed during an eight-week arena tour with Tool. Phil currently lives in Los Angeles.

COMPADRE RECORDS
Houston, TX
http://www.compadrerecords.com/

Brad Turcotte, president

Brad has worked for Columbia Records/Nashville (radio promotion), Curb Records/Nashville (marketing) and spent over a year as a songplugger for a Nashville music publisher, A.P.I., representing the song catalogs of, most notably, Robbie Fulks and Joe Diffie.  As well, Brad has worked for artist management/booking firm Bobby Roberts Company (Merle Haggard and John Anderson), and several Nashville entertainment law firms.  In 2001, shortly after he moved back to Texas to accept employment with ABC Radio Networks in Dallas, Brad started Americana/roots label Compadre Records during his first year of law school (at 24 years old) releasing two compilation records, one of which debuted on Billboard Country Albums chart.  

Turcotte also owns and operates two other entertainment companies:  The Concert Solution (an event marketing firm, most notably consulting the Toyota Center/Houston and the Houston Comets) and Interactive Legal Tools (a multi-media legal educational product series).  Additionally, Turcotte, is personal management for Warner Bros Nashville recording artist Rick Trevino and Billy Joe Shaver.  Turcotte has a music business degree (B.B.A.) from Belmont University in Nashville and recently earned his law degree.  Turcotte turns thirty in March.

MUSIC WORLD ENTERTAINMENT
Houston, TX
http://www.musicworldentertainment.com/ 

Mathew Knowles, president & CEO 

Mathew Knowles, President of Music World Entertainment is one of the prime movers in contemporary pop and R&B music, a man blessed with street savvy, business acumen, and a heartfelt devotion to the music he loves, the artists he serves, and the fans who make it all possible. Though perhaps best-known in his role as manager of the global phenomenon Destiny's Child, the most successful "girl group" in the history of pop music, Mr. Knowles has acted as a guiding force behind the careers of a host of internationally recognized recording artists (Earth Wind and Fire, The O�Jays, Chaka Khan among others) while his Music World Music label imprint has an impressive track record of gold and platinum releases, soundtrack successes, and groundbreaking contemporary gospel recordings.

Knowles' Music World Management successfully launched "Dangerously In Love," the #1 best-selling debut solo album from Beyonc�.  Under the direction of Mr. Knowles, Destiny's Child members also soared as solo artists. Kelly Rowland won a Grammy for her duet with Nelly; the album, "Dilemma" sold over 2 million with two # 1 hits internationally,  # 1 album chart topping releases and a #1 single in the US.  Michelle is also signed to Music World label, and her first Gospel Album debuted at #1 and her second album debut at #2 on the Gospel Charts.  Next year, the artist roster of new releases will include; Sunshine Anderson, Papa Reu, Dionne Farris, YoYo, and new artists; Lil J' Xavier, Knuckle Heads and Southern Girls, just to name a few.   In concert with Knowles pattern of success, the end of 2005 was marked by Destiny's Child final release landing at #1 on the charts, containing 12 of the greatest hits from the best-selling trio of all time.

YEP ROC RECORDS
Chapel Hill, NC
http://www.yeproc.com/

Joe Swank, radio promotions

Joe Swank is the radio promoter at Yep Roc Records and is in charge of music distribution to the stations as well as follow-up contacts, on-air bookings, chart/spin monitoring and station promotions/sponsorships.  He scored #1 records for Dave Alvin's last two releases on the Americana Music Association's radio airplay chart. 

In addition to his day job, Swank has also hosted a weekly alt.country specialty show called The Y�allternative for nearly a decade.  He�s also the front for an alt.country/honky-tonk band called Joe Swank & the Zen Pirates and toured in the late 90�s with The MoJoDeans.