noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:56:00 +0000

Chuck Andrews

(Good Fight Entertainment)

As a member of the management team at Good Fight Entertainment, Chuck Andrews co-manages of some of the biggest metal bands around, including AUGUST BURNS RED, CANNIBAL CORPSE, BEHEMOTH, and JOB FOR A COWBOY. In addition, Andrews also spent years of his life on the road tour managing bands big and small all over the world, including THE BRAVERY and COHEED AND CAMBRIA.

Tom Bejgrowicz

(Man Alive Design)

An experienced graphic designer – Bejgrowicz has designed for a diverse array of bands ranging from THE FRAY and BLONDIE to AL GREEN and RICKY NELSON to SHADOWS FALL, THE MISFITS and MISERY SIGNALS. A music industry veteran, Tom's worldwide A&R and marketing experience has seen him sign bands such as the 2-time Grammy®-nominated SHADOWS FALL and GOD FORBID in addition to working on and creating releases for THE MISFITS (including their RIAA gold-certified "Box Set"), BAD BRAINS, LACUNA COIL, PLACEBO, HOLE and many more. Currently, Tom works as a freelance designer while also teaching at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.

Jeff Breil

(Black Lodge Publicity)

As co-owner of Black Lodge Publicity, Breil has orchestrated and run press campaigns for artists of varying sizes, from Billboard Top 25 selling AUGUST BURNS RED, to Warped Tour mainstays THE PINK SPIDERS, to Christian metal legends LIVING SACRIFICE, to up-and-coming baby bands. Additionally, Breil has years of experience as a freelance graphic artist, having worked for clients large and small, from independent self-released albums done on a budge to major label releases with huge marketing pushes.

Jon Collins

(Dropcards)

Jon Collins is the VP of Business Development for New Jersey based media company, Dropcards™. Focused on servicing all four major labels, major indies, as well as independent musicians, Dropcards™ is the industry leader in digital download card production. In addition,Collins also has past experience running an independent record label and distribution company.

Melissa Cross

(Melissa Cross Studios)

Make a list of your top 10 favorite bands. Chances are at least half of them would have taken vocal lessons at some point, and the majority of those may have encountered Melissa Cross, the female Buddha of passionate vocals. Ever since the release of the Zen of Screaming series of instructional DVDs, her client list reads as long as the Port-A-Potty line at warped tour, with some movie stars along for the ride. The DVDs are available at your local music store, or at her website, but she will be available to anyone with a smile at LAUNCH 2010.

John Daley

(Good Fight Entertainment)

Daley works for management company Good Fight Entertainment and directly works with such juggernauts in the independent music scene as EVERY TIME I DIE and CHIODOS, as well as co-managing Lancaster's-own TEXAS IN JULY. He has formerly managed acts such as NORMA JEAN and A LIFE ONCE LOST.

Cody DeLong

(The Kenmore Agency)

DeLong works as an agent for the Kenmor Agency, booking industry buzz bands like IWRESTLEDABEARONCE, OH, SLEEPER, THE AUDITION, IMPENDING DOOM, and Lancaster’s own THE RIGHT COAST, amongst others. DeLong also has experience working with Flea Marketing, who specializes in marketing releases to independent retailers.

Alan Douches

(West West Side Music)

Douches has been in the music matering business for 17 years, aquiring a reputation as one of the best in the industry. Douches credits including mastering work for a diverse range of musicians, including everyone from FLEETWOOD MAC to RUN DMC to FALL OUT BOY to ALKALINE TRIO to MASTODON and countless other household and near-household names.

Mike Eaton

(The Artery Foundation)

Eaton works for tastemaking management company The Artery Foundation - whose client's include buzzmakers such as THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, ALESANA, WHITECHAPEL and more - where he handles endorsements and sponsorships. Previously, Eaton spent three years with powerhouse Ferret Music working in a similar capacity.

Matt Friction

(The Dozen Dimes)

As the frontman/songwriter behind THE PINK SPIDERS, Friction’s experience in music has run the gamut from touring bars and basements and building the resulting buzz into a major-label bidding war to successfully negotiating his way out of that deal to take control of his career back into his hands. THE PINK SPIDERS enjoyed airplay on MTV and FUSE as well as radio stations nationwide, and had been written in about in publications ranging from Rolling Stone to Teen People to USA Today. Friction brings this wealth of experience, and his new band THE DOZEN DIMES, with him to LAUNCH.

Rick Gadd

(LAUNCH Music Conference Co-Director / Gadd Agency / Decadent Suite Records)

Through his involvement in various projects, Rick Gadd has become a cornerstone in the Central Pennsylvania music scene and beyond. As a promoter, Gadd provides national and regional talent for multiple PA venues as well as creating the annual 4&3 Music Festival. Rick also owns and operates Gadd Agency, a management company working with multiple artists, and the independent record label Decadent Suite Records. As a musician, Gadd has sold in excess of 50,000 CDs worldwide on an independent label.

Merrick Jarmulowicz
(The Kenmore Agency)

A key member of the Kenmore Booking Agency, Merrick has worked in music for over a decade, previously working as a Talent Buyer and Production Manager for MassConcerts. At Kenmore, Merrick books like s of EARTH, HARVEY MILK, HORSE THE BAND, MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE and more.

Josh Maloney

(Dean Guitars)

As Director of Artist Relations for Dean Guitars, Maloney is one of the key decision makers when it comes to selecting artists for Dean to sponsor. He has spent the last 12 years working with artists such as Dave Mustaine of MEGADEATH, Jerry Cantrell of ALICE IN CHAINS, COLLECTIVE SOUL, VINNIE PAUL, MAYLENE AND THE SONS OF DISASTER, TRIVIUM and countless others with the marketing, advertising and branding for Dean Guitars to uphold the Dean name and it's reputation.

Miguel Molinari

(RockGamer Studios)

Molinari is the Founder of Rock Game Studio, a development house for the Rock Band Network, specializing in bringing new original content from independent artists into people's living rooms by creating downloadable songs for the wildly popular video game Rock Band. A veteran of the Music Industry, Miguel has contributed to best-selling franchises such as Madden NFL Football, NASCAR Thunder, NFL Street, and TNA Wrestling.

Ken Mueller

(Inkling Media / WXPN)

Ken Mueller is the President and Owner of Inkling Media, a Social Media & Marketing Consultancy based in Lancaster. He has worked with businesses of all sizes, as well as bands and non-profits. He is also the Central PA Marketing Coordinator for WXPN, Philadelphia. Additionally he spent 13 years in NY as Radio Curator at the Museum of Television & Radio (now the Paley Center for Media.

Matt Pike

(Kenmore Agency)

Pike is the owner of The Kenmore Agency - the booking agency for some of independent music’s most talked artists, such as AUGUST BURNS RED, CONVERGE, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, CAVE IN, JOB FOR A COWBOY, GREELEY ESTATES and more. Pike is a self-described “lover of Music, his family, the beach and money.”

Portland

(Sons Of Nero)

By day, Portland serves as the Art Director for Powerhouse indie-label Ferret Music, home to bands such as 36 CRAZYFISTS, POISON THE WELL, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, and more. By night, Portland operates Sons of Nero, one of the leading design firms in the world of underground music. Sons specializes in all forms of print and web design, and has designed packaging, apparel or websites for clients ranging from JEDI MIND TRICKS to EVERY TIME I DIE to THE USED.

Jeff Royer

(Black Lodge Publicity)

As co-owner of Black Lodge Publicity, Royer has orchestrated and run press campaigns for artists of varying sizes, from Billboard Top 25 selling AUGUST BURNS RED, to Warped Tour mainstays THE PINK SPIDERS, to Christian metal legends LIVING SACRIFICE, to up-and-coming baby bands. Additionally, Royer also has over ten years experience as a professional music journalist.

Todd Shill

(Entertainment Lawyer)

Shill is an entertainment lawyer with the firm Rhoads & Sinon handling legal matters for film and music. Shill has worked as a counsel to on air personalities, musicians, writers, directors and actors including multi-platinum artists LIVE, TANTRIC, and Brett Scallions (FUEL, RIDERS ON THE STORM, CIRCUS DIABLO), as well as critically acclaimed artist Simone (daughter of legendary jazz singer Nina Simone) and more.

David Silbaugh
(Grammy Chapter Board Advisor / Summerfest)
David Silbaugh is the Rock Comittee chair and Chapter-Board Advisor for the Grammys. In addition he is a talent-buyer for the renowned Summerfest - certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the "World's Largest Music Festival", held annually Milwaukee. Additionally, Silbaugh is a consultant for Gibson Musical Instruments, A&R consultant for Banshee Music, and serves on the Board of Governors for the Chicago Chapter of The Recording Academy.

Carson Slovak

(Atrium Audio / Aurora Films & Music / Prosthetic Records)

A man of many talents, Carson Slovak is, owner and engineer of recording studio Atrium Audio. Additionally, Slovak is a well versed graphic artist, heading the graphics division of Aurora Films & Music, a full-service media production company, as well as serving as Art Director for the label Prosthetic Records. Slovak has designed album and merch artwork for bands like: ALL THAT REMAINS, AUGUST BURNS RED, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SENSES FAIL, TAKING BACK SUNDAY, THURSDAY and more.

Chris Strayer

(Purple Door Music Festival)

After being an integral part of the reknowned Purple Door Music Festival since its inception, Strayer stepped up to the drivers seat of the Festival in 2006. In addition to his role with Purple Door and Creative Ministries, Chris owns a business doing stage lighting. Purple Door will celebrate its 15th Anniversary this year on August 13th & 14th.

Tony Verderosa
(Thwak! Music)
An internationally recognized drummer/producer, Verderosa is the Owner and Creative Director of Thwak! Music, providing original compositions for Film, Television and Commercials. Verderosa's team of music supervisors have placed music in commercials most people see daily, including campaigns for Miller Light, iPod, ESPN, Colgate, Trojan, Bacardi and many more! Tony V. was also a music director and drummer at this year's MTV Video Music Awards performing live with Katy Perry and Aerosmith's Joe Perry.

Bruce Warren
(WXPN)
As Program Director for WXPN and Executive Producer of the World Cafe, Bruce Warren is one of the most knowledgeable and influential voices in public radio today. Warren has won numerous awards including Billboard Magazine’s Program Director of the Year (2002), five-time winner of Gavin’s “Non-Commercial Program Director of the Year” (1998-2002), and R&R Industry’s Achievement Award for Program Director of the Year (2003, 2005, 2006, & 2008). In 2006 Warren received the prestigious ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award, and WXPN has won Radio Station of the Year for the last 12 years in a row. From 2000-2008 Warren served on the national board of directors for the Public Radio Program Directors Association including two years as Chair of the board. Additionally, Warren is the author of Wisdom For A Young Musician, published in 2007.

Rich Warwick

(Icon Omnimedia)

Rich Warwick is the head of sales at ICON Omnimedia Corp., which is home to the Built By ICON and ICON Next brands. Built By ICON houses the company's physical offerings: CD and DVD Manufacturing, Short Run Duplication, Audio Mastering, and more. ICON Next focuses on "what's next" for the music industry, offering Digital Distribution, Drop Cards, Web Design, and more.

Jeremy Weiss

(LAUNCH Music Conference Co-Director / CI Records / CI Productions)

Weiss has owned and operated an independent record label for the past 20 years, working with veterans and new artists alike. Most recently CI Records has helped launch the careers of bands such as AUGUST BURNS RED and THE PINK SPIDERS. Additionally, Weiss has been promoting shows in Central PA for over 20 years.

Jason White

(Independent Label Collective)

As the General Manager of the Independent Label Collective (or ILC), Jason White oversees daily operations of one of the most iventive indie distributors in the country, dealing with both physical and digital distribution of releases for the dozens of labels they exclusively distribute. In addition to owning Cavity Records, Jason also has an extensive background in music retail.

Tracy Wilson

(Independent Label Collective)

Wilson is the head of sales and marketing at independent music distributor The Independent Label Collective, having also served stints with Caroline Distribution and Fontana Distribution. Having spent 20 years working in music, her love of music has permeated every aspect of her life as Wilson also runs indie label Little Black Cloud Records, hosts a weekly radio show, is part of an all female DJ collective called Cherry Bomb and because she can't get enough - Tracy even works a few days a week at an all vinyl record shop in Richmond.

Gage Young

(Freelance Photographer)

Young is a freelance music photographer whose work has been published in the pages of Rolling Stone, Revolver, Alternative Press, Seventeen, Guitar World, DRUM!, Outburn and more. His work has graced the cover of multiple issues of Alternative Press. Young's clients include Warner Brothers, Sony, Atlantic, Victory Records, Rise Records, Vagrant Records, and many more.

Tim Zahodski

(Good Fight Entertainment)

Tim Zahodski is a key member of the Goodfight Entertainment management team, handling the day-to-day business affairs of bands such as EVERY TIME I DIE, CHIODOS, CHILDREN OF BODOM, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and several others. Zahodski spent his formative years as vocalist for the now defunct Philadelphia metal/hardcore band ONE DEAD THREE WOUNDED and later went on to co-manage Lancaster's very own THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE.

LAUNCH Panelists