AnRGirl Showcase in Appleton, WI August 9th, 2019
Wow! Thank you to Stryker Records and the Rock Garden Studios for sponsoring ANRGIRL SHOWCASE in Appleton, WI. So great to get to a region of the US that I had not visited before. I had been to 150 cities in my 34 year music business career watching bands as an A&R Executive. A big thank you to all of the bands who performed at the showcase and/or participated in the “In Person” consultations where we reviewed your music, discussed your band and brand and talked about next steps. Nothing is more inspiring for me than to be around the energy and passion of artists who care about their craft and are looking for direction to improve their music and build their brand.
I’ve said this in the past – it is more than just writing, recording and playing good music. You have to have the ambition, drive and perseverance to move it downfield as a small business. Otherwise, it is a nice hobby but not something you will be able to turn in to a touring and viable money making endeavor. It’s the combination of good songs and recordings along with promoting to build fans and a demand in other places to generate the ability to tour.
It’s so important to have the commitment a champion and/or a great team around you who believes in you and will sweat it out with you for the long haul. At the same time, this will require commitment from YOU the artist to make sure those champions are taken care of as you start to build interest and momentum. Sometimes the first team doesn’t have the reach in the business to take you to the next level on their own – but a sign of a wise champion is recognizing this and surrounding the artist with a team of qualified and genuine affiliates that can help. It takes a village in this very competitive and arduous business of building your brand and fan base. So to the artists, I strongly advise consideration for your champion when this occurs and if you sense any “shady behavior” or are engaged in any conversations where you feel one of those people is “leading you away” from your champion or team…they aren’t for you!
What’s the reason behind this post about commitment? I learn everyday that I work with artists, managers, producers, interns, and other industry folk. The spirit of this Showcase resonates with commitment. Chris Dobry of Stryker Records is a person of commitment to his band Jamie Fontaine and The Level. I met Chris when I was managing the rock group SALIVA. His passion and commitment to move his group/project to more opportunities resonated with me. I share the same type of care and commitment for all of my endeavors. I also experienced that passion and commitment from my new National Field Director Jason Schrick. There’s nothing that is too much trouble for Jason and he is always on go ready to do the hard work to get to the next level.
To bring this experience full circle, the group Jamie Fontaine and the Level ended up vibing Jason while he was in Appleton, WI with me managing the event. When Jason isn’t working with me, he is a producer/songwriter, manger and talent buyer in Columbia, MO. Stryker Records hired Jason to work on song development and production of their new material. They flew him up to their hometown to do pre-production and got down to serious business locked up in a place for days working through songs, trying new approaches, etc. A month later they all met in Nashville at Universal Music Studios where Jason would record the new songs with his mentor producer/mix engineer Malcolm Springer (Collective Soul, Matchbox 20, Greenwheel, Full Devil Jacket , Low Down Drifters). I flew down at the end of the week of sessions for the day to check in and was THRILLED to see the work the entire group of them had done.
Jamie Fontaine and The Level, Jason Schrick and Malcolm Springer are working on final mixes this week and I’m looking forward to hearing the end product. THIS is why I love doing A&R and artist devlopment. THIS is just one example of what an artist can experience and walk away with when they participate in an ANRGIRL seminar. Networking, learning, investing, willingness to take chances and committing to doing something for your project is essential!
Thank you again to all of the bands who participated and I wish you all success in your music endeavors.
Dead Cedar + Headstone + Scarlet + Jamie Fontaine and The Level + Sir Real + Sweetalk + Our Last Vision + Sons of Kong
How AnRGirl Can Help You Succeed Today…
Pre-Production Song Review
Before you spend the big bucks on production and mastering, get your custom evaluation and have a true industry professional A&R take a listen.
Phone or Skype Consultation
Get a phone consultation. AnRGirl will invite you to sign up for a phone consultation once you have submitted your music for review and it’s ready for next steps.
In Person Coaching & Reviews
If you’re more about that personal one on one meeting and mentoring, Holly is available for in person consultations in New York City. This option is available after passing initial evaluation.
About AnR Girl
Holly Hutchison Weinman is a business executive with over 29 years experience in the music and entertainment industry. She is a visionary with a passion for new ideas, branding and cultivating identity.
Her professional experience, A Level Repertoire, and deal making abilities draw largely from major recording corporation environments and highly successful mentors in New York City (Atlantic Records – a Time Warner Company) and Los Angeles (Capitol Records/EMI) where she held top ranking executive positions before venturing out on her own as a well respected, detail oriented and creative business owner.
Holly built her credibility through a consistent track record of identifying artists who have proven to be successful – some being Deftones, Alanis Morissette, Blink 182, Slipknot, Muse, Saliva, Bosson and Vega 4.
The recording studio is a second home to Holly. She has extensive A&R experience that covers all aspects of album production and song selection for pop, rock and rap genres. She has worked with top multi platinum and Grammy award winning producers, mixers and songwriters such as Timbaland, Bob Marlette (Shinedown, Red Sun Rising), Jimmy Douglas, Peter Mokran, Ron Aniello, Josh Abraham, Al Sutton (Kid Rock), Michael Brauer (Coldplay), Dave Way, Diane Warren, Billy Steinberg, Monty Powell (Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts), Jack Kugell, Kirsti Manna (“Austin” Blake Shelton) and Steve Kipner, just to name a few.
“I get up each day excited about what or who I’ll be working with next. It’s inspiring and a privilege to be a part of the creative music process as a facilitator – guiding and watching the great talent surrounding me.”
– Holly Hutchison Weinman
The AnRGirl Difference…
With AnRGirl you get direct information based on real life experiences while an Executive A&R at Atlantic and Capitol Records, as well as a champion of independent projects from 30 year music industry expert Holly Hutchison. This is invaluable information that isn’t found in a book and most often times not even learned in classrooms at schools who have Music Business programs.
Now you can learn from your private tutor Holly Hutchison!
With AnRGirl, you know who is listening to your music and giving the feedback or advice firsthand. Not only do you know who you are are dealing with, you never know what other opportunities lie beyond building the contact relationship.
AnRGirl Learning Lessons…
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