Filed under: Reviews | Tags: Animal Collective, Art Is Air, Becky Johns, Ben Harper, Blind Pilot, Calvin Harris, Chamberlain, Dillinger Escape Plan, Discovery, Erase/Rewind, Eurovision, Faded Paper Figurines, Family of the Year, Few & Far Between, Glassjaw, I Forget It's There, Jack Muldowney, Jason Link, Junior Boys, Lay Low, Led Zeppelin, Lil' Wayne, Ludacris, Miike Snow, Muscles, Nathaniel South, Neon Indian, pb&j, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Stairs, Street Singer, Sufjan Stevens, Temper Trap, The Cardigans, The lk, Tonic, Travis McCoy, Travis Stoliker, Trey Songz, Usher, Working On It
This month, rather than list music I’ve been listening to, I wanted to know what airwaves others are gasping for. Enjoy-
Nathaniel South
Northern Indiana Poet
Presence: @thisissouth, Art Is Air
Crushes: Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Dillinger Escape Plan, Lay Low
Becky Johns
Downtown Lansing PR Guru
Presence: @beckyjohns, Working On It
Crushes: Temper Trap, The Cardigans, Tonic, Ben Harper, Led Zeppelin
Jason Link
Chicago Record Label Graphic Artist
Presence: @doublej2000, The Doublej Show
Crush: Family of the Year
Travis Stoliker
Michigan Web Marketer
Presence: @tstoliker, Thoughts On…
Crushes: Glassjaw, Ludacris, Blind Pilot, Lil’ Wayne, Trey Songz, Usher, Sufjan Stevens, Few & Far Between, Chamberlain, Travis McCoy
Jack Muldowney
Chicago Freelance Designer
Presence: @jackmuldowney, All Things Creative
Crushes: Miike Snow, Animal Collective, Faded Paper Figures, Junior Boys, pb&j, Muscles, The LK, Calvin Harris, Discovery, Neon Indian
The weather is changing, I figured my music library could use some updating too. Thanks for the suggestions, guys!
What about you – do you have something to add?
Filed under: Notes From the Industry | Tags: Animal Collective, Billboard, Billions Corporation, Booking Agency Directory, Boutique Booking Agency, Chicago, Girl Talk, Matt & Kim, New York City, Social Mention, The Windish Agency, Tom Windish, Twendz
Currently listening to: Crystal Castles – Vanished
In the ever-revising music industry, it is becoming increasingly difficult for musicians to find a promotion powerhouse with artist-focused motives. The Windish Agency, a Chicago-based booking company, is the exception. With a roster of over 200 artists over a span of seven countries, this inventive team makes professional relationships and clients’ success their priority. Tom Windish, the owner of the agency, started his endeavor with the intentions of signing only indie bands, and only those that had music that caught his ear for talent in addition to having personable managers and publicists. It is this innovative thinking that earned The Windish Agency the number one place on Billboard’s The Indie Issue: The Visionaries and nominated for the Boutique Booking Agency of the Year in 2008.
With artists like Girl Talk, Animal Collective and Matt & Kim gaining popularity, as well as a laundry list of over-seas acts dying to play shows in the Big Apple, it only makes sense that The Windish Agency make a home for themselves there. That is why in January, Tom Windish announced the early February opening of their second branch, located in New York City.
So, how is the media reacting? Industry friends such as Billboard, No Door Agency, The Rock Garden and IOU Music are eager to spread the word. To what extent? Take a look at this:
In just a week’s time, the agency has achieved a 6% reach throughout the social media world. One can assume this is because Windish, who started with a lawn mowing company in high school, graduated to an agent at Billions Corporation, then began The Windish Agency in his apartment in 2004, is a man with endless experience, connections and drive. And while his goal is not to take over record labels’ territory, he does sense room for growth in the agency’s role:
“These days I think agencies are fulfilling a lot of roles that used to be handled by record labels or managers” said Windish in his 2010 interview with the Booking Agency Directory.
Bold. And it is this type of break from tradition that provides propellant to my ongoing inquisition: what will be the future model of the music industry?
