February 13, 2017, Issue 536 Meet Warner’s Matt Signore Named as incoming Warner Music Nashville COO as far back as July, Matt Signore brings 25 years of record busi- ness experience, a long history with WMN Chairman/CEO John Esposito and a few other Nashville connections to the role he started Jan. 1. CA: How did you end up in the music business? MS: I worked as a CPA in New York for a big accounting firm. Back in that day with those jobs, you hoped one of your clients would hire you. I had a friend who worked on the acquisition of Island Records by Polygram, went there and basically had a job for me. I was 26 years old, got a $3,000 raise and I could wear jeans to work. I came home and said, “I think I want to do this.” I wasn’t a musician and didn’t want to be in the music business, necessarily. But I went to work for Matt Signore Island and ultimately Island/Def Jam on the business side. How did you meet Espo? Exclusive Club: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am tournament winner In 1994, he was the head of catalog sales at Polygram. He was Jordan Spieth (l) and partner Jake Owen celebrate a big the guy trying to get labels to clear things for catalog work, and my weekend on the links. In addition to the pair placing third in boss was a pain in the ass. His first memory of me was as the fi- the Pro-Am, Owen was honored with the Arnie Award, which nance guy at Island who helped him get stuff done. When Universal he is holding. “Having my family there, and my cancer-free bought Polygram and created Island/Def Jam, Espo was GM. Dad caddying for me all week made it so special,” Owen says. I was going to leave the company in 2000, but he created a job for me. My title was basically “everybody’s best friend.” I was the business guy who helped all the operating departments do Bandtwango Funds The Fun Artists using crowd funding websites isn’t new – but industry better with their business operations. Promotion, sales, marketing vet John Alexander felt something was missing from the concept – they all have a business element to what they do. It was fasci- after a friend raised capital for her album. “She had this money, nating for me and really bonded the two of us. If he doesn’t make but didn’t know what to do with it,” says Alexander, who, with that opportunity for me, I probably (continued on page 6) business partner Carl Allocco, created Bandtwango. ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 13, 2017 Page 4 “I thought it would be cool to have a company where you refunded. So it’s a way an artist can go out on the road without the help an artist raise funds to do a project, go on tour or raise risk of losing money. And it gives fans the opportunity to have a money for a charity, and help them in an artist development really cool experience with that artist.” way,” he explains. “And also help them by introducing them to A third company offering is called Special Projects, in which industry professionals who can assist. Bandtwango is a place Bandtwango works with artists to raise money for a charity, an where campaigns are marketed to an artist’s fan base, but when emergency situation that may involve a natural disaster, or a fan we put together a budget, there’s also a plan to budget in an whose family has a medical emergency. infrastructure. Alexander likens Bandtwango, which charges a flat 12 percent “For example, if an artist has a desire to work radio, we’ll build fee of money raised per campaign, to a “virtual management in radio promotion,” adds Alexander. “They might want to add a company.” “Another way of looking at it is, we’re like a label ser- social media marketing team, a publicist, or a distribution partner. vices team, without taking a lifelong percentage or signing away Or if they need a video director, we’d introduce them to a video di- publishing or signing any type of long-term contract. On the book- rector. We’ll make those services available as part of our services.” ing side, we’re like a concert promoter, because we’re not adverse Alexander’s past stops include marketing/branding posts to working with agencies or managers that may want help putting at GAC, Black River and Jones Radio, as well as artist manage- together a tour for their artist with unique incentives.” ment. He and Allocco spent most of last year fine-tuning their Whether working with a new artist, mid-level or heritage act, concept and in November, launched the company, which has a Alexander says Bandtwango’s goal is simple. “What we’re trying country music focus. They did a beta test with duo Hadley Park, to do is empower the artists, make them their own CEO,” he says. who are now being played on SiriusXM’s The “We want to steer them in the right direction. They can come to our Highway. “We put together a campaign for company, which has expertise in moving careers along and knows them that allowed them to fund an EP,” says how to market. We want Bandtwango to be a safe haven for them.” Alexander, “and now they have a great mar- Reach Alexander here. More on Bandtwango here. keting tool to move forward in their career.” –Wendy Newcomer Unlike most crowd funding sites, the connection doesn’t necessarily end when the goal is reached. “When you’re funded and Chart Chat you leave the program, we stay in touch,” he Congrats to Dustin Lynch, Carson John Alexander says. “You still have access to us. We’re still in James, Lee Adams, Jim Malito and the communication and artists can call us at any whole Broken Bow crew on securing this time if they need advice, guidance or they need to be connected week’s No. 1 with “Seein’s Red.” The song is with someone in any facet of the music business. We can try to his fourth consecutive chart-topper and the first facilitate that for them.” single from his upcoming album. Bandtwango’s current clients include season 15 American Idol And kudos to Capitol’s Bobby Young and finalist Jeneve Rose Mitchell and Go Long Entertainment’s Christi- Arista’s Josh Easler and their respective teams na Taylor, who launches a campaign to fund her radio promo tour on notching 64 adds for Keith Urban and Dustin Lynch Mar. 1. They’ll also be working with Red Light Management’s Tay- Carrie Underwood’s “The Fighter,” topping lor Kelly on launching an April 1 campaign for trio Maybe April. this week’s board. In addition, the company offers the live platform initiative Bandtwango Presents, with a late May kickoff at Long Island, NY 1,000-capacity venue Mulkahy’s. “We’re forming relation- News & Notes ships with smaller-capacity venues, performing arts centers and Registration is open for The T.J. Martell Foundation Young theaters,” says Alexander. “For example, we’ll put together an Professionals Council’s second annual Downtown Derby Bed intimate fan experience in five cities where an artist is popular. Race May 6 in Nashville. Register here. Learn more and do- We’ll hold dates with those theaters and put up a campaign on nate here. Bandtwango which will be a tiered participation initiative. If we Plowboy Records is celebrating five years with the launch of don’t meet our goal, those dates go away and the tickets are the Plowboy Legacy imprint and Need More Artist Manage- ©2017 Country Aircheck™ — All rights reserved. Sign up free at www.countryaircheck.com. Send news to [email protected] February 13, 2017 Page 6 ment with Ben Ewing as GM for all. More here. MY TUNES: MUSIC THAT SHAPED MY LIFE John Berry, Buddy Jewell, Ray Scott and Cyndi Thom- son will be among the performers at the “South Georgia Strong” Arista’s Seth Ennis discusses his most tornado relief benefit concert in Tifton, GA, Feb. 26. Proceeds influential music: from the show will go to those affected by recent area storms. 1. Vince Gill: He’s an influence as a guitar Tickets are $30 and may be purchased at FreshTix.com. iDitty Inc. has teamed with Big Machine Label Group player, writer and singer. But also for the person and Curb Records to produce exclusive credentials for Justin he’s known for being, which is such a good guy. Moore and Lee Brice’s co-headlined American Made Tour. 2. Luke Bryan’s Farm Tour, Valdosta, MV2 Entertainment’s David Fanning launched his 30-town GA: In high school, we didn’t have much #musicFIRST tour of middle and high schools, running through May. Dates here. Seth Ennis to do on the weekends. I’d go to a friend’s house and play the guitar and we’d sing songs around a fire. When his tour came to our hometown, it The Week’s Top Stories was the first time I’d seen that atmosphere recreated on such Full coverage at countryaircheck.com. • iHeartMedia/Springfield, MA’s John Thomas resigned. a big level. Luke can make that many people feel like they’re (2/13) all in his living room just hanging out.