WHAT’S INSIDE: INDUSTRY Q&A: John Butler of Spotify Q&A with

John Butler

News By Jess Chambers

Radio Movement John Butler’s career in the music industry spans over 20+ years in nearly every genre of music. After 15 years at Celebrations Curb in radio promotions, he now serves and Milestones at Spotify – overseeing Christian music globally. Appearances in Film/TV

Top Artists on Social Media Continued on page 4

John Butler Movement

NEWS Integrity Music signed Joseph Rojas, singer, songwriter and frontman for Christian producer Martin Smith rock band Seventh Day and announced the Slumber, launched July release of Smith’s Nashville Label Group first live album, Love in April. It will house two imprints: Song For A City. They Rockfest Records and Burtonwood also signed Here Be Records. Both labels will be distributed Maximum Artist Group recently Lions and announced by New Day Christian, with digital announced promotions and team the release of their distribution by Capitol Christian Music additions. Dennis Disney was debut album, Only A Holy God. Group. elevated to the position of Senior Additionally, they welcomed worship Vice President/Chief Operating leaders David and Nicole Binion, Darius Brooks, the former music Officer and Ben Pogue has been signing them to a publishing and director of the late Rev. Milton promoted to Artist Manager. Jordan recording agreement with their first Brunson’s Grammy® Award winning Greiner was added as an artist project, a live album recorded at TBN Thompson Community Singers (also manager, while Tina Johanning studios in Dallas, Texas, releasing in known as The Tommies), signed a joined the team as Executive Assistant August. deal with Tyscot Records to release, to the President and Senior Vice The Tommies Reunion (Tyscot), a live President. AJ Strout joined the recording, on October 26th. Boxer Poet Promotion O’Neil Hagaman, LLC, promoted Lillian Team. Boxer Poet Ellie Holcomb signed a publishing Williams and Legina Chaudoin to was established in 2017 and is led by deal with Capitol Christian Music Partner positions. music industry veteran, Andrea Kleid. Publishing.

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NEWS WAY Media Network Darren Mulligan and Chief Content Officer his wife Heidi recently Reunion Records band Faron Dice has welcomed a new baby Tenth Avenue North’s announced that Carlos boy, River James Mike Donehey and Jeff Anthony has been named Operations Monaghan Mulligan. Owen launched a new label imprint, Coordinator / Night Show Producer Remade Records. for WAY-FM. Carlos comes to WAY-FM BIRTHDAYS after a stint with Entercom in New York, July 10 – Andrew Greer Leadership Music announced the (including WCBS, WNEW, and WBMP.) Class of 2019. The prestigious program July 15 – Carmen Justice Mike Novak, CEO of includes a few industry veterans with Educational Media ties to Christian music, including: Ryan July 16 – Yancy Richmond Foundation (K-LOVE Dokke, Senior Vice President/General / Air1) announced his July 17 – Dustin Smith of Here Be Lions Manager, Curb/Word Entertainment, retirement in the coming months. Leigh Holt, Co-Owner/Manager, July 18 – Ricky Skaggs Novak joined EMF in November of Redjett Management, and Paul 1998 and has been the CEO for the last July 21 – Da’dra Greathouse Moak, Producer/Studio Owner, The eleven years. He will continue to serve Smoakstack. July 22 – Sonya Isaacs as CEO as the EMF Board of Directors searches for his successor. July 25 – Ben Isaacs RADIO Brant Hansen was KSBJ Educational recently a guest on FILM & TV Foundation is excited the “Focus on the MercyMe took center to announce that Family” broadcast. He discussed stage at Friday’s FOX & Drew Wilson will anger, forgiveness, and his first book, Friends’ All-American “Unoffendable.” return to Houston as Summer Concert Series. the Assistant Program Director at 89.3 Amidst the live performances, the 5X KSBJ. Wilson most recently served as Radio Movement Provided by GRAMMY nominees were surprised by HisAir.net WAYFM’s Operation Director. hosts Brian Kilmeade, Steve Doocy and Abby Huntsman with RIAA Former KSBJ/Houston President/ CELEBRATIONS certified triple platinum (3 million General Manager Tim McDermott has albums sold) plaques for their landmark accepted the role as Chief Operating Cody Carnes and album Almost There. The morning Officer at Praise FM/Praise Live in Kari Jobe announced show appearance timed with the Jun. Minneapolis. they’re adding another 12 blue-ray and DVD release of the member to their family blockbuster movie I Can Only Imagine, J103 (Chattanooga) in February 2019. The couple has a two- which is available digitally now. has announced that year old son named Canyon. Ted Gocke has been Multi-platinum selling artist TobyMac promoted to Program Five-time Grammy Award-nominated took the stage at FOX & Friends’ All- Director. In addition to Ted’s new and six-time Dove Award winning American Summer Concert Series in responsibilities, he will continue serving family group, Karen Peck and New New York City on June 29th. He as the Morning Show Host and oversee River are thrilled to announce the performed his single, I Just Need U. Promotions. Kaitlin Kibble has also June 2nd marriage of Karen’s son, been promoted to Promotions Director. Matthew Gooch to Preslee Mortenson. 12-time Grammy The wedding ceremony was held at Award-winner and Family Life Radio (FLR) Immanuel Baptist Church in beautiful gospel legend CeCe was featured is pleased to announce Lexington, Kentucky. Winans on America’s national Independence that Brian Neuwirth Provident’s Director Day Celebration on July 4th. The event has joined the Family of National Radio was broadcast live on PBS from the Life Radio team in the newly created Promotion, Charles West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. role of National Events and Promotions Van Dyke and his wife Director. Jennifer welcome new baby girl. Lynlee “War Cry” by Social Club Misfits (feat. Rachel Buchanan has Kate was born May 22 and weighed Tauren Wells) was included in ESPN’s been named General 8lbs 12oz. SEC Women’s Promos. Manager of HOME. fm, Spring Arbor Rapper KJ – 52 and his wife Christa To see your sync placements featured University’s proprietary radio station. recently celebrated their 20th wedding in our upcoming newsletter, send us anniversary. an email: [email protected].

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TOP 20 ARTISTS ON FACEBOOK TOP 20 ARTISTS ON TWITTER TOP 20 ARTISTS ON INSTAGRAM

Tercer Cielo 18,295,711 Ricardo Montaner 8,914,836 Hillsong United 1,666,891

Jesus Adrian Romero 11,008,239 Juan Luis Guerra 7,829,941 Erica Campbell 1,621,819

Thalles Roberto 8,729,966 Kirk Franklin 1,737,162 Tamela Mann 1,453,233

Alex Campos 7,611,473 Lecrae 1,685,341 Lecrae 1,303,893

Juan Luis Guerra 7,514,070 Thalles Roberto 1,268,167 Tercer Cielo 1,278,391

Marcos Witt 6,299,079 Marcos Witt 1,189,630 Kari Jobe 1,172,756

Lilly Goodman 6,045,049 Hillsong United 1,174,179 Hillsong Worship 1,126,877

Hillsong United 5,766,101 Jesus Adrian Romero 1,142,624 Christine D’Clario 1,094,888

Ricardo Montaner 5,630,496 Alex Campos 1,113,899 Lilly Goodman 1,091,501

Don Moen 5,426,129 Chris Tomlin 1,011,520 Jesus Culture 1,080,482

Skillet 5,179,920 Tercer Cielo 912,780 Marcos Witt 1,039,233

Marcela Gandara 4,740,520 Marcela Gandara 744,119 Kirk Franklin 1,035,176

Casting Crowns 4,628,129 Lilly Goodman 717,249 Bethel Music 1,029,668

Hillsong Worship 4,464,110 Kari Jobe 697,917 Marcela Gandara 1,010,858

TobyMac 4,240,906 Marco Barrientos 693,921 Alex Campos 1,008,219

Danilo Montero 4,166,709 Danilo Montero 667,861 Tasha Cobbs 926,965

Mary Mary 3,737,944 Jesus Culture 624,326 Redimi2 878,126

Chris Tomlin 3,542,532 TobyMac 606,772 Marco Barrientos 829,887

Marco Barrientos 3,516,377 Mary Mary 573,254 Hillsong Young & Free 828,305

Daniel Calveti 2,917,419 Michael W. Smith 565,566 NF 822,319

Carman Karen Peck The Staples Singers

Chonda Pierce Bishop Marvin Sapp Ryan Lampa

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In this interview, he speaks candidly about the project got going. This was a small group of people, challenges facing our genre and he explains how Spotify but with the right music and people who were open, is working to grow the culture of Christian music talented and focused, we were able to effect culture … by breaking down barriers and opening doors to all we had a #1 song with “Kiss Me”. But it went far beyond different types of consumers. a chart number and it resonates nearly 20 years later. I’m quoting Steve here, and it resonates to me now, that it was about the character of those people and not simply their talent. My

Looking back on your journey up to role was radio promotion, yet, I learned this point, what moments prepared so much about publishing, film and you for the role you are in now at TV, managing a schedule on the road, Spotify? helping coordinate events, etc. - all of that was all technically outside of my job Butler: Working for smaller, title. Your flexibility is your opportunity. independent labels – which I did for a If you’re passionate, arrive ready, listen good portion of my career - was a forced and then get thrown into lots of different perspective to learn flexibility. No matter challenges – it creates learning and problem what role I was ever in, you had to be all hands solving. Now I oversee music culture and in with everyone else on the team. That experience curation for any genre which is diverse musically and gives you a better understanding and empathy for others in message, and my background is in artist promotion within a whole organization and it stretched and grew and marketing as well as in different music genres. The me beyond my own starting capacities. This was really experiences I’ve had shape the way I work with others true during the time of working with Steve Taylor at and hopefully helps build an all in mentality within our Squint Entertainment as the Sixpence None The Richer wider team.

4 | GOSPELMUSIC.ORG JULY 2018 Over the years you’ve seen Christian music evolve. So, Spotify has to be able to provide a great user How do you think our genre will continue to experience for people that want all types of music and change and develop? context is key here. There’s more opportunity for context for this music to reach people that would not normally Butler: We have a music culture that from the outside can choose to listen to Christian music. be viewed as a bit closed – that it may serve this culture only. There are people that feel like they can’t listen to How much do you look at data? Christian music because they’re not Christian. That’s Butler: a great challenge to me. Users may wonder why would Everyday! It challenges, it affirms, it creates they consume a culture that they don’t have anything in hypotheses, it humbles, it exhilarates, it shows you a common with, right? When you’re faced with an outside different perspective, it confirms things that you think culture that looks at it like that – it’s a real problem ... you know, and it challenges concepts that you may have thought were true. Someone can say what But streaming services are challenging they do, but the data confirms what they this. The scope of this music is beyond the actually do. box if you will. People are discovering this music in places and in contexts that What are your challenges for serve great reach. We’re all playing a Christian music within the Spotify platform? bit of catch up as to the behavior of This music is about people that want this music and how Butler: I think there are challenges they use it. “ our life. This music with any genre. There’s different The audience is teaching us that wins because what music cultures that all have their own music is about life. This music wins is most personal idiosyncrasies and work sometimes because what is most personal here harmoniously and sometimes not. (faith, living life, what are we all here (faith, living The user ultimately decides what it is about), these are all questions that life, what we are all they want to consume. If there’s any are as universal as it can get. The challenge for Christian music, is that messages this music carries are the about), these are all it’s called ‘Christian.’ But this is also greatest story the world has ever questions that are a challenge for any ‘genre’ title. You known. best or worst connection with Jazz as universal as it can determines how you view the genre. My hope is that scale and reach on the get. The messages It’s why context and message are so service allows and liberates creatives critical for discovery for people who in our space to make great music, this music carries love the genre and those who wouldn’t podcasts, spoken word, you name it. are the greatest ever choose to listen to it. When you know that the message is going to be powerful because it’s the story the world has In what ways are you steering message of God, there’s no stopping ever known. the ship of music consumption this. at Spotify as it relates to the Christian genre? What do you hope for Christian music on the Butler: Spotify platform? I spend a lot of time working and guiding our editorial team and our internal and external teams Butler: I hope that users think of it as something less of to create new ways to grow this music and find the music that they listen to on Sunday, as well as in Christian connecting points of language with culture at large. titled playlists. Of course, we love that but they will and Finding a common language. Doing this we’re helping the do find this music stretched into other genres and music user discover and consume something new, or re-discover experiences on platform. That’s happening now and it’s something they love even in the same context of a playlist. really exciting. Being able to do that that is a gift beyond anything I can express.

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THREE BOOKS YOU’D RECOMMEND?:

1. The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use it For Life - Twyla Tharp

2. The Person and the Situation - Lee Ross and Richard Nisbett

3. The Screwtape Letters - CS Lewis

THREE THINGS STILL LEFT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?:

1. A lot of them have to do with travel which would include visiting Loch Ness in Scotland, a week or two in Japan, Australia, and India 2. Having a role on a sit- com 3. Playing in the Saturday Night Live band

THREE FAVORITE RECORDS OF ALL TIME?

Definitely the hardest question! 1. Friday Night in San Francisco - Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin and Paco De Lucia 2. Blue - Joni Mitchell 3. Innervisions - Stevie Wonder

WHAT IS YOUR ENNEAGRAM?

7

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