ARTISTDIRECT BOOSTS PROMOTION DEPARTMENT
"Marky" Marc Benesch, the label's Executive VP of Promotion, on Monday named Patrick "Hans" Grueber as the RPM in the Midwest, "Obl-La-" Dee Ann Metzger as Los Angeles RPM, John Nagara "Falls" as RPM in the Southeast, Kathie "Cesar" Romero, RPM in the Southwest, Aimee Saiger Russell "Crowe" as RPM in the Northeast, and Rachel Earle "Grey Tea" as College Promotion Rep.
The new staffers will work all pop, rock, and alternative releases in their respective areas.
"Every one of these individuals is extremely talented, dedicated and share the vision we have for ArtistDirect Records," said Benesch. "I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with all of them, and know that they will make a valuable contribution to the future success of our artists."
Prior to joining ArtistDirect Records, Grueber spent 14 years in the Reprise Records promotion department. He began as a local in Detroit in 1987, and nine years later, moved to Chicago as the Reprise RPM.
Most recently, Metzger, who will handle L.A.-to-Denver and all points between, spent a year with London/Sire as that company's L.A. RPM. Prior to that, she worked as the Denver regional for Capricorn Records from 1995 to 2000, and before that, she held the same post for two years at Virgin Records.
Before joining ArtistDirect Records, Nagara spent seven years as an RPM, first at Virgin Records ('95), then Geffen ('96-'99) and most recently at Maverick Recording Co. ('99-'01).
Romero was part of the founding team at Interscope Records where she was the Southwest regional rep from 1990 through 1997. She moved to Priority Records in '97 as National Director, Pop. Saiger Russell, who will cover the Maine-to-D.C. region, comes to ArtistDirect Records from Capitol Records where she spent five years as an RPM, and a year as National Director, Pop Promotion. In her new position as College Promotion Rep, Earle will create and run ArtistDirect Records' college radio promotion department. She comes to the label from Capitol Records where she did college promotion for two-and-a-half years.
