WHEELS 2.0 PREACHES TO THE CHOIR, PAINTS THE TOWN RED
By Jesse Beer-Dietz
Check out my interview with Union Entertainment Group manager Jason Fowler, and keep feedin’ the inbox: [email protected]
SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT
The Late Show’s Gospel Choir: The singing group was formed 16 years ago at the request of Paul Shaffer, Musical Director of The Late Show With David Letterman. Here are some of the Choir’s career highlights:
—Over the years, the Gospel Choir has performed over a dozen times on the show.
—The Choir won Gigmaster's Rising Star Award from 2008 through 2010 for getting the most gigs online, and for making the most revenue as a choir.
—They did backing vocals on Burning Spear's Grammy-winning Jah Is Real.
—They just backed up new rock group Oliver James on the touching song "Keep Breathing," which is quickly rising up the AC charts.
—Earlier this spring, the Choir released a CD single of the Grammy-nominated song "Dancing in the Spirit," which is now available on CD Baby.
—This summer, members of the Choir made a special appearance on MTV Unplugged, performing a cover of U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name with Thirty Seconds to Mars.
—The Choir toured Spain last summer to SRO-packed houses and rave reviews.
—They were featured in New York magazine's special issue on Winter Weddings 2012.
—They’ll take their Christmas Holiday Tour to Spain this December, starting on Dec. 8 and culminating on Christmas Eve.
—Choir founder Lady Peachena is putting the finishing touches on their debut album, God Bless America.
Interested fans can check out their websites at http://www.ladypeachena.com and www.lateshowsgospelchoir.com, or visit YouTube to see videos of this spirited choir singing in Spain. For bookings, email Lady Peachena ([email protected]).
EMAIL Q&A WITH MANAGER JASON FOWLER OF UEG
How did you get started in the music business?
I came in from the backside as an artist. I got the record deal and lived the van-and-trailer dream to obscurity.
Have you always wanted to be in management?
I really didn’t know there was such a thing. I was always the guy handling all the business for the bands that I was in, so I thought that is just how it worked. Then, when I got a deal and we had a manager, I still did all the things for my band, so I was like, who is this guy?—ha-ha.
Talk about the amazing success you have had with Red.
When I first got the call from A&R, I passed on the band. The label had never really worked a hard-rock band before, so I felt it was going to be a career-long battle. Then the head of the label called me and said that they would work hand in hand with me and take my lead; I think that is what every manager dreams of, so the label and I went for it. Red has always been one of those dream bands to work with because they hand you their career and say, "Here we are. You lead and lets do this." I’ve dealt with a few bands in the past that basically wanted a manager just to do the paperwork and they made all of the decisions, even against your judgment. Those always end in a train wreck. Everyone from the label to agents to distribution has worked really hard for the band, and even though our budgets are lower, we still sell records. The band is just very well-respected by the industry, and that means a lot.
What music, signed or unsigned, are you liking these days?
I started managing a country writer, so I have really been diving into country. Being a songwriter myself from yesteryear, I really appreciate how country tells a life story. One of our artists is Brian "Head "Welch, and I really like his new single. I just love music, so I’m not really a one-genre guy.
What makes you want to sign a band for management?
I think first and foremost is a connection with them personally. I have pretty much managed most my bands for the entirety of their career, and without a common ground that is impossible. I still manage the first band I ever managed. I can tell within the first five minutes of a meeting if the artist and me will work. If an artist is all about money and being big, then that is not the artist for me. I will happily take you there if possible, but it can’t be your focus. Those bands will jump ship to the flavor of the month and have 10 managers in their short career.
Second is, I would like for the band to have some sort of deal in place, as we all know it is next to impossible to get a record deal nowadays, so I would rather find a band that an A&R guy loves already instead of trying to make one love it. But that being said, nearly all of my artists have been broken from the ground up, so I don’t mind the hard work if I love the members and the music.
If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be and why?
Man I have sat on this question for a while, and having a beautiful four-year-old daughter, I should have a plethora of choices, but I keep coming back to Goofy for some god-awful reason. I guess if you know me, you would understand—ha-ha.
