3Q

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Jen:

Jen Tanner is Vice President of Global Brand Partnerships at RCA Records. She leads RCA's efforts to learn about an artist’s personality, stories, and dreams outside of music, and connect those interests to the music strategies of brands via branded content, experiential activations, and endorsement deals worldwide.

Her portfolio includes collaborations with brands like PlayStation, BMW, Patrón, Essentia, and Peloton, among others. Campaigns she has spearheaded have gone on to win awards at Cannes Lions and the Clio Awards, including a 2022 Clio Music Grand Prize for Partnerships & Collaborations. She was also named to Billboard’s 2022 40 Under 40 List.

A longstanding member of the RCA team, Jen first joined as an intern for the brand partnerships department in 2013. Since then she's been a part of the ubiquitous evolution of brand partnerships in music, having executed partnerships for superstars such as Alicia Keys, Doja Cat, Kesha, Kygo, Khalid, and SZA as well as the next generation of breakthrough talent including Tate McRae, Latto and Fousheé, among others.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Lynn:

Starting from the bottom as a receptionist at MCA Records, Lendway quickly worked her way into the A&R department assisting the VP and Director of A&R. With great support from her bosses, she was fast-tracked to a Manager of A&R and became a fixture in the NYC music clubs. After a shake-up at the label, Lendway took the opportunity to move into artist management working with legendary rock superstars, KISS. While working with the band as Label Liaison, Recording Manager & Tour Coordinator, she experienced artist management and the ins and outs of touring at the feet of the masters. Not wanting to leave NYC when the band relocated their home office, Lendway found an opportunity for herself at Zomba Music (parent company of Jive Records) building their new producer management arm until a friend lured her away to become booking manager at the world-renowned recording studio, The Hit Factory. The education she received at the studio was invaluable and, having developed a passion for managing music producers, when given the opportunity to lead the producer division at a management company, she jumped at the chance. With this new position, she was able to manage her own stable of producers until she finally broke off and started her own producer management company.

During this time, Lendway was urged to jointly manage a developing rock band and she decided to accept that wildly thankless task. Interestingly, though thankless, it’s also the most creative position she had ever held. Managing a well-known band is hard work but it’s easy to get people to answer the phones. Developing artists is a challenge. During this time, she was also able to find significant funding to start an independent record label and co-created and co-produced a TV series for the IFC network starring the band she co-managed.

 As the financial market turned, the label investors decided to cut and run and the TV series was wrapping up its run, in a tale as old as time, the band broke up shortly thereafter, so Lendway found herself once again in the major label system as Sr. Director of A&R at Sony Masterworks and then VP of A&R at Decca US / Verve Music Group / Universal working with classical, adult contemporary, and Broadway artists as well as film score composers, and movie soundtracks, and Broadway cast albums. As the pandemic gave everyone to pause and shone a bright light on the changes in the music industry, like so many, Lendway reevaluated her circumstances and went back to running her own business. Currently, she’s focused on developing artists and creating partnership opportunities between music-focused and music adjacent businesses.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

About Chloe:

A graduate of NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Chloe Weise began her career in music as an intern at RCA/Jive Label Group, working in both the A&R and International Marketing departments. In 2012, she was hired full-time as the assistant to the Head of A&R at RCA Records and eventually promoted to her current role, Vice President, A&R. During her time as an executive at RCA, Chloe has looked after multi-platinum-selling & chart-topping albums including Sia’s This Is Acting, featuring her Billboard Hot 100 #1 single, “Cheap Thrills,” Pentatonix’s robust original & holiday catalog that has sold over 14 million albums to date in the US alone, the Backstreet Boys’ Billboard 200-topping comeback album, DNA, their first album to debut at #1 in nearly 20 years, and Miley Cyrus’s #1 Billboard Rock album, Plastic Hearts, as well as projects from ZAYN, Fantasia & more and signed artists like rising singer/songwriter, Sasha Sloan, and Spotify Billions Club member, Trevor Daniel, in addition to records like Walker Hayes’ breakout single, “Fancy Like.” Chloe is currently focused on breaking country juggernaut, Kane Brown, as a global crossover star, in addition to developing new music from established superstars & critically acclaimed artists like Becky G, Martin Garrix, Tate McRae & Purple Disco Machine.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

The best part? Every executive answers the same three questions and 3Q never takes more than 15 minutes of your time.

About Lauren:

Lauren Christy is co-creator of The Matrix, the trio wrote and produced the worldwide phenomenon Avril Lavigne’s “LET GO” which included three international number one hits: ‘Complicated,’ ‘Sk8er Boi ‘and ‘I’m With You’ - selling 25 million copies. For ‘Complicated’, the Matrix trio won the Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of The Year. The Matrix also received seven Grammy nominations: Song of the Year in 2003 for ‘Complicated’and again in 2004 for I’m With You along with Producer of the Year (Lauren is one of only 2 women to ever be nominated for producing acts other than themselves )

The Matrix has sold more than 30 million records and has worked with artists including Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz (The Remedy), Shakira (Don’t Bother), Liz Phair (Why Can’t I), Korn(Coming Undone, Twisted Transister), David Bowie (New Killer Star), Christina Aguilera (This Year), Ricky Martin (This Is Good), Britney Spears (Shadow), Rihanna (Cheers), among many others.

Lauren's recent independent work includes Enrique Iglesias’s worldwide number one hit Tonight I’m Loving You, Chris Medina (What Are Words), Kelly Clarkson (I Forgive You), Bebe Rexha (I’m Gonna Show You Crazy, Me Myself and I, I Got You, Last Hurrah, Bad Bitch), Dua Lipa (Blow Your Mind Mwah ) Iggy Azalea (Team), Avril Lavigne (It Was In Me, Souvenir), The Struts (Body Talks, In Love with the Camera, People), KORN (Colder, Gravity of Discomfort)

Lauren recently started her own Record label Youth Be Served Records (YBS Records) signing 4 artists Jenn Bostic (Take my Hand Part 1), Tassia Zappia, Rosse, and her daughter's band SkyeChristy.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

The best part? Every executive answers the same three questions and 3Q never takes more than 15 minutes of your time.

About Ryan:

Ryan Butler serves as Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the Recording Academy where he leads diversity, equity, and inclusion internally and externally for the Recording Academy and its affiliates. He is responsible for enterprise-wide diversity and inclusion efforts and ensuring the Academy's core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion remain embedded throughout all aspects of the organization, including internal staff culture, Membership, Awards, Advocacy, and related programs. Within DEI, he's led various efforts including the launch of the Academy's first-ever Black Music Collective. In 2020, he was a founding member and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee on the Recording Academy's Staff Council. Butler also serves on the Warner Music Group & Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board, and the ADCOLOR for Music Advisory Board.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

The best part? Every executive answers the same three questions and 3Q never takes more than 15 minutes of your time.

About Tony:

Tony Grotticelli is the VP of Marketing at TalkShopLive, where he oversees all facets of marketing from digital & consumer marketing to business development and advertising. He has nearly a decade of experience in the music industry, focusing on digital marketing and technology.  Previous Vice President of Digital Marketing at Universal Music Group for over a decade he has worked with some of the biggest names in music; Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, Ben Folds, George Strait, Paramore, Sam Hunt, Roy Orbison, Alan Jackson and many more. Tony is an advocate for the startups and an advisor for Project Music in Nashville. A professor at Belmont University, Mike Curb College of Music Business. Alumni of SOLID Nashville, Leadership Music and most recently Elevate Leadership Donelson/Hermitage. 

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

The best part? Every executive answers the same three questions and 3Q never takes more than 15 minutes of your time.

About Chris:

A City College graduate, Chris Atlas began his career as an intern at Tommy Boy Records; within his first year of interning, he focused on compilation research. Impressed by his passion, knowledge, and aggressiveness toward the music industry, Tom Silverman- President of Tommy Boy invited him to join the team. In his tenure at Tommy Boy, he served as a Product Manager, National Director of Rap Promotion, A&R and founder of Tommy Boy black label, and General Manager of Urban Music Promotions. In 2001, Atlas joined Cornerstone Promotion as VP of Urban Marketing & Radio Promotions managing the mix show promotion team and production of monthly promotional hip-hop and R&B mix CDs created each month titled The Cornerstone Mix tape Atlas was also involved in the corporate strategies and execution for several of Cornerstone’s biggest corporate clients including Sprite, Reebok and Boost Mobile to name a few. From 2008- 2017, Atlas served as EVP of marketing at Def Jam Recordings overseeing the marketing and brand identity for the iconic label and its roster of artists. In 2017 Atlas joined Warner Records as SVP Marketing/Head of Urban Marketing working to build out the urban presence for the label’s developing roster and helming projects on Lil Pump, Saweetie, YFN Lucci, Wale, and NLE Choppa to name a few. In July 2020, Atlas was promoted to EVP of Urban Music and Marketing for the label. Atlas is the recipient of the Culture Creators awards in 2016. He was also recently listed as one of XXL Magazine’s Hip Hop Heavyweights of 2022

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

The best part? Every executive answers the same three questions and 3Q never takes more than 15 minutes of your time.

About Dylan:

Clio Award-winning executive Dylan Brewer is the VP of Marketing & Head of Experiential at Epic Records. Dylan started his career right out of college at Google in Music Partnerships, collaborating with artists such as Ariana Grande, Sam Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Demi Lovato, and The 1975.

He then left to work in Marketing at Def Jam Recordings where he worked with Justin Bieber on his ‘Purpose’ album -- ultimately pivoting his passion to focus on creative direction + experiential marketing.

Brewer arrived at Epic in 2018 as Director of Marketing, where he spearheads marketing strategy for, among others, Ozzy Osbourne, Madison Beer, Bakar, BEAM, AG Club, Headie One and J Hus. He received his CLIO in recognition of the largest global release event in rock and roll history, a global tattoo campaign for Ozzy's Ordinary Man album which saw concurrent listening parties at tattoo shops in 57 cities worldwide.

No matter where you are in your career, you’ll benefit from listening to 3Q.

3Q provides a window into the careers of some of the best in the music business. Every episode is an insider's view of the realities of life as a music executive. Topics include issues of empowerment, uncertainty, trust, finances, etc; issues that will impact you both personally and professionally. The executives we interview represent every aspect of the industry including but not limited to A&R, Marketing, Music Supervision, Artist Management, Promotion, and more.

The best part? Every executive answers the same three questions and 3Q never takes more than 15 minutes of your time.

About Laurel:

Before partnering with Primary Wave, Laurel Stearns for a year and a half-built a small roster at Prospect Park(The Firm) with Red Fang, Father John Misty, White Denim and Jenny O. Laurel spent 8 years at Capitol Records, 3.5 years at Red Light Management and 6 years as an independent manager. During her tenure at Capitol Records, Laurel ushered in bands such as Interpol, The Decemberists, Shout Out Louds, Fischerspooner, Sparklehorse, and LCD Soundsystem.  During her tenure at Capitol Laurel realized there were many bands that she was passionate about that belonged nowhere near a major label. With two partners, launched Cold Sweat Records/Caroline. From that label, No Age(WIVES), Battles, Health,  Devendra Banhart, Yahowa 13, and many others were discovered and released. Laurel along with 3 others, opened the LA office of Redlight Mgmt, brought The Decemberists and Alberta Cross, and worked on Chris Cornell’s solo effort.  

As an independent manager, Laurel managed: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Mammoth), The Descendents, ALL(Epitaph), GWAR(Metal Blade), The Paladins (4AD) Plastilina Mosh (Capitol). Laurel helped develop fan bases for these bands with branded tours & creative marketing ideas (ie: comic book in-stores for GWAR, shows on cruise ships for Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Descendent’s “Caffeine Nation Tour” – which did not allow any beer sponsors or corporate posters in the venue, etc.), An orchestra tour with The Decemberists (largest audiences the band had played to).  Earlier in her career, Laurel also scouted for The Sony WORK group, where she was involved in the album set up for artists such as Fiona Apple, Jennifer Lopez, Jamiroquai & Eagle Eye Cherry. Currently managing: U.S. Girls (4AD/Beggars), Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith (Ghostly Int/Secretly Canadian), Red Fang (Relapse/Orchard), The Album Leaf(Nettwerk), The Session aka Christian James Hand