HIP To The Scene

Episode 13 of HIP To The Scene answers the question: "Why is picking the right producer so important?" - with our guest Godfrey Diamond!

Lou Reed. Etta James. Frank Sinatra. Aerosmith. These are only a few of the renowned names that Godfrey Diamond has produced and sound-engineered over the years since his start in the '70s. Being able to consult and get advice from a legend in the production realm, we couldn't be more humbled to have Godfrey Diamond here to answer HIP To The Scene's episode 13 question for our viewership: "Why is picking the right producer so important?"

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Hosted by: Andy Gesner  

Episode 12 of HIP To The Scene answers the question: "What's the secret to booking a successful tour?" with our guest Greg Hoy!

For someone who coins himself as "just a guy in a band," Greg Hoy deserves every bit of attention he enjoys. He's a songwriter, producer, indie label record owner, singer, multi-instrumentalist, podcast host, and overall musical and marketing mastermind with countless success stories under his belt. 

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Tris McCall (writer, music journalist, reporter, musician, and novelist!) is our guest today to answer the question: "What is your motivation?"

One of the most important parts of music video promotion is connecting with programmers by effectively telling an artist's "signature story." But how does one develop the writing prowess to guide audiences through all the must-know details of any band's background and career? Coming in with over three decades of experience writing powerful prose is HIP To The Scene episode 11 guest Tris McCall. Whether he's writing novels like The Trespassers, blogging about New Jersey arts and politics on The Tris McCall Report, or covering the indie arts and entertainment scene through weekly news/reviews on NJ Arts and Jersey City Times, Tris has an abundance of sage wisdom, information and firsthand insights. Tris McCall is the best person to give us the answer to today's question: "What is your motivation?"

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Hosted by: Andy Gesner  

Liz Tallent (The Orange Peel + secretary of the Southeast chapter of the National Independent Venue Association [NIVA]) is our guest today to answer the question: What does the future of live music look like?

Nothing is more exhilarating than live music, but as we know, live music faced some hardships over the last two years. Still, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. To guide us, there is no one better than Liz Tallent. Liz is the secretary of the Southeast chapter of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). She's here to help us get to the bottom of a question every independent creative has been asking: "What does the future of live music look like?"  

Tallent stumbled into the live music scene in 2006, planning to work temporarily at Asheville N.C's historic concert venue The Orange Peel between jobs. As the highest ticket-selling indie artist club on the southeast circuit, The Orange Peel has showcased artists like the Beastie Boys, The Avett Brothers, Lauryn Hill, Jack White, and more. What began as covering a management role for six months turned into filling the role of venue manager and marketing/special events director right up to today! Liz’s undying passion and energy have allowed for the local music and entertainment culture to prosper, amplifying this successful setting for quality experiences for both bands and fans.

Liz’s contributions to the indie venue world don't stop there. Her involvement with NIVA has put her at the forefront of the Save the Stage movement, which provides funds to arts and entertainment entities affected by the pandemic. She recognizes that music venues are not the same as any other small businesses, and they need both internal and external support to flourish. While things are starting to look up, the effects of the pandemic continue to linger, and Tallent and others in the venue business keep working hard to save the live music industry. It's an ever-evolving, ongoing undertaking, but with knowledgeable and experienced people like Liz, we know live music is in good hands. Outside of that, Liz is also a proud wife and mother of three children. In her spare time, they love spending time in the indie music hub downtown Asheville has to offer.

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https://www.nivassoc.org/

https://theorangepeel.net/

Hosted by: Andy Gesner  

Bruce Sudano is our guest today to answer the question: As a creative, how can you possibly keep going and stay optimistic during such challenging times?

Given Bruce's lengthy record of accomplishments — working with Tommy James; rocking with Alive N Kickin' and Brooklyn Dreams; writing hit songs for Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, and Dolly Parton, to name just a few — you might expect Bruce Sudano to take his work very seriously. And that he does: when he's composing with a guitar in his hand, he's absolutely committed to the quest for the perfect melody, the sharpest hook, and the most expressive lyric. He also runs an indie record label called Purple Heart Recording Company and works closely with artists like Johnnyswim and The Zombies. With no intention of slowing down, the genre-bouncing Brooklyn-native is barreling into 2022 with a new album, fresh new hits that build on the unique sound he has curated over his remarkable career. Dancing between folk, blues, pop, and rock, Bruce Sudano brings intensity and comfort all wrapped in one, while giving voice to the voiceless in a world torn asunder.

As skilled a vocalist and guitarist as he is, he might be an even better communicator. He's determined to be understood, even when his ideas are sophisticated and his writing is complex. Spirals Vol. 1...Not A Straight Line To Be Found and Spirals Vol. 2...Time & Space In Between are collections of thoughtful songs that grapple with grown-up struggles, existential questions, and the difficulties of maintaining relationships in a world that often seems to be spinning out of control. Sudano is such a sensitive writer and strong singer that he renders all of this subject matter approachable. It's that sort of artistic flexibility that has helped sustain Bruce Sudano's status as a songwriter in demand for over five decades. On his new record, Ode To A Nightingale, he continues his winning streak of timeless gems, seven songs straight from his big, humble heart.

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https://www.brucesudano.com/

Hosted by: Andy Gesner  

Jim Peterik is our guest today on HIP To The Scene to share his vast knowledge and answer the question: "How do you have a hit song?"

How many of today's hits will people still be singing in ten years? Or dare I say - half a century from now? It takes an extraordinary musician to write songs that remain in the popular imagination for decades. Jim Peterik is one of those rare songwriters, and even if you might not be familiar with the name, you certainly know the tunes. The music he's composed is as alive to audiences as the songs in the current Top 40. Along with his ability to pen a hit, Jim is a talented instrumentalist and a strong, soulful singer. He remains the frontman and the main creative force in The Ides Of March, an ambitious, horn-spiked rock band he co-founded in Chicago in the 1960s. Peterik's unerring ear for catchy pop-rock melody has kept him in the music industry for more than half a century: over the years, he's written for everybody from REO Speedwagon to Sammy Hagar. But he'll always be best known for his work with two of the best-loved mainstream groups of the 1980s: the classic Southern rock band .38 Special, and the inspirational, universally loved Survivor. Peterik had a hand in the composition of nearly all of the hit songs recorded by both groups, including "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys," "The Search Is Over," "I Can't Hold Back," and many other enduring radio favorites. Jim and I have known each other for many years, and I'm thrilled to have him as our guest on HIP To The Scene!

Contact HIP Video Promo at 732-613-1779 or [email protected], and visit HIPVideoPromo.com to learn more about our services!

https://jimpeterik.com/

Trenton Pratt of BET joins Andy to answer the question: "How do I get my music video on BET?"

Trenton has taken on a variety of different roles over the years, including being a journalist, photographer, director, producer, and music programmer, giving him the ability to navigate these fields from a unique perspective. His career in the music industry began during his college years, where he worked as an Urban/Pop Marketing Representative for Sony Music Entertainment. Jumping on the digital marketing wave early, Trenton was able to identify tactics to boost awareness and promote new music. He brought these skills to The Syndicate, an entertainment marketing agency, where he continued to craft his talents in marketing. Trenton is now a music programmer at Viacom, where he is curating music video blocks to pique the interests of viewers at BET Jams & BET Hip-Hop. He also oversees BET branded playlists and content management. Trenton has built an impressive reputation over his career and is an information hub for all things BET.  I'm so excited to have him on this episode of HIP To The Scene where we'll be talking about all things BET and answering the question: "How do I get my music video on BET?”

Contact HIP Video Promo at 732-613-1779 or [email protected], and visit HIPVideoPromo.com to learn more about our services!

https://www.bet.com/shows/bet-jams

https://www.bet.com/shows/bet-soul.html

https://www.bet.com/shows/bet-gospel.html

https://www.bet.com

AJ Tobey of Rough Trade Publishing joins Andy to answer the question: "How do I get my music placed into TV shows, commercials, film, digital content, etc.?"

If there's one person who knows the ins and outs of the music industry, it's AJ. AJ Tobey is the badass A&R Exec at Rough Trade Publishing and Bank Robber Music, founder of Trash Casual, and even finds time to rock out with his band Ultra Major. This man has seen every side of the music industry and can answer almost every question you have. He represents his artists to the best of his ability, and he relentlessly champions each and every one. This is a man you want to have on your side when you're entering the music industry. AJ has been a close friend of the HIP family for over 15 years, and I'm so excited to have him on this episode of HIP To The Scene, where we'll be talking about music publishing and answer the question: How do I get my music placed into TV shows, commercials, film, digital content, etc.?

Contact HIP Video Promo at 732-613-1779 or [email protected], and visit HIPVideoPromo.com to learn more about our services!

https://RoughTradePublishing.com

Jerry Bryant of JBTV (JBTVonline.com / YouTube.com/user/jbtvonline) joins Andy to answer the question: "Why is consistency so important to building your career, brand, and community?"

Jerry Bryant is the founder and host of JBTV in Chicago, America's longest-running music television show. Since 1984, he's helped introduce the world to iconic artists like Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Arctic Monkeys, and BTS. On JBTV, the artists he champions have a platform and live stage to potentially be seen and heard by tens of millions.

Contact HIP Video Promo at 732-613-1779 or [email protected], and visit HIPVideoPromo.com to learn more about our services!

https://www.facebook.com/JerryBryantTV

Matt Pinfield joins Andy to answer the question: "What does the future of rock and roll look like in 2021?"

Matt Pinfied is one of rock radio's biggest names, from WRSU-FM in New Brunswick, NJ to WHTG-FM at the Jersey Shore, to WXRX and WRXP in New York, KFOG in San Francisco, SiriusXM, VH1. He currently has a nationally syndicated weekly radio show 'Flashback', and recently became the radio host of 'New And Approved' on KLOS. Matt is also the former  Vice President of A&R and Artist Development at Columbia Records and host of 120 Minutes on MTV.

Contact HIP Video Promo at 732-613-1779 or [email protected], and visit HIPVideoPromo.com to learn more about our services!