10 Questions with ... Susan Busch

NAME:Susan Busch TITLE:Head Of Radio Promotions RECORD COMPANY: Sub Pop BORN:May 27, 1979 RAISED:El Paso, TX

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started out as an MD at KVRX at the University of TX at Austin from 1999-2001. While I was MD, I also was a college rep for BMG. They offered me a Sales Assistant position in Atlanta immediately after I graduated in 2001 so I moved to Atlanta for six months. I kept in touch with my contacts at Sub Pop, and when the girl who had the radio job before me was leaving she gave me a call and asked if I'd like to interview. I've been here for four years now!

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

I worked at Urban Outfitters in college. Loved that discount.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Madonna - Like A Virgin for my 5th birthday. I still have the tape case, but the actual cassette has gone missing.

FIRST CONCERT:

The first concert I ever made my parents take me to was Debbie Gibson at the Las Cruces Special Events Center when I was nine. The first show I went to on my own was My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and Machines Of Loving Grace at Club 101. I was 13.

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

That question is way too hard to answer, but the standards are always The Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground, Blondie, The Cure, The Smiths, Sonic Youth, and The Stooges.

1. How did you become interested in the record business?

I grew up around music. My parents are both pretty hip, so they always had a bunch of crazy stuff lying around. I stole my first copy of Rocket to Russia from my dad. Believe it or not, El Paso actually had a pretty rad music scene when I was a kid too. There were shows all the time whether it was in someone's backyard or an actual venue. We had to make it all happen ourselves though so I guess that's where it all started.

2. Who are your mentors?

My parents.

3. What do you like best about your job?

Being able to work in an environment where everyone is totally hilarious and actually loves the music we put out is pretty great. We all work super hard, but still get to enjoy it and that is a really rare thing in this business. I know how lucky I am to be here.

4. What is the toughest part of your job?

It's awesome being a big fish on the indie scene, because fans of the label are so receptive to everything we put out. On the other side of that coin being that big fish doesn't mean anything to commercial radio programmers, so I find myself fighting an uphill battle most of the time.

5. What would surprise people most about Sub Pop?

We are actually really professional despite our outward appearance.

6. Give us the thumbnail history of the label?

Bruce Pavitt started a fanzine called Subterranean Pop in 1979 in Olympia. He moved up to Seattle and started writing at a local paper called, The Rocket and eventually put out a compilation LP called Sub Pop 100. He met Jon Poneman through mutual friends (I believe it was this dude Kim Thayil) and they decided to start putting out records.

Some of the early releases were bands like Green River, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, and Nirvana. It's been a rocky road at times but I'm happy to report that the last five years have been pretty killer. Our roster now includes bigger bands like The Shins, The Postal Service, and Iron and Wine, as well as noise bands like Wolf Eyes, Pissed Jeans and Comets on fire. We're also coming up on our 20th anniversary which is a huge accomplishment.

7. What are you doing to increase exposure of your artists outside of traditional radio promotion?

Luckily in the past few years independent labels have been able to obtain airplay without having to "play the game" so to speak. We do our very best to support the people that support us but there are obviously limits to that. I think one thing that has helped us expose our bands is being open to new technology. Embrace it folks. The kids love a free download.

8. Of all the things you've done at Sub Pop, what are you most proud of?

Signing my first band, Oxford Collapse, was a huge thing for me. Sub Pop is a great place to do A&R.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ___________?

I cannot live without coffee. I'm a Texan and these rainy days just do not jive with my chemistry. Gotta balance it out.

10. If you decided to completely change careers today, what would you do?

I'd open up a clothing store in Austin.

What are your hobbies?

Cooking and yoga are my new favorite things. It's not very exciting, but when you've got this job I think calming forces are necessary.