-
10 Questions with ... Tony Brummel
September 27, 2005
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Tony BrummelPOSITION:LeaderCOMPANY:Victory RecordsBORN:1/29/71RAISED:Chicago, N.Y., Oklahoma, & Bahamas
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS
Building Victory Records.
FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:
Pink Floyd "Another Brick In The Wall" 45 (I was in second grade).
FIRST CONCERT:
Bob Marley, 1980, Queen Elizabeth Sports Center, Nassau, Bahamas.
FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:
Depends on how I am feeling.
1. What got you interested in the record business?
I always loved music and eventually the idea of releasing music that I was passionate about.
2. Who are your mentors?
Anyone who gets up every morning that is passionate about what they do with a desire to make a difference regardless of the obstacles that may be in their way.
3. What inspired you to start a record label?
Growing up, most of the albums I was buying were released by independents. Labels like SST to Slash to IRS to Twin Tone to Dischord to Alternative Tentacles to Stiff to many one off companies and overseas labels in what used to be the local record store's import section. As I got older, I was always saying to myself that it was something that I could and should do. I would study the packaging, the liner notes even down to deciphering the matrix on the vinyl to see where the album was pressed. As a fan of many, diverse bands I always believed that so many of these groups should have been so much more popular. It was perplexing to me why many of them weren't. I guess that always bothered me and that manifested into the aspiration and end result of releasing records and starting a label.
4. How did Victory Records become a successful independent record label?
Success is a figurative word. I do not feel successful to be quite honest. Who came up with "independent label"? I want to meet that person. We are a dependent label. Every label is dependent upon someone spending their hard earned money on the music. We are dependent on the consumer, on the fans. I think a lot of people have forgotten that.
I know that we have so many important and brilliantly creative artists that are not given the chance or opportunities that they truly deserve based on the merit of their art and meaning to people that buy real music. That upsets and frustrates everyone at Victory.
There are too many people in decision making positions of programming power in this business that have no idea what is happening on the street. They favor those that have passionless and ultimately, meaningless product. In fact, I do not call it "programming power," I call it "favor power." Look at the radio and television network's playlists. It is over 99% major label content. The independents (dependents) are 20% of US market share. What do you think the majors market share would be if 99% of the playlists were independent (dependent) content?
If I was passionate about hamburgers I can guarantee you that I would be selling burgers like a motherfucker and that I would have an extensive clientele that loved them too. McDonald's would be next door but I would still be expanding every year. Why? Because my burgers would be exciting, they would stand out and people would travel for hundreds of miles to get them even though there were 50 McDonald's that they could have stopped at along the way. The people that bought my burgers would tell their friends and their families and that word of mouth would be a big part of our marketing mix. They wouldn't be coming because they saw 50 billboards or heard 50 commercials along the way. I am passionate about music, so, I started a label and fortunately the people that buy our records are passionate too.
Victory will have been successful if years down the road people say, "That is a label that made a difference. They were a catalyst for change and allowed for artists that would have typically gone unheard to have a voice. They did things differently, originally, and in an exciting way to create the exposure that all artists need."
5. Of all the things you've accomplished, what are you most proud of?
I am proud of the fact that I am allowed to do this everyday. It is a privilege and an honor, despite the obstacles and aggravations that a dependent company like Victory has to face.
6. Hawthorne Heights has built a great story at Alternative radio. Who do you anticipate being the next Victory breakthrough artist at radio?
Do you really think the radio story is "great"? "Ohio Is For Lovers" has been on the chart for over 5 months but cannot break the Top 30. I think that is absolutely pathetic for an album that has shipped over 650,000 units and will be platinum by Christmas.
7. Why did you recently decide to expand your radio promotion department?
We added a fourth person. So, I guess we expanded 25%. We have a lot of artists to talk about and that requires more people. I wish my response was, "Shawn, we added more people to our Promotions department, because radio has been embracing our artists in such an ecstatic manner that we simply needed more people to handle the deluge of calls from the stations."
8. What would surprise people most about Victory Records?
That I started the company with $800.00 and have never had any outside investors, partners, industry mentors etc. We are a guerrilla organization operating on the outskirts of the fringe.
9. Biggest change that you'd like to see in the business?
The response to that question will crash the AllAccess.com servers and cause Joel to terminate your employment for conducting this interview.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________?
Hope.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Music, reading, running, and travel with friends and family.
-
-