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10 Questions with ... Matt Galle & Mike Marquis
May 25, 2021
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. My favorite part of the job is delivering the first few big wins on a project. Once an artist is having success, the size of the team around them grows, and everyone is willing to work hard on a ‘successful’ project. However, I really enjoy being in the trenches and getting the process started for developing artists, it is very rewarding and memorable all around to share in those moments. – Mike Marquis
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
(Matt) Founder and President of Photo Finish Records, an indie label he created in 2006, which includes a diverse roster of alternative and indie pop bands such as 3OH!3, SHAED, Marian Hill, MisterWives, ROZES and more. Now entering its 15th year, PFR has received industry recognition being included in Billboard’s Indie Power Player list among other accolades. Matt made his name as a talent agent for Paradigm Talent Agency building the careers of artists such as Fun., Halsey, and Shawn Mendes and his roster also features artists such as Janet Jackson, JoJo Siwa, T-Pain, Hayley Kiyoko and Taking Back Sunday. Galle also co-founded the now legendary Bamboozle Music Festival, which ran from 2003 to 2012 and earlier in his career, he shepherded the touring careers of artists such as Bruno Mars, Ke$ha, and My Chemical Romance. Along with industry recognition for PFR, Matt has twice been listed on Billboard’s “40 under 40,” and has been featured on the cover of Pollstar’s Booking Agency Directory and twice been listed on Billboard’s Power Players.
(Mike) I started in Boston as a promoter and joined together with Matt at a start-up agency in 2001. Moved to NYC in 2005 to continuing working alongside Matt, and Photo Finish was born in 2006. Our first breakout hit was 3OH!3’s “Don’t Trust Me,” and we have not slowed down since then. We joined Paradigm as agents in 2009, and my roster on the booking side includes Bleachers, All Time Low, Bishop Briggs, Lovelytheband, and many more. We have spent the last decade building both our agency and label businesses with dignity, respect and reliability.
1. How did you become interested in the record business?
(Matt) I started going to underground punk, hardcore and hip hop shows in the Boston area in the mid 90’s and then became friends with a lot of the bands. Eventually, I was putting on their shows/concerts when they came to the Boston area. Then, that expanded to going on long weekend tours with my friends’ bands. That turned into a whole Summer tour in 98 with Hatebreed, Slayer, Slipknot, Pantera and more (Tattoo The Earth tour). At the same time, I interned for a concert promoter named MassConcerts (John Peters) and I put on a Festival at one of his venues. My friend Matt Pike, and I wanted to start an agency in Boston called The Kenmore Agency (it was in Kenmore Square). John Peters funded us to start the business. When that started to do really well one of my first signings was My Chemical Romance and their attorney/manager Stacy Fass helped me land a A&R consulting gig with Interscope. I learned a lot from Mark Williams and Wendy Higgs. Before Photo Finish, I had an imprint with Interscope called Kickball Records.
(Mike) I was a punk rock kid in High School and always interested in music. I started a label to put out my own band’s album before I went to college. After my first year in school, I joined Galle as an intern, and never turned back. I was never NOT interested in the record business and was very lucky to find good partners and mentors very early on.
2. Congrats on Photo Finish’s 15 Year Anniversary! Let’s rewind to 2006. Matt, you started the label. What stands out the most from the early days of the label and what led to Mike becoming your partner in crime?
(Matt) I didn’t like how the imprint was going with Interscope. They were on the West Coast and I didn’t have a lot of control. There was a lot of red tape when trying to get things signed. So, in 2005 I ended it and was looking on the back of my old hardcore, punk and indie CDs at the song titles. My friends band Fastbreak had a song called, “Photo Finish.” I was looking for inspiration and that really stood out to me. I looked it up and the name was available. So, boom we were off to the races!! Mike and I work so well together, and he is kind of like the ying to my yang. We have worked so well together since 2001, I couldn’t see myself doing it without. The agency stuff really started to take off and I couldn’t do it all on my own. Mike is someone I fully trust, and I don’t even half to talk to him about what I am thinking half the time and he is already steps ahead of me. It’s like he can read my mind. ha. He was a natural perfect partner since we have similar visions.
3. Photo Finish is a 7-person team with distribution and label services through Virgin Music. Explain your day-to-day duties and how has Photo Finish has been operating during a pandemic.
(Matt) Pretty much doing meetings over Zoom actually increased the amount of time we saw each other before the Pandemic. That part made things a lot easier.
(Mike) We have always run the label like a family. Everyone has an equal voice when it comes to ideas and participation. Most of our meetings are like a war room, bouncing ideas off each other, and leaning on each other to deliver. When the pandemic started, we took that as a sign to accelerate our business, find new artists and continue breaking artists. Only real change for us was working remotely and virtually, but we have all quite enjoyed being in a virtual bubble together.
4. The Maine are really taking off at Alternative Radio. What has led to the band’s success after so many years as an independent artist?
(Matt) Mike was really the catalyst in bringing The Maine in to Photo Finish. When he played me “Sticky” and the rest of the album, I agreed it was a no-brainer. It is really impressive to see how well they have built their business and brand. Also, the Festival they co-own called Sad Summer.
(Mike) The Maine are one of the hardest working bands on the planet. They have released their last 4 albums completely on their own and done all the work themselves. They bring every ounce of energy and passion to what they do, and we are lucky to be able to partner with them. When we heard “Sticky” we were instantly hooked and felt like this was their moment. We always believe in betting on great artists and also great people. The Maine are both, and we are hopefully this is only the beginning of the next chapter of their career.
5. It’s been a busy start to 2021 for Photo Finish’s 15 Year Anniversary. Give us the 411 on your current projects and what’s on deck.
(Matt) There are some amazing new signings going to be announced and rolled out soon. We would love to also be entering some new genres we don’t particular operate in now.
(Mike) It sure has. We have new releases from SHAED, The Maine, Marian Hill, Joan, 3OH!3, Elliot Lee, and Lakeview all coming in the next 2-3 months. This will be our busiest year ever, and it has been very rewarding to have some alumni of the label return to the family.
6. 3OH!3 and Marian Hill have returned home to Photo Finish. How did that all come together?
(Matt) We did right by them the first time around with all the promises we made them. It was no bullshit and we had fun doing it. Also, they liked that sort of relationship with their label partner, and it naturally happened. It wasn’t like we kept calling them trying to ask them to come back.
(Mike) We have had great relationships with both artists since we initially signed them many years ago. As an independent label, we were able to be flexible in crafting mutually beneficial deals for both artists. We are grateful to have them back in the family, and they trust we will always work hard for them.
7. Tell us about having Virgin Music as your distribution and label services.
(Matt) They have done everything they said they would for us and more up until this day. Virgin Music are a great partner, and we have amazing synergy. Jacqueline Saturn is a bad ass powerful leader and Matt Sawin is a boss too. Not to mention their amazing Radio staff too! Whenever we need something, they aren’t feeding us some bullshit answer about why they can’t do it. They actually go get things done.
(Mike) We have had experiences with many companies in our 15 years, but things with Virgin (formerly Caroline) have been awesome. Their team is focused and works hand in hand with us on everything. We are very happy with the partnership and see many more years to come.
8. In 2019, SHAED “Trampoline” was a #1 single at Alternative Radio. What else may surprise people about Photo Finish Records?
(Matt) 3OH!3’s song “Don’t Trust Me” was #1 at Top 40 in 2008
(Mike) We have had 2 artists have major campaigns (including syncs) with Apple, Marian Hill and SHAED. We have gotten some extremely big looks for our artists and broken them wide open.
9. What is your favorite part of the job?
(Matt) Spit balling crazy marketing and promotional ideas to pitch to our artists, working on the A&R stuff too.
(Mike) My favorite part of the job is delivering the first few big wins on a project. Once an artist is having success, the size of the team around them grows, and everyone is willing to work hard on a “successful” project. However, I really enjoy being in the trenches and getting the process started for developing artists, it is very rewarding and memorable all around to share in those moments.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
(Matt) A glass of Orange Juice in the morning
(Mike) Basketball
Ok, time to have some fun...
Bonus Questions
Tell us about your weekends?
(Matt) I spend a lot of time with my kids. Love doing things with them. I also like to exercise (run, bike, etc.).
(Mike) I play a lot of basketball and hang out with my family.
What are your favorite restaurants?
(Matt) La Esquina, Nobu and Hillstones
(Mike) Carbone, Chez Ma Tante, Oxomoco
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
(Matt) Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics
(Mike) Celtics, Patriots, Red Sox (all Boston).
First record ever purchased?
(Matt) Guns N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
(Mike) Pearl Jam 10 on cassette. First one I purchased myself.
First concert?
(Matt) Warrant, Trixter and Firehouse at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA
(Mike) Hempfest in Boston.
Favorite band of all-time?
(Matt) Oasis
(Mike) Tough one. In their prime, it would be The Smashing Pumpkins
Favorite new band over the past year not on your label?
(Matt) girl in red
(Mike) Tool
Anything else you would like to add?
(Matt) Appreciate your support over the years. Here’s to 15 more!!
(Mike) Thank you for the opportunity to talk about our Photo Finish family.
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