10 Questions with ... Risa Matsuki

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started as an intern at 17, worked at AMFM (pre-Clear Channel), SONY, TVT, COLUMBIA, UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC, various management, and tiny San Francisco indie labels like Pusmort...

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Pizza Hut Waitress

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Def Leppard - High And Dry and Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly.

FIRST CONCERT:

Rick Springfield and Til Tuesday

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

It's a toss up between Queensryche and Def Leppard (pre 1990 on both bands).

1. What got you interested in the record business?

I would listen to the radio and think I wonder if there was a job that I could get that I would be able to choose music for the bands I really like...

2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

I would flip between WNEW and Z100 both played different kinds of rock music, but Z100 also played cheesy pop music, which I really liked secretly to my metal friends...

3. What may surprise people the most about Myspace Records?

That we are an actual operating record label separate from Myspace Music and Myspace.com with our own artists, A&R dept., and Sales/marketing team.

4. Where do you get your greatest pleasure in doing record promotion?

Seeing the artists I work with have legitimate success and being a part of their happiness...

5. What is your favorite market to visit and why?

Some of my favorite people are in Portland, OR, and the food and wine are spectacular. Plus, there's no sales tax and very affordable as a budget conscious rep!

6. What is the toughest part of your job?

Constantly hearing why a record can't be played. Seeing music passions slowly fade and "the expected things" overpowering a lot of decisions... I don't blame anyone, everyone has to keep their job, but there is something to be said about taking a risk every now and again to feel slightly liberated!

7. What would surprise people most about you?

I am not a social butterfly...

8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ________ _?

Saying something about my cat Max.

9. What has been your biggest career highlight?

Being told by a format that the only reason why that format is now a massive important and successful part of an ex-label of mine is because of the hard work I put into during my tenure there.

10. If you were to leave the record business today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

I would be a winemaker in Santa Ynez, CA and rock on my porch at night, while listening to the grapevines make sweet vino and music in the wind.

What are your hobbies?

That's a loaded question and can only be asked when I am wasted!