10 Questions with ... Josh Lauritch

NAME:Josh Lauritch TITLE:Manager, National Promotion COMPANY:EMI CMG FORMATS:AC/CHR LOCATION:Brentwood, TN BORN:West Allis, WI (suburb of Milwaukee) RAISED:West Allis, WI

Brief Career Synopsis:

I've loved radio since I was a little kid. I fell in love with Christian music during high school and knew I wanted to be involved in the industry in some way. During college I met Danny Clayton at FISH/Milwaukee and he gave me an opportunity. I interned and then did some part-time stuff for a while and then became Promotions Director/Night guy in January 2004. Eventually, I became the midday guy and added APD duties to my list of responsibilities in January 2006. In July 2006, I accepted a job at EMI CMG in the National Promotion department working for the man, the myth, the legend, Grant "Taco" Hubbard!

1) What made you want to get into the music business?

WOW! I could ramble on forever with this question but I won't. Music moves people, changes people, brings out all sorts of emotions, draws people near to God. It's quite amazing! I always wanted to be a part of the process!

2) Brag on the artists you work with for a second. What exciting things are happening for some of them?

Chris Tomlin is in the midst of the "How Great Is Our God" tour with sold-out shows in nine of the first 15 markets! The single "Made to Worship" spent 14 weeks at No. 1 at AC Monitored and his new single, "How Can I Keep From Singing," is heading in that direction! Plus, SEE THE MORNING has scanned over 235,000 units so far and is the No. 1 selling Praise and Worship album! Also, in the latest CCLI Praise and Worship chart "How Great Is Our God" is No. 1, "Forever" is No. 9 and "Holy Is the Lord" is No. 10! Nichole Nordeman releases her best of project called RECOLLECTION: THE BEST OF NICHOLE NORDEMAN on March 6. It's 15 of her past hits with two new songs including her latest hit "Sunrise." David Crowder Band was recently named MSN's Artist of the Year! They're working on a new record in the next few months.

3) What do you like most about your job? The least?

I love the relationships. It's a lot of fun connecting with radio guys and gals every day. I love making new friends, talking programming, getting to know stations better. It's always great when I can have an honest conversation about a song. Will it work? Is it a hit? If not, will you take a chance on it? All those conversations come from the relationship you have with the person on the other end of the phone. Oh yeah, we have a Starbucks machine in our break room, also a great thing about my job. It grinds and brews in under 60 seconds, and it's oh so fresh! The least? I heard that the folks working at Google have a health club in their office and catered food every day, even late at night. We don't have that at EMI CMG.

4) What are the most important tools you use to stay on top of the formats growth and daily changes?

I'm always looking at the R&R magazine and the R&R update. Plus, radio chat boards, AllAccess.com, hisair.net and other sites help me keep up on what's happening. I'm looking at BDS every day to monitor my songs and I use R&R music tracker so I know who's playing what.

5) Who has had the biggest impact on your life spiritually, personally and/or professionally?

Spiritually, hands down it would have to be my dad. I can't say enough about how much he has taught me about God's Word. He is an example of humility, grace, selflessness, love, joy and so much more! Professionally, Roy Risser was one of my first bosses at Risser Digital Imaging in Milwaukee. He taught me how to treat people with respect, how to keep the workplace fun, how to be gracious and gentle to others, even when they've blown it. When you treat people with respect, they respond differently to you. They work harder for you. That was a big lesson to learn as a high school kid. Since then, Danny Clayton has been a mentor to me. He taught me everything I know about radio: how it works, programming, imaging, promotions and how to deal with the record people. Now I'm one of 'em!

6) If you could have any job outside the music business, what would it be?

Well, I went to school to be a teacher so maybe that. Being a doctor would also be pretty cool. Not a wannabe doctor like Brian "The Doctor" Thiele, a real one that fixes people's health problems and stuff.

7) Best advice for younger, less experienced music promoters?

As one myself, I'm still learning a TON. Be a servant. Serve your artists, serve your stations. Never let yourself get pumped up or arrogant. People might respect your talent or accomplishments but they won't respect you if you're full of pride.

8) What book have you read that has touched you or taught you the most?

I used to read a ton when I was a kid (shout out to Reading Rainbow!). I haven't been much of a reader as an adult though, until recently. The book that's challenged me the most in the last year was "I Am Not but I Know I Am" by Louie Giglio. It's an amazing book! It humbled me, taught me a TON about grace and mercy. I highly recommend it!

9) What is your favorite quote?

I have two: "I Love Tacos" (Grant Hubbard) and "Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else" (Dave Ramsey).

10) What's it really like to work with Brian and Andrea?

Both of them are much older than me so I'm like the little brother of the department. I get picked on a lot for various reasons. I have like 37 nicknames for different occasions. It's fun working with them though. We're loud, we laugh a TON, we challenge each other and compete like crazy people! Honestly, I think they pick on me because they're jealous. It's all love though. On a serious note, they're the best co-workers ever! Business when they need to be, fun all the time and two of the best promoters in the industry. Grant Hubbard is also awesome. He's like our dad, not because he's old enough to be our dad. Well, he is. But it's more because he loves on us, kicks us in the butt when we need it and he always seems to know how to motivate us all. He's a great guy to work for and he has the best nickname ever. Next time you call him, refer to him as "Taco." He'll love you for it, and probably slap me for it!

1) What's in your CD player right now?

Britt Nicole demos for her new record, John Legend, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Derek Webb's acoustic remix CD, and oh, I also have McPheever.

2) Do you have musical guilty pleasures?

Mid-90s West Coast Rap, I'm like that guy from "Office Space."

3) Cat or Dog person?

Grew up a dog person but I've converted to cats since being married. My wife and I have an older fat one name Phoebe and a kitten named Jack Johnson.

4) If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want with you, and why?

My wife because I don't like being away from her, the Starbucks machine we have at EMI CMG because I can't start a morning without coffee AND my Mac (with a wi-fi connection) so I can read the Bible online, update myspace and have all my music with me. Plus, I can then go to foodnetwork.com so I can figure out 237 different ways to prepare coconut.