10 Questions with ... Josh Petersen

NAME:Josh Petersen TITLE:Manager of Marketing and Radio Promotion COMPANY:Centricity Records FORMATS:Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Worship and Rock LOCATION:Bellevue, WA BORN:Rocky Mount, NC RAISED:Granville, OH, Rochester, MI, and Minneapolis, MN

Brief Career Synopsis:

Started out WNZR/Mt. Vernon, OH (non-reporting) as a DJ and production staff. Then moved to Waterfront Entertainment as Product Manager and then to SRE/INO Records as Marketing Manager. I also worked on the Weekend22 CHR Countdown Show as the script and research writer and now I'm at Centricity Records.

1) What made you want to get into the music business? Who were your early mentors?

I got into this industry because I fell in love with Christian music when I was in high school. I wanted to be surrounded with men and women who loved music and wanted to advance the gospel. I wanted to serve artists and that is what I still feel called to today. Hugh Robertson, John Fry, Ken Farley and Steve Ford were some of my most important mentors and industry folks that I looked up to, and still look up to, on a daily basis.

2) What's your favorite thing about Centricity Records?

I love the freedom to sign artists that I believe in, artists with a message and the talent to get that message across to their audiences. I love working at a "family" label where we are all part of the team. Every voice is heard, considered and implemented. Steve, John, Guy, Penny and Caren are the best people to get in the trenches with everyday.

3) What do you think is the most important topic facing the music business and radio right now?

How do we breathe life back into a dying music model? How do we continually break artist's careers in a shrinking radio and retail environment? How do we still make people passionate about music again?

4) What do you like the most about your job?

I love the creative freedom I have. I love getting to interact with Christian radio stations and retail friends all over the country. These people have amazing hearts for their jobs and I am proud to do my part to serve them.

5) What's your current take on the music in general? Is it sounding better, worse or the same as one year ago?

I think Christian music is getting very competitive these days. I love the resurgence of artists wanting to create entire records, instead of just going for radio hits, even though that still happens a lot, too. I also love the fact that Christian music is becoming way more acceptable to mainstream audiences.

6) What are the most important tools/resources you use to stay on top of the format's growth and daily changes?

Myspace, R&R tracking, SoundScan, Internet music bloggers such as Bob Lefsetz, and most importantly, the conversations and creative dreaming that my staff is constantly engaged in!

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

Two books have shaped me lately. One is "The Ragamuffin Gospel," which deals with learning to truly rely on God's grace. The other book would have to be "Leadership" by Rudy Giuliani. This has really given me some interesting prospective on business, leadership and working in a group setting.

8) What's your favorite quote?

"A friend is never an imposition." (Frank Sinatra)

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

Spiritually, it has probably been my mom and dad. My mom would sit down with me and read me the Bible almost everyday during breakfast in high school and my dad has led by example, having the highest integrity of anyone I know.

Personally, it has probably been my good friend Tom Stauber. He has taught me a lot of how to be overly generous with my time and money, and how important faith, community and friends are.

Professionally, it has to be two people. Steve Ford, my current boss, has probably taught me more about the industry then anyone else. His support for me, his constant attention and drive have grown me up a lot professionally in the last two years. The freedom and responsibility he has given me has been amazing and have kept me passionate about music.

Also, Hugh Robertson was the man who gave me a chance when I first came into the music industry. His excitement, sense of entrepreneurship and willingness to let me get "hands on" with my first record company from the start has really taught me a lot. He taught me the value of working hard, doing things for myself and thinking outside the box have really played a big part into who I am know.

10) If you can imagine your life outside the music business, what would you be doing?

Working on a political campaign, working at a small church as a youth pastor, starting my own small business back home in Ohio or working for The Ohio State University's athletic department.

1) Do you read everything or nothing? Books, magazines, newspapers?

Drudge Report, The Tennessean, Columbus Dispatch, Q Magazine, Spin, Rudy Giuliani's "Leadership," "Ruthless Trust" by Brennan Manning

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

Kate York, Jason Gray, Anberlin, Bob Dylan and the Ohio State Fight Song [Smile]

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

My dad because he is smarter then me, food (lots of PB&J) and water because I wouldn't want to die