-
10 Questions with ... Chris Thomason
October 2, 2006
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Chris ThomasonTITLE:President/Co-founderCOMPANY:Indelible Creative GroupPRODUCTS:Music, film, video gamesLOCATION:Franklin, TNBORN:Sheffield, ALRAISED:Tuscumbia, AL
Brief Career Synopsis:
I attended Auburn University and graduated with a vocal performance degree. I then went to study at Full Sail Center for the Recording Arts and graduated with a recording production/engineering degree. I moved to Nashville, where I began my career at Hummingbird Studios in engineering/production and managing the recording studios. I then managed Gold Mine Studio. From there I co-owned Corban, a production company, and Duckworth Studios. I moved to Integrity Music and was there for 13 years. My role was Sr. VP and GM/executive producer of the Integrity Label Group. I was honored to oversee product development, production and marketing of Integrity Music, hosanna! Music, Integrity Gospel, Vertical Music and Integrity Kids. I moved from Integrity in 2005 to co-found Indelible Creative Group, a media company with the mission to "helping build God's Kingdom by creating remarkable experiences through media products that are culturally and spiritually relevant."
1) What made you want to get into the music business? Who were your mentors?
At a very early age in school and church, music caught my imagination. I thought it truly amazing that music actually moved people to respond emotionally and physically. I had great music teachers in school, and my parents constantly encouraged me to use my talents. In high school, I joined a local music industry community called the Muscle Shoals Music Association, where I met industry professionals in the pop and country music worlds. It was there I also met an artist/songwriter Lenny LeBlanc ("Above All," "There Is None Like You") who became a huge influence in my life and career.
2) Coming from an established, major label, what sparked your interest about getting involved with a start-up label venture like Indelible Creative Group?
I loved being a part of the Integrity family, and it was tough to leave, but over a period of time, God made it clear that there were some other things he had for me to do. Indelible is a true entrepreneurial venture. We are designing our process and products to create some innovative business models. I am really excited to be creating products around a mission that has the core values of serving, innovation and relevance.
3) What makes Indelible Creative Group just that much different from other labels?
To be honest, I haven't thought about us being similar or different. I will say that some days operationally we act, look, feel and smell a lot like a record label; some days we don't. We engage a wide range of ministries as well as product types, and Indelible is all about building lasting relationships, delivering excellent products and helping the people we work with to have impact in their ministry and succeed financially.
4) Brag on your artists for a bit. What do you love about The Longing, SPUR58, Phil Joel, Travis Cottrell and the Velocity project?
This is an easy question but hard to summarize in one paragraph! Let me say first: what is so impressive about these people is that they are all excellent at what they do and serious about following God and communicating his love for us.
The Longing has a unique sound as well as spectacular songs, and when people hear this project they love it!
SPUR58 - Great hearts, ministry, songs and the sound ... WOW! But the most impressive thing about these guys is their love for people and how hard they work to reach out to others!
Phil Joel - I was drawn to Phil and his wife Heather because of their ministry, deliberatePeople. It is all about helping people passionately pursue God with a deliberate plan to read his Word. Phil is, of course, known for his high profile in the newsboys and is an amazing talent. The deliberatePeople. album is musically great, honest, and thought-provoking and encourages you in your daily journey with God.
Travis Cottrell -Travis is well known for leading worship and his ministry with Beth Moore. This project is something Travis has wanted to do for a long time. It not only continues to show Travis' heart for worship, but musically it is a HUGE sound! We recorded the orchestra in Prague, and the songs are going to have a strong impact in the church.
I have always had a heart for independent artists who, day in and day out, are sharing their faith and helping serve the church. We have a heart to let people know about these people and their ministries, and that is what the Velocity projects are all about!
5) Where and how are you finding new talent nowadays?
There is so much amazing talent out there that it is really not hard to find - events, the Web, ministry partners, friends and our distribution teams are all sources. The bigger questions for us are: does it align with our mission and can we serve them well?
6) How do you inspire your team, in-house and out, for success in the field with the amount of material that record labels are releasing today?
We are trying to consistently communicate the vision and mission of Indelible internally and externally, hopefully giving everyone a clear picture of where we are headed and how we are going to achieve our goals. We work diligently with our ministry partners and Word Distribution and WEA (Warner) teams to develop sales and positioning in stores and in the digital universe.
7) What do you think is the most important topic facing the music business and radio right now?
For the music business, I think our continued transition and navigation of the digital world. For radio, continuing to evaluate and advance their formats.
8) What's your current take on the music in general? Is it sounding better, worse or the same as one year ago?
I would say that technology has greatly increased the quality and flexibility of recordings overall. My opinion is that at some point it all comes down to the songs and the people who are creating the music. I am all about excellence in making the products. You can have all of the technology in the world but at the end of the day the bottom line comes down to the content and the experience.
9) If you can imagine your life outside the music business, what would you be doing?
That is hard to imagine. I am an Apple and Disney fan, so if Steve Jobs calls I might consider a change. Wait, the phone is ringing....bummer, it wasn't Steve. [Smile]
10) Who has had the biggest impact on your life spiritually, personally and/or professionally?
There is not enough time or room on these pages to answer this question properly and honor the people who have encouraged me. But here is a starting point: Earl and Brenda Thomason (my dad and mom), Don Moen, Lenny LeBlanc, Ed Litton, Erwin McManus, Marilyn MeBerg, Ted Haggard, Jon Vesely, Jean Thomason (my wife) and the One who makes my life worth living each day, JESUS!
Bonus Questions
1) Do you read everything? What is your favorite reading material?
I read a lot! Right now in my brief case is "Soul Cravings" by Erwin McManus, and I read anything by marketing guru Seth Godin. Currently, I am re-reading Seth's book "Permission Marketing." We are working on a project with Beth Moore around her new book "Get Out Of That Pit," which I am also reading.
2 ) What's in your CD player right now?
I have six in right now: SPUR58's soon to be released "Sleepwalkers," Travis Cottrell's soon to be released "Found," Yellowcard, Sting, Phil Joel's "the deliberate People. album" and Praful.
-
-