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10 Questions with ... Chris Hauser
August 2, 2005
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NAME:Chris HauserPOSITION:OwnerMARKET:Nashville, TNCOMPANY:Chris Hauser Promotions and MarketingBORN:Johnson City, NY (Binghamton area)RAISED:Deposit, NY (same)
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started in college radio at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY in 1978. Then I got a part-time on-air shift in 1979 at local Christian station WYRD-AM. We became an AM-FM combo in 1981 and I became PD in 1983 as we branched out to more of an AC music format. I had a Saturday night rock show called "Pressin' On" (after the Dylan tune). I promoted concerts and spoke to youth groups locally about CCM. In 1987 I moved to LA to take a radio promotion position with Myrrh Records, then in 1990 moved to Nashville to do promotions and grow more in marketing at Warner Alliance. In March 1998, Warner Music Group wound down the label to nothing (uh, for just a short time) and I started my independent promotions and marketing business.
1. What made you want to get into the music business?
I grew up in a small town in upstate New York. I played drums starting at age ten and fell in love with playing rock and roll, buying it, reading about it, and listening to WAAL/Binghamton, and even WABC/New York. It was all so fascinating to me.
2. What do you miss most about working for a record label? Least?
Most: The teamwork, the paid vacations and insurance having someone else fix anything I can plug into a wall when it breaks down. Having more leverage with programmers to get my (our) goals met.
Least: The politics, and the sadness of when labels end relationships with artists badly. Or when artists leave labels bitter and confused. I've shed more than a few tears over those experiences.
3. What made you decide to become an independent promoter?
It was decided for me (in a sense) when Warner Alliance was shut down in '98, but it's been an amazing ride.
4. What do you like best about your job? Least?
Most: Making my own hours and working from my home.
Least: Making my own hours and working from home...I don't know when to quit sometimes and just turn it all off.
5. In our highly competitive music field, where it seems more and more that every artist needs something special to get paid attention too, how do you position your self to get your artists the shot they need?
Daily lighting myself on fire has its advantages. I guess passion is a keyword, and really believing in what (and who) I'm promoting. Some days (and call it's simply not taking "no" for an answer), even if the best can only be "wait awhile." I also love getting out with an artist to visit stations (and sometimes just going alone) and spending face time with programmers. That's priceless.
6. What's your take on current music? Is it as good as say, six months ago? Better than it was? Same? Elaborate please?
I believe we lag behind mainstream trends that explode, by about 2-4 years, and can trace that back a couple decades. It's creepy actually. I'm still waiting for someone in the CCM world to blow up (due to listener research, of course) with a Coldplay sound.
7. Who has had the biggest impact on these facets of your life: Personal, Professional and Spiritual? Why?
Personally, My wife (of 23 years) Linda, and my kids keep me in a humble place. Professionally, my favorite GM from the radio days, Matthew Burt (1 of 7 GM's in 8 years!), then the mentors at WORD - Roland Lundy, Loren Balman and Dean Arvidson. Then Barry Landis at Warner Alliance was a wonderful teacher who pushed me through some really challenging times. Spiritually, Don Chaffer (of Waterdeep, a band I managed from '99 to 2001) has had a huge impact on me as he's wrestled through contemporary Christianity and culture and what our place is in all of it. He's introduced me then, to teachers and writers (Brian MacLaren, Chris Seay, etc.) who've become friends and inspired me greatly.
8. If you could have any job outside the music business, what would it be?
Sheesh, this is pathetic, and it's not like I don't have enough stress and pressure in my life already - but I've dreamed of working in mainstream record promotions (for a label) for a long time. Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
9. Best advice for younger, less experienced music promoters?
Love the artists that come into your life, for their souls and not their gifts. I guess too, find those artists that WANT to surround themselves with people who WILL love them for their souls more than their gifts! And with radio, do what you tell someone you'll do - keep your word. And never threaten a relationship over a song (some people reading this might at least smirk, reading this from ME). No song is more important than a relationship.
10. What is it that motivates you to be "All You Can Be"?
We're a SITCOM family (single income, two children, oppressive mortgage), but also having a deep belief and passion in God being able to use me to get music heard - that will inspire and challenge the Church, and maybe even the larger culture - all about making Jesus famous.
Bonus Questions
What book have you read that has touched you or taught you the most?
Brian MacLaren's "A New Kind of Christian" has been powerful, as has more recently Jim Wallis' "God's Politics - Why the Right Get it Wrong and the Left Don't Get It" (see the story in CCM this month with Jim Wallis and Jars' Steve Mason - GREAT interview!).
What is your favorite quote?
Philo of Alexandria (an early Church father) said "Be kind, for every man you meet is fighting a great battle."
What's in your CD player right now?
Coldplay's new "X & Y." I listen daily!
Do you have Musical Guilty Pleasures?
70's Classic Rock acts that I grew up on and still love: Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Mott the Hoople and others. Oh yeah, no guilt whatsoever.
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