-
10 Questions with ... Anne Weaver
September 15, 2008
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Anne WeaverTITLE:Southwest PromotionLABEL:Robbins NashvilleBORN:Dallas, TXRAISED:Mesquite, TX (home of the Mesquite Rodeo)
Please outline your career so far:
I began my record industry career at RCA in Dallas in 1984, moved to Nashville as Southwest promotion for Arista in 1989. In 1993 I was hired as VP of Promotion for Mercury Records, until 1995, launching Toby Keith and Shania Twain. I've done independent promotion, and worked at Dreamcatcher where I helped Kenny Rogers attain his first #1 in 14 years with "Buy Me A Rose."
I'm now with Robbins Nashville with a great group of people and wonderful artists.
1) How did you get started in the music industry and what was your first job? Did you always know you wanted to get into the business?
I first dreamed of being in radio, and this is as close as I got. I played music in Dallas for 14 years and a fan told me about a job opening at RCA Records in Dallas. I applied for the job and got it, learning the ins and outs of the music business.
2) Robbins Nashville is one of the newer labels on Music Row. Tell us about your team and what projects you guys are excited about!
We have a great team, starting with the head of the label, Cory Robbins. He LOVES Country Music! Phyllis Stark heads up the Nashville division and is one lovely lady! Tony Benken is the best boss and a great promotion person. Joe Redmond is so much fun and has been a friend of mine for years, so it's a joy to work with him again. Tenacious is a good word to describe him, too. I'm excited about all our artists, and have become friends with each of them. Our current project is Chad Hudson and his song, "Somebody Find Me A Preacher," is a song I absolutely LOVE!!! I love Chad's gritty, sexy voice, and he's a delightful young man, to boot.
3) This isn't your first time to promote in the Southwest, as you also have done it for Arista Records earlier in your career. What particularly draws you to that region, and how do you compare it to working in other regions? Dallas and Nashville are both great cities, which do you prefer?
I love the Southwest region because of the many radio friends I've made over the years. It's harder than some other regions I've worked, but I do like a challenge. I'm from Dallas originally and always a Texan, but Nashville was my home for 20 years, so I love it too. My kids are in Nashville, and my mom is in Dallas. You could say I love both cities equally.
4) I hear you are an avid reader- name a couple of books that you just can't put down. What other hobbies do you enjoy?
I love anything by James Patterson, John Sandford, John Grisham and the Lee Childs stories. I read probably three to four books a week. I love golf, but haven't been able to play in the last few years, due to a wrist injury. Of course I love music, and movies, especially the old classics.
5) If you had the opportunity to work any act/artist from the past, present or future who would it be and why?
Wow - that's tough! I've thoroughly enjoyed working with the artists I've had the privilege of being associated with and wouldn't want to pick out just one. I might hurt someone's feelings. Okay - if I must - Elvis. :)
6) You mentioned in your bio that you have six brothers and one sister, yet you are an only child and said that you would explain that later. What's the deal on that, do you just not want to claim them?
Ha ha! They are all lovely people actually and quite witty and charming and TALL. I'm the only short one in the bunch. I guess you could call me the runt of the litter. My mom and dad had me and then they divorced. Mom had two sons by her next husband and I was raised with them. When I was 18 I met my real dad and learned he had remarried and that I had 4 more brothers and a sister. Of course, technically, they are half-brothers and sisters, but they don't do anything halfway, so I've enjoyed getting to know them and make up for lost time.
7) You were working at Mercury Records in the 1990s right as they were launching the careers of Shania Twain and Toby Keith. What was it like to see them take off like they did? Did you have any idea that they would be as huge as they are now?
It was just as exciting as it was to watch Alan Jackson, Brooks and Dunn, Pam Tillis and Diamond Rio take off. It's always so rewarding to know you had a small part in helping launch an artist. I have to say we all (at Arista and then Mercury) had the total belief they would be huge stars. We just knew it. :)
8) You also got to help Kenny Rogers get his first #1 in 14 years with "Buy Me A Rose" while working at Dreamcatcher. That had to be a great moment for both the label and for Kenny.
I've been very fortunate to work with the best in the business, in both artists and label personnel. Kenny Rogers is a legend and a wonderful man. The song was a hit song - we just had to convince radio to give it a try. Once they did, the song did the rest.
9) You live in Dallas, yet your favorite football team is the Tennessee Titans. We notice that you do list Dallas as your 2nd favorite, but you must catch a lot of flak in Cowboys' country right?
Oh yes! I do have a Titans jersey and a Cowboys jersey, but I catch a lot of flack when I wear my Titans jersey (which is most of the time.) I've always joked that when a baby is born in Dallas, the doctor slaps his/her bottom and puts a Cowboy decal on it. So, I was "born" a Cowboy fan, but I fell in love with the Titans when they moved to Nashville. They have a bit of the underdog about them and are always underestimated, so I kind of relate to that. Most of the time, I've worked at labels that were underestimated at first then went on to be big successes.
10) Name a couple of people in the business at your label or any other label that you see as future superstars.
I honestly don't believe I'm a bit biased, but all of our artists have the potential to be superstars. They are great writers, performers, and wonderful people - Rockie Lynne, Joshua Stevens, Chad Hudson, and artists yet to be introduced. As for other label artists? There aren't enough spots on radio's playlists for me to start promoting other labels' artists. Ha ha! Seriously, I do have some acts on other labels that I love, and don't mind sharing that with radio during our "talks," but "my" artists come first. :)
Bonus Questions
1) What is your fantasy career outside of this business?
My fantasy would be to be an actress, preferably a comedic actress. I'd also love to be a songwriter and come up with great titles and lines, but don't know (yet) what to do with them.
2) What was the first concert you ever attended? First album you bought?
The first concert I attended was George Strait. I waited for hours outside in the hot Texas sun to get a good lawn seat, but nearly got trampled once the gates were opened. The first album I bought with my own money? Gee, let me think - it had to be Elvis. I had them all. :)
3) We hear you like to cook- what is your specialty?
I make a mean spicy meatloaf, but my specialty is homemade Mexican food. I also make great peanut butter fudge and pumpkin pie. The holidays are special to me, as I love to cook turkey, dressing and all the trimmings and pastries. We usually have people join us who have no family to be with, so if you're all alone this Thanksgiving or Christmas, come on over!
-
-