10 Questions with ... Rob Dalton

NAME:Rob Dalton TITLE:Co - Owner New Revolution Entertainment & Vice President Promotion, Midas Records COMPANY:New Revolution Entertainment & Midas Records BORN:Nashville RAISED:Nashville ASTRO SIGN:Pisces

Please outline your radio career so far:

15 years with Sony Music / Epic Records.

Started in the mailroom, then CBS Records in 1987.

Promotion Coordinator CBS Records,

Secondary Promotion Manager CBS Records

Regional Promotion Manager, Sony Music / Epic Records

National Promotion Manager, Sony Music / Epic Records

Vice President Promotion, Sony Music / Epic Records

3 years Curb / Asylum

Vice President Promotion

1) Congratulations on your first No. 1 record at Midas! It must feel great for you and the staff- you knew it was a number one didn't you?

Thank you, it was also the first single that my partner Jeff Solima and I was a part of from beginning to end with Midas. There are a lot of talented people at Midas that are responsible for it as well. Probably the coolest thing to see was the Emerson Drive guys walking around CMA Music Fest with that #1 glow on them. They've been at this a long time and it was great to be a small part of it.

It seems like only people outside of promotion predict chart numbers. I know I never do. I kind of laugh to myself when people will say, "oh, that's a #1 single or I knew that was a # 1." There's so much that has to fall into place and a lot of work to get there. I knew it was a great song that should be a career defining "Moment" (sorry) for them.

2) You were a VP at Sony for many years and then CURB, so tell us the best part of working at a smaller company.

I really dig it. Being able to make decisions and instantly act upon them is great advantage I believe. Being able to turn on a dime when you need to, is something I'm just getting used to and I really like it.

The profit margins are certainly not out of reach and not reliant on ton-age. I do miss having catalog though. I really like the vibe of it.

One of my biggest headaches from a corporate standpoint was the single release schedule and trying to make sure everything got the attention it deserved and needed. Schedules are much more flexible now and I feel like we can properly focus on anything we ship.

3) What aspects are not so great about it? There must be days when you scratch your head in that Rob Dalton fashion and kind of chuckle about what, tell us something that no one will get their feathers ruffled about.

Someone always gets their feathers ruffled.

4) Have you ever had a job outside of the music business like driving a forklift or piloting a tugboat? Seriously what job did you ever do besides making hits?

I started at CBS while a senior in college. Although they didn't pay me anything except some Rattlesnake Annie albums, I still worked 40 hours a week. Back when I was an intern I'm not sure they knew what an intern was. I wouldn't be surprised if they thought, "I'm not sure who he is but he's here everyday and he'll do anything you need him to do, watch this." I did work as a tour guide, a lifeguard and the 11p - 3a shift at UPS so I could eat.

5) What kinds of things at Midas have you fired up right now?

Without a doubt, Whiskey Falls. They are the most talented, focused, well-rounded group I've ever seen. These guys are amazing! I look forward to helping them get to an arena level.

6) It is what it is, but does the slowness of the charts drive you insane or do you love working a song 35 weeks?

Are you kidding? I'd rather work a Rubik's Cube blind folded, underwater with my toes. Actually, the biggest frustration is the time it takes to get into a medium type rotation just to see if we have anything or not. Something I never thought I'd say is that we also have to be careful how quick we grow a single. There are a significant number of stations that will not put a single in power until it tests power, regardless of national rankings. If a single gets in that mid-teen range where the play increase universe is at its smallest and it's not researching power then your play increase could be effected in such a way that it's much more difficult to stay competitive and ultimately risk not seeing its fullest potential.

7) How hard is it going against the corporate machines when your say, vying for a number 1?

I don't look at it like that. Times have completely changed. If you have a song that competes and the promotional experience to guide it, it doesn't matter who is out there. Going against callout research is the hardest to go against. If I could blink it away I would. Unless of course it's researching well, then I love it. How pathetic is that?

8) What do you listen to? Do you have XM or SIRIUS- Do you have an i-Pod? What does Rob Dalton rollerblade or bike or dance to?

What don't I listen to? I, of course, listen to terrestrial radio. I have both XM and Sirius. Recently I've been listening to a lot of Christian music. Artist's like Chris Tomlin, Matt Redmond, Paul Baloche and December Radio really help this recovering alcoholic to stay grounded, hopeful and spiritually healthy. During the day I listen to a lot of internet radio, usually Ambient music. Music is such an important part of my life.

9) What is your biggest pet peeve right now?

I really try to live my life now focusing inward. What I mean is trying to keep my side of the street clean in all my affairs. In any situation I play some part. We live in a world where it's easy to point the finger at someone else but I guarantee you, we all play a part. Focusing on my part takes so much time that I don't have the time to be bothered by outside people, places and things. It's an awesome way to live.

10) What person helped you more than any others in getting ahead in your career?

Jack Lameier, I worked for him about 12 or 13 years I think. He really took me under his wing. He taught me so much. I love that man!

1) Hollywood just decided to make a movie about you, the Rob Dalton story. Who would play you?

My professional life resembles that of Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry Maguire; of course in my case they would probably cast Ralph Macchio.

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

Chris Tomlin - See The Morning

3) Do you wear one of those phones that stick out of your ear?

Yes, I'm a hand talker so it allows me to get my point across. I used to swing a bat but I was told in therapy that that wouldn't be a good idea.

4) Okay final question; what was your favorite promotion that you were not able to complete, wasn't there something with a monkey?

Yes, that still haunts me. I had a theme for CRS one year. It was going to be "Epic Freaks Me Out." We had t-shirts, bus bench advertisements; our show was anchored around the theme with the whole roster performing. I wanted to have a monkey wearing an "epic freaks me out t-shirt" to skate around one of the cocktail parties, just because. I thought it would be funny having some folks standing around talking about TSL or whatever and have the little fella just zipping around. "Did you see that?" type of effect.

Well, it took us three months to find the little fella. The night before he was to fly from New York to Nashville (by the way he had an artist rider) I was at a Chancellor radio reception when our VP of finance called my cell. I think he said something like, " a f#$%ing monkey Rob?" You see the monkey wouldn't fly without payment up front and our finance VP wouldn't do that. I was so upset.