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10 Questions with ... Bob Mitchell
August 2, 2005
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NAME:Bob MitchellPOSITION:VP/PromotionCOMPANY:Smith Music Group, Smith Entertainment Records
Brief Career Synopsis:
Former Sony Music and DreamWorks promotion veteran Bob Mitchell is presently VP/Promotion for Fort Worth based Smith Music Group and Smith Entertainment Records. They distribute the LIVE AT BILLY BOB'S TEXAS line of DVD's and CD's (Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed) and also some of the top Texas based acts like Cory Morrow, the Randy Rogers Band, Jason Boland and Drew Womack.
1. Go back in time. With the state of the industry today and knowing what you know now, would you still have chosen your same career path in the Music Industry? And, would you recommend a younger sibling to make a career in the Music Industry?
Absolutely and absolutely. I have made a living since age 19 in radio, concert promoting and record work. By the way, my first job in "show business" was given to me by KUZZ/Bakersfield PD Evan Bridwell at KARM/Fresno. Every time I think our industry sucks, I will overhear some guy at the airport doing a sales call for something like ointment for a cow's rump, and I think, "Eh. My jobs not so bad."
2. In our highly competitive music field, where it seems more and more that every artist needs something special to get paid attention to, how do you position yourself, and your label, to get YOUR artists the shot they need?
I make a lot of calls and send a lot of e-mail!
3. You are the remaining survivor on a remote tropical island with no chance for rescue. You have a CD/DVD player with endless power. What five CD's are a "must" to have with you? What five movies?
CD'S: Buck Owens - Live From Carnegie Hall
Merle Haggard - Let Me Tell You About A Song
Willie Nelson - Red Headed Stranger
Ray Charles - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
The Allman Bros. - Band Eat A PeachMOVIES: Blazing Saddles, The Godfather, The Godfather - Part 2, The Last Picture Show and Almost Famous.
4. In a perfect world if you could eliminate "Pay For Play" how would you accomplish it? And, if not why?
There is Pay for Play? I hadn't heard. With two singles as good as my two new releases Cory Morrow "Beat of Your Heart" and the Randy Rogers Band "Down and Out," pay for play isn't needed. [I had to find a spot to get my plugs in. This seemed as good a place as any.]
5. Do you think that showcases, artist visits and conference room concerts are all viable in getting new acts introduced to radio?
All three are viable if the act has the goods. You can't fake talent face-to-face.
6. In your opinion, what do you think of so many stations putting too many songs in Daypart Only categories, some with no day-time spins at all? Any solutions?
Any play at any time is all good to me. I'll take 4:49am right after the farm report and before the 5-minute irritable bowel infomercial.
7. In your opinion does syndication contribute in a positive or negative way to how he charts are compiled?
Syndication is awesome. There are a lot of bright, innovative programmers working in syndication that listen and give interesting music a shot.
8. In your opinion, does the use of callout research help to determine "real" records?
All I will say is that I doubt my musical heroes Buck Owens and Merle Haggard could have survived the research gauntlet of today when they were first starting. Music with an edge isn't always going to test.
9. How do you handle stations that have to get a "Green Light" from an outside source before adding or converting a record? (i.e. Consultant, Brand Manger, Format Capitan or Group Programmer)
See the answer to question 2. Call and e-mail a lot.
10. How do you go about building relationships in your region? How important are they in obtaining airplay?
Regarding building relationships, the best advice I ever got was from Jack Lameier when I first started in the record trade - be yourself.
Bonus Questions
1. What is the first artist you ever worked to radio?
Joe Diffie
2. If you could go on the road for six months with one artist, who would it be?
Patty Loveless
3. Do your remember the first record that you ever bought?
Merle Haggard Okie From Muskogee (live)
4. Best road story?
I went with Joe Diffie to the Grammy's in 1992 or 1993. He was nominated for a duet with MCC. Afterwards, we went to the Sony party. Joe took a big scoop of what he thought was guacamole. Joe didn't realize we had drifted down to the sushi area. He had eaten a huge scoop of wasabi. 8 pitchers of water later, Joe was OK.
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