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10 Questions with ... Mara Sidweber
October 18, 2005
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NAME:Mara SidweberTITLE:Southwest Promotion RepCOMPANY:Capitol Records Nashville
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. Regardless of the state of the industry, I choose to do what I do because I believe in the power of music. Furthermore, being able to adapt to change is an important aspect of being successful in my career choice. As for a sibling, I would recommend that they do what makes them happy...whatever that may be. At the end of the day, happiness is the most important thing.
2. 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, and your label, to get YOUR artists the shot they need?
It's always about the music. Mike Dungan and the A&R staff at Capitol give us incredible music that demands attention.
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:
Barenaked Ladies - "Rock Spectacle"
Marc Broussard - "Carencro"
Dierks Bentley - "Modern Day Drifter"
Gary Allan - "Smoke Rings in the Dark"
Hanna-McEuen - "Hanna-McEuen"MOVIES:
I'm fascinated with 80's pop culture so I'd have to say:
"Pretty in Pink"
"Sixteen Candles"
"Breakfast Club"
"Valley Girl"
"Friday"4. Do you think that showcases, artist visits and conference room concerts are all viable in getting new acts introduced to radio?
Most definitely. Conference rooms are a great setting to feature the whole package. An intimate session like that allows talent, personality, relatability, etc... to shine. All things that are important for radio programmers to see and feel when meeting a new act/artist and envisioning that act/artist's future viability to the station and format.
5. 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?
It can be a way to ease a new song into a regular rotation, but 70% of all listening occurs between the hours of 6am and 7pm. In order to get an accurate feel for a record, it is vital that the majority of the audience get to hear it.
6. How do you handle it when a programmer tells you that your single is too country or too pop?
Fortunately, there's a lot of diversity in the format, and the horizons are being broadened all the time. I view those comments as non-issues; it's been proven that there's room in the format for all different styles of country music.
7. If you had the opportunity to work any act/artist from the past, present or future who would it be?
Elton John. In addition to being a musical genius, he's a fascinating person.
8. How do you go about building relationships in your region? How important are they in obtaining airplay?
Building relationships is the easiest part. I love people. Being comfortable as yourself is the most likeable quality in a person. The music needs to speak louder than anything I can say, but relationships are very important.
9. In this the day of many labels releasing just one or two singles on an artist in order to see how it does before actually investing in a complete project ... what do you feel this practice does to your creditability with programmers?
I understand why it's done, but believe it can leave room for doubt, when there really can't be any. It's important for radio to see and feel commitment from the label before they commit themselves to an artist.
10. What do you do in preparation for making your weekly radio calls?
I try to listen to everything new that's out at the time. I watch the national news so that I know of what's going on in different parts of the country, and study playlists and soundscan to see what's working well and where.
Bonus Questions
A. What is the first artist you ever worked to radio?
Afroman "Because I got High" - back in my CHuRban days of interning
B. If you could go on the road for six months with one artist, who would it be?
Ricky Martin because then it wouldn't technically be stalking, right?
C. Do your remember the first record that you ever bought?
Billy Joel - An Innocent Man. And, there's actually a really funny story behind this one. I was probably 6 years old and was grounded for something that I didn't think I should have been grounded for. So, I put that record on repeat and turned it all the way up until I drove my parents insane and they "un-grounded" me.
D. Name a record person, not on your label, that you really admire?
Bruce Shindler - he's a bad ass
E. How do you balance your family life?
I am very lucky that my parents live 10 minutes from me, and my sister and her family live 10 minutes the other way. It's so nice to be able to run home for dinner sometimes!
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