10 Questions with ... Ray Gmeiner

1. What made you want to get into the music business and who were some of your early mentors?

Love of Rock music! I played bass guitar before, during and after college. Also, three years of college radio helped give me some insight into the business. After I moved to Denver to join friends in a band, the money ran out quickly. I got a job at the new record superstore Peaches that had recently opened. I met record label salesmen but it was the Local Promotion guys who had the cooler jobs. I got the bug for promotion from a great group of guys in an excellent market with a great concert promoter, Barry Fey. Early mentors include Brad Hunt, Mike Bone, David Urso, Michael Brannen, Dick Merkle and the late Don Zucker.

2. You were the VP/Rock Promotion for Elektra Records during the Motley Crue and Metallica years. Care to elaborate on any great "Rock Star" stories from those years?

Closing down Sunset Boulevard for the launch party of Dr Feelgood. Going to my first Metallica in-store appearance where security was definitely underestimated. Being with them at Arrowhead Stadium when they went on before GNR, listening to a radio guy tell me he STILL wasn't sure he should play them, LOL !

3. Before starting your indie promotion company, you did 17 years of Rock Promotion at Virgin/Capitol. That's quite a run. Can you briefly share with us some of your "artist-breaking" highlights from all those years?

First #1 was "Bittersweet Symphony" from The Verve. It was fun working Mer De Noms from A Perfect Circle. The Thrills first album was genius. We almost broke that all the way. KT Tunstall's "Black Horse & The Cherry Tree" was huge! "You're Going Down" from Sick Puppies was big, as was Saving Abel's "Addicted." It was an honor working Alice In Chains. They should be in the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. Get ready for new Adelitas Way. Rick DeJesus is coming back and he's on a mission. His songs are researching thru the roof! Check the streaming numbers.

4. You started your independent Rock promotion company, Ray Gmeiner Rocks Promotion, in 2015. What have been some of your biggest success stories up until now?

Without a doubt, Highly Suspect has been one of the most rewarding projects . Anytime you can be part of the team that helps break an artist is what makes promotion worth the daily grind. The international success of Ghost has been amazing. And this year Ghost will go to another level. Speaking of The Swedes, I have really enjoyed working with Avatar and Royal Republic. What is in the water in Swede?

5. You have quite a few major Rock projects you are working at the moment. Can you give us the scoop on some of your latest projects and how they are doing at Rock radio?

I am privileged to be part of BMG's promotion team on Godsmack and A Perfect Circle with our Captain Nick Attaway, Rob Tarantino and bullet for my Cheryl Valentine! Speaking of BFMV, this may be referred to by some as their "comeback album," when it is all said and done. Almost 20 years and over 400 million streams later! Rob, Cheryl and I get to work the legendary Stone Temple Pilots. Thank you, Mark Gorlick and Rhino!

6. Can you tell us about any new Rock projects that Ray Gmeiner Rocks will be working with in the future?

Former leader/singer/guitar player of Sick Puppies, SHIM is back! A team of professionals has been charged with helping Shim realize his solo artist dreams. "Hallelujah" impacts 5/15. Shim kicks it all off @ Rock On The Range later this month!

7. Let's talk about Rock Music and the Active Rock format as a whole. What's your take on the music and artists at the format today?

We have a wealth of marquee names at Active Rock. It is a very good time for the format. Try finding playlist real estate? We are breaking bands! Greta Van Fleet, The Fever 333, Nothing More.

8. Having been a part of the Rock radio promotion landscape for years, what's your take on the Greta Van Fleet story at Rock Radio. You've seen lots of hot new bands come and go through the years. What kind of staying power do you think this band will have at the format moving forward?

I have faith in Jason Flom's magic touch. The Lava/Republic/Universal team has done an outstanding job .

9. To piggy back on this topic of new bands at the format like Greta Van Fleet, how important is the seemingly lost art of artist development? What do you do to ensure the artists you are working are building a career as opposed to just breaking a song? And does it even matter anymore?

It does matter, and the pros will continue to make it happen. Look at the job Tobias Forge, Tom Whalley, Rick Sales, Kristen Muldering and the team at CMG have done on Ghost. Nuff said.

10. Finally, What do you like to do to relax when you're not in radio promotion work mode?

Dream of Tuscany. My daughter Genna and I went two years ago. Next, it's time for the Piedmont.