10 Questions with ... Jessica Johnson

1. What made you want to get into the music business?

I've always been a fan of music (my parent's vinyl collection was killer), although I didn't think I could make a career out of it. But joining the college radio station at Penn State my freshman year and interning at Astralwerks in NYC gave me the confidence to switch majors (from Bio-chem to Marketing ... sorry, parents!) and pursue music as a career.

2. Can you give us your music career highlights with companies and positions up until now?

Here we go: Straight out of school, I got a job in the Artist Development department at Warner in New York. Soon after I was hired, they laid off most of the department, except for me, and I somehow convinced John Boulos to hire me as his assistant so I wasn't out of a job (Hot tip: All it really took was bribing him with Thin Mints). After a bit, they shipped me out to Minneapolis as the Midwest radio rep. When I started missing NYC, I found a gig as a Dir./Marketing at Universal. Next up, I moved myself to Seattle and eventually joined Votiv as one of their very first employees and we built a small but mighty record label and management company. And you know the rest. :)

3. Before you joined In2une, you were the GM and artist manager for VOTIV Music. Who were some of the acts you worked with in that capacity?

We had a ton of really great bands come through our doors, whether it was on the label side, publishing side or management side. Since I was pretty hands on with almost everything under the Votiv umbrella, I couldn't possibly name all of them, so how about a few: (We Are) Augustines, Fences, My Goodness, Naked Giants, Parisalexa, Tacocat and We Were Promised Jetpacks, who I still manage.

4. Congrats on your new position as Dir./Promotion for Rock Formats at In2une. When did you join In2une and how did this new gig come together for you?

Thank you! I am so excited for the new opportunity! I actually started at the end of January and have been on the road ever since (or so it seems) :) Last year at The Gathering, (Naked Giants were there, who I managed at the time), I had made the decision to leave Votiv. I had seen Boulos at The Brown Hotel and told him I was looking for a new adventure and he immediately pointed me in the direction of Dave Lombardi, who I worked with when he was at Caroline. Lombardi and I chatted on and off for six months before making the call for me to join the team. Best decision I've made in quite a while.

5. For those who aren't familiar with what In2une does, can you give us an overview of the company today?

In2une is a music company offering label services for independent labels, publishing companies and artists themselves. They were acquired last June by Kobalt AWAL so we work several of their projects, while still maintaining our outside roster of clients. In2une does so much more than radio promotion and really takes in the whole picture when setting up campaigns, so it's been a fantastic team to be a part of.

6. Now let's talk about some of the Rock projects you are currently working on starting with The Dirty Nil. What's the latest on this project?

Yes! I love these dudes. Ridiculous live show, sweet as can be (they're Canadians, so I think it's in their DNA) and killer songs. We are digging into the next single, "Pain of Infinity," now. So, everyone, go listen and support great new rock music!

7. Can you tell us what other bands (new or established) and projects your company has in store for Rock radio in the future?

Oh jeez, we have so much good stuff coming up for Rock and Alternative. I've been shouting from the rooftops about Coheed and Cambria. They're on tour now with Mastadon and the new single, "Gutter," is amazing. Cold War Kids have a new track, "Complainer," which should be in your in-boxes now. And so much more to come, but I think you should be surprised.

8. Let's talk about the Active Rock format as a whole. What's your take on the music at the format and why do you see such a division between the Active Rock and Alternative formats today?

For years it seems we've pushed this weight on Alternative stations to be the only tastemakers and place where we discover new rock music. Well, it's time for Active Rock to claim part of that crown. With many Alternative stations (seemingly) having a tough time playing many guitar-driven rock songs, It's an exciting opportunity for Active Rock stations to step up and be the purveyors of new ass-kicking artists. Alternative will still be a gateway to hear left-of-center, "risky" hybrid sounds and celebrate the changing landscape of rock music, but let's lean on our Active Rock pals to open up their rock and roll arms and invite some new kids to play. Side note: I don't think I'm alone when I say we should be getting rid of the label "Active Rock." It's an antiquated term that doesn't fit what those stations are anymore. IT'S ROCK MUSIC.

Did I answer the question? :P

9. As a record promotion executive in 2019, what are the most important tools/resources you use to stay on top of the Rock formats' growth and constant daily changes?

Mediabase is a given, plus watching the streaming and Shazam stories overall and how they react in airplay markets. Data, data, data, wherever you can find it. I also pay attention to what new music is out there. Not just being released by the majors, but by seeing what the indie labels are signing. I also dig through Bandcamp and Soundcloud to see what independent artists are pushing up on their own. It's been amazing having a parent company like Kobalt/AWAL who are the best at discovering what is out there, what's working and what's trending. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that they're incredibly artist focused, so a lot of artists are joining the AWAL family to feel like they really have a partner in this ever changing landscape.

10. Finally, on a personal note, what do you enjoy doing for fun and relaxation when you're not in "work" mode?

I still love going to see live music and spend most of my "non-work" time hitting up shows or traveling for festivals with friends. But if I have to say something that is far removed from anything resembling work, it would be hanging with my two goofy dogs and my long list of favorite people. Whether it's laying on my mega-couch watching terrible TV, hanging on the back patio playing Joking Hazard or getting outside to enjoy all the nature, as long as I am doing it with people I love, life is grand.