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10 Questions with ... Beatrix Danko
June 29, 2021
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. We got lucky last year and were able to pull off one of the last ‘hurrahs’ before Covid hit. I still have conversations with people about how great it was to get together one last time. The plan for 2022 is to have an amazing, even bigger comeback and celebration of MUSIC.COMMUNITY.DISCOVERY. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements in the coming months!
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1. What was your first music industry job, and who were your early mentors?
I got my start at Contraband Music Group, a Steve Walker company, working in the "mailroom," doing anything from assistant work to mail-outs to picking up artists for shows and everything in-between. Working at smaller companies such as The Contraband Company and RadioContraband allowed me to try on a lot of different hats and meet a lot of the music industry players: Gary Allen, George Cappellini Sr., Jeffrey Naumann, Buddy Deal, Heather Luke, Joanne Grand, to name a few, who were significant influences early on and still are today. And then, of course, later on, meeting Todd and Ken led me to the current chapter in my life. And let's not forget everyone's friend, Robert England!
2. Can you give us a brief history of your background before you got into the music biz?
I grew up in a small town in Hungary. I've loved music ever since I can remember, watching MTV, going to shows with my friends, and thinking how amazing it would be to participate in and create something that brings people together. Fast forward to now, and it's cool to see how far I've come and the amazing people that I have met along the way.
3. Before we jump into next year's #Happens event, you were a major part of RadioContraband's success. What are some of your favorite highlights from those years?
Wow, where do I start? Being part of a company from the start, running the business soup to nuts, honing my skills, meeting incredible people, artists along the way. But the most rewarding thing for me has to be the launch and discovery of new artists. Seeing a band come to the convention and take off . . . it gives me a great sense of pride to be a part of that journey!
4. How did you end up working with Todd Sievers and Ken Pittman of CO5 Music to start #Happens?
We've always talked about adding an Alternative element when the time was right, and about three years ago, that time came. We started the conversation with Todd and Ken and quickly realized that we were a match-made-in-Rock-and-Alternative-heaven. We were all on the same page for what our vision was for our company, and #Happens was born!
5. After last year's second #Happens event, Covid-19 postponed this year's event, but you pivoted by doing #Happens Virtual Zoom calls for both Rock and Alternative. Tell us about them.
We always wanted to branch out and grow #Happens, and with Covid, we explored the idea of doing something virtual, like many other businesses. Our vision was to do something that keeps our Rock and Alternative community connected until the next Vegas event and beyond! V#H is a social cocktail hour with an artist feature and a discovery conversation. Like everything we do, it's fluid and organic, and we plan to keep this going year-round!
6. Now, let's talk about the next #Happens event coming next February 23-25 in Las Vegas. I know it's early on, but what can you tell us about next year's #Happens?
We got lucky last year and were able to pull off one of the last "hurrahs" before Covid hit. I still have conversations with people about how great it was to get together one last time. The plan for 2022 is to have an amazing, even bigger comeback and celebration of MUSIC.COMMUNITY.DISCOVERY. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements in the coming months!
7. Let's talk about the "community" of Rock and Alternative stations and labels you have brought together with your #Happens partners Todd Sievers and Ken Pittman. What makes these formats seem like such a big family?
It's the passion we have for all things music! We are all different, have varying opinions on artists and songs, and even have some heated conversations at the discussions in Vegas. In the end, we can still walk away like family after a fight and listen to some great music over some drinks! Oh.. and softball!
8. Now, let's talk about the Rock format as a whole, particularly Active Rock. What's your take on the music and artists in the format today?
"Resilient" is the word that comes to mind. Active Rock, like all formats, has its ebbs and flows, but it's not going anywhere! There are many of us, including artists, labels, radio stations, who have invested in the format, and we are a crazy, loyal, and passionate bunch!
9. Give me three of your favorite new Rock artists and/or songs so far this year and why?
I have to start with Ayron Jones! It's been great to watch his rise, especially during the pandemic, without live shows. I cannot wait to see what happens once he starts touring! "Take Me Away" is still my favorite, but the new album, 'Child Of The State' is in regular rotation in my office.
I love, love, love the new track from WVH Mammoth, "Don't Back Down" and the new album is solid. I might be responsible for half of the listens on Spotify! He is just such a genuinely nice person! I love when the good guys win!
And last but not least, Dirty Honey. That bluesy-rock sound of the new album is fantastic road-tripping music!
Bonus - Royal Blood. I don't think there is anything they can put out that I don't like!
10. Finally, what do you like to do for fun and relaxation when you're not in "work" mode?
I'm pretty low-key. I love hanging out at home with my dog, Buddy (no relation to Buddy Deal, though I love the guy:), friends, and family. I love food, cooking, and eating it, so you'll find me in the kitchen or the grill a lot, making something for said-family and friends, hosting dinner parties, and enjoying it all in the backyard in the summertime.
I love traveling and am really excited to have a few trips already in the works for this year, now that I'm fully vaccinated and things are opening back up!
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