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10 Questions with ... Todd Ahsmann
September 6, 2005
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NAME:Todd AhsmannTITLE:Midwest Regional PromotionsCOMPANY:TVT RecordsFORMAT:Everything (except Country)LOCATION:Chicago (cover IL, MI, MN WI, OH, IA, MO, KS, NE, IN)BORN:14 years ago as an internRAISED:Chicago
Please outline your radio career so far: (station/date, station/date, etc.)
I started out at EMI/SKG/Chrysalis as an intern for Greg Thompson, Jeff Bardin and Gary Triozzi. After that I was a College Rep (as a grad student!) for Jon Cohen and Lisa Worden at EMI. Since then I've gone on to work for MCA, Giant (with Doug LaGambina as my boss!), Trauma, Hollywood, C2/Columbia and TVT.
1) What made you want to get into the music business? Early mentors? First job?
My first exposure was spinning punk/alt/metal records for my college station, but I had no idea there was a business side to it. At the time I was just trying to thumb my middle finger at the commercial college station, WPGU, which was an AOR station run by students (hello Jim McGuinn). Anyway, after graduating with degrees in Finance and Economics, taking my LSAT's, applying to Law School, getting accepted, deciding against it, becoming an Aspen ski bum and local DJ/club promoter, turning on my T.V. to a Dateline NBC feature on Promo Reps...I finally knew what I wanted to do. I sublet my apartment within a week, tracked down Greg Thompson, enrolled at Columbia College and got an internship. I owe everything to Thompson, JB, Triozzi and Cohen. They had me walking in records to Q101 and The Bear before I even knew what a bullet was. I'll never forget Jon Cohen letting me listen in as he made calls to radio setting up Arrested Development and Blur. I was hooked.
2) Too many records, too few slots. What data seems to be most important to you when jockeying for an open slot on a radio station and why? Ticket sales? Tour info? Prior success? Retail? Other stations?
Once you have all those, sales, video airplay, a tour, press, history, marketing and research you better be able to get your song on the air. The fun part of the job is getting those first "believers" to take a chance based on the music. You really have to know the ins and outs of a station and the market. The easier we make a PD's job (ie. going directly to their marketing director or the local promoter, knowing what kind of promos work for them and what doesn't) the more likely we are to get that slot
3) Things are changing rapidly in our business. Were it up to you, what would you change in our "system" to give your bands a better shot?
It's almost as if there is too much info out there, everything seems muddled. If a song has bad research, they have the #1 ringtone download. If MTV isn't playing a video, Yahoo.com has it #3. I wish radio would take a step back sometimes and rely on instinct more often. It's a pretty simple formula, good song + rock stars + exposure outside of radio (press, video, tour) = higher ratings + higher cd sales + higher billing
4) Who do you consider the current tastemakers in the ROCK world?
Besides Gary Jay and John Perrone, I love what Randy Hawke does with WJJO. H e doesn't daypart records, takes chances on new bands and doesn't care what the rest of the country is or isn't doing. I want music to kick my ass in the morning, afternoon and night. I don't daypart my coffee drinking, why should I want my music dayparted. I also think that 93X and WZZN consistently sound great. And I would be lost if I didn't get my monthly Cornerstone Player, they always seem to be one step ahead..
5) It has become apparent that in this research driven time, records are taking much longer to "test". How do you go about making sure that your record will be given a fair shot?
By keeping the artist relevant to the station. If it's going to take a while to get enough spins to test then we try to expose them through other means, like a link to an online promotion on the station site, a download of the MP3, or belly band the single to a something that's already working for the station, set up an endcap, give them an ID, phoner...beg.
6) Repetition breeds familiarity. How does your label increase exposure of your artists outside of traditional radio promotion?
TVT is amazing when it comes to marketing outside of the proverbial "box". It makes our jobs so much easier as a promotion staff. Steve Gottlieb is always looking forward in an industry that has a tendency to spend too much time looking back. For example, I believe that TVT was the first label to have it's own digital store, yet on the other hand we still have an amazing street team out there generating a buzz in markets before we ever take a song to radio.
7) What are the most important tools/resources you use to stay on top of the rock formats growth and constant daily changes?
Radio! Or more specifically PD's, MD's, Jocks, ...I get to listen to and sift through different opinions throughout the country every day.
8) Artist Development. The lost art of Artist Development. What do you do to ensure your artist is building a career as opposed to just breaking a song?
Since we are an indie label, we really don't work as many bands as the majors, so we have the luxury of "doing it right". We have a band right now, Towers Of London, who are building quite the reputation overseas. We won't even have a record until the beginning of the year but we've already been setting it up for three months. A video is being worked off the import single, we are getting people out to the shows, press is amazing, street teams are out, the online campaign is in full force, to the point that by the time we do bring it to radio these guys will be rock stars! Also, I think this is the first label that I worked a fourth single on an album that wasn't platinum.
9) What is the strangest record you ever worked and what ended up happening to the band?
Jesse Camp, the guy who won the MTV VJ contest. It was insane how he got mobbed everywhere we went. Grandmothers, union guys, little kids, all would come up to him and ask for his autograph. The guy was so passionate about his music and it really was a weird record in a cool kind of way. Everyone thought he was faking it but he was the real deal. I felt bad for the guy, he was so nice and genuine but mocked by the metal crowd he loved and wanted to be a part of, and his family wouldn't talk to him. I have no idea what happened to him but I hope you're out there and doing all right Jesse!
10) In your opinion what is the biggest "missed" record in the last year?
The Thermals, And You Will Know Us By..., Loraxx, Pelican, Death From Above 1979, MF Doom, The Hold Steady, Dungeon...crap, there's too many...
Bonus Questions
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: Ramones, Ramones
Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted
Motorhead, Motorhead
The Pixies, Surfer Rosa
Big Black, Songs About Fucking
MOVIES: Can I bring more cd's?What current based rock artist do you see having the ability and skills to stick around for several records in today's instant gratification oriented society?
Default, Bobaflex, Towers Of London, The Strays, Cinematics, The Blue Van, Ambulance LTD, Tsar...that is if we do our job properly.
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