10 Questions with ... Rene Magallon      

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

1994-Caliber Records
1995-1997 Discovery Records
1997-2003-Levitation
2003-2006-Outsource
2006-now -M:M Music

1. What got you interested in the record business?

I played guitar and drums when I was a kid and then played percussion in a college jazz band. So, I was curious about the music industry and how it all worked. I interned at a tiny label that had Howard Hewett of Shalamar and on the other extreme we had a band called Love/Hate a hair band from the late 80s…first gig was to promote to urban, gospel and metal formats.

2. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

KROQ was a huge part of my high school years especially since the studios were in Pasadena…we used to hang out in KROQs parking lot hoping to meet Jed the Fish and Richard Blade.

3. What may surprise people the most about M:M Music?

Probably not a surprise but that we have been together for 16 years as M:M Music.

4. Where do you get your greatest pleasure in doing record promotion?

Introducing new artists to radio.

5. What is the toughest part of your job?

Introducing new artists to radio.

6. How have things changed at M:M?

Since Meg moved to Nashville, and you are in LA? Nothing much has changed or at least I haven’t really noticed since the move happened right before covid exploded. But I miss not having Meg as a show buddy and especially miss M:M Music drinks on the deck at Meg’s house in LA…a lot of my favorite moments came from those nights.

7.  If it were it up to you, what would you change in our "system" to give your bands a better shot?

I wish there were a more accurate ratings system for radio then handing out meters randomly. Many stations have to tighten up their playlist because of the collected data that may or may not be accurate. Difficult for radio to give new artists a shot since they might put themselves in jeopardy to lose a meter that can affect their bottom line of ad revenue.

8. What are some of your biggest challenges as an independent promotion company?

Trying to explain to an independent artist without a label the challenges of getting radio airplay when there is no national story and no ammo…we have a responsibility to spell it out and sometimes you feel like you are squashing a dream.

9. If you were to leave the record business today and you could choose any other occupation, what would it be?

Owning a Coffee house that houses stray cats to help them get adopted.

10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ...

Several cups of Coffee, my dog Gibson and cap it off with a big, tall glass of Chardonnay.

Last non-industry job:

College bookstore

First record ever purchased:

Bananarama and Fun Boy Three

First concert:

Well, my early concerts were The Gogo’s and Eurythmics, but truthfully my very first one was Sheena Easton

Favorite band of all-time:

Fleetwood Mac

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

Going to thrift and antique stores and finding those hidden gems. And sitting outside by a firepit with a glass of wine.