NRG Pictures
SIGNING STORIES
Marc Broussard
Date Signed: September 2012 Label: Vanguard Records Type of Music: Soul/Pop Management: Eric Baker, ebaker@newbreedmm.com; Doug Shaw, dshaw@wilspro.com Booking: Lynn Cingari, lcingari@paradigmagency.com Legal: J. Reid Hunter / Serling Rooks & Ferrra, LLP, reid@srfllp.com Publicity: Lucy Sabini / Vanguard Records, lsabini@vanguardrecords.com Web: http://marcbroussard.com A&R: Kevin Welk
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hen a label makes a good impression on an artist, it can pay large future dividends. Louisiana-based singer-songwriter Marc Broussard witnessed that firsthand after working with Vanguard Records briefly before being snapped up by Atlantic Records. “Years ago, between my Island Def Jam contract and my deal with Atlantic, I signed a one-off deal with Vanguard for my record S.O.S.: Save Our Soul,” the artist explains. “I found that experience to be highly enjoyable. Unfortunately for Vanguard, Atlantic stepped in and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I was a little too young and näive to understand the implications of what I was embarking on.”
“It was a natural fit for me to re-approach [Vanguard Records].” When Broussard’s deal with Atlantic came to an end, he decided to lookup Vanguard and see if they’d like to work together once more. “It was a natural fit for me to re-approach those guys,” he recalls. “I knew that it had been a great relationship during S.O.S. and they seemed eager to work with me again.” Once he was released from Atlantic earlier in the year, Broussard and his team reached out to Vanguard. A deal was reached in the fall. One of the significant differences that Broussard notes about his experience with Vanguard is that he feels more supported than with past labels. “Recently I played three shows in the L.A. area,” the singer says. “Over the course of those shows, the entire Vanguard West Coast staff was able to see me perform. That’s not something you can say about every label. It’s a much more focused staff. They don’t have 40 releases in a given quarter. We’ll be able to maximize the effort of a smaller group of people because it’s such a focused operation.” A Life Worth Living (ALWL) is planned for release sometime in the spring. It will be preceded by an EP that includes a number of Louisiana-centric songs. A tour is being planned for when ALWL drops. ——Rob Putnam 26 January 2013
www.musicconnection.com
Angie Johnson Date Signed: 2012 Label: Sony Nashville Type of Music: Country Management: B. Craig Campbell, Vanessa Davis / The POD Booking: CAA Nashville Legal: Michael Johnson / Katy Griffin Emkema & Colbert Publicity: B.Craig Campbell, Vanessa Davis / The POD, craig@campbellentgrp.com Web: http://officialangiejohnson.com A&R: Lisa Ramsey
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efore following her dreams to be a country singer, Angie Johnson enlisted in the US Air Force, to follow another dream. After serving in the Middle East, she resumed her action of a different kind. She used her GI bill to go back to school. Then, to further her music prospects she launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to fund a professionally produced demo. “I raised $30,000 in 30 days,” says Johnson. “The next thing I knew, I had a call to meet with the president of Sony Nashville!” It wasn’t quite that instantaneous. Someone she knew from the scene–– Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, former label head and guitarist Josh Leo––had mentioned Johnson’s name to Sony Nashville's Lisa Ramsey, who highly recommended the artist based on her online performances. In a novel move, the label offered to match her Kickstarter funds to enable Johnson to make an EP, which is slated for a Spring release.
“I raised $30,000 in 30 days. The next thing I knew, I had a call to meet with the president of Sony Nashville!” Her deal with the label includes other options, depending on the performance of that release. With success on Kickstarter, why go with a label? “The support of a major label means that you can get your music out to so many more people. It creates a much bigger impact to grow an audience,” Johnson says. Media exposure is no stranger to Johnson. Before signing with Sony Nashville, she appeared on CNN’s Headline News (HLN) network. She also was a contestant on The Voice. “I learned how much it takes to put on a television production. It didn’t expand my artistry, but it was a great experience,” she says of major TV network exposure. While in the Air Force, Johnson had the opportunity to perform at several bases, which also expanded her repertoire. “We have to be diverse at those performances, and be able to perform anything, from Rihanna to Journey, and to play with different people. It’s a great way to gain experience.” Johnson has also performed at several NFL games. “My military experience is a big draw." ——Brett Bush