20072013
Theyearswerelate2006andthestartof 2007.Itwasatimeaswewereapproaching the10-yearmark.Wehad30-plusphysical releasesontheshelf,wereapproachingour 4thmajordistributioncompany(Proper Music-London)anddidnotknowwhatwe weredoing.Wesoonlearnedtosetaprerequisitesince.
Itwasn'tuntiltheintroductionofThe BeautifulGirlsrecordthatweunderstood whatthestablecomponentsofarecord releaseandtourconsistof.
Untilnow,thisperiodisconsideredour adolescencetoadulthoodtime. Thankyouforreading.
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2006toearly2007 MichaelO’Mahnoy departureandthe returntoIreland
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Updatingour releaseprocess. StartingwithThe BeautifulGirls
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200-2010 Beezwax“Sting Operation”, RogerThat “VanillaGuerillas”
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TheLosAngeles Experience. 2010-2013 LaLalandand thesigningsthat quietthestormin Crownn.
Theinformationwrittenwithinthefollowing pagesareCrownnRecords'storyandfacts providedbyJeromeFitts(founderEst.1998). Allphotosandtextareunderexclusive copyrightcontrol CrownnRecords2024 PublishedbyTheWorthwhileJournal AllRightsReserved.2024
One of many record sales statements from our long term distribution partner
Proper Distribution
a t e 2 0 0 62 0 0 8
“Goingback hometoDublin, tofigurethings out.”
After nearly four developing years in Deutschland (Germany), which expanded our wings and experience, we moved back to Dublin for a reset in early 2006.
At this point the diabolical yet self-sabotaging release records of Ensimi, Wallmark had peaked in a short spell. There was no more Damien Gerard, who relocated to New York, Mick left the arches of Crownn, due to his infractions with Wallmark and we did not know which way to turn So we hocked our brains and went home
What spawned through the turbulent years of late 2005 to early 2006 was the growth of Granted Distribution. As previously mentioned in Part II of this four-part segment, Mick was responsible for Granted. However, he decided to leave and left us with the stock.
This is where Roberto Faletti, Barry Egan and Stephanie Rombach, the most loyal and competent staff structure took over. It was a learning curve and that solid crew lasted for a total of 10 months. Until we or I, Jerome Fitts, were homesick for Dublin. It was due to personal issues and a staff structure that was prematurely disbanded.
All three individuals previously mentioned were fantastic
After reaching the shores of Dublin, Mick and I finally met in person, which was the last time, at a Crownn stomping ground on Grafton Street. (The Bailey's Bar). Mick gave no excuses other than he was sober and just wanted to book bands at a college in Cork, Ireland. I was besotted, hurt and still disappointed but I understood. The poor examples of morals from within the industry (booze and women) drove him away. He still should not have left like that yet we continued.
This was the first time we realized that this was a fickle business. Mick was the first in the door and it was hard to imagine carrying on without him. We had eight years of hugs, cries, court rulings, drunken nights and death within Crownn. How could he leave over a band that was not going to last in Wallmark? They were brilliant but it was a matter of everyone slowing down and becoming sober. It is called a meeting or face-to-face meeting. No blame game but we had all of the talent in the world and a new distributor in Proper Distribution in London and Mick decided to leave. I know I, Jerome Fitts, was completely nuts but I was home and prepared to start this thing over with tentacles. We were still in Germany but I understood Ireland and the artist
Time heals all wounds and this is one that was never recovered. Mick and I had created this thing called Crownn. We worked at call centres together as he slept on my couch while releasing the Solomon single. In 2024, it is hard to understand why someone would walk away the way he did after so much of what we had been through.
My last words to him were, Mick will you at least help with booking bands for Ireland? His response was; "No!" I said goodbye to Mick but remembered a year before when he begged me to start Granted Distribution for him to have a job. He begged as we were brothers and he needed another income as he was battling with alcoholism. When he was homeless I gave him somewhere to live, as I was still in Germany. I also helped him move his things via a trusted source in Ireland, yet still, he walked and left us with stock and artist trust in Granted Distribution
On
“Youhavetogoto Australiatomeetthe band.”-AsitaSagehdehan
The restart or refurbishment year of 2006 was well worth it. We were heading into our first decade. A change was needed.
It started with attending the prestigious Popkumm Berlin in 2006 and a little music flirtation. At this point, we did not have an active website or bands outside of Granted Distribution
A chance meeting with Asita Sadedehan, a prominent booking agent with Tickets.de was the breaking point. Asita introduced Jerome to the music of The Beautiful Girls of Australia on a supposed date drive to Prague in late 2006.
Asita said: "Go to Bondi Beach, Australia and meet the band. There is no other way the band has to meet you in person and like you. There had to be a level of trust established.”
It took Asita six months to trust Crownn Records. She knew we did not know what we were doing
One of the few leads she gave us was the name of a German nationwide booking agent who had introduced herself to the music of The Beautiful Girls. That agent's name was Birger Ligerman of Creative Talent Booking Agency.
T H E B E A U T I F U L G I R L S
Birger was encouraging and open to a small label that had larger ambitions. The introduction was a pivot point as the key was the booking agents. They are the ones who book the bands for shows or tours and are considered a major part of the chain to a successful record. Live performances promote recorded music. We got it.
By April 2007, after many discussions with Birger and the band's manager Neal Hunt, Jerome Fitts landed in Sydney, Australia to sign the band.
The band and their manager at the time, were apprehensive at first sight. They were more or less bigots or ignorant about meeting and dealing with people of colour
However, by the end of the four days, The Beautiful Girls had licensed their second album Ziggurats, to Crownn Records.
This signature propelled Crownn Records from a recognized small label to a priority label on Proper Distribution. And we finally had a new website.
The deal with The Beautiful Girls "Ziggurats" album propelled Crownn to a different level. It was also a learning lesson that made us realize we had done it all wrong in the previous ten years.
Upon returning from Australia, the first meeting was the recommended Public Relations one-man company in Jürgen Reichert of Bukee PR. He was leaving Warner Bros and offered his services, based on Birger's reference, for five thousand euros. Jerome Fitts met him with the payment slip in his hand. We had to pay half upfront and make the second payment after the work started.
Jürgen Reichert proceeded to inform us that he could only do a proper job with a certain Radio plugger in Jans Klienschmidt.
Here was the dynamic:
Birger was cementing his status as a booking agent with Creative Talent for foreign acts and knew the German labels would not have the audacity to travel to Australia to meet the band and sign them. (Asita Sagedehan -- referral based on Crownn budget- she knew first hand)
Jürgen was leaving Warner Bros Germany and would use the leverage to charge more bands as an independent agent at the expense of Crownn Records
Jans was working in a joint office in Hamburg with Jürgen, and was retained as the radio plugger for five thousand euros.
All three cemented their jobs at the expense of Crownn Records. They all knew we had a distribution deal with Proper Distribution in London who were capable of product placing the record worldwide The only thing is the sales percentage would be broken down from within their export departments.
This is where Groove Attack Distribution played a part. After several phone calls within Germany; such as Cargo Distribution, who would not answer the call, and Alive Distribution, who blatantly referred us back to Michael Schuster of Cargo, Jens recommended a call to Groove Attack founder Frank Stratman.
Ironically enough, he was expecting my call and two hours later, we received the Groove Attack Distribution contract via email.
The deal was to secure a new chain of records for G.A.S (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) and surrounding countries depending on the tour. It was also the first time we had a one-stop digital distribution deal.
Proper did a fantastic job of releasing the record in Ireland and the United Kingdom and Groove Attack product placed the record with other extremities. And more expenditures the German way.
Here was the scenario;
Birger, Jens, Jans and Neal Hunt used Crownn as leverage for the future as an entry point for a larger Beautiful Girls fan base.
Groove Attack who is in partnership with media publisher Pirhana, who controls all of the music media in Germany, would demand we take out advertisements within the music magazines throughout Germany. It was costly.
This made Jen's job much easier and helped sell tickets for an eight-city tour of Germany and Austria. We were used.
Ok, we learned how it is done in Germany and have since used this method of doing most of the marketing and media in-house. The only thing is the booking.
Birger used the first release cycle and November 2007 tour to leverage the band on festivals within Germany during the summer of 2008. It worked for him and was another cornerstone learning lesson for us.
We also learned that as fulfilling as it was to have our band on the radio and in all print magazines in G.A.S., you have to pay for it.
Groove Attack just like Proper Distribution, sent the monthly sales statements. However, Groove Attack deducted the digital sales based on any returns of the record from the physical shops.
This did not go down well with either Crownn personnel or the band.
The Beautiful Girls have not toured nor released a record in Germany since.
As always we kept going
This point was gratifying, but it was a pivot point of the label. We realised that, to have bands or artists in magazines, the label had to pay for it.
There is also the selfish part of the business that everyone does not like to admit. It takes money and more money with honest collaboration to achieve the status of record label and artist release. Honesty may never exist, but collaboration is essential.
Ensimi -Tower Records
2008-2010
Riding on the momentum of the Beautiful Girls release and press credibility with the Beezwax record, Crownn was approached by several well-known acts.
Most notable was legendary revolutionary rapper Talib Kweli and his side project Idlewarship. It came down to logistics and mechanisms to support the record with live dates At the time, we did not secure a suitable booking agency to support the Crownn release. The deal was subsequently left on the table. Ironically, after the misfire signing, Talib has been a regular on the live gig circuit in Germany.
R O G E R T H A
T
The groove-rocking band signed off the heels of The Beautiful Girls, which shared the same management. The respectable album "Vanilla Gurellas" was released in the summer of 2009 (Europe). Highlighted the song "Jefferson Lane"
Jimmy Young - guitar
Lach Leckie - bass
Jesse Bailey - vocals
Dan Briffa - drums
Beezwax and the remarkable "Sting Operation" album.
Boris, the ultra-talented producer, gathered some of London's finest rappers to deliver a classic.
The album provided Crownn the opportunity for a vinyl release distributed by Groove Attack. The album still sits well with Crownn and has been re-released throughout the years since due to underground popular demand.
The single "Sting Operation", featuring Keys, continues to be played in underground urban clubs in Europa,
The releases concluded Crownn's distribution deal with Groove Attack.
Boris continues to release compilation records for Beezwax Production.
B
E E Z W A X
At the end of the credibility bubble of the music press, Atlanta-based artist George Tisdale and his management Dee Murray, came into the frame. The latter was a part of the Outkast and Atlanta Music scene. As remarkable as the E.P. "Liberation" on offer by Tisdale was, things did not pan out.
Why do we mention George? He was ahead of his time with the E.P. based on the song "All We Are", co-written with producer Chris Warrior of Warrior Creations. It is also worth mentioning that it did not work out due to cultural differences or in-breed race relations.
In 2009, Jerome Fitts decided to branch out to the one territory that mattered in the music business.
It should be noted that Dee Dee Murray and her company are an intricate part of the Atlanta Music scene.
George Tisdale is still pursuing a music career and Chris Warrior continues to produce music within the Los Angeles area.
THELASHOW: The Los Angeles experience was funny. We could not believe how easy it was based on the work we had done in Europe. 2010-2013 20.
THE OBJEX
The Las Vegas punk rock band first attracted Crownn attention in late 2009. Once there was a relocation and several months of emailing back and forth, Crownn and the outrageous punk band from Las Vegas agreed on a one-album licensing deal
The record- "Reservation For Debauchery" saw the band tour the west coast of America and extensively in Ireland. They are remembered for not playing their local bar, The Double Down, in Las Vegas for New Year's 2011.
Legend has it that the band has recently reformed in pursuit of an extensive tour based on public demand
CITIZEN ICON
The Atlanta-based band consisted of the members of recruited Crownn Records band, Eden Atlanta.
The band licensed their E P "Citizen Icon" to Crownn and toured the southwest of America. A radio-friendly single, "Hang On", is memorable by the quartet.
However, inner turmoil and label naivety tormented the chain of potential sales.
The label/band relationship was hampered by forgoing some dates on the set of shows, causing chaos in the relationship between the label and the band.
The unfortunate timing of a record that should have propelled the, at the time 40something rockers.
A phenomenal E.P.
The Berlin-based band, RoughRoostars, was the hardest-working band that Crownn has enjoyed working with. The band toured Ireland and Germany to support their album "Don't Eat Yellow Snow"
The RoughRoostars came to the attention of Crownn Records in late 2010, eight months after Jerome Fitts relocated to Los Angeles. The irony was, that we knew nothing about the band while operating from Berlin
Katja Hagen of UFO studios (Berlin) recommended Max, the chief operator of the band To Crownn.
Several attempts of tours in America, one of which was a 12-date meet and greet radio tour, was cancelled as well as a South American tour
Although the album "Don't Eat Yellow Snow" was well received, both the label and the band collectively achieved nothing more than a release and Irish tours.
2013-2016 NOTHING!
NOVEMBER 11TH!