(CelebrityAccess News Service) – Longtime artist/athlete management company Waxploitation is setting a course to release more records as a label in 2004 than the sum total of the last eight years combined, including new Tweaker and Alkaholiks releases (via iMUSIC/BMG), Tash solo album (via Koch) and the debut releases of Teargas & Plateglass and the Likwit Crew as well as a number of mixtapes in the works. Additionally Waxploitation will continue it's forward momentum in the video game soundtrack world.
"We've been on sort of a signing spree that will continue for at least the next six months", says Waxploitation's CEO Jeff Antebi. "It's a very odd situation out there in the music business right now. And although it's a bit like watching the apocalypse, there's a clear reality that consumers still want music in their lives. I think if one takes a conservative approach to the economics, there are a number of opportunities out there. For better or worse, we are choosing to embrace the chaos right now."
Waxploitation was founded in 1994 and is best known for it's management of extreme sports athletes including Caleb Wyatt and Tyler King (in conjunction with it's sister company Savren) as well as artist/producers like Chris Vrenna (U2, Weezer, Nine Inch Nails), King Britt (Macy Gray, Digable Planets, Brandy), Paul Leary (Sublime, Butthole Surfers), E-Swift (Snoop Dogg, Everlast, Dilated Peoples) and Kutmaster Kurt (Kool Keith, Linkin Park, Beastie Boys). Additionally, the Waxploitation/Savren marketing division has worked with lifestyle companies including C1rca, Dragon Optical, Forum and O'Neill as well as events including ESPN X Games, Vans Triple Crown, E3, ASR and the Osiris Aftermath tour. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
Rounder To Start Book Division
(CelebrityAccess News Service) – Rounder Records is launching Rounder Books – a new division under the Rounder Records Group. Kicking off May, 2004, three new books will be released including Mr. Red Sox – The Johnny Pesky Story (authored by Rounder co-founder Bill Nowlin), The Fenway Project (edited by Bill Nowlin and Cecilia Tan), and Rhythm & Light (a photography book on Rush drummer Neil Peart, photos by Carrie Nuttall).
Founded in 1970, Rounder Records has become the leader in American roots music. With the launch of Rounder Books, the company will take its musical expertise to the presses, seeking to diversify and expand its business. Rounder co-founder Marian Leighton Levy said, “We have long discussed adding a books division to complement our releases in the music realm – a broad range of books in the area of popular culture is very closely related.”
This past year Rounder enjoyed the launch of Zoë Vision – its new DVD imprint under the Rounder Records Group. Rush In Rio recently debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Music DVD chart and has been certified double platinum. Alison Krauss + Union Station’s Live DVD was also released in 2003 and has been certified platinum. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
