BIG, IMPORTANT NEW SOUNDS are coming from Mindy Verson and David Kaplan’s Audio Producers Group as they are now representing 15 chart-topping musical recording artists, for ad agency commercial music licensing and original production.
APG is also repping local legend radio personality Steve Dahl, for his daily podcast shows.
“Steve amasses over 3 million downloads from iTunes with 250 shows available,” notes Version. APG is seeking sponsorship and commercials for the shows.
The 15 music artists on the APG roster are: Ice Cube, continuing to create edgy street music; Backstreet Boys, 100 million albums sold, ’nuff said; Preservation Hall Jazz Band, a 50-year old New Orleans institution; feel-good band 311, had a sellout summer tour; Jane’s Addiction, now recording a new album for Capitol Records;
Korn, prolific California rock band; Shawn Colvin, three time Grammy Award winner; alternative rock band Flyleaf, sold 1.4 million records in first two releases; young metal band Five Finger Death Punch’s cover of “Bad Company”cover #2 on the chart; Uncle Kracker, hitting high on country/adult contemporary charts;
Jessie Malkouti, new female sensation; unique Red Fang, 4-piece rockers from Portland; Imadd Wasif, internationally known guitarist; L.A.’s Jenny O, original song writer and performer; Swedish singer Jenny Wilson, just released her first US record.
TOP NATIONAL EXECUTIVES and experts from SAG and AFTRA on Sept. 13 will answer members’ questions at an important Conservatory meeting about SAG-Producers pension and health Plans and AFTRA Health and Retirement Funds at the Kaufherr Center.
Speakers for SAG P&H are CEO Christopher Dowdell, executive director benefits operations Amanda Bernard and director pension department,
Michael Chavez. For AFTRA H&A: Union chair, AFTRA board of trustees Shelby Scott and associate benefits director Lauretta Davis.
A CAST OF 18 ACTORS directed by Nich Radcliffe will bring to life screenwriter John Arends’ script, “Trice,” at Chicago Scriptworks’ staged reading at Theatre Wit Sept. 15.
The story is about Jack Trice, the first African American to play college football at Iowa State in 1922. Starring David Goodloe as Trice, Andy Baldescwiler, Tim Musachio, Manuel Twillie, Patrick Doolin, Delicia Dunham, Gabrielle McCoy and Mike Ward.
LAURALYNN FARWELL’S Gabriel Media Group was tapped by London-based Elgg management as its first Elgg development partner in North American. Gabriel’s first assignment is to build a start-up social media networking site called Ortsy.com, on the Elgg platform that includes video and multimedia features. Gabriel recently moved into offices at 500 N. Michigan; phone, 773/910-9909.
AT THE SNEAK PEAK of the 46th International Film Festival, Sept. 21 at the Lucky Strikes’ wine bar, founder/artistic director Michael Kutza will unveil the big picture of this year’s festivities. They include movie titles, filmmaker and talent visits, panel discussions and, of course, the parties any film buff would love to attend, he says.
CASTING DIRECTOR DAVID O’CONNOR celebrated his O’Connor Casting’s 20th anniversary by treating his six-person staff to a weekend at Disney World in Orlando. And starting the next year of business off right, O’Connor coincidentally booked a Walt Disney World project the day after the team returned. “We had a blast,” says O’Connor. “Who knew it would make for great research?”
BRIDGES MEDIA will host an Octoberfest Party Oct. 15 ? and might have another occasion to party on Oct. 25 if it wins a Jeff Award Oct. 25. Bridges was nominated in the Artistic Specialization category its work on “Trust,” David Schwimmer’s play at The Lookingglass Theatre last year. Since then, Schwimmer produced “Trust” as a feature that recently shot in Detroit.
