Eleonora Cutaia founded AheadPR - a digital music promotion service.
[indiessance]
In a djsounds.com interview, you talked about how you keep your ears open for artists who do not necessarily fit into a specific genre, and are not afraid to experiment with new sounds. Considering how dynamic the many subgenres of electronic music have been, how does your business philosophy reflect the dynamic nature of digital music?
[eleonora cutaia]
At AheadPR indeed we receive the most diverse submissions and it is important to be 'objective' when evaluating the products. Even if I have a personal taste in music, thankfully I am able to go beyond the taste or genre factor, and rate music for the way it's produced, and for the potential it can have with the media and public.
[indiessance]
As it is essential for AheadPR to remain on top of current music trends, what are a few of the main media sources that you have come to rely upon in order to keep informed? What are other ways that you keep informed?
[eleonora cutaia]
When it comes to new music trends, I do not make it an obsession but I definitely try to allow myself to be exposed to different channels and outlets. Most of the times it's the music that finds me!
AheadPR helps a great deal as it allows me to regularly discover some extremely talented artists via the site submissions.
Running the label is another great asset as again, some great artists come to me through recommendation or word of mouth.
There is just so much music out there that it's literally impossible not to miss out. I guess this is one of the reasons why AheadPR is becoming increasingly popular: journalists and DJs can be a bit more lazy and rely on a trusted source to filter up quality content for them!
[indiessance]
Recording artists have emailed me MP3s that they produced with home recording equipment. They have their own web pages, blogs, MySpace profiles, etc. But few artists get the kind exposure that would take their sound to the next level. How can AheadPR help such independent recording artists and labels?
[eleonora cutaia]
The most important thing is the music to be produced to good standards. These days thanks to some great software, it has become so easy to reach professional standards even from the comfort of your home. You are right saying there are tons of artists who are trying to do everything themselves, but only a few ones get solid exposure.
With so much choice out there it is becoming even more difficult, so it definitely requires some budget to actually make some waves.
I am happy to have created AheadPR with these types of artists in mind, and it's great seeing the difference the campaigns make to them.
From magazine reviews, international radio airplay, licensing to labels, bookings: I have seen it all happen and I really do share in the artists' achievement.
I have seen some of my American clients coming to the UK for gigs, and they were over the moon, thinking it would have never happened so fast. It is unbelievable what an email to the right person can do!
