About Us - Americana Media Productions

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About Us

A group of industry professionals dedicated to developing Independent Musicians

"Americana Music--Keep It Real"

"Oh yeah, that's what it's all about alright, but saying it and doing it are two different things!"

ABOUT US

If you landed here by accident then you probably need to go get a cup of coffee, because the “About Us” page is a bit of a story.

Our reputation at Americana Media Production is we aren’t afraid to go the distance for our clients. We have fought to level the playing field for the independent artist and continue to work everyday to keep this the format real.

Our commitment and passion for this music is unmatched by any of our competition.

I started on radio in 1996 on a station in NJ called WDVR. When I started I had a show called “The Sunday Night Revival” and got permission to create a two hour show called “HepCats and Neon Armadillos” playing something called “Americana”, which grew to a 3 hour show. I was chairman of the Programming Department and during my stay we at the station we added just about 108 hours a week of Traditional Country, Bluegrass and Americana music. The annual budget also grew from $20K to almost $200K. After 9/11 the company I worked for disappeared, literarily so I decided that after having over 75 artists stop by to stay in my home over the previous 6 years, all of which were broke, I decided to help.

While there I had the pleasure of bringing on to the staff, some important names in Americana music. “Big Kev” Ploghoft, R W Shamy (Twangcast) , Rich Evans (Bluegrass DJ) "Torchie Blaine" , Russ Hunsberger, 'Mr.Ed" Kilker and discovering some incredibly talented artists including Moot Davis.

Currently we are still involved with the Americana music scene:

Provided a comprehensive "Hard Drive" library to new Americana Stations with over 200 gigs of Current and Past Americana CDs free to reporting stations. Currently 12 stations are using our library to supply their music library.

Partner in Artist Development Co Op-- Co-creator of a company to put top industry personnel that has been down sized from the record industry and are valuable resources for Independent Roots artists. We provide the best record of success in the Americana format for charting indie artists in the Top 40. We provide access to distribution, internet development and promotion, e commerce, video development, film placement, tour support and publicity. 07- current

Partner in the E magazine "The Media Guide"--A web based virtual magazine with unique features including audio interviews and videos from artist such as Billy Bob Thornton, Buddy Miller, Allison Moore and Buck Jones. This magazine is a monthly magazine. 07-current

Partner in "Roots Music Online TV"- A web based video TV channel, featuring Roots Music videos with our own virtual host "Rohxann" currently in development stage

Host of afternoon Roots programming on WXLV- Allentown- four hour weekly Americana show. Sept 06-current

Host of "Broken hearts and Auto Parts" on WMUH Allentown--two hour weekly Americana show. 04-07

Host of "This Outlaw Thing" on WLVR Allentown--three hour weekly Americana show. 05-current

Co-Producer of "The Living Room Series" and "It's Motel Time Again" with Regional Roots Radio Americana Music Director Big Kev-- a syndicated live performance and interview show with guests that include BR549, Buddy Miller, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Rodney Crowell. Matt Angus, Alicea Nugent, Tom Gillam, Hacienda Brothers, Dan Penn, James Hunter, Dave Insley and Hayes Carll. All performances recorded in my Emmaus PA living room. We are currently broadcasting world wide through Air Play Direct Syndication of this show from 05-current

Some other things we’ve done:

First Self-Released CD in Top 10 -- With a modest budget, Big John Mills’ “Honky Tonks and Neon Lights" was the first self-released CD to appear in the Top 10. It was also Most Added for six weeks.

First Indie Artist CD in Top 4-- Tom Gillam started on Haydens Ferry and we got him signed to 95 North Records when he reached # 11 in 5 weeks He stayed in the top 10 for 10 weeks. The only Indie artist to have enough spins to make the AMA Top 20 Was nominated for "Emerging Artist of the Year 2005"

First Indie Artist CD to debut on the AMA chart at # 14--- Clay DuBose debuted at #14 the same week that the Texas legend Ray Wylie Hubbard debuted at # 16. Peaked at # 6

Only Self-Released Artists in Top 60 -- Kerri Powers and Kimmie Rhodes were the only two self-released artists to appear in the Top 60 CDs of the Year list (“You, Me and A Redhead” at #50 and "Love Me Like A Song" at # 53, respectively

Client List: One Riot One Ranger, Kerri Powers, Kimmie Rhodes, Chuck Pyle, Billy Don Burns, Kenny Butterill, Clay DuBose, Big John Mills, Big Al Downing, Randy Weeks, Scott Gibson, Dave Isaacs, Tim Krekle, I Mihana, Kaz Murphy, Penny Jo Pullus, Rock House Ramblers, The Piners, Ben Winship, The Coming Grass, Dan Israel, Kevin Deal, Audrey Auld, Bill Chambers, The Mickeys, The McKay Brothers, Chip Taylor, Jay Ryan, American Ambulance, Russell Ray, Wayne Hancock, Karl Shiflett, Moot Davis, Anthony Michael James, Tom Roznowski Cactus Hunters, Kate James and Lost Country, Randy Thompson, Billy Lee Riley, Moot Davis, Woodys, Dale Keys, Troy McManus, Wade Jacoby, Randy Thompson, Matt Angus, Andy Tanas, The Lees, Rosie Flores, Stan Swiniarski, The Swindles, The Carburetors Bob Cheevers, Todd Fritsch, James Lann, Keith Sykes, The Believers, The Melroys, Todd Thibaud, Sidewinders, Clay DuBose, Frank Brown, Jeff Talmadge, Lori Willcuts, Doc Marshals, Tom Gillam, The Woodys, John Coinmen, Alistair Moock, Kim Carnes, Buck Jones, Claude Diamond, Lisa Best. Trailer Park Troubadours, Antsy McClain, Milroys, Jen Cass, Hunger Mountain Boys, Michael ONeill, Fred Eaglesmith, Darcy Lynne Ward, Brad Colerick, Lisa Hayes, Doug & Telisha Williams, Doug Spartz, Jonathan Edwards, Danny Santos, Dave Insley, Patricia Vonne, Iris Dement, Jeff Walburn, Bill Toms, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Butch Hancock, Yarn, Roger Salloom, Kendel Carson, Carrie Rodriguez, John Platania, Tim Scott, The Mystix, Sara Cox, Tres Womack, Bill Kelly, Megan Munroe,

1996-2003 WDVR FM 89.7 Non-Commercial Sergeantsville, NJ

Americana Music Program Director. Responsible for contact with record companies, promoters and sponsors. Develop Americana-related programming and events and maintain station library. Station revenue grew from $20K to over $180k a year during those years. (‘98-03)

Americana APD/Music Director of The Year, an award given by Album Network, a national magazine similar to Billboard Magazine containing the official Americana Chart, once a year to the top Program Director. Votes are collected from record companies, radio DJs and music industry personnel. (’01)

Executive Producer and Creator of Heartlands Hayride , a weekly live-performance traditional country radio show. Featuring 14 live musical acts in two hours, it’s the only show of its kind being broadcast in its entirety in North America. Serve as production engineer; supervise and train sound and stage crew; service sponsors and coordinate promotions, sales, syndication and annual budget for show. The show has generated more income for the station then any show on the station The show generates over $40k a year (‘00- 03)

Host and Engineer of Hepcats and Neon Armadillos, a weekly radio show featuring Americana and Western Swing music. (‘98-03)

Executive Producer and Host of Live@ TheLoft, a live-performance interview and music series featuring nationally known Americana music talent. (’00-'03)

Developed WDVR's Bluegrass Festival, responsible for developing 3 day Bluegrass festival that is currently in its fifth year. featuring Del McCoury and Rhonda Vincent with a 50K entertainment budget (‘99-02)

Station Webmaster, designed and maintain station website WDVRFM.org . Designed and custom-built computer and implemented programming to enable station to broadcast over the Internet. Designed and custom-built computer to broadcast programming 24 hours a day. (‘99-Present)

Executive Producer and Writer of Americana on the Air, a syndicated, live-performance radio show featuring nationally known talent from such old-time radio shows as The Shadow, Ethel and Albert and The Kate Smith Show. These actors performed on stage together with such well known Folk and Americana artists as Christine Lavin, Wayne Hancock Jimmie Lafave, Sandy Rogers and Buddy and Julie Miller. This show was one of the first to be broadcast live on the Internet. (’97-‘98)