Episode 30 - The Art of Getting Your Fans to Fall in Love with You!

Hosted by: Lou Lombardi aka Loudini and Kevin O'Connor
Title: The Art of Getting Your Fans to Fall in Love with You!
Episode Notes: You are an Entertainer -  On and Off the Stage.  It should be fun and interesting to interact with you On and OFF the stage. Even when you're not singing or playing,  you've got to keep fans interested.  Keep them entertained on Social Media and with emails,  and they will love you FOREVER!
 Spot lighting the Artists of the MTS Management Group
Featured Artists: Billy Grima, Doug Briney, Ed Roman, Hicks, March to May, Xander Demos
Bonus: Rahaas

Billy Grima is a singer/ songwriter living in the Caledon Hills of Ontario, Canada. Born in Blacktown, NSW Australia, Billy started writing at a very young age and was singing in a church choir by the age of 8 years old. At 15, Billy moved to Canada and settled in Toronto.   Like classic singer/songwriters, Billy Joel, Jim Croce, James Taylor and Bob Dylan, life’s daily realities and everyday events are a source of Billy’s inspiration.  His smooth and soulful sound has earned him comparisons to contemporaries Jason Mraz, Ed Sheeran, Jack Johnson and even Bruno Mars.  Billy has 3 albums to his credit: I’m Just Standing , A Little Piece Of Heaven and his latest, titled Sugar & Cream, produced and engineered by Pete Swann (Glass Tiger’s Alan Connely, Adrian and Justin Lifeson, sons of Rush’s Alex Lifeson.) Sugar & Cream features a tasty blend of pop, rock, soul and Americana, including the first single, “Pleasure To Have Met You.”  The album is going for worldwide radio adds this spring.  www.billygrima.com.

Doug Briney, the original “Alaskan Cowboy,” now residing in Nashville, TN, signed with MTS Management Group’s publicity and promotions in February 2012, and was signed to an artist management deal in August. Doug’s debut CD, “It’s All Country” was released on March 9th.  Soon after coming to MTS, Doug was featured on MusicRow.com, PowerSource Magazine, New Music Weekly, and Music News Nashville, among others.  Doug is a 2013Independent Country Music Assocation award winner. In November 2012, Doug signed a deal with CBM Records, who re-released “It’s All Country” in January 2013. It reached #11 on the itunes New Country Releases chart. With radio promotion from MTS, the album also spent 8 months in the Roots Music Report country charts. In May 2013, Doug signed a new deal with Tate Music Group, home to country legends, Lee Greenwood and Neal McCoy. In November 2013, TMG released, Super Country Cowboy, which charted on the itunes Inspirational chart.  Doug is also a 2014 Nashville Universe Awards nominee for Best Male Artist, an IMEA Award Winner, an AMG Heritage Music Award Nominee, and an Artists In Music Awards Nominee.  Doug has performed and signed at CMA Fest Fan Fair and shared the stage with legends, Lulu Roman, Georgette Jones, Bobby G. Rice, Buddy Jewell, John Berry and more! His current single, “Pretty Big Deal” is climbing the country music airplay charts.  http://www.dougbriney.com.

Ed Roman is based in Shelburne, Ontario.  In 2011, he released the critically acclaimed, Oracles And Ice Cream, which featured 22 tracks highlighting the spectrum of Ed’s broad musical tastes and influences. While performing 90% of the music on Letters From High Latitudes, Ed also receives help from notable musicians, Dave Patel (Sass Jordan) on drums and Mike Freedman (Tia Brazda) on electric guitars. Ed is currently being played on college radio across the US and Canada, in more than 100 markets.  Ed is a 2014 IMEA Award Winner, an Indie Music Channel Awards Winner, an AMG Heritage Award Nominee, and an Artists In Music Award Nominee.  For more information on Ed Roman, visit www.edroman.net

Hicks (Miqael Persson) is an accomplished songwriter from the south of Sweden, with multiple Gold and Platinum records to his credit. His rock-edged songs have been recorded by artists like Jimi Jamison (Survivor), Giant (Dann Huff), Bobby Kimball (Toto), Little River Band, W.E.T. (Featuring Jeff Scott Soto), Grammy nominated Toby Hitchcock and Grammy winner, Barbados.  He has also written with Nashville heavy-hitters like Anthony Smith, Dallas Rogers, Dennis Morgan and Sharon Vaughn. In late June 2014, “Hayride” became his first official US radio single release on MTS Records.  The song reached the New Music Weekly Top 10 and the Music Row Top 80, making him the first Swedish country act to achieve this status.  Hicks is the 2013 British CMA Awards’ Euro Act of the Year, and he is nominated again for 2014. He is a 2015 Indie Music Channel Awards winner,  He is also a Nashville Universe Award Nominee, an ICoMA Award Winner, a New Music Awards nominee and an IMEA Award Nominee.  ”I Belong To You” is currently in the New Music Weekly charts. www.hickscountry.com.

March To May’s Darren Guyaz (guitar, vocals, keyboard) and Beth Wesche (Celtic harp, vocals)  first met in December 2012.  By March 2013, the folk/indie/Americana duo had co-written their first two songs, by April they had a paid gig under their belts, and by May they had a name and shows booked out into the months ahead. Before settling in Seattle, Washington, where the act is now based, both Darren and Beth had traversed the Western Hemisphere separately.  Darren migrated from the northern Appalachians to his birth-state of Montana, before heading on a South American adventure across the Andes mountain range, eventually falling in love with Seattle and the Pacific Northwest.  The daughter of a US Foreign Service Officer, Beth also spent time in the Andes, as well as a host of US states on both coasts, before moving to Seattle, just blocks from where her beloved Celtic harp had been created, years before.  The duo has drawn comparisons to acts like The Civil Wars, The Banner Days, and Robert Plant and Alison Krauss.  The Water’s Edge is the debut release from March To May, out April 25th, 2015.  It features the #1 Yallwire Music Video, “Embers.”  www.marchtomay.com.

Xander Demos came to MTS Management in June 2011, and in less than 3 years, he has become a rising star in the world of shred metal guitar, performing at national festivals and on record with some of his guitar heroes. His debut CD, “Guitarcadia” was mixed and mastered by CJ Snare of the popular rock band, Firehouse. The CD was independently released to critical acclaim, in early 2012, with several tracks receiving airplay and heavy video exposure.  His videos have received more than 750,000 combined Youtube views. Xander has been interviewed by radio shows, websites and print magazines from all areas of the globe. He has opened shows for Symphony X, Stryper, Buckethead, Adrenaline Mob, Dio Disciples, Kip Winger, UFO, Lizzy Borden, Richie Kotzen and many others. The exposure Xander received with MTS’ help, led to a worldwide label deal with Rock ‘N’ Growl Records, who re-released his album in August of 2012. Xander is also a member of James Rivera’s Sabbath Judas Sabbath, as well as James’ solo band. He performed at Rock Harvest II, Wolf Fest, and Skull Fest I and II. Xander is prominently featured on the cover of the Versailles Records release, Guitar Wizards Vol. 3 and 4.  http://www.xanderdemos.com.

Rahaas is a Sanskrit word which means a secret or a mystical truth. The members hail from different backgrounds of music having the same goal, to explore the vast ocean of world music. They create a unique blend of electric instruments with instruments which are deeply rooted to Indian heritage and also that of other countries, namely Sarod, Tabla, Dhol, Djembe, Cajoun etc.