AristoVision
Hey, Hey! We’re Thir-tey!
Friday, April 30th, 2010 | Uncategorized, aristomedia | No Comments
The AristoMedia Group Celebrates 30 Years in the Music Biz…
When Jeff Walker started The AristoMedia Group in 1980,
the compact disc was still in development, the World Wide Web was a decade away and the digital download hadn’t revolutionized the music industry yet…
“No one could have predicted our industry would be where we are today when I started this company 30 years ago,” says Walker. “I’ve witnessed so many changes over the last three decades – I’ve seen the industry turn completely upside down, in fact – that change seems to be part of the norm, now. Digital technology has permanently altered our business, and a lot of that change is positive… but boy, it sure has made things interesting these last few years!”
Walker started AristoMedia in April of 1980 as a singular PR firm, but over the last 30 years, the company has continued to grow, developing into a multi-faceted media, marketing and promotion company that houses a half-dozen specialized departments. Those divisions include Aristo P.R. (publicity and PR) AristoVideo (video promotion and marketing), AristoWorks (new media), AristoVision (Christian video promotion), Marco Promotions (secondary radio promotion) and Marco Club Connection (dance venue marketing).
Walker also began a domestic and international consulting business, Jeff Walker & Associates, founded a digital label, GMV Nashville, in 2007 and most recently, established a video content and EPK distribution service called DownCast in 2009.
“The last five or six years have been particularly challenging, but the positive result of that has been another period of expansion within the company,” he says. “Our club department, Club Connection, has really grown with so many Country artists featuring more dance-friendly material these days, and our digital label has filled a niche for artists where a traditional label might not suit their needs. DownCast is our most recent addition, and we’ve just expanded that service to include distribution for book new release materials.”
AristoMedia’s Senior VP of Promotion and Marketing, Craig Bann, echoes those sentiments. During his 20+ years with the company, Bann has seen his share of changes as well.
“Now more than ever, it’s a time to be proactive in the music industry,” Bann notes. “The digital landscape continues to even out the playing field between established and emerging artists, and as a result, many new media and marketing opportunities have been created. We try to provide a range of services that will appeal to artists at all levels of their careers.”
Walker’s efforts to promote international Country artists in the U.S. facilitated the company’s expansion as well. Born in Australia, Walker tirelessly advocated, and continues to stress, the globalization of Nashville-based music. His company has hosted its own annual global showcase in conjunction with the CMA’s Global Artist Party for the past several years as a prelude to the CMA Music Fest each year in June. Aristo also publishes a digital, quarterly international newsletter that is distributed to more than 7,500 recipients worldwide.
As The AristoMedia Group celebrates its 30th birthday in the music business this month, Walker remains characteristically upbeat.
“When times are tough, sometimes being opportunistic is the best thing you can be,” Walker says.
Gospel Music Week… and more!
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Hello all of you out there in the blogosphere! Rachel from AristoVision here, dropping by to catch you up on all the glitz and glamour of the Christian music scene. The biggest news at the moment is the conclusion of GMA Music Week. For those of you who aren’t “hip,” I’ll explain…
Every year the Gospel Music Association (GMA) puts on this huge convention in Nashville featuring…you guessed it, Gospel music! The 4-day convention is packed with artist performances, educational seminars, and chances to rub elbows with others in the Christian music industry. It all concludes with one of the biggest awards shows in the industry – The Dove Awards. This year was unique, as it marked the 40th annual GMA Dove Awards. This year’s show featured an incredible range of performances, from the rocking vocal stylings of newcomer Francesca Battistelli to a heart-breaking and moving song by seasoned veteran Steven Curtis Chapman.
This year was also special to me in particular because it was my very first GMA Music Week experience. I kept a running blog to keep track of the thoughts that were buzzing through my head as the event happened, which you can read at (*shameless plug*) www.aristovision.blogspot.com. In short, I met a ton of great new indie artists on the rise like Easop, Javen, and Johnny B. Williams, as well as met up with some of our deep-rooted, undeniably talented clients like Kevin LeVar, The Ambassador, and Jars of Clay. I also got some great advice on how to network further within in my field from some guest speakers who have been in the industry for decades. Overall it was an incredible and positive experience and I was so excited to get to be a part of it!
Aside from all the GMA Week hubbub, I should also let you know that we have some very exciting things on the horizon ourselves. Kevin LeVar is launching a new campaign to inspire 1 million acts of forgiveness, which will coincide with his new video release “A Heart That Forgives.” Stay tuned for more information on that - it will be HUGE. We also have new videos on the rise from Gotee recording artists Flynn Adam, Ayiesha Woods, and I Am Terrified. Flynn’s video “Dishes” was released to the world recently via MySpace video, while I Am Terrified made its debut with “Falling On Everlasting” on TVU. Also, be sure to watch for the World Premier of Ayiesh’a video “Never” on the Gospel Music Channel this May.
I guess that about wraps it up for this Video Representative turned reporter. Have a great week, and be sure to stay tuned for more exciting news!
The Christian music video world is a-buzz, and AristoMedia’s Christian Music Video rep is here to tell you all about it…
Wednesday, October 1st, 2008 | AristoVision | No Comments
The Christian music video world is a-buzz, and AristoMedia’s Christian Music Video rep is here to tell you all about it…
Hi all! My name is Rachel and we have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
We here at AristoVision had a lot on our plate this month, and let me tell you…it was delicious. Projects from INO Records, Cross Movement Records, Soldier Sound Records and God Glorified Music kept me on my toes all month long. Thanks to our many wonderful programmers, we received great support with all of these videos & saw placement from as much as 71% of our outlets in only two rounds of promotion!
Highlights from September include Stellar, Dove, and YGEA award winner (and Soldier Sound recording artist) Pettidee stopping by our office to make calls to the programmers who are supporting his video “All Alone.” It was shot while doing ministry work in Africa and continues to push boundaries and break barriers while shedding light on important issues in Darfur.
Meanwhile, gospel newcomer Kevin LeVar broke into the Top 20 on Gospel Music Channel’s Top Spins video countdown with his inspiring video “You Are Not Alone.” Kevin also made it into the Top 3 in the Soul category. The song was inspired by the Virginia Tech tragedy and can be found on his recent “Let’s Come Together” album, released earlier this month following a tremendous CD release party in Washington D.C.
MercyMe’s “You Reign” and Addison Road’s “All That Matters” (both on INO Records) kept people dancing in the streets, as WTLW in Lima, OH used the videos in a high school football rally. WTLW set up a helicopter and a large van with a drop down screen to make the videos available to more than 500 students at each game. The kids loved it!
So there you are boys and girls - your September AristoVision recap! For more details and regular updates, visit www.aristovision.blogspot.com. Enjoy God’s blessings and eat your vegetables!
- Rachel