FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dynamic Staff And Roster Make Passion For Music Its Foundation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 29, 2011)– Better Angels Music, LLC has trademarked the service mark, Music Worth Paying For SM – one of the company’s mantras– to represent its writing and album releases for 2011. In a digital age where pop music shelf life becomes shorter and shorter, Rob Rappaport’s Nashville and Los Angeles-based company (with a NY satellite office) prides itself on making music with staying power.Celebrating its third year as a new Music Row fixture, Better Angels is an all-encompassing entertainment entity committed to creating quality music and offers in-house production, A&R, publishing and label services. Ten songwriters reside under the Better Angels Publishing umbrella; nine artists in various genres are signed to the Better Angels record label (including David Adam Byrnes and Russell Hitchcock, lead singer of Air Supply) and, currently, there are two productions in development under the wings of the entertainment division.
The Better Angels Music Group Roster includes David Adam Byrnes, Jason White, Russell Hitchcock, Josh Thompson (Sony/Columbia Artist), Ward Davis, Mike Willis, Gary Ray & The Heartwells, Jonell Mosser, Josh Dunne, Corey Cox, Matthew J. Rogers, Adam Cunningham, Jay Brunswick, Sara Avalos and Danny Simpson. Better Angels’ writers have been recognized for their talents and applauded by their peers with cuts by Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Clay Walker, Jason Michael Caroll, The Roys (ICM Duo of the year 2009/2010), Russell Hitchcock and others.
In addition to upcoming releases, Better Angels Music, LLC is pleased to announce the following personnel changes to its organization:
President, CEO Rob Rappaport adds the role of Chief Creative Officer, and will also service asCreative Director of the Publishing Group. Rappaport is, first and foremost, a music lover. This songwriter/musician (who is known for his extensive, cross-genre musical vocabulary, production expertise and experience) has graduated from playing in the Paris Metro in 1970 for spare change to becoming an award-winning music producer and film producer/director who has produced and arranged more than 40 independent film scores and commercials. In television and film, he is the recipient of 35 Telly Awards for his commercial film and video work and documentary productions, working on location and in recording and editing studios on 5 continents. The 36-year entertainment exec has spearheaded product launches for companies from Apple and Microsoft to Toyota and Honda, worked with the likes of Bill Gates and Jay Leno and alongside notables such as Bob Hope, Wayne Newton, Kenny Loggins, Barry Manilow, Natalie Cole, Brooks & Dunn, George Strait, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra both in the studio, and at live stage events all over the world.
Richard E. Gathright will join Better Angels as the Chairman of its Advisory Board of Directors. Gathright brings with him 40 years of domestic and international public and private company experience. A savvy business sense has been the Arkansas-raised, South Florida professional’s trademark who also currently holds the position of Chairman, CEO and President of SMF Energy Corporation. Prior to joining SMF, he held a number of senior executive positions in the energy and logistics industry, including as the founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of TransMontaigne Inc., and President and Managing Director of North American Operations for Aberdeen Petroleum PLC. Mr. Gathright is an avid music lover, the first criteria for joining the Better Angels team, and has music industry experience among his many professional accomplishments.
Better Angels Director of Artist Relations, Gary Ray, will also assume the post of Vice President, Operations, responsible for the day-to-day business of both the Music Group and Publishing Group. Ray brings a wealth of knowledge from his days as a touring musician, making him the ideal advocate for the Better Angels’ writers and artists as well as the consummate “Jack of all trades.” With more than 16 years in the business, writing, performing, producing and promotion, Gary Ray is a master at actualizing a project from all angles.
Todd Wilkes, former Creative Director at Better Angels Publishing Group, will depart to become a freelance consultant; Better Angels will remain one of his clients.
For additional information about Better Angels artists, songwriters, and upcoming releases, writers and staff please visit: www.betterangelsmusic.com.
