On the Record: Music entrepreneur Chris Brown is targeting clients ‘with artistic and career momentum’

Photo / Jim Neuger Chris Brown, formerly of Bull Moose, runs a music consulting business called Chris Brown 33 from his home in North Yarmouth. He founded the business in February.

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By Renee Cordes

After three decades with Bull Moose, Chris Brown left the music and entertainment retailer to start a music consulting business called Chris Brown 33. Mainebiz caught up with the creator of Record Store Day to get the lowdown.

Mainebiz: What does your role as a music marketing consultant encompass?

Chris Brown: I had planned to provide PR and sales and marketing services as well as help plan physical and digital release strategies. People expect much more from me because of my contacts and my experience in business and as a musician. It is likely that some of what I do will overlap with artist management and A&R [Artists & Repertoire]. Like many marketing professionals, I would like to be involved earlier in the creative process. Decisions made today will affect your success next year. Let’s talk to a graphic designer before you name your band Edgar Throckmorton’s Exploding Cocktail Factory and Electric Magazine Emporium. But if you do, please put me on the guest list. Studio time will be more productive if we do a brand audit first.

MB: What has it been like going from longtime employee to being your own boss?

CB: I get to — or have to, depending on how you look at it — make all the decisions. There isn’t a template for what I’m trying to do, so I thought carefully about whom I will work with and what I will do for them. For example, I don’t want to be a booking agent, but I will coach artists on what they need to do to get a good booking agent.

MB: How would you characterize Maine’s music scene compared to a decade ago?

CB: My perception of the scene was skewed because of my focus on artists who sold their CDs at Bull Moose. Now I’m enjoying catching up, sometimes seeing multiple shows a night. Five to 10 new tracks are released by Maine artists every week. Many of the Maine artists that I find most interesting right now are women or bands fronted by women.

MB: Who are your clients and where are they in their careers?

CB: The perfect client moves me with their music, works very hard and shows signs of artistic and career momentum. Dominic Lavoie is a great example of a musician who is on a creative and business upswing. I’m not the only person who sees this. Dominic’s songs are published by Gary Vellitri, who has some serious pull. His last two albums were produced by a Grammy-winning producer, Steve Berlin, best-known as the guitarist in Los Lobos. Now he has me.

Dominic’s new album, “Round Trip,” is about feeling great about being middle-aged, so I totally get where he coming from. It’s a joy to work with Dominic because he is so creative. His idea for a single release concert to promote the song “Martin the Martian” was to hold it at Southworth Auditorium at USM. How could I not love working with someone like that?

MB: Where does streaming fit in for a new artist?

CB: Streaming is a necessary evil. Most artists can’t make real money with streaming, but it is an important way people find out about new music. The challenge is to use streaming to build fans without diminishing profitable music sales. Artists can do well selling downloads through Bandcamp or physical CDs and vinyl.

MB: What impact are tariffs having on the music and record industry?

CB: There isn’t enough vinyl and CD manufacturing capacity in the U.S., and some of the inputs aren’t produced here. The extra costs will push vinyl and CD out of reach for some projects.

MB: What was Record Store Day like this year for you?

CB: I had a great time lining up in the snow with everyone else, outside a Bull Moose. My favorite part of Record Store Day always was talking to customers in line. I made a day of it and visited stores I had never been in, and particularly enjoyed Deep Groove in Brunswick.

MB: What’s your advice to someone starting in the music industry today?

CB: Get your music as great as you can and never stop working to improve.