SEPTEMBER 2022 NEWSLETTER

It's cliche as hell to say this, but time flies. No, really. Like a fighter jet, or a Jacob DeGrom fastball.

It may not be the official end of summer, but it may as well be as school began in Madison today. And it's a historic one in our house, as our son begins high school. If you want a real barometer as to the speed of time, have kids. Your life will be lived in fast forward until further notice.

It's also the 19 year anniversary of when I made Michael J. Media a full-time endeavor. Or I can say it's the start of our 20th year. There is something incredibly fulfilling about being able to do what you love and make a living doing it, and also to be able to work from home. But it doesn't happen without the lifeblood of our PR business--the artists. Or the companies that hire us to work with their artists.

Which leads me to--you guessed it--a summary of what is on tap at Michael J. Media as we begin year 20. Thanks for reading, and thanks for listening!

New clients/releases

Brian Lisik & Hard Legs:Hotsy Totsy!(October 14)--Akron, Ohio-based Brian Lisik grew up in the era of iconic live albums, so his own live album following eight previous studio releases with another in the works, makes sense on several levels.Brian Lisik & Hard Legs:Hotsy-Totsy!(out October 14 on Cherokee Queen Records) was recorded during a particularly fiery set at Akron’s Rialto Theatre on the eve of Lisik’s most recent birthday. It assumes its place in his established musical canon while hinting, not so subtly, that there is still plenty of gas in the tank.www.brianlisik.com

Michael McDermott:Scars from Another Life(memoir out September 2). The Chicago singer/songwriter's first book chronicles his own life, a harrowing journey through drink, drugs, guns, and self-destruction saw him incarcerated, financially ruined, and spiritually bankrupt. A white-knuckle ride from small-town obscurity to the heady pages ofRolling Stone, The New York Times,andThe Washington Post... From the glitter to the gutterand the long road back, McDermott’s down-and-out determination to transcend his demons is a story of the redemptive power of finding oneself in sobriety, family, and the healing salvation of song.www.michael-mcdermott.com

Red Wanting Blue:"Hey, '84"(August 31)As the Ohio rock band is in the midst of their “Thumbs to the Road” Summer tour, they have released a single this week, “Hey, ‘84” (Blue Élan Records), in advance of theirforthcoming twelfth studio album due out in Spring ‘23. The track premiered last week on Ohio’s The Summit FM who added the new track to regular rotation. True to its title, the song has a distinct throwback theme.www.redwantingblue.com

Leah Belle Faser:"Trash Talk"(September 2)--Building on the momentum of her debut EP,Crossing Hermi’s Bridge, Atlanta singer/songwriter and Georgia Country Awards’ 2021 Teen Artist of the Year, Leah Belle Faser, is forging a new path with her brand new single, “Trash Talk." This sassy, up-tempo country/pop track, penned solely by the just turned 18-year-old Leah Belle, calls into question how and why a beautiful love language spoken between two people sometimes turns to trash talk when the relationship ends.www.leahbellefaser.com

Previously announced upcoming releases

Luke LeBlanc:Fugue State(October 28)--www.lukeleblanc.com

Ken Bagnis:BREAK(novel-August 30) www.kenbagnis.com

Recent releases

David Newbould:Power Up!
www.davidnewbould.com

The Barlow:New Year, Old Me
www.thebarlowband.com

Michael McDermott:St. Paul's Boulevard
www.michael-mcdermott.com

Companies we partner with

Rounder/Concord Records—We are working tour press forConcord RecordsandRounderRecords-- including some of Rounder's rising stars such asAmythyst Kiah,Sarah Jarosz,John R. Miller,Bella White,Caroline SpenceandSierra Ferrell. On the Concord side, we are working with synth pop heavyweight duoI Don't Know How But They Found Me (iDKHOW), bluesy rock powerhouse trioThe Record Company;and jazz actsBoney James,Hiromi,Kenny G,andNubya Garcia. There are some new releases that these artists are supporting, so we have hyperlinked their respective online media kits.

All Eyes Media--We continue to partner with Nashville based PR companyAll Eyes Mediato work tour press for some of their outstanding acts such asShovels & Rope, andPaul Cauthen. Shovels & Rope released their latest album,Manticore, in February (on Dualtone) and a 10 year anniversary deluxe edition of their 2012 debut,O' Be Joyfulon July 29.The group hastour datesfor therest of the summer and on into late late November.www.alleyesmedia.com

72 Music Management--Jeff DeLia's 72 Music Management (72MM) is a Los Angeles-based firm that represents the likes ofDustbowl Revival,A.J. Croce,Dom Flemons,The Blind Boys of Alabama, andBobby Rush.
www.72musicmanagement.com

On the road again.....

River Whyless
www.riverwhyless.com/tour

Red Wanting Blue
www.redwantingblue.com/tour

Chris Knight
www.chrisknight.net/tour

Brian Lisik
www.brianlisik.com/shows

Church of Cash
www.churchofcashmusic.com/gigs

David Wilcox
www.davidwilcox.com/events-listings

Pure Prairie League
www.pureprairieleague.com/tour-dates

The Quebe Sisters
www.quebesisters.com/#tour

John McEuen
www.johnmceuen.com/calendar.html

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