B I O S

JENNIFER LYNEIS - Head of Promotions Ue3 Records/Sony www.ue3records.com
In the challenging, complex and ever-changing music industry, it is a rarity to find an individual who has outlasted the vast turnaround of artists and professionals. For over ten years, Jennifer Lyneis has accomplished this feat, becoming an expert in consumer promotions and marketing for the music and entertainment industry, and remaining an essential component to the success of an artist. Jennifer has become synonymous with excellence in radio promotion and renowned for her innovative concepts in marketing recording artists though large corporate events which consistently have attracted attention from record labels, movie studios, and booking agents. Her history in the music and entertainment industry is peppered with huge names that have made big waves throughout the years, however she has humble beginnings, which started with an internship position in college that would change her life.

Jennifer attended the University of Southern California, which is known for its prestigious arts and entertainment programs. While in school, she interned for Dick Clark. “I brought the man coffee for months and he asked my opinion on MTV and what was going on in pop culture. He loved my answers, and moved me to a marketing position which led to an executive position after college.” Following USC, Jennifer took a position in international marketing where she sold advertising spots in radio, which marketed the Country Music Awards and the American Music Awards. She adds, “How could I not go into radio when I worked for Dick Clark, who is the epitome of radio in the United States?”

Jennifer was soon offered a job that she could not refuse from Lynda Tice, a veteran Top 40 promoter from Warner Brothers Records. Jennifer was brought in to head artist development and adult contemporary promotion with Lynda’s company, TJ Promotions. While there, Jennifer was a part of developing Jack Johnson, Guster, and Tyler Hilton. Her promotion of Nelly Furtado’s Grammy Award Winning single “I’m Like a Bird” caught the attention of legendary producer Gary Katz. Katz, who is best known for signing legendary artists Prince, Dire Straits, Christopher Cross, and Ricki Lee Jones to Warner Brothers Records, and for his work with Steely Dan, Jim Croce, Kanye West, and Donna Summer, saw something special in Jennifer. Jennifer says, “Working with Gary on projects gave me a producer’s prospective and helped me get a good ear for music. Like a mentor, he is still in my life and to this day, is still a huge aspect in a lot of my decision making.”

Throughout the years, Jennifer’s work of promoting artists to national radio has earned her highly esteemed awards including Radio Promoter of the Year from New Music Weekly Magazine in 2003 and 2004. Jennifer has promoted Grammy award winning and nominated artists such as Jack Johnson, Michelle Branch, Mariah Carey, Alanis Morisette, Nelly Furtado, and Brian McKnight.

Aside from radio promotion, Jennifer has become heavily involved in corporate sponsorship, which is a key element in the success of an artist. She is adamant on stressing how vital it is in the process of branding an artist by saying, “I believe we can bring new acts to the attention of the buying public by using corporate sponsors, and it brings great rewards to everyone involved. Aligning your artist with a major brand is a more effective way to bring it to the masses, I love consulting with clients about not only their song order and selection for radio promotion, but also finding brands that fit an artist best for corporate sponsorship.” Jennifer has coordinated tours and events for Miller Brewing Company, TMobile, Von Dutch Clothing, and Verizon to name a few. She has also booked talent for the Vans Warped Tour and for the Bonnaroo Tour.

Jennifer Lyneis has become a staple in the music industry as one of the most sought after radio promotion and sponsorship individuals to date. As an expert in her field, she is consistently sought after by major and independent labels. Her latest indie project, working with female vocalist Kim Kline, has helped the artist in gaining prestigious titles such as “Best Female Top 40 Act” in New Music Weekly, Best Female Pop Vocalist at the Los Angeles Music Awards, and a Hollywood Fame Award.

Jennifer decided to leave her title as Head of Promotions at Sony Records to pursue an innovative music marketing strategy with entertainment PR firm MLC PR. As VP of Promotions, she is set to branch out a new radio promotions department. Therefore, the firm has expanded as an all-inclusive music service firm under its sister corporation, M. Loring Communications, dba MLC.



SHEENA METAL www.sheena-metal.com


Sheena Metal, Los Angeles entertainment icon and founder of the independent music organization, Music Highway. Boasting over 10,000 members worldwide, Music Highway is one of the biggest and most artist-friendly independent music resources on the web. Currently hosting “Music Highway,” an internationally syndicated music/talk hybrid heard on over 2,400 affiliates to nearly 130 million listeners worldwide. Sheena has anchored numerous radio shows for over ten years in Los Angeles. Six of which were spent on top-rated talk station KLSX (97.1 the FM Talk Station) where she helmed five successful shows (“The Sheena Show”, “Late Night Booty Call”, “Sheena and The Princess”, “Sheena and Sam”).

A popular live music promoter, Metal puts together more than ten concerts a month in the Los Angeles area. Sheena’s vast experience in many aspects of entertainment has made her a sought-after featured writer for: the Los Angeles Times, Music Connection, LA Weekly, Curve, Planet Out, Frontiers, New Music Weekly, Unsigned and All Access, as well as a variety of other magazines. In 2006, she began a syndicated music column, “Music Highway,” as a companion to her weekly radio show, which has attained over 80 literary affiliates in a little over a year including the renowned Indie Bible. In addition, Sheena owns and runs Sheena Metal Productions, a multi-faceted entertainment company that specializes in development and promotion for television, radio, music and film.


GINA FANT-SAEZ www.esession.com
NY Session - February 17

Gina Fant-Saez has earned renown as a Pro Tools engineer (for Sting, U2, Shawn Colvin, Nelly Furtado, Walt Disney Pictures and many others). An early evangelist of digital recording, she helped spark the transition to Pro Tools in Austin, Texas, with her own Blue World Music studio. Her work as a composer and songwriter, meanwhile, adds to the nuanced understanding of music creation she brings to her book and other ventures.

"Gina has incredible vision, drive and energy," says renowned engineer Kevin Killen, a longtime associate and business partner. "Her charisma as an entrepreneur and a visionary is infectious," chimes in Mike Piliero of Coolbirth, the New York design and technology firm that built Fant-Saez's online venture, eSession. "She's intelligent, very versed in the technology and really has that vision and entrepreneurial spirit."

Raised in Houston, Fant-Saez taught herself guitar and piano. She moved to Austin and formed a band, soon winning "Best Pop Band" and "Best New Band" plaudits; and earning enough money from winning songwriting contests to move to New York City.

She studied music theory at NYU and Juilliard, receiving her Masters from NYU's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Landing a national jingle provided her the funds to build a digital recording studio, and she began hiring herself out as a MIDI and digital-audio tech. Over time her bedroom studio, Blue World Music, grew into its own building on two acres of Texas Hill Country. It became Austin's first Pro Tools room in 1997. "Back then, Austin was a huge analog-tape town, and here comes this chick with her Pro Tools studio saying this is the way of the future."

She was right, of course, and has since forged the way for countless studios, producers, engineers and musicians to move into the digital age. She undertook Pro Tools for Musicians and Songwriters to further help music makers adjust to this new reality where the creative possibilities are boundless.

Fant-Saez continues to serve as owner/chief engineer at Blue World Music, though she admits that her studio business has taken a backseat to her other ventures. "I was tied behind a console for almost 20 years," she says. "Today's technology allows my office and studio to be anywhere I am. My book and other projects are dedicated to giving the global community of musicians, producers and engineers access to the same freedom."


JOHN BRAHENY www.johnbraheny.com
LA Session - March 30

JOHN BRAHENY – Is a top consultant/coach for songwriters and music industry entrepreneurs and a music journalist. His best selling book, The Craft and Business of Songwriting, (now in its 3rd edition). has sold over 70,000 copies and is widely recognized as the songwriters "bible."

John's music career has taken him from classical violinist to solo folk performer to songwriter and recording artist and commercial jingle composer/producer. He and Len Chandler founded the legendary Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase, (1971-1996) a national non-profit songwriters organization that provided education and discovery opportunities for countless songwriters.

John co-hosted Samm Brown's For the Record, the Los Angeles music industry radio talk show on KPFK-FM, for several years. He’s been president of the California Copyright Conference and has served on the boards of the Recording Academy (The Grammy Organization) and the National Academy of Songwriters. He's taught songwriting and music business classes at a variety of schools including Musicians Institute and UCLA Extension and conducts seminars for colleges and organizations throughout the country.

From 1998-2005 he interviewed 55 hit songwriters and producers for United Airlines In-flight Entertainment audio channels. He's also a screener and consultant for TAXI.com, the world's top independent A&R company. For more details visit his very informative Web site at www.johnbraheny.com.



ERIC DE FONTENAY MusicDISH.com
Entrepreneurship
NY Session - February 17

Eric de Fontenay has spent his career steeped in what has been called the "digital revolution". In the 90's, he worked on a variety of policy issues surrounding the communication & broadband sectors for telecommunication carriers and regulators across the world. With the emergence of the Internet, Eric established MusicDish (formerly Tag It) in 1997 as a new media firm utilizing emerging technologies and models to produce, package and distribute original web-based content.

Making an early bet the music sector, Eric launched what has grown into some of the leading voices in the growing debates challenging and shaping the industry through its trade e-publications MusicDish and Mi2N. Under his leadership, MusicDish expanded into artist development through saturated marketing and online branding, using innovative strategies such as syndicated and relationship marketing, online street teams and p2p viral distribution. Eric continues to be a frequent speaker at conferences worldwide and today manages Toronto-based 'kaiso' band Kobo Town.



JAY FLANZBAUM Onlinegigs.com
Entrepreneurship
Session to be announced.

Jay Flanzbaum got his start in the music industry as a drummer for the regionally touring rock band Mudfoot. When the band split up he launched Visionary Booking. Within a few years Jay was booking national tours for a large roster of bands from all across the country. The trials and pitfalls he faced running his own boutique agency for seven years, forced him to seek out better administrative solutions than those that existed at that time. The idea for Onlinegigs was born in the Winter of 2000 and launched in the Summer of 2002.

Onlinegigs is an incredibly powerful tool for musicians, agents, record companies and managers. It virtually automates the administration of booking and promoting an artist or an event. To date Onlinegigs members have booked over 15,000 shows all across the country.



MAGGIE HERNANDEZ paintedplane.com
Personal Development
NY Session - February 17
LA Session - February 24

Visual Artist & Personal Development Director for Music Talks. Maggie is the creator of "The Balancing Act" an action-centered program for personal & professional growth and an avid student of life with the ability to bring clarity to complex life challenging experiences.

NEW YORK RECORDING ENGINEERS

KEVIN KILLEN
Recording Engineer
“eSession.com Live Recording”
Feb 17 Session – NY

Kevin Killen has amassed a sterling reputation over the last 27 years as a recording engineer, mixer and producer. During that time he has demonstrated an ability to deliver complex projects within budget without sacrificing the art of creativity. He has been sought out by many a top flight recording artist for his leadership skills over the last quarter century. Some of his clients include U2, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello, Shakira and Paula Cole. One of those recordings, Peter Gabriels "SO" is considered by many of his peers to be a timeless classic. Never one to bypass a challenge, Kevin has recorded everywhere form top flight studios facilities to castles, to barns and bedrooms.

Kevin's work has been cited many times by Naras and the TEC awards as exemplary. In 2006 he received five Grammy awards for his work on Shakira's "Fijacion Oral " Volume 1 & 2 albums. In 2004 he became a cofounder of eSession with CEO Gina Fant Saez.

MARC URSELLI
Recording Engineer
“Listen 2 Ya Mix”
Feb 17 Session – NY

Marc Urselli writes, produces and records artists from all over the world. He also composes music for TV and film and does sound design for commercials. Marc Urselli was born in Switzerland and raised in Italy. His musical education began with studying the piano at age twelve. At age seventeen he opened his first commercial recording facility in Italy. At age nineteen he moved to New York City where he began, and continues to work at the legendary recording studio EastSide Sound as the resident Chief House Engineer.

In 2006 Marc Urselli won two Grammy Awards for his work engineering and mixing the Capitol/EMI album “American Made, World Played” album by Les Paul & Friends (featuring Sting, Joss Stone, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora, Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznick, ZZ Top, Sam Cooke, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, Simply Red’s Mick Hucknall.

Marc Urselli is an entrepreneur who wears many hats and loves many things, such as traveling, kitesurfing, guitars, art, web design, the internet) as well as an artist who has made his life out of recording, creating and producing music.



ANDREW FELLUSS
Recording Engineer
“Listen 2 Ya Mix”
Feb 17 Session – NY

Andrew Felluss is among the top rising producer engineers in the music recording industry today. Each session he leads benefits from the unique vision, leadership, and unparalleled sound quality he brings to the project.Since 1995 Andrew has worked as alongside veterans in the industry including Phil Ramone (Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach) Frank Filipetti (Elton John, Korn), Arif Mardin (Aretha Franklin, Laura Nyro), among others. Through the tutelage of his mentors, and the many hours dedicated to developing his craft, Andrew has become recognized as a trusted ear in town, and sought to oversee the most challenging sessions.During his journeys between engineer and producer, Andrew has worked for some of the most influential artists of the last four decades, such as Ray Charles, Pat Metheny, Carly Simon, Michael Brecker, Renee Fleming, and James Taylor. He especially enjoys working with emerging talent and developing their artistry and industry. Andrew has worked for some of the world's top studios (Right Track, Ocean Way, Quad, Baby Monster), and currently operates a production studio in the Flatiron District of New York City. Shared with his brother DJ Jesse Felluss, the facility serves as a homebase for their variety of productions around town and abroad.



RYAN WEST
Recording Engineer
“Listen 2 Ya Mix”
Feb 17 Session – NY

Ryan West Recording Engineer for Dr. Dre, Ghostface Killah’s and more….

Fifty million records sold, five Grammy nominations, stacks of platinum and gold records and an impeccable industry reputation can attest to Ryan West's quick rise from struggling engineer to first-call mixer in just 10 years. Having significant experience in several genres, modern digital and vintage analog recording gear and technique, live and orchestral sessions, conventional, electronic and virtual production and spot on sample replays all keep Ryan in demand and ahead of the cutting edge in today's music industry.

Ryan has played piano and keyboards since the age of nine, picking up bass, acoustic and electric guitar along the way. As a teen he began to hone his recording and mixing skills while pulling double duty for the bands he played with. Finally, after a move to New York City in 1997, a chance to work as a freelance recording engineer allowed him to skip "mandatory" intern/assistant footwork and dive straight into the industry on his own.

In 2003 he sought out the services of manager Neysa Camacho and her company NQC Management, which also manages super producer Just Blaze. Since then, he has worked closely with Just Blaze while maintaining a robust freelance career. He has mixed and recorded songs with industry heavyweights such as Jay Z, Dr. Dre, Diddy, The Game, T.I. and Jim Jones while also balancing his resume with an array of independent artists. Ryan has been profiled by magazines such as Mix, Scratch, Remix and EQ, as well as scores of online features. Manufacturers such as Digidesign, Universal Audio and ToonTrack look to Ryan for the thumbs up on new products to feature his opinions on their websites. He has even written as a featured columnist in 8 issues of Scratch magazine.

Most recently, Ryan has developed a professional level mixing workshop with veteran engineer/producer "Bassy" Bob Brockman. Hosted in conjunction with DynamicProducer.com, the first "The Elements Of Mixing Workshop" will be held at NYC's Baseline studio, March 29th.

Already considered one of Hip Hop's top mix engineers, Ryan has secured a prolific career within in the ultra competitive New York music studio scene. As an experienced engineer, producer and musician, Ryan West brings a rich variety of skills and tools to the studio that will ensure A-list producers will be calling him again and again.

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