MusicBizCast with Kelly Castor

Episode 54: Bill Toms talks about what it takes to release a CD in 2015

Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bill Toms joined Pittsburgh’s legendary band, The Houserockers, as lead guitarist in 1987. The band’s meteoric rise into the professional music scene enabled Bill to tour the United States and Europe repeatedly. While with Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers he opened for and played with a long and impressive list of notables, such as The Band, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat and Stevie Ray Vaughn. During his 20 years of playing guitar, co-writing, and singing back-up vocals for the Houserockers, Toms recorded six studio albums and one live concert album. In 1995, the acclaimed CD, “American Babylon,” was recorded and produced by Bruce Springsteen. In this episode, Bill talked about the release of his latest CD, “Deep in the Shadows.”

Episode 53: Stacey Sherman on why success in the music biz is all about the team you build around you

Stacey Sherman is a founder and media consultant at RSP Entertainment Marketing. Through her consultancy, Stacey promotes clients and coordinates all aspects of media, event, publicity, and image presentation. Stacey believes that everyone has a story to tell and she ensures that each clients’ story is heard. It could be as simple as a rewrite and updated artist bio, a press release to let the media know about an upcoming CD release, or securing corporate sponsorships and planning a full-blown press tour–RSP Entertainment can handle it all. Stacey’s longstanding motto is stand out, be important, help others.

Episode 52: Tasman Jude on blowing up the reggae scene all the way from Alberta Canada

Grande Prairie, Alberta may not be the first place you expect to discover a reggae band. But it was there that Caleb Hart & Al Peterson first climbed an open mic stage together and improvised three songs. The crowd’s response could not be ignored, and while people gathered around them to ask where their music could be found, Caleb quickly made a Facebook page with the name Tasman Jude and directed people there. Three months later they found themselves with a committed fanbase and an EP charting on iTunes. As they began to tour (now with a full band including Derek Wilder & Bethanie Earle) and word about their energetic live show spread, they released a second single “Family” which quickly began to find a home on radio stations around the world and pick up multiple songwriting awards.

Episode 51: Kendal Conrad on what it’s like sharing a stage with the one-and-only Keith Urban

Kendal Conrad is a singer, actor, published writer, and award-winning songwriter. Kendal appeared on MTV and recently sang a duet onstage with Keith Urban. Kendal was featured on Keith Urban's website as one of his favorite "Raise 'Em Up" Tour moments and appeared in Keith's 2014 Video Yearbook. She is International Miss Talent and won the title with her original song "Girlstrong." She has performed at the White House, Wells Fargo Center, Sands Casino, Six Flags, Hersheypark, the Bitter End, and Musikfest, as well as the Susquehanna Bank Center for 92.5 XTU's anniversary party. Kendal has sung the National Anthem for MLB, NBA, MMA, NASCAR (televised on ESPN), and NBC’s National Dog Show. She was a finalist in the NBC 10 Talent Search and a finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown. She has opened for country artists Phil Vassar and Craig Morgan and performed personally for author Nicholas Sparks. As an extra in in the film Silver Linings Playbook, she can be seen bumping into Bradley Cooper, and she is currently playing Holly Golightly in the exclusive post-Broadway production of Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Civic Theatre of Allentown. Furthermore, she models clothes for Hughwear Apparel and is endorsed by Fancy Guitar Capos. Kendal recorded her first EP in country star Reba McEntire’s studio in Nashville this past summer.

Episode 50: 20 Twen on the work that went into getting a radio single in 14 states

20 TWen is a East Detroit rap prodigy who first made a name for himself in the Michigan hip-hop scene by releasing a series of blazing mixtapes and catchy singles. Coming up, 20 Twen has collaborated with super-producers 9th Wonder, Kajmir Royale (DMX, Bow Wow, De La Soul), and Johnny Juliano (Wiz Khalifa, T-Pain, Rick Ross). In 2013, 20 Twen released what became a critically acclaimed project, “No Feelings,” receiving praise from hip-hop heavyweight and multi-platinum producer Don Cannon (Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and 50 cent, among others). There is no doubt, 20 Twen is rapidly becoming a sought-after act in today’s oversaturated hip-hop market.