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ABOUT RELAX MUSIC GROUP
Company Overview
Relax Music Group is an Independent Music Marketing, Management, Booking and Promotion firm, that commenced official operations in the fall of 2008. However, RMG has a long and storied history going back to the early 1980's, when it first commenced operations as Relax Productions in 1983. Founded by RMG Partner Patrick Rule, the original company was instrumental in promoting and breaking Alternative and Metal artists to College Radio, from Tracy Chapman, Michael Penn and Katrina and the Waves, to Vain, Leatherwolf and Kix.
At the same time, RMG Partner Chris Lewis, was instrumental in the success of many top notch artists as well. Named Senior V.P. of Contemporary Music at Famous Artists Agency in the 1990's, Chris helped to propel acts like New Kids on the Block, Marky Mark, CC and the Music Factory, Warrant, and The Romantics, into super stardom. In the 2000's, Chris formed AllPro Backup, a Tour Production and Management company, providing services to Major Touring Acts, including Jose Feliciano, Robin Trower, Yngwie Malmsteen and Red.
In 2008, project principals Chris Lewis and Patrick Rule joined forces under the Relax Music Group banner, with the goal of providing their comprehensive service offerings to Independent and Major Label artists. In the current climate of the music industry, the opportunity exists to provide artists with the essential services they require to reach wider audiences. From Music Marketing and Radio Promotion, to Artist Development and Management, to Booking and Tour Production Services, Relax Music Group provides all of the tools necessary for Recording Artists to reach Greater Success in the Music Business.
In 2010, Music Industry Legend Artie Kornfeld joined Relax Music Group as its Chairman, bringing his decades of music industry innovation to our firm. As the co-creator and sole promoter of Woodstock, Artie not only changed the shape of the Rock Music -- by launching the careers of countless acts -- but he is also hailed as creating one of the defining moments of the era. Artie lends his wisdom, experience and keen eye for talent to RMG, leading our company to the future of our industry with roots deeply seated in music history.
The Music Industry has undergone dramatic change in the Internet Age. The former model of CD sales as the foundation of income for artists and labels does not exist any longer. However, opportunities continue to exist for Relax Music Group to merge it's business principles with products and services targeted with the current market environment in mind.
Working our existing core businesses, and developing our secondary businesses into emerging online markets, RMG is poised to break Cool New Music with profitable results. At the same time, Relax Music Group is committed to remaining true to it's founding motto: "Music is the Most Important Part of the Music business".
Relax Music Group Principals
Artie Kornfeld: Chairman of Relax Music Group
Co-creator and sole promoter of Woodstock 1969, Artie Kornfeld was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1942. The man who would later be deemed "The Father of Woodstock" would go on to become one of the most respected composers, publishers, producers, managers, and promoters in the history of rock and roll.
Kornfeld got his first guitar in 1956 and learned a few chords that were pretty much universal at the time. He soon found himself with a record deal and on stage with Dion and the Belmonts with The Skyliners singing backup. Kornfeld would further his music career by attending Adelphi College and American University where he met Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas.
After a few more fortuitous music connections, Kornfeld began his enterprise of writing the most Cashbox top 100 of any song writer. Kornfeld became the vice president of Capitol Records in his early 20s, making him the youngest to hold the position and the first vice president of rock and roll ever. By 1966, Kornfeld had written over 75 Billboard charted songs and participated in over 150 albums. In 1969, Kornfeld left Capitol records to co-create The Woodstock Music & Arts Festival.
Kornfeld's dedication to the Woodstock ideals did not end with the festival. Known as "The Father of Woodstock", a title given to him by the Woodstock Preservation Alliance, he played a big role in helping save the Woodstock site from being built upon when the Max Yasgur farm was sold. Kornfeld is also responsible for putting the Academy Award winning Warner Brother's documentary together. Much of the historical documentation of Woodstock is supplied by the acts featured in the film which Kornfeld had to all convince to appear. He is in the movie so much because backstage, he was solely in charge of getting the performers to sign what were basically blank contracts prior to going on stage. He also hired the award winning director Michael Wadleigh to shoot the film.
Far after the historical Woodstock festival, Artie Kornfeld has taken the ideals of the counterculture and put them into practice in a modern day setting. He has spent 40 years speaking to schools, organizations, and universities on the true meaning behind Woodstock. The embodiment of the Woodstock Nation has used his career pre and post Woodstock 1969 to convey the true meaning to those with open minds and ears. Kornfeld has done over 5,000 radio interviews and hosts his own show aptly titled "The Spirit Show" with Artie Kornfeld in which he reaches the ears of over 1,000,000 listeners in 20 different countries every Tuesday at 10pm EST on ArtistFirst.com.
Chris Lewis: Co-CEO - Booking, Tour Production & Development
Chris began his 30 year journey in the music industry, by working with acts like The Grateful Dead, Aerosmith, Hall & Oates, Rod Stewart, Dio and Night Ranger, for Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco. After years serving as Tour Manager, Front of House Sound and Production Manager for Montrose, Jean Luc Ponty and many other groups from the 80's, Chris settled in as a Senior Booking Agent for In-Tune Talent, where he was the agent for such groups as Flock Of Seagulls, Robin Trower, Greg Howe, Montrose and REO Speedwagon's Gary Richrath, among others.
In 1990, Chris was offered the position of Senior V.P. of Contemporary Music at Famous Artists Agency in NYC. In the mid 90's' Chris served as Artist Manager for Gary Richrath of REO Speedwagon, who's solo CD "Only The Strong Survive" sold millions of copies for Crescendo Records. In 1997, Chris was asked to join Legend Artists/The Music Group as part of the management team, working with Lynard Skynrd, Bad Company, U-235, Tom Mabe and Ghost Of A God, as head of Touring.
Coming full circle, Chris returned to the road in 2000 forming his own production company, AllPro Backup, and touring as TM/FOH with acts such as Jose Feliciano, Yngwie Malmsteen, Robin Trower, Thursday, Ben Jelen, Red and Apache Stone with lead singer Mike Lombardi of the hit FX TV show "Rescue Me".
From his traditional roots in the music business, to shaping the future of the new music economy, Chris Lewis offers his leadership and experience towards breaking the future stars of the music industry.
Patrick Rule: Co-CEO - Promotion, Marketing & Development
Patrick began his 28 year career in the music industry, managing and booking artists in the Midwest. Based in St. Louis at the time, Patrick founded Relax Productions, and began providing Artist Management and College Radio Promotion services to the industry. Working with long time associate Artie Kornfeld (The Father of Woodstock), Patrick was instrumental in breaking Tracy Chapman, by taking her to Number One on the CMJ Charts in 1987.
In the 1990's, Patrick grew Relax Productions to a staff of 11 promoters, representing hundreds of artists to College Radio, and breaking such acts as Big Mountain, Goldfinger, Circle of Dust, The Hunger and Violet Burning to the top of the CMJ Charts. Relax Productions also introduced established major label artists to College Radio, including Carl Perkins, Todd Rundgren, Robin Trower and Dweezil Zappa.
In 1999, Patrick left the music industry to create Relax Web Productions, an Internet Web Site Design and Development company. Relax Productions continued operations under the Space 380 Music Promotion banner, led by long time Relax promoter Mat Matlack. Space 380 continued representing high profile artists to College Radio, including My Life with The Thrill Kill Kult, Gooding and Gravity Kills.
In 2007, Mat decided to leave the promotion business to pursue other opportunities. Patrick once again stepped in and resumed day-to-day operations, renaming the company to Relax Music Group. With more than 12 years of Internet Development experience, and nearly 3 decades of Music experience, Patrick developed RMGDigital.NET, a Digital Distribution service that provides Independent Music to Radio Programmers and DJs across all broadcast mediums.
Principal Summary:
In one form or another, Relax Music Group has been in continuous operations since 1983. Moving forward in the New Music Industry Economy, Relax Music Group seeks to position itself as a leader in Independent Promotion services. RMGDigital.NET provides a completely new method of Digital Distribution that will allow any artist with Good Music, in any Musical Genre, to get their music distributed to Radio Programmers and DJs across the globe.
With principals Artie Kornfeld, Chris Lewis and Patrick Rule behind this company, Relax Music Group has the talent and experience to lead the New Music Industry into the Digital Economy of the 2010's, and beyond.
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