Entertainment industry veterans John Burns and Stephen McCord today announce the opening of The Service Station – a full service entertainment artist development company, specializing in marketing, distribution and artist management consultant services, including the physical and digital delivery of music and entertainment products to independent and national retail accounts. The Service Station offers á la carte or packaged services for both new and established artists in areas of artist & repertoire, brand imaging, licensing, manufacturing, apparel merchandising, public relations, radio promotion, and retail sales.
As the role of the traditional record label continues to evolve, The Service Station represents a new type of entertainment-based service company, one that may offer a glimpse into the next generation record label model. TSS offers the project continuity and expertise of a label without the need for 360 deals, master recording ownership or long-term contracts. The Service Station is a fee-based company, whose label service support extends across several music genres, including Americana, AAA, Bluegrass, Christian, Country, Hip-Hop, and Pop/Rock.
"In today’s digital revolution, the balance of power is clearly shifting from record labels to artists,” says Stephen McCord. “Tremendous opportunities are emerging for do-it-yourself artists and managers across multiple entertainment platforms.” McCord states that creativity, speed, and the ability to anticipate trends are critical for success. "To borrow the phrase," explains McCord, "in today’s industry climate, it’s not so much about the big eating the small, but the fast eating the slow." In addition to providing label services for recording artists, The Service Station offers highly customized marketing programs for film/television production studios and advertising agencies. These specialty programs are a Service Station signature – creative, compelling, highly efficient and cost effective. Recently, the company was hired to promote the theatrical release of the film Crazy, a biopic on the life of session-guitarist Hank Garland.
"The Service Station is the result of our commitment to professional excellence, accountability, and a tenacious desire to advance the careers of the artists, labels, and projects we represent," states John Burns. Collectively, Burns and McCord represent over 50 years of combined award-winning major and independent label sales, marketing and distribution experience. "We have established a very legitimate network of business partnerships that are capable of competing at extremely high levels of support, regardless of the scope and scale of a
given project, says Burns" Current clients include Favored Nations Entertainment Films (headed by Grammy winning recording artist Steve Vai), film star and Grammy winner Waylon Payne as well as new country artist projects Williams-Riley, Derek Sholl and hip-hop duo Cipher.
About John Burns:
Extensive background in operations, strategic planning, sales and marketing. Proven track record in business growth and profitability. Former President, MCA/Universal Distribution, including manufacturing and recording studio (1983-1996) Consultant, Azoff Entertainment (1996-1997) General Manager Giant Records/Nashville 1997-2001, President CBuJ Entertainment (2001-Present)
About Stephen McCord:
Marketing professional who has developed award-winning, innovative artist development and brand equity campaigns in the music entertainment and sports marketing industry. Artist Manager for Grammy winning artists Rodney Crowell and Waylon Payne. Senior Director A&R/Artist Development, MCA Records (1990-1999) President, stephen edward entertainment (1999- 2005) Marketing Director, Compendia Music Group (2001-2003), Vice President of Sales & Marketing, CBuJ Entertainment (2005
