Howling Music, a Nashville-based provider of original music for advertising, has opened an office in London in collaboration with Grammy-winning music producer, engineer and composer David Hentschel, known for his work with such artists as Elton John, Genesis and The Yellowjackets.
Howling Music London will compose and produce music for television commercials, branded content, web media and other advertising content for agencies and clients across Europe and the United States. Hentschel and Howling Music founder David Grow will serve as co-managing directors. The new venture launches with a small U.K.-based production and sales team and plans to bring on additional composers, producers and other staff.
Hentschel has worked with Howling Music, Nashville, as a composer on a number of recent occasions, including projects for Ford and Starbuck’s. Formalizing the relationship became a natural next step, said Grow. “We’ve wanted to have a presence in London for a long time, both to attract new clients and to have access to the UK’s incredible talent pool,” he said. “David provides us with a great opportunity to do both. He is an incredible talent, a world-class composer and he knows everyone in the London music scene.”
Grow added that, while Howling Music London’s primary focus will be to provide original music for spots in the U.K. and Europe, it will also serve as a talent and production resource for the company’s U.S. clients. “To say nothing of access to bands and indie talent, this relationship opens new orchestral possibilities for us,” Grow observed. “London’s orchestral players are considered the finest in the world. Access to these players deepens our already strong position as a premier music brand.”
Hentschel’s career spans more than four decades and includes work that has achieved millions of worldwide single and album sales. He was still a teenager when he began working as an assistant engineer at Trident Studios, London, where his first credit came on George Harrison’s "All Things Must Pass." A few years later, he earned a Grammy nomination as engineer for Elton John’s landmark album "Goodbye to Yellow Brick Road." Other credits include Harry Nilsson’s "Nilsson Schmilsson¸" Genesis’ "Nursery Chryme," Paul McCartney’s "Red Rose Speedway" and Mick Ronson’s "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue." Hentschel also became an accomplished keyboard and synthesizer player, and a composer and arranger for film, the latter including the score for Educating Rita.
In addition to Hentschel, creative direction for the new venture will also be provided by Neal Richardson, founder of Splash Point Music Ltd, a BBC-award-winning U.K. record label and publisher.
Grow believes having a presence in London is an important step in furthering Howling Music’s mission to provide its clients with premier music. “Ad agencies are very cost conscious today and music budgets are tighter than ever,” he said. “With a team in London, we have greater access to a whole new world of talent and production resources. It’s a great next step for us.”
Recent Howling work has included spots for Griffin, Mattel, Ford and Diakin.
