Integrated creative studio Mixtape Club has brought Sallie Moore aboard as executive producer, music, and Eric Korte as head of production, music and sound. The hires round out a company expansion that also includes doubling its studio space and merging with the composers collective Huma-Huma, which has become the Mixtape Club music department.
Moore and Korte will fill complementary roles which Mixtape Club established in order to bolster and expand its music and sound operation. Moore joins following a decade as EP at sound company The Lodge Music. She will be at the helm of client relations and business development, for both original music and licensing from the Huma-Huma Catalog. Meanwhile, Korte, formerly music director at Saatchi & Saatchi, will shepherd clients through the music production and selection process.
“Our roster of clients and portfolio of work have grown quite diverse through the years,” said Mixtape Club partner/executive creative director Chris Lenox Smith. “Meanwhile, we’ve built up our staff and even our physical infrastructure to keep the quality of work on par with our growth. Knowing we were primed for the next big leap as a company, particularly with our music and sound side, the logical next step was to bring on senior talent of Eric and Sallie’s caliber.”
During her tenure at The Lodge Music, Moore was instrumental in the growth of the company, which now licenses and creates original music worldwide. Meanwhile, she helped realize an array of noteworthy campaigns and content for clients such as Mercedes-Benz, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Hershey’s Kisses, Humana, and Minute Maid. Moore’s extensive music industry career took off at Grey Worldwide as music producer. For the past four years, she has also served as the New York chapter president of the Association of Music Producers (AMP), an AICP-affiliated trade organization for commercial music production companies.
“Mixtape Club’s ability to tell a story through animation, original music–even their catalog–is unique,” remarked Moore. “I immediately bought into their artistic vision, specifically the storytelling aspect, which I believe is at the core of all great advertising. Combining these elements in innovative ways is part of the buzz Mixtape Club is going to generate industry-wide.”
Korte, too, will enlighten how Mixtape Club engages and collaborates with commercial clients. As the roles of commercial producers have become increasingly business-driven, he is especially keen on being more involved in the creative process as a musician himself.
“I’ve always been pretty hands-on as a music producer,” said Korte, who has music directed campaigns with Linda Ronstadt, Michael McDonald, Cyndi Lauper, Ry Cooder and many other acclaimed artists over the years. “The technical aspects of music can be very intimidating to the non-musician, so my role as translator is critical. I pride myself on being able to communicate with not only account execs, but also composers and musicians in a way that’s effective and meaningful to them.”
Prior to embarking on his 25+ year advertising career, Korte studied composition and music theory in college, followed by several years working in a recording studio. During his tenure at Saatchi & Saatchi, he brought innumerable campaigns to life through music and sound for legacy brands, such as Miller, Walmart, Tide, Pampers, Olay, and Cheerios. He played a role in virtually every spot that led to Saatchi & Saatchi’s prestigious Cannes Lion Agency of the Year honor (2007), as well as a Silver Lion for JCPenney’s “Aviator” campaign (2008).
Oscar and Emmy-Winning Composer Kris Bowers Joins Barking Owl For Advertising, Branded Content
Music, audio post and sonic branding house Barking Owl has taken on exclusive representation of Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Kris Bowers for advertising and branded content.
Bowers’ recent film scores include The Wild Robot and Bob Marley: One Love, alongside acclaimed past works such as The Color Purple (2023), King Richard and Green Book. His contributions to television are equally impressive, with scores for hit series like Bridgerton, When They See Us, Dear White People, and his Daytime Emmy Award-winning score for The Snowy Day.
In addition to his work as a composer, Bowers is a visionary director. He recently took home the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject for his directorial work on The Last Repair Shop. The emotionally touching short film spotlights four of the people responsible for repairing the musical instruments used by students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The Last Repair Shop reflects the positive influence that musical instruments have on the youngsters who play them, and the adults in the LAUSD free repair service who keep them working and in tune.
Barking Owl CEO Kirkland Alexander Lynch said of Bowers, “His artistry, diversity of style and depth of storytelling bring an unparalleled edge to the work we create for global brands. His presence on our roster reflects our continued commitment to pushing the boundaries of sound and music in advertising.”
Johanna Cranitch, creative director, Barking Owl, added, “Kris first caught my attention when he released his record ‘Heroes + Misfits’ where he fused together his jazz sensibility with a deeply ingrained aptitude for melody, so beautifully.... Read More