For Immediate Release—
Amazing Radio USA Welcomes New Presenters, Taking Listeners
to New Musical Landscapes
Comprised of fifteen trusted tastemakers from across the country
Nashville, TN - August 23, 2021 - Part curated music discovery platform and part artist-friendly launchpad, Amazing Radio was the first to spin Alt-J, Haim, The 1975, Dua Lipa, and many more. Since day one, their mission has been to turn listeners on to great music and to support the musicians who are making it; and with new slogan “Reject The Algorithm,” the online radio station is making their commitment to independent artists clear. amazing is proudly curated by trusted tastemakers, aka presenters, who have the power in what they play. Think: your favorite DJ, but one who can play whatever they feel like. Free of the traditional radio format and the confinement of outside forces regulating spins, presenters play what they’re actually listening to and the bands that they personally want to champion—the missing link between revenue-based radio and anonymous Spotify curators.
Launched in May 2020, Amazing Radio USA is the North American counterpart to the long-running British station. amazing is 100% focused on helping new and emerging musicians and operates Amazing Radio UK, Amazing Radio USA and CMJ, which together have more than fifty years’ experience of helping the world's best new musicians get the break they deserve.
In just over a year, Amazing USA has welcomed diverse presenters from across the country, who have each paved their way in the music industry. The current group of 15 bring unique music from all genres, inspired by their influences and underground finds, as well as local selections from their respective communities: Austin, Chicago, Harlem, Queens, Indianapolis, London, Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Taos, New Mexico. View the current show lineup here and learn more about each presenter below.
Dominick Martinez – Austin, TX: Dominick Martinez is a music lover living in Austin, Texas. He’s spent years as a touring musician, working in music venues and festivals, as well as documenting live music through photography, all while maintaining a passion for discovering new sounds near and far from home. Since joining Amazing Radio USA in the spring of 2021, Dominick has found a new way to discover and share emerging artists from across the globe. View his photography at www.dommrtnz.com.
Marc Fort – Austin, TX: Marc Fort is the presenter for Amazing Radio show The Ear Candy Mixtape where he DJs delicious sounding music from all over the world in addition to “Texas Music and Music that Texans love.” When not DJing the best in new music for Amazing Radio, Fort is the marketing & communications specialist at the Texas Music Office, within the Office of the Governor. Fort has more than 30 years of music experience performing and recording on electric bass guitar, violin, drums, and singing. Fort has performed in multiple bands which have toured with and opened for various musical acts all across North America and around the world. Follow him over at @earcandy2.0.
Derrick “Lottery” Hardy – Chicago, IL: Derrick "Lottery" Hardy is the respected founder of the 3 Feet No Pressure agency and co-president of ArtClub International, working closely with some of today's top artists and athletes, including gold-selling artist tobi lou. A product of Chatham, a community within Chicago's Southside, Derrick grew up surrounded by Black history and culture. The Simeon Career Academy graduate first appeared in The Source's "Unsigned Hype" column as a rapper known as Lottery. However, by the end of college, Hardy focused on working in the background. He eventually relocated for a temp job at Universal Music Publishing, which blossomed into an A&R post at Motown Records; the experience set Derrick up to go in business for himself, founding the 3 Feet No Pressure agency and creating a roster including tobi lou and Primo3x, along with producers Matteo Woods, Tarjas White, and Slot-A. Derrick worked with NBA star Damian Lillard to oversee his 2016 star-studded hip-hop album, The Letter O, and has also acted as a consultant to Green Bay Packers' Tight End Jace Sternberger. Amid these relationships, Hardy enrolled in the University of Miami's Sports Management program, with plans to have his agent's license in 2021. While building his agency, Derrick and tobi lou joined Ketrina "Taz" Askew’s team, which has found success with Jhené Aiko, Anderson .Paak, and Omarion. A powerful presence in music and sports, Derrick Hardy is a team player destined to win.
Linton Smith – Harlem, NY: Linton Smith II is a producer/artist from New Orleans who currently resides in Harlem, NY. He’s had the privilege of studying music under legendary names like Donald Harrison Jr., Christian Scott, and Reggie Workman, to name a few. Smith has performed in Switzerland, Germany, and at the White House. He has been in the music industry for over 15 years and it is his greatest passion. You can find more information and music from Linton Smith II at his website, lintones.com.
Kevin Cornell – Queens, NY: Kevin Cornell is an Amazing Radio presenter based in Ridgewood, Queens. He got bit by the indie bug early: starting garage bands that would go nowhere, and obsessing over local Boston-area punk and indie groups in the age of burned CDs and MySpace. Realizing at a young age that he wasn't much of a songwriter, Kevin made it his mission to stay close to music and help artists by working in the industry. He has professional experience in PR, marketing and digital distribution. In his free time that isn't spent biking around New York City or seeing shows, Kevin also co-runs the small but scrappy Living Waters Records.
Tobi Lynn– Indianapolis, IN: Tobi was raised in Indianapolis—she's truly an indie girl in Indy. She started her career hosting a talk show called Tobi Talks in DeKalb, IL. This was followed by a five year stint in Los Angeles at various SoCal stations like Y107 and Soundbreak.com. She then went to DC to build the first coast-to-coast college indie channel (from scratch) called XMU. After the satellite radio merger, Tobi moved back to Los Angeles, and curated new music for ALT 98.7fm at iHeart Radio for a decade. She currently curates and hosts a new music show for Amazing Radio US. Follow her at @tobitalks.
Charlie Ashcroft – London, ENG: Charlie is based in London, England and has been on air in the UK at Amazing Radio since joining the station in 2009. Away from his radio work with Amazing, he oversees BT TV’s SVOD content, curates playlists, runs an indie club night called ‘Somebody Told Me’ and writes a monthly column for Record Collector Magazine. Follow him over at @charlieashcroft.
Tyke T – Memphis, TN: Tyke T combined honest lyrics, bold production, and insight from his graduate education to climb the charts without the help of a major-label. The indie artist—who graduated with an MBA from Middle Tennessee State University—studied the charts and organized his fanbase, storming the Top 50 of four Billboard charts with his sophomore EP The Prelude. Born Tyrone Stroble in Smyrna, Tennessee, Tyke's main influences were '90s R&B and New Jack Swing by the likes of Jodeci, Bobby Brown, and Bell Biv Devoe, as well as rap from Master P, Kanye West, Drake, 8Ball & MJG, UGK, and Outkast. Follow him at @tyke__t.
Mimi & Muziqueen – Nashville, TN: Jamilia McCarley and Thalia Ewing, better and more affectionately known as Mimi & Muziqueen, are two names buzzing around the Nashville music industry and are synonymous with the words passion, ambition and progress. Mimi & Muziqueen are, respectively, partner and Founder of the organization Nashville Is Not Just Country Music, which aims to cultivate Nashville’s diverse music scene. They have become a deep-rooted resource of knowledge, support and encouragement to the Urban/Hip-Hop/R&B music community in Nashville that has long been overlooked…until now. Follow them at @ninjcm.
Justin Hammel – Nashville, TN: Working in radio since 2003, Justin Hammel has meandered through the music business running Radio Bonnaroo for over 10 years, supporting local Nashville music and running a radio station called Acme Radio Live. Follow him over at @hammelandeggs.
Erin Frankenheimer – New Orleans, LA: Erin Frankenheimer is a graduate of Tulane University with dual degrees in English and Communications. She worked for Entercom New Orleans after graduating and co-created and launched a late night show, “The Conduit,” focusing on new music discovery. She then spent a year as an A&R representative for Columbia Records, later returning to Entercom New Orleans, where she produced and hosted her own new music radio show, “Face the Music.” In addition to hosting/producing a radio show, and managing musicians, Erin also worked as the Director of Youth Programs for The Tipitina's Foundation before returning to Los Angeles in 2010. There she assumed the role of VP of A&R at Amazing Radio until 2014 when she took a job with Live Nation in New Orleans as the Marketing Manager for Louisiana & Mississippi. In 2017, Frankenheimer joined the Artist and Partner Relations team at TuneCore, running their New Orleans office. She is now the Vice President of Amazing Radio North America. Follow her at @nolaerin39.
Marty Minor – New Orleans, LA: Louisiana native Marty Minor has a reputation: a fashionista, botanist, spiritual advisor, gris gris enthusiast, recording artist and all-around flaneur, he travels the world in search of palm trees to lounge with. All this aside, he is an eccentric of the people and is well known for his good taste, fine manners, and unequivocal generosity. He compliments 100% of the planetary denizens he meets and has been known to give the tattoos off his back. Flash photography is encouraged; follow him over at @elvisfreshly.
Katie Pearlman – Taos, NM: A fourth generation Los Angelian, Katie Pearlman is a singer-songwriter who prefers wanderlust to the confines of the angel city. Making a habit of traveling alone, Katie’s attachment to the places that spark magic in her are the loves of her life. “I fall in love with places, not people,” she says. On her debut EP Mantra Songs, Katie is on the sometimes lonely, and always brave path of self discovery. Carving out an authentic life for herself, she finds home within, exploring her femininity, defiance, sexuality, and intuition through the meditative sound of her seven-track EP. Follow her at @itskatiepearlman.
Joe Sumner – Los Angeles, CA: Joe Sumner brings his eclectic passions into focus through music. As lead singer of Fiction Plane, he rocked audiences from Tokyo to Paris and as part of A Bowie Celebration, he has spent the last few years channeling the spirit of the Thin White Duke. Having dabbled in tech and engaged in behind-the-scenes discourse in the environmental movement, Joe is always coming back to music as his true home. Currently in the process of releasing his first solo album Sunshine in the Night, Joe has found huge inspiration from the treasure trove of as-yet-undiscovered talent in the Amazing Radio vaults. Follow him at @thejoesumner.
José Galván – Los Angeles, CA: José Galván started DJing in 2008, when his job as an on-air personality at the now defunct Indie 103.1fm demanded it. On Indie 103.1fm, he produced electronic band The Crystal Method’s weekly radio show “Community Service” for two years. With their guidance and some of their gear on loan, he took to the ones and twos (aka turntables) one Cinco de Mayo. José has held down lengthy residencies at downtown LA bars like Caña Rum Bar, Las Perlas & R-bar; he has made the rounds on the Westside with the likes of Bar Lubitsch, The Pikey, Circle Bar, Parlour Room, and The Standard WeHo. José has also DJ’d events for clients like Pepsi, The LA Times, Red Bull, and Sunset Junction. In 2017, he was booked to DJ at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival’s Sonora Stage. In 2018, he was named Host and On-Air DJ of his own weekly 2-hour radio program at acclaimed LA radio station KCRW. His focus is promoting new music in all genres in both English and Spanish. Follow him at @dj_josegalvan.
About Amazing Radio: Amazing Radio has given artists their first break since 2007. Founded by Paul Campbell, the British new music radio station was the first to spin Alt-J, Haim, The 1975, Dua Lipa, and many more. With a continued commitment to new and emerging artists, it’s free for musicians to sign up and upload a song for airplay consideration. Fans can also sign up for an account for free and can like their favorite artists, create their own playlists, and pledge money to musicians, with 100% of proceeds going straight to the artist. In May 2020, the company launched their North American counterpart Amazing USA, along with the acquisition of beloved radio festival CMJ.
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Media Contact: Sarah Bennett, IVPR
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