Artisan News Service is a New York–based independent entertainment news outlet that specializes in music and pop culture coverage across print, radio, TV, web, and mobile platforms. It’s best known for producing short-form video news segments and interviews with artists, often distributed via YouTube and other media channels. The company is led by husband-and-wife duo Darren and Rebecca Davis. Their combined expertise offers a depth of insight into both the music industry and the realities of life as a working musician.
“Next Phase, new wave, dance craze, anyways”
Darren: Growing up, we always had music on in the house, even though my father was hearing impaired. When I’d visit my aunt, I would race to her organ and tap away at the keys trying to create something. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but it was amazing to be able to get all these different sounds. Of course, like any grade school boy in the late 70s, I was taken by Kiss. I would look at the booklets that came with the albums and just imagine these real-life comic book heroes. Then I was on to The Beatles; my musical journey started from there.
I was in a cover band in high school, but my school hadn’t had bands play there in almost a decade. Some punk band allegedly threw bloody chickens into the crowd once. We got the ear of a supportive teacher who lobbied for us to play during an intermission at the school dance. I continued to play in college, and after graduating joined a band writing and recording original material. I had a bit of formal training in college, but I was a double major, so they wouldn’t let me add a minor. When I started working more as a journalist/producer, I would moonlight in my original alternative rock bands.
“All day and night”
Rebecca: Music was transformative for me when I was growing up, especially in junior high. Everything I was discovering and feeling as a teenager I could find in my Ozzy and Van Halen records. My friends turned me onto Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Manowar, Metallica. In the summer of 1982, I discovered so many more bands because of (New York’s) WAPP 103.5 FM and their commercial free summer.
I would listen all day and night on this tiny Emerson transistor radio that was right next to my bed. I discovered bands like The Clash, Motley Crue, Rush, The Scorpions, Led Zeppelin, The Cars. Any and all birthday money (including change, which drove my mother crazy) would get stashed between my mattress and box spring so I could buy albums. Some record stores had these little listening booths that my friends and I would stuff ourselves into, listening to as many albums as we could.
“Call it kismet”
Rebecca: I found a beat-up acoustic guitar on the street sitting on top of a sea of garbage bags and thought it was kismet. It had a string missing and a hole in the back. I tried so hard to listen and play along to my records – but I was never very good. When Darren and I were dating, he tried giving me lessons. It took him weeks to teach me how to play the first 4 notes to “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd.
I am fortunate that I get to sing with Darren every so often. We’ve performed together, just he and I, for some local gigs with him playing guitar and me singing some songs. Although, he really is the professional. Our youngest son also sings and plays guitar. I’m sure that stems from growing up in our home since Darren would always play and sing for the kids.
“It couldn’t be much more from the heart”
Darren: As a college student, I was stoked that I actually got paid to be the program director at SUNY Oswego (WOSR and later WNYO) and helped lead the station into FM from public access. Post-college, I had two jobs, one as a junior reporter for WOR radio, and the other working for radio syndicator MJI Broadcasting (now part of Premiere Radio Networks). I started off as a pre-production engineer, editing interviews and soundbites for audio quality. Trying to clean up Ozzy Osbourne interviews to make him sound clear and concise (and also to edit out and beep all the expletives).
The idea for my company Artisan News Service came after working for Yahoo! as their Rock Music News Editor. Since I came from a syndicated radio background, I knew there was business to be had. However, by the late ‘90s and early 2000s Yahoo! – and the internet – was spreading news and information faster.
Artisan came about from my knowledge of FTP internet distribution and content syndication, which nobody was doing at the time. I had the idea to take one video interview, make sure the audio was radio broadcast quality and service all media. Print would get text with artist interview quotes, radio would get rip-and-read news content with artist soundbites, and video would get scripts and video interview clips. Once we were asked if we could do the production in house, we started doing produced video pieces narrated and co-written and produced with my wife.
“The pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned”
Darren: As a journalist, I am always interested in how new bands start and what the connections are. I have been blessed in covering some of the biggest events in music and rock and roll in the ‘90s, 2000, 2010s, etc. I always get a big kick interviewing bands that have influenced me and have met many of my musical heroes. There have been times that I’ve been invited to hang out with them outside of my professional situations. Artists that shaped my youth such as Eddie Van Halen, Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers, Rush and so many others. I also treasured interviewing bands that I respected that didn’t quite become household names like October Project, K’s Choice, Bonepony, and Law and Order.
A very memorable encounter: after I wrapped up an interview with Paul McCartney, I wanted him to sign a press photo that I had gotten as part of The Beatles Anthology. He looked at the picture (where they were all teenagers holding their instruments) and took a full ten minutes to talk to me about what happened that day. He mused about how young they were, where they were when the picture was taken, what they were thinking, how that gig went. It was so incredibly evocative for him. It was great to see that moment come alive as if I was there.
“The places you’ll go”
Rebecca: I got my start working for Godsmack’s attorney in NYC. That led me to working with the band and moderating their message board on the Godsmack.com website. It was a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of how the fans felt about things. I would travel to shows and take photos from the pit to share with the fans on the message board. That led to another creative outlet for me, concert photography, which is still a hobby today.
Working for Artisan has given me the opportunity to meet, interview and take photos of my favorite artists. I’ve been able to ask questions about their creative process, what they were feeling when they wrote a particular song or just hear about their lives. Billy Joel was probably my most favorite person to interview. He was amazing and so generous with his time and his answers.
Artisan gave me the opportunity to grow as a voice over artist as well. I definitely wasn’t very good in the beginning. I remember when we were covering Katy Perry’s first acoustic concert in 2008 just as she was on the cusp of being famous. In fact, Darren had just interviewed her – her first on camera video interview ever – and put the clips up online. After Katy’s set, he introduced me to her, and she grabbed me and said “Wait!! I know you!!!” and then proceeded to mimic my (then) goofy voiceover voice. My horrified response was something along the lines of “Now you are buying me a drink because you made fun of me!”. Which led to us doing shots with Katy Perry.
“I’m going through changes”
Darren: The whole ‘content and news’ game has changed dramatically. The speed at which content gets distributed makes it hard for one entity to be “the source”. News transitioned from being communicated second hand to being communicated firsthand. Now the means of distribution is at the hands of everyone. The syndication news game is nearly dead since feeds and algorithms dominate today’s landscape. Not surprisingly, I am not a fan of that. I believe there must be some gatekeeping and context provided.
The fact that anyone can see any artist in real time from anywhere – and anyone with a bogus copyright claim can stop a video story in its tracks – has negatively affected music news and really, the news business as a whole. Magazines are disappearing and even mainstream news outlets are having trouble. For content creators, the waters of copyright are still murky, and proper protections still need to be put in place.
“Radio realness”
I think the future of radio needs to eschew formulaic programming and get back to the immediacy of its audience and events in the community. Embracing live events locally is how terrestrial radio will survive. I also think the future of radio is to share experiences (live remotes from concerts, in-store appearances, etc.) Syndicated radio used to be the exception, where now it is the norm. A friend’s father once told me he liked to listen to the radio to be talked to and entertained. He made me see that good radio makes people feel like part of a bigger whole – connected, like you have a close friend in the car. A lot of driving is still done with single occupancy vehicles.
Rebecca: For some demographics, I think radio is still relevant. It’s easily accessible and doesn’t cost anything. Listeners can call in and contribute to conversations with on air talent or win tickets to concerts. I think that local radio stations can spotlight regional or emerging artists in a way that global platforms can’t. Same for local advertisers.
“I’ve learned a little something, you make your luck”
Darren: I am also a musician and believe every aspect of the industry has its own roadmap. My advice to those just starting out would be that if you are a performing musician, have a unique angle. Don’t copy other people, be genuine and sincere in what you have to say. The other piece of advice I’d give to a band is never ever turn down a gig. Promoters, talent bookers and venues are not just looking for people with good music and a following. They are also looking for artists they can depend upon. That is how they know you are serious. Word will spread quickly – as long as you’re not on an ego trip, you’re setting yourself up for success.
I also think bands should try to build communities with other like-minded musicians. Try to find other artists and create a scene where everyone supports each other. Once you find those people, leverage collective online connections and communities; for example, post each other’s music on socials. Exposure does not necessarily equate longevity or money. The days of huge record advances are mostly gone and artist development stories are few and far between. Musicians must be marketers as much as they are artists.
Another word of wisdom for any aspect of the music business is to get your hands dirty. Do the work, learn skills, be coachable, seldom say ‘no’ to reasonable requests, and make good connections. That will take you wherever you want to be.
If you’re a musician who wants to market your music, be sure to sign up!