Beat Box: Prommer's Startup Helps Labels Get Music Heard

Michael Prommer is activating his new label management firm, Prommer Inc., despite the music industry's current challenges.

Based in New York, the company helps foreign and domestic record labels and artists navigate the U.S. market.

"Many European labels should have offices or better representation in the States, but they don't," Prommer says. "And domestic labels are great on the creative side of things, but not always on top of things on the business side."

Prommer, formerly with lifestyle magazines XLR8R and Flyer, says his company handles all facets of getting the music heard—distribution, marketing and promotion.

"We work with a variety of distributors, PR agencies and radio promoters to ensure that we have the best people for each project," Prommer explains.

"Since our work is not on the creative side," he continues, "we emphasize the research and data aspects to achieve the best results for our clients."

Prommer currently works with a handful of German labels: Compost, Jazzanova Compost Records, Sonar Kollektiv and Groove Attack.



IT'S OVER NOW: Fans of Deborah Cox's club fare have long been waiting for a remixed full-length from the artist. The artist's former label, J Records, will quench such needs July 22 when it releases "Remixed."

Beat-mixed by Al B. Rich (aka Rich Pangilinan & Albert Castillo), the set includes all of the singer's No. 1 uptempo remixes, including "Things Just Ain't the Same," "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here," "Absolutely Not," "It's Over Now" and "I Never Knew."

The hard-to-find David Morales and Junior Vasquez remixes—albeit edits—of the classic "Who Do U Love" are also included.

Cox's forthcoming swan song single from J, a potent cover of Phil Collins' top five hit "Something Happened on the Way to Heaven," kicks off the proceedings. Initial radio reaction is strong, which could result in the artist's strongest single to date. Wouldn't that be ironic?



MAKING NOISE: Speaking of J Records, its VP of A&R, Hosh Gureli, has opened a label on the side: Siren Entertainment. And it's off to a promising start.

Siren's first single is an energetic cover of Def Leppard's No. 1 smash "Love Bites" by Q.E.D. Produced by Valentin, the track has been embraced by such radio stations as WPYM Miami and WXKS Boston.

Gureli says the act is putting the finishing touches on its debut album, which should be in stores by the end of summer.

MONSTER MIX: Club kid/promoter Michael Alig was a mainstay of New York's club scene in the late '80s and '90s. At the time, he, along with a gaggle of friends, introduced the club kid concept to mainstream America by way of appearances on syndicated daytime talk shows.

A forthcoming feature film, "Party Monster," explores Alig's rise and eventual fall. It stars Macaulay Culkin, Marilyn Manson, Chloe Sevigny and Wilson Cruz, among others.

Beat Box hears that TVT Records will release the accompanying soundtrack, which promises to be an eclectic treasure.

In addition to spotlighting music from the era (Nina Hagen, Shannon, Stacey Q), the soundtrack will include new tracks by Ladytron, Arthur Baker and the ultra-hot Scissor Sisters, among others.

Howard Paar wore the music supervisor hat, while Bill Coleman was the creative music adviser for the soundtrack.



THE SINGLE LIFE: The following singles are worthy of your immediate attention: Deepswing Featuring Chance's gospel-soaked "Freedom" (Generate Music), François K. & Eric Kupper's Classic Vocal mix of Vivian Green's "Fanatic" (Columbia), the Love to Infinity and ATFC remixes of Simply Red's "Sunrise" (simplyred.com), Jay-J's restructuring of Echo's "Secret Self" (New Line/Syntax) and Felix da Housecat's Heavenly House rerubs of Nina Simone's "Sinnerman" (Verve).