Brooke Wentz

Last updated
Brooke Wentz
Birth nameBrooke Marie Wentz [1]
Born United States
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • Music director
Labels

Brooke Wentz is an American record producer and music director, and author. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] She has served as a music director for ESPN. [7] [8] [1] She was also the recipient of the Billboard Music Award for the best world music album in 1994, Global Meditation - Authentic Music from Meditative Traditions of the World. [9] [10]

Contents

Education

Wentz graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College. She also graduated with an M.B.A. from Columbia University. [7] [1] [11] [12]

Career

Wentz began her career in the 1980s as a public radio host for stations such as New York's WKCR-FM, where she hosted the music program Transfigured Night. [9] [13] She eventually became new music director of WKCR. [11]

After her career in public radio, Wentz served as Manager of A&R Administration at Arista Records. [2] [7] [8] [14] While visiting the FESPACO Film Festival in Burkina Faso, Wentz was an eyewitness to the events of the 1991 Malian coup d'etat alongside Malian musician Salif Keita. [12] She wrote about the incident in an article for the music periodical The Beat. [15]

In 1992, Wentz produced the compilation album Global Meditation. [16] The album featured meditative music from several world religious traditions. [17] Global Meditation went on to win the Billboard Music Award for best world music album in 1994. [9] [10] In 1994, Wentz produced another compilation album of African music, titled Africa: Never Stand Still. [12] In 1995, Wentz also produced the compilation album Global Divas, which featured contributions from female artists such as Patsy Cline, Aretha Franklin, Lydia Mendoza, and Celia Cruz. The album was produced to promote the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. [18]

By 1996, Wentz had become the music director of ESPN. [1] [14] [12] Wentz was one of the first music directors who licensed music for the X Games and supervised a compilation album for the event. [19] [20]

In 2000, Wentz also served as the music producer for New York City's Times Square Millennium Celebration. [7] [21] In 2002, Wentz founded the music supervision company The Rights Workshop. [22] [3] [23] The Rights Workshop has provided music for film and television productions including Melancholia , Bill Cunningham New York , and Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey. [24] [3]

In 2007, Wentz's first book, Hey, That's My Music! Music Supervision, Licensing, and Content Acquisition was published by Hal Leonard Books. [6] [25]

Wentz founded Seven Seas Music in 2014. [2] [4] [5] [26] [27] Seven Seas Music has licensed music for use films such as the films No Escape and Knight of Cups, [2] as well as the television series Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown and Criminal Minds. [3]

Wentz's second book, Music Rights Unveiled: A Filmmaker's Guide to Music Rights and Licensing, was published in 2017 by Taylor & Francis. She co-wrote the book in collaboration with Maryam Battaglia. [28] [29]

In 2019, Wentz produced the compilation album This Is Syria to support the International Rescue Committee’s Syrian relief efforts. [30] In 2020, Wentz produced the album “Annapurna’s Song,” which  is a compilation of artists from the Himalayas and included a track by Grateful Dead singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, Indian guitarist Sanjay Mishra, and composer A.R. Rahman. [30] The song was released for charity and benefited the American Himalayan Foundation. [30]

In 2023, Wentz published the book Transfigured New York: Interviews with Experimental Artists and Musicians, 1980-1990 through Columbia University Press. [31] [32] A launch event was held for the book at the Roulette Intermedium in New York on November 13, 2023. [31] The book contained interviews with musicians such as John Cage, Philip Glass, Living Colour, and Baaba Maal. [32] The interviews were conducted during her time as the host of the radio program Transfigured Night on Columbia University’s WKCR-FM radio station. [33] [34] The book was featured in the 481th issue of the music magazine The Wire . [35] In December 2023, Wentz’s interview with avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson from the book was published in Literary Hub. [36] In January 2024, Bad Feeling Magazine named Transfigured New York to its list of the best pop culture books of 2023. [37]

Wentz has served as a creative advisor for the Sundance Institute Film Music & Sound Design Lab at Skywalker Sound. [38]

Discography

YearTitleArtistCredits
1990Music from the HeartVarious ArtistsProducer
1991Global Celebration: PassagesVarious ArtistsProducer, Compilation Producer
1992Global Celebration: Dancing with the GodsVarious ArtistsCompilation Producer
1992Global Meditation, Vol. 2: Harmony & InterplayVarious ArtistsProducer
1992Global Meditation, Vol. 4: Music From the HeartVarious ArtistsProducer
1992Global Meditation - Authentic Music from Meditative Traditions of the WorldVarious ArtistsProducer
1992Les Ambassadeurs Internationales with Salif KeitaLes Ambassadeurs and Salif KeitaLiner Notes
1992Nocturne ParisianGraham Haynes & No ImageAssociate Producer
1993Global Celebration (Authentic Music from Festivals & Celebrations Around the World)Various ArtistsProducer, Engineer, Composer
1993Sketches of MilesByron OlsonCoordination
1993Voices of Forgotten Worlds: Traditional Music of Indigenous PeoplesVarious ArtistsProducer
1994Africa: Never Stand StillVarious ArtistsProducer
1994Dance of the Leaves (Restless/Enigma)Toure KundaLiner Notes
1994Global Celebration: GatheringsVarious ArtistsProducer, Compilation Producer, Composer
1994Saints & SinnersJean-Paul BorrellyField Recording
1995Global DivasVarious ArtistsProducer, Compilation Producer, Liner Notes
1996Divas of MaliVarious ArtistsProducer
1996The X Games: The Compilation AlbumVarious ArtistsMusic Supervisor
1996X-Games, Vol. 1: Music from the EdgeVarious ArtistsMusic Supervisor
1997Best of Ellipsis ArtsVarious ArtistsProducer, Liner Notes
1997Divine Divas: A World of Women's VoicesVarious ArtistsCompilation Producer
1997The Best of Ellipsis Arts: AfricaVarious ArtistsProducer, Liner Notes
1998Best of Ellipsis Arts: Global CelebrationVarious ArtistsEditing, Liner Notes
1998Best of Ellipsis Arts: Global MeditationVarious ArtistsProducer
1999An American Love Story (Original Soundtrack)Various ArtistsMusic Supervisor
1999Back to Our Roots, Vol. 1Too BadExecutive Producer
1999Passion Planet: Songs of Love from Around the WorldVarious ArtistsProducer, Compilation Producer
1999Wonders of the African WorldVarious ArtistsProducer, Music Supervisor
2000Celebration! Times Square 2000Various ArtistsProducer
2000Dan GnaLes GoExecutive Producer
2019This Is SyriaVarious ArtistsProducer
2020“Annapurna’s Song”Various ArtistsProducer

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jug band</span> Band employing a jug player

A jug band is a band employing a jug player and a mix of conventional and homemade instruments. These homemade instruments are ordinary objects adapted to or modified for making sound, like the washtub bass, washboard, spoons, bones, stovepipe, jew's harp, and comb and tissue paper. The term 'jug band' is loosely used in referring to ensembles that also incorporate homemade instruments, but that are more accurately called skiffle bands, spasm bands, or juke bands because they do not include a jug player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Records</span> American independent record label

Sun Records is an American independent record label founded by producer Sam Phillips in Memphis, Tennessee on February 1, 1952. Sun was the first label to record Elvis Presley, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. Prior to that, Sun had concentrated mainly on African-American musicians because Phillips loved rhythm and blues and wanted to bring it to a white audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nettwerk Music Group</span> Canadian record label

Nettwerk Music Group is an independent record label founded in 1984.

Underground hip-hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music that is outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed to independent labels or no label at all. Underground hip hop is often characterized by socially conscious, positive, or anti-commercial lyrics. However, there is no unifying or universal theme – AllMusic suggests that it "has no sonic signifiers". "The Underground" also refers to the community of musicians, fans and others that support non-commercial, or independent music. Music scenes with strong ties to underground hip hop include alternative hip hop and conscious hip hop. Many artists who are considered "underground" today were not always so, and may have previously broken the Billboard charts.

<i>Anthology of American Folk Music</i> 1952 compilation album by various artists

Anthology of American Folk Music is a three-album compilation, released in 1952 by Folkways Records, of eighty-four recordings of American folk, blues and country music made and issued from 1926 to 1933 by a variety of performers. The album was compiled from the experimental film maker Harry Smith's own personal collection of 78 rpm records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke Fraser</span> New Zealand musician (born 1983)

Brooke Gabrielle Ligertwood, professionally known as Brooke Fraser, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. After signing with Sony BMG in 2002, she gained recognition for her debut album, What to Do with Daylight (2003) and followed with Albertine (2006) and Flags (2010). All three debuted at number one on the RMNZ chart and gained her the number one single "Something in the Water". She later released Brutal Romantic (2014), various compilation albums, the live album Seven (2022) and Eight (2023). The latter two were released by Capitol CMG under her married name, Brooke Ligertwood.

<i>Live at The Gaslight 1962</i> 2005 live album by Bob Dylan

Live at The Gaslight 1962 is a live album including ten songs from early Bob Dylan performances recorded in October 1962 at The Gaslight Cafe in New York City's Greenwich Village. Released in 2005 by Columbia Records, it was originally distributed through an exclusive 18-month deal with Starbucks, after which it was released to the general retail market. The album release coincided with the release of the documentary No Direction Home: Bob Dylan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKCR-FM</span> Radio station at Columbia University in New York City

WKCR-FM is a radio station licensed to New York, New York, United States. The station is owned by Columbia University and serves the New York metropolitan area. Founded in 1941, the station traces its history back to 1908 with the first operations of the Columbia University Radio Club (CURC). In 1956, it became one of the first college radio stations to adopt FM broadcasting, which had been invented two decades earlier by Professor Edwin Howard Armstrong. The station was preceded by student involvement in W2XMN, an experimental FM station founded by Armstrong, for which the CURC provided programming. Originally an education-focused station, since the Columbia University protests of 1968, WKCR-FM has shifted its focus towards alternative musical programming, with an emphasis on jazz, classical, and hip hop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Schaap</span> American jazz disc jockey (1951–2021)

Philip van Noorden Schaap was an American radio host, who specialized in jazz as a broadcaster, historian, archivist, and producer. He began presenting jazz shows on Columbia University's WKCR in 1970, and hosted Bird Flight and Traditions In Swing on WKCR for 40 years, beginning in 1981. Schaap received six Grammy Awards over the course of his career.

A music supervisor is a person who combines music and visual media. According to the Guild of Music Supervisors, a music supervisor is “a qualified professional who oversees all music related aspects of film, television, advertising, video games and other existing or emerging visual media platforms as required.” In the musical theatre industry, a music supervisor is often responsible for managing a team of music directors working on any number of musical productions. In visual productions, the music supervisor usually works with the directors, writers or producers to choose which songs are best suited for the scenes.

Soundscape Presents or simply Soundscape is a recording label in jazz and world music, a contributor to music festivals, and a promoter of creative arts education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carissa's Wierd</span> American indie rock band

Carissa's Wierd was an American indie rock band based in Seattle that formed in 1995 and disbanded in late 2003. Their sound has been described as "chamber rock." The band deliberately misspelled the word "Weird" in their name.

Godfather Don is an American rapper and record producer from New York City. He has been "a creative force within New York City's underground hip-hop scene" since he made his debut in 1991.

<i>Midnight at Mintons</i> 1973 live album by Don Byas

Midnight at Minton's is an album by jazz musician Don Byas, first released in 1973. It is a live recording of a 1941 jam session at Minton's Playhouse, the New York City nightclub at which the emerging style of bebop was being pioneered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oblivion Records</span> Record label

Oblivion Records is an independent American record label that focuses on under recorded blues and jazz musicians. The company was originally based in Huntington, New York and the WKCR-FM studios at Columbia University in New York City, with a post office box in Roslyn Heights, New York from 1972–1976. It now operates out of Los Angeles. After almost 50 years, Oblivion announced a new release in November 2021.

The Rights Workshop is a music supervision group based in the Presidio Film Center in San Francisco, California. Formed in 2002 by Billboard Award-winning producer, author and former ESPN Music Director Brooke Wentz, The Rights Workshop programs music and negotiates clearances and licensing rights for producers and directors of independent film, television, advertising, new media, games, apps, as well as services for corporate marketing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windham Hill Records</span> New-age music record label

Windham Hill Records was an independent record label that specialized in instrumental acoustic music. It was founded by guitarist William Ackerman and Anne Robinson in 1976 and was popular in the 1980s and 1990s.

Bricks were an indie rock band founded in New York City in the late 1980s. The group was formed by Merge Records co-founder Mac McCaughan while he was studying at Columbia University, along with Nashville-born singer-songwriter Laura Cantrell, plus classmates Andrew Webster and Josh Phillips. The foursome recorded at least 18 lo-fi songs between 1988 and 1990, which they released on a cassette and two 7-inch singles before disbanding. Their first single, "Girl With The Carrot Skin", enjoyed college radio airplay and was also made into a music video. Shot on super-8 film, the video featured the band eating and playing with copious amounts of carrots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Stretch Armstrong</span> New York-based DJ and music producer

Adrian Bartos known professionally as DJ Stretch Armstrong is a New York-based DJ and music producer, known as a former co-host of hip hop radio show The Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show, alongside Bobbito Garcia.

Will Welch is an American magazine editor and writer, who is currently the global editorial director at GQ and editor-in-chief of GQ U.S.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Brooke M. Wentz, Alfredo E. Alias". The New York Times. October 6, 1996.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Seven Seas Music Makes It Easy to License Authentic Global Music..." November 7, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Shearrow, Elizabeth (May 17, 2021). "Industry Profile: Seven Seas Music Founder, Brooke Wentz". Backstage Pass. 4 (1).
  4. 1 2 Biese, Alex. "Jerry Garcia Foundation launches new record label, supports Himalayas with first album". Asbury Park Press.
  5. 1 2 Women who lead: San Francisco music firm's owners sail the Seven Seas.
  6. 1 2 "For a Song: How to Get the Music You Want". International Documentary Association. June 15, 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Brooke Wentz - CEO of Seven Seas Music". ideamensch.com. 15 December 2019.
  8. 1 2 "Brooke Wentz". Music In Africa. July 29, 2018.
  9. 1 2 3 "Music Licensing".
  10. 1 2 "Jerry Garcia music featured in world music compilation". The Music Universe. August 1, 2019.
  11. 1 2 "The Hip-Hop Project: A historical exploration into the relationship between Columbia University and the rap revolution - Columbia Spectator". Columbia Daily Spectator.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "27 Mar 1994, 139 - Daily News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ Ear Magazine. New Wilderness Foundation. 1983.
  14. 1 2 "What are Music Supervisor's Looking For? Music Licensing". Pyramind. August 7, 2019.
  15. ↑ Wentz, Brooke (1991). EYEWITNESS TO HISTORY SALIF KEITA and the COUP D' ETAT (10 ed.). The Beat. p. 38.
  16. ↑ "Brooke Wentz | Credits". AllMusic.
  17. ↑ "Esquire — June 1993". Esquire | The Complete Archive.
  18. ↑ "Women Helping Women with 'Global Divas' - Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. July 1, 1995 – via Google Books.
  19. ↑ "X-Games, Vol. 1: Music from the Edge - Various Artists | Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  20. ↑ "Publishing Hit Songs: Aczon, Austria, Wentz in SF".
  21. ↑ Morris, Chris (1995). Women Helping Women with 'Global Divas' (26th ed.). Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  22. ↑ "Electronic Musician Magazine". Archived from the original on 2010-09-07.
  23. ↑ "Brooke Wentz, CEO, Seven Seas Music".
  24. ↑ "DATE CHANGED- The Rights Workshop Presents: Make Music, Make Money: Get Paid To Write Music - MTT Open - Music Think Tank". www.musicthinktank.com.
  25. ↑ Hey, That's My Music!: Music Supervision, Licensing, and Content Acquisition. Hal Leonard Corporation. 2007. ISBN   9781423422129.
  26. ↑ Times, Ryan Book, The Music (November 9, 2014). "Seven Seas Music Makes Licensing True International Music Easy; Red Bull, Dodge and Hollywood Already Knocking". Music Times.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  27. ↑ "TaFMA & San Francisco's Seven Seas Music to create new avenues for Naga musicians". EastMojo. January 19, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Music Rights Unveiled : Brooke Wentz : 9781138673304". www.bookdepository.com.
  29. ↑ Music Rights Unveiled: A Filmmaker's Guide to Music Rights and Licensing. Taylor & Francis. 22 September 2017. ISBN   9781317203070.
  30. 1 2 3 "Jerry Garcia Foundation launches new record label, supports Himalayas with first album". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  31. 1 2 "Golden Era of New York Experimental Music Captured in New Book "Transfigured New York"". NYS Music. 2023-10-27. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  32. 1 2 "On the Radio | The Brooklyn Rail". brooklynrail.org. 2024-07-29. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  33. ↑ "Radio Days". Barnard Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  34. ↑ "Brooke Wentz releases her interviews with musicians from the 1980s – Minimalismore". 2024-02-27. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  35. ↑ "The Wire - March 2024 (Issue 481)". reader.exacteditions.com. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  36. ↑ Wentz, Brooke (2023-12-08). "Plain-Spoken Performance Art: A Conversation with Laurie Anderson". Literary Hub. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  37. ↑ "Best of 2023: Our favourite pop-culture books of the year". Bad Feeling Magazine. 2024-01-08. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
  38. ↑ "BMI Helps Sundance Lab Fellows Explore Music's Crucial Role in Storytelling". BMI.com. 2019-07-24. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.