Ralph Tashjian
Chief Executive Officer
Ralph Tashjian’s [Tash-Gee-An] 30+ year career in the music business is the type many simply dream about but few get the chance to experience. The San Francisco native made a name for himself as a legendary record promotions man, both through senior executive positions at major record labels and as an innovative and hugely successful independent promoter. Today, as CEO and founder of SMC Recordings, Tashjian doesn’t pull back any punches when dealing with the ever-changing industry. Drawing from his vast experience working with iconic artists who include Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, Dr. Dre and Snoop, Tashjian fuels his latest venture with the same passion and tenacity that helped many of those artists reach the top.
Taking his first steps into what would blossom into a prominent career, Tashjian landed with MCA/Universal as a local promotion rep in the early seventies. Major labels soon recognized the innate talent Tashjian possessed and over the decade, found himself the Vice President of Promotion for 20th Century Records (1974-1976), Motown Records (1976-1978) and Island Records (1978-1980). During his tutelage, Tashjian broke many records at radio, most notably Carl Douglas’ classic hit “Kung Fu Fighting” and Bob Marley’s remarkable “Is This Love”. The next two decades proved to be just as fruitful for Tashjian. Launching several ventures, Tashjian proved to have the “Midas touch” for records. Everything he touched went to gold…and platinum. Today, as co-founder and CEO of SMC Recordings, Tashjian has taken his brainchild from a regional-based company to an international brand in just a few short years with a stable of artists including some of hip-hop’s most provocative acts including the legendary Rakim and Grammy-award winner Killer Mike. While no small feat, it is Tashjian’s consummate career coupled with his humble approach and adoration of music that drives SMC’s current success and, with him at the helm, steers them into a very bright future.
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Will Bronson
Chief Operating Officer/ Creative Director
Will Bronson has been instrumental in the signing of many acts to the label and will continue to do so. Will has been entrenched in the Northern California legendary Hip-Hop and Rap scene for years. As a writer and Music Editor of Showcase Magazine, Will established himself as a critic with an ear for talent and a passion for music. As the West Coast correspondent for HipHopDX.com and XXL.com magazines, Will’s reputation has grown immensely as a A&R source in heavy demand…now on the SMC team, his expertise will help drive the creative direction of the company. Will Bronson is the artist repertoire specialist who oversees the artist relations and music direction. Bronson assists in the creation of the marketing plans along with the marketing director. Bronson also helps setup each release and interfaces with key Fontana personnel to execute the deadlines for each release along with our production department. In addition, he coordinates the artwork and packaging demands for each project using outside art directors to design the components for each package.
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David Newberg
Chief Financial Officer
David Newberg brings over twenty years of financial acumen from successful music and media properties such as EMI/Priority Records, WMG/Rhino Entertainment, Live Universe, and maniaTV. Early on in his career Newberg climbed the ranks to VP of Finance at Rhino Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Music where he directed company accounting for all business units, maintaining revenue which grew to 500 million globally. He later served as Chief Financial Officer of Live Universe Inc., a startup company that owns over 40 social/music media, websites, where he was responsible for directing all company accounting, finance, and human resource functions. Before that he was Chief Financial Officer of Delta Entertainment Corporation, a self-distributing mid-sized entertainment company that wholesales audio and video products. Having worked with major recording labels and startup companies alike he has a diverse skill set and wealth of experience that positions him perfectly to ensure that moving forward SMC Recordings will grow to achieve even greater financial successes.
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Maureen Akika
Controller/ International Licensing
Maureen Akika has been with SMC Recordings since its inception. With a Masters degree in International Accounting & Finance, Akika handles all the financial and accounting matters for SMC. She is also fluent in five languages which have been essential in developing and managing SMC's International Licensing department.
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Chioke “Stretch” McCoy
Strategic Operations
Chioke McCoy is a co-owner of Bay Area-based label Thizz Entertainment, home to some of the region’s best-selling acts such as Mac Dre, Mac Mall and Mistah F.A.B.. He joined Thizz Entertainment in 2003 and has since helped to successfully release more than 100 records without the aid of major distributors. To date, one of McCoy’s biggest successes includes Mac Dre’s The Genie of the Lamp and Ronald Dregan, which have both sold over 60,000 units independently. McCoy also manages regional crossover sensation Mistah F.A.B and landed his 2006 deal with Atlantic Records. In 2007, SMC recognized McCoy’s passion and knowledge of the regional urban music culture and quickly brought him on board as strategic operations director.
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Kate Wolfson
Marketing & Promotions
Kate Wolfson got her start at Interscope Records in the publicity department. She created press materials for groups such as No Doubt and The Wallflowers. While at Cal Poly State University, she was the music director at KCPR from 1998 through 2000. After college, Wolfson joined Atomic Pop Records in their radio promotions department where she promoted gangsta rap legend Ice T and underground sensation Slum Village. That led Kate to Oakland-based hip-hop label ABB Records where she managed the radio promotions department from 2000 to 2004. Kate left ABB to form Saucy Promotions, an independent radio promotions company. Through her success with Saucy, Wolfson was recruited by SMC Recordings in 2007 to lend her expertise to the growing company. Today Wolfson is the marketing director, overseeing all strategic and tactical planning for the label’s roster of artists.
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Sarah Sakamoto
New Media
Sarah Sakamoto got her start as an intern for Universal Music & Video Distribution's own New Media company, NetReach. After three months, she was offered a job, where she quickly rose through the ranks to Project Manger. As Project Manager, Sakamoto implemented and oversaw New Media promotional campaigns for superstar acts like The Game, Snoop Dogg and independent breakouts Senses Fail. In 2008, she moved back to the Bay Area and was instantly brought on board as SMC's New Media director.
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Barry Benson
Digital Sales and Marketing
Barry Benson is a true renaissance music man whose music career has spanned over 20 years. Making the transition from the traditional record business to digital music was seamless for Benson. In 2008, Benson launched his own digital music marketing company called Stratus Digital Music Marketing, based in Los Angeles, California. SDMM focuses on implementing online campaigns with recording artists. The stellar relationships that Barry has created with digital aggregators, online portals, and mobile phone companies have been the pillar of Stratus Digital Marketing’s success. Benson also oversees the Urban, Electronic, Jazz, and World Music, content and marketing strategy for the iTunes Essentials Store. He also hosts a weekly podcast, along with the iTunes music team, entitled “iTunes Weekly Rewind”. His love and appreciation for new market trends in the industry caught the attention of SMC who partnered with Stratus Digital Marketing earlier this year.
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Clay Pasternack
Production
Clay Pasternack is a 40 + year veteran in the independent music industry and held various positions within distribution and record labels including Best & Gold Dist (1966-1973), Action Music (1973-1994), and MS Distributing Co. (1994-1999). Pasternack consults independent labels and artists, represents distribution companies for national account sales and he’s involved in manufacturing, fulfillment, & CD reissues. Pasternack provides oversight for SMC relating to CD manufacturing, inventory control, artwork facilitation and production.
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RBC
Sales Department
Led by music industry executives Bob Grossi and Brian Shafton, the Burbank, California-based company works with distribution entities such as Fontana, Universal, EMI, Atlantic, RED, Caroline and ADA to help make E-40, Public Enemy, Tech N9ne, DJ Quik and others reach their full retail, sales and visibility potential. To date, RBC’s biggest successes include Tech N9ne’s Absolute Power and Anghellic albums, which have shipped more than 250,000 units each. RBC delivered Fontana its first No. 1 independent record in 2005 with DJ Quik’s Trauma. RBC’s staff also includes VP of product development Ben Grossi, director of online marketing and publicity Brett Morrow and VP of sales & marketing Fred McKendree. The staff helps Grossi and Shafton come up with realistic sales expectations for each project, thus earning RBC the trust of distributors and artists alike. A 30-year music industry veteran, Grossi was head of sales and distribution for Priority Records for 14 years. During his 17-year career, Shafton rose to VP of sales and distribution at Priority. In these capacities, Grossi and Shafton helped build the careers of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Mos Def, N.W.A, the Geto Boys and a host of others, as well as such prominent labels as Death Row, No Limit, Rawkus, Ruthless and Rap-A-Lot.
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