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2 Minutes With … Shara Katz, Director of Creative Licensing at BMG Production Music

Muse — Fri, 31 May 2024 12:05:00 +0000

Shara Katz | Photo illustration by Ashley Epping

Shara Katz, director of creative licensing at BMG Production Music, has over a decade of experience in music supervision and sync licensing. Over the years Shara has cultivated and maintained long lasting relationships with leaders of the music and advertising community. With a passion for playlisting, Shara is all about the thrill of the hunt for that one perfect track.

We spent two minutes with Shara to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she’s admired.

Shara, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I grew up about 30 minutes outside of Boston on the South Shore. I’ve been living in NYC for over a decade, so I consider myself a New Yorker. I’m a Brooklyn gal, for sure.

Your earliest musical memory.

This is such a formative story for me. I was in the car with my aunt and uncle and older cousins and Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” came on the radio. I was hooked. The first cassette I ever owned was Jagged Little Pill, which my dad bought for me, his 5-year-old daughter. He figured it was a good indication that I would grow up to have a decent taste in music, however, I was told I had to skip “You Oughta Know” anytime my mom was in the room.

Your favorite bands/musicians today.

The ultimate question. Honestly, there are too many to count. I’ve had Chappell Roan on repeat for the last few months and Vampire Weekend’s latest album is perfection. I’m a big fan of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Snail Mail—I love me some sad girl music. The New Pornographers, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Yo La Tengo, The Magnetic Fields. The list goes on.

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

The Girls on the Bus.

A recent project you’re proud of.

Working with J. Crew. I’ve been a huge fan of the brand for such a long time.

One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.

Queer representation, not only at the artist level but in the songs themselves. More and more queer artists are getting big singing about same-sex/queer relationships, and I think it’s absolutely amazing. Having music you can relate to—if I had more of that growing up I probably would’ve come out sooner.

Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.

Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Period. No questions at this time.

An artist you admire outside the world of music.

Wes Anderson. He creates these elaborate worlds and characters within his films. His attention to detail, his quirks make it so the viewer can instantly recognize one of his films without being told it’s a Wes Anderson original. He has an artistic signature that sets him apart.

Your favorite fictional character.

Jo March

Someone worth following on social media.

Ethel Cain… if you know you know…

Your main strength as a marketer/creative.

My intuition. I’ve always had the ability to read people pretty well—their thoughts and feelings. When it comes to pitching music, you often need to be able to read between the lines.

Your biggest weakness.

My short-term memory. It’s all mush up there (points to forehead).

Something people would find surprising about you.

I’m a member of a kickball league, which, if you know me, is extremely surprising seeing as I have absolutely no athletic ability whatsoever.

One thing that always makes you happy.

Well, my boss wants me to pick her, but my real answer is my cat, Goose.

One thing that always makes you sad.

Anyone feeling left out.

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the music business.

I’d be an ethnomusicologist, but if that’s too music business adjacent, I’d probably be a religion professor.

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The post 2 Minutes With … Shara Katz, Director of Creative Licensing at BMG Production Music first appeared on Muse by Clios.

2 Minutes With … Deb Oh, Senior Director of Creative Licensing at BMG Production Music

Muse — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 16:00:00 +0000

Deb Oh | Photo illustration by Ashley Epping

For over a decade in the music and advertising industries, Deb Oh has built experience across music supervision, original music production, audio post-production, and sync licensing at agencies as well as boutique music and audio shops. Since joining BMG Production Music in 2021, she oversees creative licensing for advertising and branding clients, working on campaigns for Google, Ford, Spotify, Apple, Wendy’s, Nintendo and many more.

We spent two minutes with Deb to learn more about her background, her creative inspirations and recent work she’s admired.

Deb, tell us …

Where you grew up, and where you live now.

I was born in Alaska and spent my childhood there, then moved to the east coast and went to high school and college in NYC. I’ve moved all over Manhattan and Brooklyn since, and now live in South Orange, New Jersey.

Your earliest musical memory.

I memorized and performed the whole Sound of Music soundtrack for my parents when I was three. Maybe this isn’t so much my own memory as one that’s been implanted at this point, but it’s what kickstarted piano lessons and singing in a children’s choir not long after!

Your favorite bands/musicians.

I’ve been evangelizing Balming Tiger for a little while. They’re an alternative K-pop collective with a really imaginative sound and visual aesthetic, and their energy at live shows is unmatched. They’re also a really refreshing counter-balance to the more industrialized K-pop look and sound (no shade, love NewJeans, too).

A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.

I’ve started Susan Rogers’ “This Is What It Sounds Like,” which fuses her experience as both a recording engineer and neuroscientist to explore why we fall in love with certain songs and music. Super interesting read so far!

A recent project you’re proud of.

My colleague Charlie Davis and I have been producing remixes of vintage gems in the BMG catalog, and that’s always a really fun collaboration. I love this one that we did with our good bud @shy_niko on the track “Clap Your Hands” by The Beau Marks.

One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.

More AAPI representation across the industry. There’s still a long way to go, but I’m optimistic in the progress that I’ve seen in my time on both the artist and business side of things.

Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.

Beyonce’s Renaissance tour. Period!!

An artist you admire outside the world of music.

Joe Pera. He’s really just doing his own thing, and it’s amazing. Joe Pera Talks with You is one of the most bafflingly hilarious and wholesome shows I’ve ever seen.

Your favorite fictional character.

Tom Wambsgans

Someone worth following on social media.

Sinead Bovell (@sineadbovell)—she’s a futurist who breaks down tech/AI/science in a way that my non-tech/science brain can understand.

Your main strength as a marketer/creative.

My “nunchi,” which is a Korean concept for being able to read the room, listen/observe and understand others’ thoughts and feelings. Given how many voices and opinions are part of the creative process, this has always helped me navigate different projects and environments.

Your biggest weakness.

Second guessing myself.

Something people would find surprising about you.

Usually it’s the fact that I’m from Alaska—that always elicits a great reaction and a series of follow-up questions.

One thing that always makes you happy.

A great meal with people I love.

One thing that always makes you sad.

Climate change

What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the music business.

Maybe something in interior or production design.

The post 2 Minutes With … Deb Oh, Senior Director of Creative Licensing at BMG Production Music first appeared on Muse by Clios.