NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA KIT
Interscope Records and FACTOR Canada
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
SCENARIO
Interscope records partnerships with FACTOR (the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent
on Recordings) to offer a diverse artist a record deal.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES SCRIPT
Hi there, hope all of you are doing well! I’m Nadia Mohamed and I am the Head of A&R at Interscope Records. We are proud to announce that we are partnering with FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings) to offer a diverse talented artist a record deal. We recognize the financial challenges an artist could face, that is why we’re presenting this partnership and record deal offer. We admire FACTORs work and what they do for artists, we want to create & expand opportunities for diverse artists. Today we’re awarding Neena Brown for her lovely artistry and dedication to culture through the use of music. We aim to be a platform where Neena Brown can explore her career opportunities through creative freedom, power and expression. I now pass it over to FACTOR’s Communications Manager.
SPOKESPERSON SCRIPT
Good morning! It is a pleasure to have you all here with us. My name is Nidhi Thakur and I’m the communications manager at FACTOR Canada. This is the first time, Interscope Records and FACTOR have partnered. We’re pleased to announce that Neena Brown is the first candidate for this partnership record deal. FACTOR has always been committed to diversity and inclusivity, so it was our honour in helping Interscope Records with its venture of bringing in a BIPOC artist to the label. We’re grateful that Interscope Records has given us full creative control over the production and we aim to give Neena complete artistic control over her music. The grant will help Neena with recordings of her album and from there Interscope Records will take over for further formalities.
NEWS CONFERENCE AGENDA
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
VENUE: Ontario Bar Association, Conference Centre Moderated
by Nadia Mohamed, head of A&R Interscope Records
9:30 a.m. – Registration
10 a.m. – Opening Remarks
10:30 a.m. – FACTOR Communication Manager Speech
11 a.m. – Questions
11:30 a.m. – Head of A&R at Interscope Records Speech
Noon – Break
12:30 p.m. – Contract Signing
1 p.m. – Awarding artist their grant and record deal
1:15 p.m. – Acceptance speech from Neena Brown
1:30 p.m. – Questions
2 p.m. – Photos
3 p.m.- Closing Remarks
Ontario Bar Association, Conference Centre
20 Toronto St.,
Toronto, Ont. M5C 2B8
416-000-3421
Attention: Local Canadian artists, artist managers, local Canadian record labels, Canadian music companies, developing musicians.
Media Advisory: FACTOR partnerships with Interscope Records to offer a diverse Canadian artist a record deal.
TORONTO, April 13, 2021 – Record label, Interscope Records, announces that it will be partnering with FACTOR (the Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings) to offer a diverse talented artist a record deal at the OBA (Ontario Bar Association), Conference Centre.
The conference will be live-streamed on mobile browsers and iOS for iPhone and Androids.
COVID- 19 restrictions apply, such as a face mask, and social distancing.
Who: Nadia Mohamed, Head of A&R, Interscope Records
Nidhi Thakur, Communications Manager, FACTOR
Neena Brown, Artist/ Songwriter, Certified Cash Corporation
When: April 21, 2021
Opening – 10 to 10:15 a.m.
Proceedings From Spokespeople – 10:15 to 11 a.m.
Award Record Deal & Grant – 11 to 11:30 a.m.
Where: Ontario Bar Association, Conference Centre, L Room D
20 Toronto St., Toronto, Ont. M5C 2B8
Visuals: FACTOR Representatives, Head of A&R Of Interscope Records, the artist being awarded the grant (cheque)/record deal and the artists with Interscope records.
Interscope Records proposed this combination because it knows what it takes for a local diverse artist to be successful. With FACTOR who offers artist grants for their recording process, marketing, development, promotion, management, airplay, live performance and much more, the venture will be successful. The label and organization’s efforts will be beneficial for both parties.
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For more information:
Nadia Mohamed
Head of A&R Interscope Records
647-999-0000 ext. 123
[email protected]
Interscope Records & FACTOR Canada
247 Spadina Ave., Third Floor Toronto,
Ont. M5T 3A8
NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Interscope Records partners with FACTOR Canada to bring in a local artist from the BIPOC community
TORONTO, April 13, 2021 – Interscope Records, an American record label advances into the Canadian Music Industry to find a new and diverse local talent for which the label has negotiated a partnership deal with FACTOR (The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent on Recordings), a private non-profit organization that helps Canadian musicians with the production of sounds
recordings and distributing it on a wider platform.
“For 31 years, the label has been committed to connecting with talented local musicians and providing them with a platform to share their music with the world,” said Tim Glover, senior vice president of A&R, Interscope Records, “Diversity and inclusivity are important to us and the company’s values.”
Both the label and FACTOR have similar values not only about diversity but also on allowing artists to have full creative control over their work; Interscope Records allows the production to work with the artists accordingly.
Neena Brown, a local R&B artist and songwriter from Certified Cash Corporation has accepted the offer of a year-long record deal with Interscope Records and a chance to renew the contract in the future. The decision to sign her was made after a long process where the panel auditioned and researched hundreds of other artists among which they loved her music and her passion.
FACTOR has constantly encouraged diversity and has created its first Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee consisting of 16 members that represent different kinds of groups and music industry professionals from across Canada. Interscope Records was helped by the same committee in finding and bringing Brown in on the record deal.
“We’re glad to help Interscope Records in working with diverse local musicians in Canada and we have been discussing making this a longer partnership for the future of the label and Canadian music industry,” said Meg Symsyk, president and CEO, FACTOR.
Interscope Records is one of the three most influential record labels in today’s music industry, Interscope Geffen A&M, owned under an umbrella by the Universal Music Group. Unified in 1999, it has worked with top artists across a range of different musical genres including rock, pop, alternative and rap. For more information, visit www.interscope.com.
Founded in 1982, FACTOR has been helping Canadian musicians with financial assistance. It has made a significant contribution to the growth of the independent Canadian music industry. For more information, visit www.factor.ca.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
FACTOR Canada
Nidhi Thakur
Public Relations Representative
416-025-3456
[email protected]
KEY MESSAGES
1) We are the most successful music label in the U.S, the most influential in the music
industry. – Nadia (Head of A&R at Interscope records)
2) We will distribute local diverse talents and maximize their opportunities.
3) We exist to shape music culture through our commitment and passion for all talents.
PHOTO/VIDEO DIRECTIONS
For the photos – We would like to get pictures of the representatives of FACTOR Canada, a spokesperson from Interscope Records, photos of the artist signing the record deal and accepting the grant.
For the video – The shot of Nadia Mohamed, head of A&R, Interscope Records talking about the record deal with the artist and shot of Nidhi Thakur, communications manager, FACTOR talking about this partnership and the organization’s values. Video of the actual contract signing.
Snippets of the Q&A sessions. A short clip of Neena Brown walking on the stage after her introduction.