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Chris Kurtz of The Media Twist Group on Doing It All
He made 4 Sammy Hagar videos in a single day
Chris is founder and CEO of The MediaTwist Group. His company was one of the earliest to fully embrace social media marketing. It has worked with brands like Disney, Monster Jam and Supercross. During the pandemic, Kurtz and his team pivoted, producing virtual events and concerts supporting clients and artists. They launched the Virtual Talking Record Label, offering music videos and live performances in 3D. This initiative has included collaborations with Sammy Hagar and Jason Derulo. As a thought leader, Chris speaks at events like the Music Entrepreneur Conference at Harvard, sharing insights on revenue generation and marketing strategies.
We spent two minutes with Chris to learn more about his background, his creative inspirations and recent work he’s admired.
Chris, tell us …
Where you grew up, and where you live now.
Born in Meriden, Conn., and lived there until age 7. Then I moved to the coal region of Pennsylvania. Now I reside in Bloomington, Ind.
Your earliest musical memory.
My mom working alongside Elvis, and many more, as a hairstylist at local shows.
Your favorite bands/musicians today.
One of your favorite projects you’ve ever worked on.
Executive producer on four Sammy Hagar music videos in one day! And producing Monster Jam in Stockholm.
A recent project you’re proud of.
Helping the Toronto Police Service build the Military Veterans Wellness Program. And also helping the indigenous people of the Mohawk Nation preserve their heritage.
One thing about how the music world is evolving that you’re excited about.
Shift in attention focus. It’s here. Web3 is coming.
Someone else’s work, in music or beyond, that you admired lately.
Bret Alexander of The Badlees. And also Richard Branson and his work to preserve legacy.
A book, movie, TV show or podcast you recently found inspiring.
Dennis Quaid’s movie called The Hill. And also The Long Game. It’s all about inclusion in sports. I’m a big NIL advocate and expert.
An artist you admire outside the world of music.
Your favorite fictional character.
How musicians should approach working with brands.
Bring them value in social, and start helping them with UGC.
How brands should approach working with musicians.
Hire an influencer for their optics and their look on social. This is a UGC concept at its finest. Small Town Titans come to mind.
A mentor who helped you navigate the industry.
Tom Consolo, Irving Azzoff, Steve Zuckerman
What you’d be doing if you weren’t in the music business.
I’m doing it: motorsports, healthcare, philanthropy. This has taken me into many sectors, which allows me to see and do it all in many verticals. I almost retired once while spending time in a yurt with the Dalai Lama and his monks in Bloomington.
2 Minutes With is our regular interview series where we chat with creatives about their backgrounds, creative inspirations, work they admire and more. For more about 2 Minutes With, or to be considered for the series, please get in touch.
