When talking with Tyson Haller, he appears to be the calm in the eye of the storm. And with his hand in current success stories like The Wombats, you can see he has long term vision. Alternative Contraband is shining the spotlight on Haller and his current work load. And as you’ll read you can’t keep a good promo man/woman from talking as Alternative Contraband could’ve retitled this article 10 X 280. Dig in and share.
@altcontraband Welcome Tyson Haller Promo Maestro with ILG. You’re on Alternative Contraband’s 10 X 140 hot seat. Ready cuz’ here comes Q1
@TysonGivsUWings Hello! Thank you for inviting me into your Twitter world. Fire away!
@altcontrabandQ1. There’s so much data u can throw at PD’s and MD’s these days. What seems to be the info. they want most?
@TysonGivsUWings I still feel research has the most impact. Cant b from 1 stn in 1 mkt, but u get a handful of stories u can show a trend
@altcontraband Q2. Does it get tedious taking 28 weeks to break a songt on the chart these days? Are there days ya just wanna give up?
@TysonGivsUWings it can sometimes b fun. Like this Wombats track, its exciting to start small and turn it into a hit no one can deny.
@altcontraband Good point. Sticking w/ something & having it work is rewarding. Q3 Give us the skinny on yr current projects.
@TysonGivsUWings My break out right now is def Wombats! 7 Top 10 research stories! There’s no stn yet where the record hasn’t researched.
@TysonGivsUWings also look for Art Of Dying “Sorry” on your desk. We’re crossin over from Active Rk where record is about to go Top 10.
@TysonGivsUWings Another Hives single coming soon too. Band will be touring US Sept/Oct so timing will b perfect.
@altcontrabandQ4. What record store did you shop at while growing up in St. Loo? And where ya shopping now and what did you buy last?
@TysonGivsUWings Streetside Rcrds, Vintage Vinyl,Euclid Rcrds,West End Wax were wkly go to’s. In college I actually worked at Streetside.
@TysonGivsUWings Now its itunes, hafta admit. Just bought the new Hot Chip album today!
@altcontraband Q5. What is Alternative radio doing well these days?
@TysonGivsUWings Alt radios good at bein alt! Chart hasn’t had this good of music in awhile. Alt PDs still get excited about music I think too
@altcontraband Q6. What’s your proudest project accomplishment to date?
@TysonGivsUWingsMCRut had no profile at radio & we took ‘New Low” Top 5. Plus we charted both 2nd/3rd singles. Great development on that band
@TysonGivsUWingsWombats is quickly becoming one, as this is our 3rd single from an album out over a year ago. Proudest is Middle Class Rut.
@altcontraband Q7. Yer sitting in the Program Director’s chair, what’s your first set of moves?
@TysonGivsUWingsFirst I add The Wombats. Ha! Also, make sure stn site is current, easy to navigate & compelling.
@TysonGivsUWings also, stn should stream for at wrk listeners & of course grow facebook/twitter following. Online focus is what I’m gettin at.
@altcontraband Q8. Alright, I’ve been looking at it for three days….explain your Twitter handle.
@TysonGivsUWings Our old publicity person was buggin me to get on Twitter. If that important to him, then I said he could do it for me.
@TysonGivsUWingsHe did, and I guess I have a reputation for drinking a lot of red bull.
@altcontraband Q9. LOL. And you love the Twitter ever since! Tell us about your ILG team.
@TysonGivsUWings ILG is a small but powerful outfit. We provide major label services to indie labels and bands within the WMG system.
@TysonGivsUWings Our promo staff is a powerful little outfit too, Tommy Delaney, Cheryl Valentine & myself.
@TysonGivsUWings The 3 of us come from major label backgrounds & we all have a passion 4 music, making us a cohesive & dedicated team.
@altcontraband Thanks for the time Tyson, one last ? Q10. What’s the ideal label-radio relationship in the 21st century?
@TysonGivsUWings Most important part 2 label-radio relationship is communication. We’re all fighting to survive & need each other 2 an extent.
@TysonGivsUWings Finding out what’s important to a station or what’s working helps us know what to provide or what records works.
@TysonGivsUWings Granted, label needs to listen & not keep pushing for wrong type of record or event. Thanks 4 havin me by @altcontraband !
