Indie Food is the New Indie Rock
The thrill of discovery and sense of ownership experienced by finding a new band now applies to finding a new small batch bourbon, pop-up restaurant, or food truck. And we’re loyally evangelizing small batch food and drink brands the way we once did for indie labels and bands. As a result, a bumper crop of blogs, radio shows and events fashioned after music industry models have been launched around this food and drink revolution, many helmed by music industry vets.
Presenters
Josh Wittman
Founder
Public Works Division
Josh is a music industry veteran with over 25 years of experience, originally getting his start as a college rep for CBS Records in the late 80s. He has worked in many areas of the business including retail promotion, product management, sales, business development, partnerships, licensing and digital.
In the 90’s, he held senior positions with Mammoth Records, an independent label with a joint venture with Atlantic Records and scored several Gold and Platinum albums. When the company was sold to Disney and eventually dismantled, Josh formed The Splinter Group, an advertising and marketing company whose work included several music/movie related projects and still thrives to this day.
In 2005, Josh left to join respected independent distributor Redeye Distribution as Marketing Director where he has managed the company’s marketing and worked with the company’s distributed labels including Warp, Daptone & Kill Rock Stars until 2010.
Currently Josh is managing partner in two restaurants (Federal & Milltown) and a 400 capacity venue (Motorco Music Hall) in North Carolina while also managing artists including Brett Harris and The dB's, running a small digital label and working marketing projects independently. He is also co-founder of Amplitude, a new creative think tank taking place in the mountains of British Columbia each February.
Rick Mast
Founder/Owner
Mast Brothers Chocolate
Rick Mast is the co-founder, owner and Master Chocolate Maker of Mast Brothers Chocolate, an American craft chocolate manufacturer located in Brooklyn, NY.
A trained classical musician, Rick Mast left the music world for culinary school and began working in New York City's elite kitchens. Rick and his brother Michael began making chocolate from scratch out of their Brooklyn workshop, developing a process of chocolate making that would soon be known as American craft style.
Nils Bernstein
Dir of Pub & Artist Liaison
Matador Records
Nils is 25-year veteran of the independent music industry. From his early days as a record store owner, then to handling publicity and A&R for SubPop during the grunge years, to his current post as Director of Publicity and Artist Relations for Matador. Additionally, he's a published freelance food and drink writer (Bon Appetit, Men's Journal, Wine Enthiusiast, and more).
Tom Monday
founder
Small Batch America/Indie Canteen
Tom Monday has spent his entire career working at the intersection of independent music, media, and technology- connecting bands, brands, and fans while working for the likes of No Depression, LimeWire, and Billboard. Realizing the increased commingling of music and food cultures and excited by all the similarities, he decided to take what he knows about marketing music products and apply it to independent, artisanal food and drink products with his current ventures Small Batch America and Indie Canteen.