Christopher Knab, FourFront Media & Music Archive of Articles
* Owner of FourFront Media & Music, a consultation service based in Seattle that helps independent labels and entrepreneurial musicians develop marketing and career plans.
* Faculty member of the Audio Program at the Art Institute of Seattle, where he teaches courses related to the promotion and marketing of music.
* Honored by Seattle's Rocket magazine in the late 90's as "One of the Most Influential People in the Northwest Music Industry."
* Launched his popular website, www.4Frontmusic.com in 1995, featuring dozens of articles related to the business of marketing independent music. The site has been honored several times by being selected as "Site of the Month."
* Writes the Internet syndicated column INDIE 2000, found on his own website and posted on a dozen other music business related websites.
* Speaks regularly at music industry conferences, including New York's CMJ Music Marathon, Portland's North By Northwest, Austin's South by Southwest and seminars sponsored by the Recording Academy. (NARAS, of which he is a voting member.)
* Began his career working at the Magic Flute record store in late 1960s San Francisco. Bought the now famous San Francisco-based Aquarius Records store in 1972, which earned a reputation as the place to shop for great music. The store, under different ownership since 1980, is still a San Francisco music scene fixture.
* In the mid-70's at the first FM rock station in the nation (San Francisco's KSAN,) Chris became DJ Cosmo Topper, host of then revolutionary and now notorious punk/new wave shows The Outcaste Hour, and The Heretics. Also hosted new music shows at stations KSJO and KTIM.
* Started successful record label, 415 Records, (one of the first alternative rock independent labels), with partner Howie Klein. While at 415, signed (among others) Bomeo Void, The Nuns, Translator, Wire Train, and the Red Rockers. When
Romeo Void sold over 80,000 copies of the Never Say Never EP, Columbia Records entered a joint venture deal with 415 Records. The independent label became Columbia/415, a model for many other major label affiliated indies.
* Became station manager at the University of Washington's alternative music station KCMU in 1985, where he guided the station during Seattle's Grunge period through the late 80's to mid 90's into a new era of listener-supported alternative music, by implementing the now popular variety music format.
* Developed Northwest Area Music Association (NAMA), where he served as President from 1989-1992. Served as Workshop Coordinator for four music business conferences.
* Co-authored, along with Portland entertainment law attorney Bartley F. Day, an extensive chapter on "Independent Label Deals with Major Labels" in The Musician's Legal and Business Guide published by Prentice-Hall and the Beverly
Hills Bar Association in 1996, and revised in 2000.
* Author of Why Musicians Fail (and How Not To), a handbook for musicians releasing their own independent music, to be published in summer of 2001.
www.4Frontmusic.com
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