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UFO Background | Meet Our Personnel
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Peter Casperson - CEO
"The future of the music industry lies in the ability of unique, original, career artists to be able to survive, develop, and be granted entry. The current industry malaise is due to the fact that there are too many mediocre talents that have been granted access to the current anarchy of the market created by the implosion of the major label model. UFO offers the qualifying artists the infrastructure to build their individual business while being true to their artistic vision. Our model is helping to create the future legends of this industry. The UFO team is dedicated to this mission."
As an established veteran in the music business, Peter Casperson has run successful companies in the areas of artist management, records, publishing, recording studios, and booking. Peter started his first entertainment company in the late 60s while attending Babson Institute as a Finance major. Since that time, his commitment to the music industry has been unwavering. Having been a successful booking agent, personal manager, producer, music publisher, label owner and briefly the CEO of a start-up software company, he feels that the culmination of this extensive career is in the UFO concept. Always the independent entrepreneur, Peter created the model for UFO based on his vast experience and understanding of the problems with the current music industry. Through charismatic and intuitive leadership, Peter motivates his colleagues to create new opportunities for success in the toughest of business climates. With his independent ideology and hands-on experience in all areas of the industry over the past 35 years, there is no better steward to successfully navigate the current rapid evolution of the digital music age.
Read Peter's full bio at InvasionGroup.com.
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Steven Saporta - Director of Strategic Alliances
In all my over 30 years of working in the music industry, there's never been a better time for the UFO business model. This is especially true due to the virtual collapse of the major record companies. Literally hundreds of mid-level artists will be looking for a home that UFO provides. Simply, United For Opportunity empowers artists to become their own business while not having to worry about operational functions."
Ask Steven Saporta to describe himself and what he does and the words "artistic sensibility" and "communicator" quickly supersede all the other conventional words. They might easily be used to categorize him over the course of his thirty year career as manager, artist confidant and representative, entrepreneur, conceptualizer, producer, deal-maker, negotiator, music business innovator and consultant.
Saporta served as Executive Producer of over 100 clips and five major television specials, virtually pioneering that role in the industry while launching or re-inventing the careers of Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Run DMC, Aerosmith, Reba McEntire, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, and Sting, among countless others.
"I believe that a consciousness for art to move forward in a progressive way will always make the best business in the long run."
In the past several years, Saporta has served as a guest lecturer at New York University's prestigious Clive Davis School of Music.
Read Steven's full bio at InvasionGroup.com.
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| Steve Dalmer - General Manager
"Touring is a great barometer of potential. If you can consistently react live, UFO is the perfect partner to fuel those flames and spread your music to a wider audience."
While studying business at the University of New Hampshire, Steve began his endeavors in the music business by supporting the efforts of grassroots/regional bands in New England. It was through these "D.I.Y." experiences that he gravitated towards a focus on artists whose growth was based on touring. Relocating to NYC in 1997, he spent 2 years working as a web producer for Penguin Publishing, where he learned the ins and outs of website development, internet marketing and sales. Growing tired of the publishing business, Steve returned to his calling of music, where in 1999 he formed a national booking agency and management firm called In the Pocket, representing artists such as Groove Collective and Jai Uttal. Soon after he joined Invasion Group where he serves as Director of Operations and Artist Manager.
Read Steve's full bio at InvasionGroup.com.
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Bob Donnelly - Legal
"I believe that the music business is in the middle of a giant
cataclysm. I think that the music industry has changed more in the past
2 years than it changed in the previous 30... and I believe that companies like UFO are part of the new paradigm for how music will be monetized in the future."
Bob Donnelly, an attorney with more than 35 years experience in the music business, maintains his independent law practice within the UFO corporate offices. Over the years, Bob has been involved with a diverse client roster including Aerosmith, Riverdance, Live, Esperanza Spalding, Owl City, and Hall & Oates. A lawsuit that Donnelly waged with the New York State Attorney General resulted in a settlement of $55 million dollars in past-due royalties being paid to thousands of musical artists. The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and St. John's University Law School have both given Donnelly their highest award for service. For the past two years, Irish America Magazine has named Bob Donnelly to their list of the 100 most distinguished lawyers of Irish-American descent.
Bob Donnelly joined the Invasion Group as Head of Business Affairs in 1991. Invasion was a good fit as Bob cut his legal teeth in a similar capacity for the very famous 1970s management firm Leber-Krebs, where he represented many well-known recording artists. Bob's artist-friendly demeanor made him a natural to head up United For Opportunity's business affairs and he became an integral player in the development of UFO's "artist first" methodology.
In 2007 Bob merged his New York law practice with the prestigious Lommen Abdo law firm, and the UFO offices became their New York office. This merger has been a win/win for Lommen Abdo and UFO. It has expanded the on-site expertise at UFO to include licensing, music publishing and digital rights and has gained Bob the support staff to become a leading artist advocate at virtually every music industry conference while still delivering the level of expert service which his clients have come to expect.
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Rick Kennell - Finance
"In this cluttered and demanding business, it is a pleasure to be associated with a label whose personnel have had a wealth of experience in day-to-day artist management. Finally, a label that can truly excel in the rapidly shrinking world of artist development!"
Rick began his career as a musician signed to a major label. After deciding to switch over to the business side of the industry he went to work at a financial service company, Lawrence Blau & Associates, where he became a partner in 1988. At Lawrence Blau & Associates, Rick gained an extensive background in business management and financial planning of artists. Rick now manages royalty systems for various publishing and record royalty entities, and is fully versed in the operation of all royalty calculations and the fiduciary responsibility of artists, record companies, and distribution companies.
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Christine Bilich - Creative Licensing / A & R
Christine Bilich, girl group enthusiast and soundtrack junkie, studied Music Business at New York University. During her time at NYU she was lucky enough to intern at S-Curve Records, the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbia Records and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. After a brief stint on Wall Street after graduation, Christine returned to her rightful industry and joined EMI Music Publishing’s Strategic Marketing team where she identified the right talent or song for the right brand. She then moved on to EMIMP’s Product & Content team where she managed catalogue masters and acquisitions including recordings from Phil Spector, Fania Records, Blue Note Records and the Pointer Sisters. Additionally, she was responsible for creating "one-stop" and "easy to clear" solutions for clients in film, TV, commercials and games. Christine is thrilled to be a part of the United For Opportunity where she spends her time finding licensing opportunities for our writers and simple solutions for our clients.
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Jana Fisher - Internet Marketing
"The advent of the Internet has leveled the playing field in the music industry by giving every musician an online platform. UFO helps artists to stand out in the online crowd through fresh and interactive content that keeps their fans involved and invested in their music."
A graduate from Stetson University in Deland, FL with a double major in Digital Arts: Sound and French, Jana Fisher specializes in online and social network marketing for artists and labels. She uses her knowledge of Photoshop, HTML, CSS, Javascript, video, and interactive technology regularly to keeps artists' web content fresh and interactive through frequent posting, contests, content and design updates. She uses the cutting-edge tools in the UFO arsenal to foster relationships between artists and their fans through exclusive, direct-to-fan sales campaigns where fans can buy a special bundle without ever leaving the artist's website. Fans are always kept up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming shows in their area through artist-branded email marketing. Ever interested in building relationships between artists and their fans, Jana also heads up street team development for UFO - getting fans engaged and personally invested in the success of artists they care about. She is an active artist and performer in the NYC music scene.
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Greg DeVito - Tour Marketing / Booking
"UFO provides a home to artists where they can place their trust in the talented and experienced personnel. The staff is both creative and forward thinking when it comes to developing marketing plans and utilizing promotional tools."
Originally from Denville, NJ, Greg attended University of Florida and New York University, earning a Bachelor's in Economics. Being a self-taught musician and avid music fan, Greg decided to forego the traditional career path of an Economics major and instead pursue his passion for music. He began his career at artist management company Sophistic Arts before finding a home at UFO, where he uses his business expertise as a TBArtists booking agent and heads up the tour marketing efforts of the UFO marketing team.
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Alexis Tedford - Publicity (LA)
Serving as UFO's West Coast publicity consultant, Alexis Tedford has
over ten years of experience working in the music industry overseeing
and implementing public relations campaigns. After graduating from the
University of Tennessee, Alexis moved to New York City where she spent
over seven years working at the esteemed music PR firm Shore Fire
Media where she represented various Platinum-selling and up-and-coming
artists of all genres. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Alexis has
served as a consultant for Walt Disney Studios and numerous music,
fashion and literary clients. Her diverse background developing,
strategizing and executing PR campaigns coupled with her extensive
relationships with key national and regional print journalists, TV
bookers/producers, online editors and bloggers and radio producers
have been instrumental in transforming a clients media presence by
elevating their profile to the next level.
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Scott Wolfman - A&R
"I feel good about bringing together talent and the team of people at UFO,
who actually have souls, and an appreciation for art and artists. I am all
about the win-win and UFO's business model provides just that."
Scott Wolfman has dabbled in the music business for over 20 years, buying and selling music acts at colleges and universites and through his own booking agency. With sixteen years in business, Wolfman Productions is one the nation's top booking agencies for speakers, celebrities and performing arts programs. Scott is a music fiend, listening to a varied and eclectic mix of music from all over the world.
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Tom Schneider - UFO Marketing
Tom Schneider first crossed paths with Peter Casperson of UFO in the mid-1980s when Peter signed a local Boston band managed by Tom to his Invasion Records label. While the band enjoyed a mild run of success with their recording, Tom and Peter forged a relationship which has lasted for 20 years. After five years of band management Tom started a brand promotion firm called Target Marketing and Promotions. Schneider grew his promotions agency into a multi-million dollar business by creating bold and unconventional grass roots marketing campaigns for a roster of national clients: Jose Cuervo Tequila, Glen Ellen Wines, Sam Adams Beer, Anhueser-Busch brands, Pepsi-Cola, Cadbury Beverages, Volkswagen, Reebok and Hasbro. During this time, Tom, Peter and Steven Saporta of the UFO office collaborated to help promote Woodstock '94 and '99.
As an early adopter of partnership marketing, Tom conceived of the renowned Jetta Trek campaign for Volkswagen that has since become the widely used co-branding model for the auto industry. In 1995, Schneider and his team concepted "Cuervo Nation" for Jose Cuervo Tequila, Diageo, an unprecedented integrated event-marketing campaign that he is still executing for Cuervo today. Later, Schneider created the POX Secret Agent viral marketing campaign widely recognized in Businessweek, the New York Times Magazine and the book Buzz - Harness the Power and Influence and Create Demand. This project has since become a Harvard Business School case study.
In 2001, TMP was acquired by Alloy, Inc (NAS: ALOY) a New York based marketing and Media conglomerate. In 2002, Tom spearheaded the formation of Alloy Marketing and Promotions (AMP), which was honored as the #1 "Agency of the Year" by PROMO magazine. Schneider held the position of Chief Marketing Officer and currently serves as a part time consultant to AMP.
Now after 20 years of driving brand marketing, Tom has come full circle to work with Peter again as lead marketing consultant for UFO records and UFO clients. Peter chose Tom to drive a grassroots approach to marketing UFO and their bands, much like you would do to create a solid brand.
Tom received a BS degree from Boston College and is active within BC's Carol School of Business as a member of its CEO Club. He is also a trustee member of the Boston Ad Club and a member of MIMC.
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Robin Danar - UFO West Coast Representative
"UFO is just what the doctor ordered. The questions today are limitless and they provide many answers. It's great to be involved with them in that process."
Robin Danar is a music producer, engineer and mixer from New York who is now based in Los Angeles. Robin is a modern version of what the music industry once was. He comes from a time when contributions by a producer were much more than what they often are today. He applies this old-school artistry and sensibility to new music and technology.
Robin's resume covers involvement with every aspect of music. His live work dates back to CBGB in the 70s and includes artists ranging from Blondie, Patti Smith and the Ramones through Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin, Laurie Anderson, Cyndi Lauper and the B-52's. His studio work includes artists like Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Steely Dan and Chaka Khan. The main priority, however, remains discovery and development, which deserves more attention than it gets in today's music world. His involvements with KCRW (Los Angeles), XMRadio, MTV, MOG.com and artists such as Sia and The Strokes represent his desire to find new artists and help them to get heard. His current work includes artists like Pete Yorn, Rachael Yamagata, Inara George (The Bird and the Bee) and Jesca Hoop.
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Woody Armstrong - Strategy & Business Development
"The convergence of music -- both the artistry and the industry -- and technology has been a longtime passion of mine. UFO / Invasion is building what I believe is a true, optimized-for-the-new-realities, music / entertainment business, and I am proud to be associated with, and support the efforts of, Peter, Steven and the entire UFO / Invasion team."
An accomplished business professional and entrepreneur, Woody Armstrong has more than 30 years of diversified experience in media and entertainment, financial services, alternative asset management and investing, and technology professional services. As an entrepreneur, he has founded or co-founded three boutique asset management / strategic services firms, and consulted to numerous other entrepreneurs and small and mid-sized businesses, including many in the music and entertainment industries.
Woody was a key member of the original management team for MusicianFirst, an innovative online music business subsequently acquired by Guitar Center, Inc. His background in technology professional services includes time spent with Qwest Communications' Global Services Division, Princeton Internet Group, Inc., and Midi, Inc., during which he was instrumental in setting strategic direction, developing new business and partnerships, and managing key client relationships. Previously, Woody spent 10+ years in the financial services industry, where he held positions as a trader, trading operations manager, administrator and systems analyst with such firms as Commodities Corporation USA (later became Goldman Sachs Hedge Fund Strategies Group), Kemper Currency, Inc., Shearson American Express, and Pacton Management.
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UFO has a comprehensive intern program offered to both students interested in the entertainment business and graduates looking for entry into the business. If you are interested in more information about the UFO internship program, please contact us with the subject "Internship Program."
Some of our past interns
Noah Dinkin interned at UFO throughout his years at the Stern Business School at NYU. After graduation he joined the UFO team, and a few years later he went on to co-found leading email management service for artists FanBridge. Jana Fisher joined the UFO/Invasion team and heads up Internet Marketing. Jenny Johnson went on to launch the Nashville office for "A" Side Music Publishing. Katy Lane began a career at artist booking agency Moodswing360. Jesse Roman launched his own LA-based event planning and promotion company, StepUp Productions. Megan Albert went on to start a career at national music video promotion company HIP Video Promo. Lauren Kester is a Jr. Account Manager at digital marketing company LBi US. Mandi LeBlanc moved to Austin, TX where she works for music/entertainment creative branding agency DMX. Brett Spigelman plays in the band I Love Monsters. Regan Meador now has a successful career as a digital strategist with Grey Advertising. Jennifer Chang went on to work for Sony Accounting. Leah Shapiro is the drummer for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
Did you intern at UFO? Let us know what you're up to!
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