DT: MAY 19, 2023

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

BETTER NOISE MUSIC (BNM)
CONTINUES ITS EXCITING EVOLUTION
AS THE LEADING GLOBAL ROCK INDEPENDENT MUSIC LABEL
FOUNDED BY MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERAN AND INDEPENDENT PIONEER ALLEN KOVAC

ALLEN KOVAC IS NOW CHAIRMAN

DAN WAITE BECOMES CEO

AND STEVE KLINE ADDS PRESIDENT TO HIS COO TITLE

 
Download – Allen Kovac & Dan Waite  Steve Kline

BETTER NOISE MUSIC (BNM)—the leading global rock independent music label founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac—continues its exciting evolution with three important changes that are effective immediately. Kovac (New York) is now Chairman of the label, Dan Waite (London) becomes CEO, and Steve Kline (New York) adds President to his COO title at BNM, home to many of mainstream rock’s top acts including FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, DIRTY HEADS, THE HU, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, BAD WOLVES, FROM ASHES TO NEW and NOTHING MORE.

Kovac—who’s also the founder and chief executive officer of 10th Street Entertainment, a world-class artist management company with Motley Crue, Blondie and other global names in their charge—is a renowned industry leader, continuously recognized by his peers. He was named in Billboard’s 2022 Indie Power Player list of executives credited for driving the success of the independent music industry. In 2019, Sir Richard Branson honored him with the Innovator Award at the AIM Association of Independent Music Awards with special recognition for his innovation in the music industry. Better Noise Music is one of the world’s most respected independent labels having launched multiple multiplatinum #1 albums and singles in the rock and alternative space and has been Billboard’s #1 Hard Rock Airplay Imprint for the last five years. Most recently, Kovac established a second division, Better Noise Films, a global independent entertainment company developing feature films and other content. See the press release HERE about BNM being named Billboard’s #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label and #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint of 2022. The label has made history by ranking as the #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint for five years in a row (2018-2022).

“Dan and Steve step up at a time where Better Noise Music have been #1 Mainstream rock label for 5 years in a row, is the #1 Billboard Hard Rock Imprint, and is continuing to grow our international cumulative sales through our global offices,” says Kovac.

Dan Waite (a Billboard 2022 International Power Player) has just marked his sixth year at Better Noise Music. Moving up from President to CEO, his new title as CEO represents his second promotion at the label. Waite is Chair of Impala’s Digital Committee and sits on the AIM Digital Committee and has a 360-background encompassing all the elements of the modern music industry. Prior to joining BNM, Waite was Head of Talent for Time Inc and NME; worked with screen talent at BBC Studios; and was Head of Programming for AEG at The O2 Arena. His background includes a role as manager/agent for Phil McIntyre in a joint venture with Simon Cowell, and at MTV, Waite’s responsibilities included looking after the major label relationships and working on the MTV Europe Awards, “Pimp My Ride,” “Diary of,” and “Making the Video” and overseeing talent for the MTV Networks Europe South Channels of France, Spain, Italy and Greece. His early major label career included Universal Music and Virgin Records.

“In this new role,” says Waite, “I’ll aim to maximize the careers and album consumption of our signed acts on our label as we grow the label, expanding through new signings, opening up new markets and working closely with the amazing specialists that we have in each department at BNM which has kept us #1 Rock Label for the last five years.”

Steve Kline is now the President of BNM in addition to retaining his title as COO, the position he has held since 2016. He has worked for 18 years under the Kovac Media umbrella, first at 10th Street Entertainment, and since its inception in 2006, Better Noise Music where he was SVP Marketing & Promotion. Kline’s experience encompasses label and artist management, marketing, promotion, and branding; he possesses an extensive network of relationships and experience across multiple media platforms within the entertainment space. Kline’s background includes serving as VP of Promotion of Clive Davis’ J Records as well as VP West Coast Promotion of Columbia Records/Sony Music.

“I want to thank Allen for putting his faith in me, as he has over the past 19 years, in this enhanced role at Better Noise,” says Kline.” I am incredibly excited to work with Allen and Dan in leading our amazing global team to future success.”

Other key executives at Better Noise Music that work closely with Waite and Kline to deliver for their artists, with support from their teams are Harris Masood (CFO); Paul Cormack (General Manager); Lexie Viklund (Director of A&R); Jackie Kajzer (SVP Promotion); Trish Sterling (VP Marketing); Paolo Bettaglio (Sr. Director of Digital Marketing & Audience Growth; Bryan Raisa (SVP Tour Marketing & Partnerships);  Joe McFadden (Chief Commerce Officer); Henry Tongue (Sr. Director International Streaming Strategy);  Tim Mclean Smith (Director of Catalog Marketing and Managing Director Australia/NZ); Victor Lang (General Manager, Germany); and Michael Lombardi (Head of Production and Development).

CONNECT WITH BETTER NOISE
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ABOUT BETTER NOISE MUSIC
BETTER NOISE MUSIC is the premiere independent music label under BETTER NOISE ENTERTAINMENT, a content creation, and marketing company that produces music, books, films, documentaries, TV shows, theatrical productions, and tours. Better Noise Music founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac, focuses on artist development and has grown into a music industry independent powerhouse, with a roster including Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves, Dirty Heads, Nothing More, The HU, From Ashes To New, Cory Marks, and Fire From The Gods. Partnering with FUGA, AMPED, and Membran, the company operates a global marketing and distribution platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Toronto, and Sydney. The label was named Billboard’s #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label and #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint of 2022. The label has made history by ranking as the #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint for five years in a row (2018-2022).

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DT: MARCH 22, 2023

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

BETTER NOISE MUSIC (BNM)
ANNOUNCES
PIVOTAL NEW HIRES AND PROMOTIONS
PROMOTIONS COME AFTER STELLAR 2022

BNM NAMED Billboard’s #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label of 2022
AND #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint of 2022

BETTER NOISE MUSIC (BNM)—the leading independent music label founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac whose roster boasts many of mainstream rock’s top acts including FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, HELLYEAH, ASKING ALEXANDRIA, BAD WOLVES and NOTHING MORE—has announced a series of new hires and promotions across the company’s global offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Toronto and Sydney. The label was named Billboard’s #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label as well as #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint of 2022; the latter distinction is a historic one since the label has held this title for five consecutive years (2018-2022).

Internally, BETTER NOISE MUSIC has promoted Trish Sterling to VP, Marketing from her position as Senior Label Manager. Claudia Mancino has been promoted to International Director of Press & Promotion from her prior role as UK & Europe Promotions Manager. Harris Masood, who joined BETTER NOISE in 2013 as a Finance Manager and has since worked his way up the ranks to his most recent title, SVP, Finance, has been promoted to CFO. Chekesha McCalla has also been promoted to VP, Finance from her role as Director of Financial Operations. Additional promotions include Dan Sears to Director of Production and Michael Filippone to Finance Manager.

Better Noise Music President Dan Waite commented on the promotions and new hires: “As Better Noise Music expands in both roster, territories and consumption of our artists music, to be able to promote from within is testament to the development of the teams within Better Noise Music. We attract world class artists to our label who benefit from our US and international offices, and our global approach to radio, touring and streaming. Additionally, the new hires are learning the Better Noise Music artist development way, and their contributions are already visible and tangible.”

(Top, l-r: Claudia Mancino, Trish Sterling
Bottom: Harris Masood)

The company has also announced several new hires. Michael Lombardi has been appointed as Head of Production and Development. Lombardi co-produced and starred in Better Noise’s film production company, Better Noise Films recent 2022 release THE RETALIATORS and has directed and co-produced recent music videos and digital content for label’s past and current acts including PAPA ROACH, MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE HU and more.

Additional Better Noise staff hires include former SONY staffer Paolo Bettaglio as Senior Director of Digital Marketing & Audience Growth; his first act was hiring Elise Nye as Senior Manager of Digital Marketing & Audience Growth.

Further rounding off the new hires are Chandler Booth as Marketing Manager and Liam Kay as Production Coordinator.

“The promotions and new hires come on the back of once again being the top mainstream rock label and imprint,” says Better Noise Music COO Steve Kline. “Our commitment to A&R, artist development, marketing and data analysis along with our strategic partnerships across radio give us the unique recipe for success that makes us the leading label in rock with highlights such as Asking Alexandria celebrating their first-ever #1 single, ‘Alone Again,’ in 2021 after signing with Better Noise earlier that year and having our long-time artists Five Finger Death Punch break rock chart records by landing ten consecutive #1’s at Mainstream Rock Radio with 2022’s ‘Welcome To The Circus,’ their 15^th #1 single overall.”

(l-r: Michael Lombardi, Paolo Bettaglio)

BETTER NOISE MUSIC achieved the aforementioned accolades following a highly successful 2022 including two Active Rock #1’s from Five Finger Death Punch (“Times Like These” and “Afterlife”), three #5’s—two in Active Rock: Bad Wolves (“If Tomorrow Never Comes”) and Nothing More (“Tired of Winning”) and one in Alternative: Dirty Heads (“Life’s Been Good”)—as well as two songs in the Active Rock Top 10 including Asking Alexandria’s “Never Gonna Learn” (#6) and Five Finger Death Punch’s “Welcome To The Circus” (#8).

CONNECT WITH BETTER NOISE
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok

ABOUT BETTER NOISE MUSIC
BETTER NOISE MUSIC is the premiere independent music label under BETTER NOISE ENTERTAINMENT, a content creation, and marketing company that produces music, books, films, documentaries, TV shows, theatrical productions, and tours. Better Noise Music (formerly Eleven Seven Music), founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac, focuses on artist development and has grown into a music industry independent powerhouse, with a roster including Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, Bad Wolves, Dirty Heads, Nothing More, The HU, AWOLNATION, All Good Things, From Ashes To New, Cory Marks, and Fire From The Gods. Partnering with FUGA, AMPED, and Membran, the company operates a global marketing and distribution platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Toronto, and Sydney.

In 2021, Better Noise Music dominated Billboard’s Year End charts in the rock space, landing at #1 on the Mainstream Rock Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Imprint, Hard Rock Songs Label charts and ranked as one of the top Mainstream Rock Label for the year.

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For more information, please contact
SRO PR 
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com

DT: FEBRUARY 9, 2023

FM: KELLY WALSH, MITCH SCHNEIDER / SRO PR

BETTER NOISE MUSIC
RECLAIMS STATUS AS
#1 BILLBOARD MAINSTREAM ROCK AIRPLAY LABEL
AND #1 MAINSTREAM ROCK AIRPLAY IMPRINT
FOR 2022

LABEL ARTISTS INCLUDING
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, BAD WOLVES, NOTHING MORE,
ASKING ALEXANDRIA & DIRTY HEADS
LAND TOP 10-CHARTING SINGLES THROUGHOUT 2022

BETTER NOISE MUSIC, in a word, rocks.

The leading independent music label–whose roster boasts many of mainstream rock’s top acts including FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, BAD WOLVES, NOTHING MORE, HELLYEAH and ASKING ALEXANDRIA–has been named Billboard’s #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label and #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint of 2022. The label has made history by ranking as the #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint for five years in a row (2018-2022).

“To be the #1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint for five years is testament to the roll out strategy of our artists’ albums and focus tracks, delivering what has been described as the best and most consistent A&R in the rock world,” says BETTER NOISE MUSIC President Dan Waite. “This attracts world class artists to our label who benefit from our US and international offices, and our global approach to radio, touring and streaming.”

BETTER NOISE MUSIC has achieved this 2022 distinction with two Active Rock #1’s from Five Finger Death Punch (“Times Like These” and “Afterlife”), plus three #5’s—two in Active Rock: Bad Wolves (“If Tomorrow Never Comes”) and Nothing More (“Tired of Winning”) and one in Alternative: Dirty Heads (“Life’s Been Good”)—as well as two songs in the Active Rock Top 10 including Asking Alexandria’s “Never Gonna Learn” (#6) and Five Finger Death Punch’s “Welcome To The Circus” (#8).

“It’s incredibly rewarding to be validated in Billboard over so many years, and once again, as the top mainstream rock label and imprint,” says Better Noise Music COO Steve Kline. “Our commitment to A&R, artist development, marketing and data analysis along with our strategic partnerships across radio give us the unique recipe for success that makes us the leading label in rock. We’re proud to showcase our efforts,” adds Kline, “with highlights such as Asking Alexandria celebrating their first-ever #1 single, ‘Alone Again,’ in 2021 after signing with Better Noise earlier that year and having our longtime artists Five Finger Death Punch break rock chart records by landing nine consecutive #1’s at Mainstream Rock Radio with 2022’s ‘Times Like These,’ their 13^th #1 single overall.”

Jackie Kajzer, SVP Promotion, adds: “We’ve started 2023 with Five Finger Death Punch in the Top 5 and up next is the new single from THE HU, ‘This Is Mongol (Warrior Souls)’ Featuring William DuVall of Alice In Chains. Radio has always been a key partner in our artist development and we want to do our part to contribute to their success. Through marketing and data, we identify the most engaging songs from our deep roster of amazing artists to deliver the absolute best music for their listeners.”

Several of the label’s developing artists have also played a vital role in BETTER NOISE MUSIC’s recent success with notable chart appearances. Global rock sensation from Mongolia, THE HU, landed in the Top 5 Active Rock twice with “Yuve Yuve Yu” (#4) and “Wolf Totem feat. Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach” (#5). Powerful Los Angeles-based rockers All Good Things were the fourth act ever to score a #1 Mainstream Rock position with their debut entry on the charts via their breakthrough single “For The Glory” featuring Johnny 3 Tears and Charlie Scene of Hollywood Undead; All Good Things also returned to peak at #15 with their second entry “The Comeback.” Detroit rockers Eva Under Fire, featured on Pandora’s “Artists To Watch” list for 2023, impacted at #11 with their single “Blow” featuring Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills.

BETTER NOISE MUSIC (formerly Eleven Seven Music) was founded in 2006 by music industry veteran and independent pioneer Allen Kovac and is focused on the development of artists with a roster including rising acts such as Mongolian rock group THE HU, hard rock unit NOTHING MORE, heavy rock outfit FROM ASHES TO NEW, country rocker CORY MARKS, rap metal act FIRE FROM THE GODS and alternative rockers ALL GOOD THINGS to RIAA Gold-certified acts such as FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and DIRTY HEADS, plus many more. Partnered with FUGA, AMPED and Membran, BETTER NOISE MUSIC operates a global marketing and distribution platform with offices in New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Paris, Toronto and Sydney.

BETTER NOISE MUSIC ARTISTS 2022 TOP 10 CHARTING SINGLES
BAND / TITLE / FORMAT / PEAK CHART POSITION
Five Finger Death Punch / “Welcome to the Circus” / Active Rock / #8
Five Finger Death Punch / “Times Like These” / Active Rock / #1
Dirty Heads / “Life’s Been Good” / Alternative / #5
Nothing More / “Tired of Winning” / Active Rock / #5
Five Finger Death Punch / “Afterlife” / Active Rock / #1
Asking Alexandria /”Never Gonna Learn” / Active Rock / #6
Bad Wolves / “If Tomorrow Never Comes” / Active Rock / #5

BILLBOARD:
#1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint:
2022  – Better Noise
2021 – Better Noise
2020 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)
2019 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)
2018 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)
2015 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)
2011 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)

#1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label:
2022 – Better Noise
2020 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)
2018 – E7LG (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)
2015 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)
2011 – Eleven Seven (Rebranded to Better Noise Music)

Check out Better Noise Music on Bandcamp, for music, merch and more: https://betternoisemusic.bandcamp.com/

CONNECT WITH BETTER NOISE
Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok

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For press inquiries, please contact:
SRO PR
Kelly Walsh – kwalsh@sropr.com
Mitch Schneider – mschneider@sropr.com