John founded a boutique music licensing firm during 2010 in Los Angeles and named it above and biond. The name of the company was a nod to its founder but more so to the wide array of experience and broad perspective on the business at large it offered, while focusing on placing existing compositions in episodic TV, film, advertising campaigns and film trailers with a goal to financially empower its roster clients. An emphasis was also placed on super serving music licensees, creatives, producers, editors, music supervisors, directors, in the hopes of making an often cumbersome process much easier. The roster included, Dawes, Balmorhea, Dan Croll, Gomez, Heartless Bastards, Pickwick, J Roddy Walston & The Business, Sanders Bohlke, Lost Lander, Jessica Hernandez, and a variety of other projects from marquee indie labels, Western Vinyl, Communicating Vessels and ATO Records, of which John is an alumni.
Prior to above and biond, John was the GM at the Dave Matthews' founded label, ATO Records. There he worked closely with a variety of artists including My Morning Jacket, David Gray, Patty Griffin, Jem, Dawes, Mike Doughty, Gomez, Ben Kweller, Vusi Mahlasela and The Whigs. During his tenure, ATO released the physical cd for Radiohead's In Rainbows and Paul McCartney's alter ego, The Fireman and launched Rodrigo y Gabriella in North America.
While investigating voiceover in Los Angeles, John recognized that the work had stark parallels to the music business, a similar entrepreneurial "hustle." As he started VO training, cutting his first demos, then second demos, auditioning, finding representation to now working day to day as a voice actor, he also realized above and biond fit this new venture well - placing that identical emphasis again on customer service.
Music remains an integral part of John's life, creatively and professionally. As voiceover and now on-camera work continue to keep him working, he remains open to collaboration and consultation on music related projects involving licensing, publishing administration, rights management.
