Dan Albert {Founder, Producer, Student

Meet Miami University senior Dan Albert, the founder and mastermind behind MIOX Records, Miami's student-run record label, and Knuckle-Up Productions, a full-scale event and DJ production company.

By: Jen Gault

Posted: 3/3/10

During his childhood in the suburbs of St. Louis, MO, Albert knew he had a calling for music. Following his drum-playing experience in grade school, he realized he would prefer to stay out of the spotlight and behind the scenes in the music industry.

In 2009, Albert started his own management company, DANALBERT Artist Management, where he manages Miami's own DJ SONA and Chicago rising star Chris Wienke. It may sound like Albert has accomplished a lot in his four years at Miami, but the plans are only just beginning.

MQ: What infl uenced you to pursue a career in the music industry?

Albert: I was in sixth grade and a childhood friend brought in his drum set to school … On that day I said to myself, "I want to play the drum set," so I set out to learn over the next 10 years or so. Over that period of time … I became a lot more interested in all the hard work that goes in behind the scenes in order for a person to hear a CD or song. I knew that I wanted to be a part of this industry that had the ability to affect so many and change lives through music

MQ: Who are your musical infl uences?

Albert: I'm like this white suburban kid from St. Louis, but recently during the past few years I have been really into hip-hop. There is something about the reemergence of a genre people thought was dead that is amazing. There are a lot of artists out there who have been using their music to speak out against injustice or become more personal with the fans. I'm an old school hip-hop fan, like Jay-Z, but I also have a lot of respect for bands like Coldplay, The Beatles, John Mayer and Queen.

MQ: As a senior mass communication major in college you already have a myriad of music experience. Did you ever imagine yourself becoming this successful while still in college?

Albert: In all honesty I don't view myself as highly successful yet. Some people (in college) like to make money by working a normal job in a university offi ce or Uptown restaurant; however, I like the challenge of creating something out of nothing. If I'm going to work then I want to enjoy what I'm doing.

MQ: What is your biggest musical achievement?

Albert: As an artist manager, I work with several musicians. I represent a local DJ on Miami's campus, DJ SONA. Recently, we released two mix tapes of SONA'S music, "Into The Dark" Volume I & II for free download. Within the fi rst week we had around 5,000 downloads and a few months after its release we have well over 30,000 downloads. We did this all virally through the Internet and were amazed at the response we received to this idea. The project got a lot of feedback and we achieved our goal of securing SONA some gigs at Uptown venues.

MQ: How do you juggle the demands of schoolwork and managing your music business?

Albert: Sometimes I will be sitting there doing homework for a class I may not enjoy, wishing I was working on putting on the next concert, listening to new demos of songs or brainstorming graphic ideas for artists. It's more about a mental balance and viewing everything as a package towards success. Everything I've learned at Miami I have used in some way or another in my business. I'm lucky because I was taught the importance of time management at a young age and it's a quality that has stuck with me throughout my life.

MQ: How would you defi ne the word 'success'?

Albert: Success means achieving something every day no matter how small it may seem.

MQ: Why is music such an important part of your life?

Albert: Because it applies in almost any situation. Music is associated with so many emotions so it's there with a piece of you, in your best times and your worst. There's a lot of potential to do great things [with music]. Also, it's the next best thing to being a rock star-hanging out with them.

MQ: What are your music career goals for the next couple of years?

Albert: I don't dream small. … I would love to work as an artist manager for up-and-coming artists or as a tour manager for a touring band. No one in the music industry wants to sit in an office all day; they want to be a part of that culture I was talking about, to be hands-on in the success of their clients as well as themselves.

MQ: What are your long-term career goals?

Albert: Move out to Los Angeles or New York, have a chance to travel and meet a lot of people and eventually be a household name that changed the music business.

MQ: If you could trade places with anyone in the music industry for a day who would it be and why? Albert: I would probably trade places with the great Irving Azoff. He's an artist manager and CEO of Ticketmaster. He has had the chance to work with some of the greatest artists to ever be-The Eagles, Journey, Guns N' Roses. Although Azoff probably has one of the coolest jobs in the music industry, it defi nitely would be no walk in the park to fi ll in for him for a day.

MQ: How do you stay ahead in such a fast-paced industry?

Albert: It's all about research. I can't begin to tell you how many books I have read on the music industry and some of the greatest businessman to be a part of it. … These guys started some of the biggest companies today, from Disney to Atlantic Records. As much as I research the greats, you need to know those who are new as well. Every day I read Billboard, Rolling Stone, look at the music blogs and look at both the artists and businessmen in the industry that are making a name.

MQ: Do you have any upcoming events at Miami?

Albert: This year I have been doing some concert promotion and will be putting on the live music show at Stadium Bar and Grille for Green Beer Day. We will have some great music from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. It's a special show for me because I have the chance to welcome back a band that has been making a name for itself around the country and is actually made up of Miami alumni. Chicago band Cavashawn will be headlining the night's events and will be supported by Chicago rock group State and Madison, Denver-based band The Heyday and local sensation The Truants. It's a night not to miss.

MQ: Tell me something interesting.

Albert: Have you ever heard of the mythological bird called the phoenix? It's quite fascinating. A phoenix is a mythical bird … with a 500 to 1,000 year life cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites. Both nest and bird burn fi ercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.

The story of the phoenix is the tale of the music industry. The industry was built by some of the most creative minds to ever exist. They created an industry out of a vision and made it a business. However, at the top of the century we have seen this industry implode and it has destroyed its nest. We are now in the stage of forming from our ashes. I have the ability to be a part of the creative mind in the rebirth of an industry that has the ability to change the world. Hopefully this time we can involve a number of phoenixes so when one dies another lives.

To learn more about DANALBERT Artist Management, visit his Web site at: danalbertmanagement.wordpress.com