Bang (company)

BANG is a music and audio post production company based in New York City which creates original music and provides music supervision, sound design and audio production services for advertising, entertainment and interactive media.^[1]

History

BANG was founded in New York City in January 1989 by former advertising agency creative director Lyle Greenfield. The company was first housed in the studios of hip-hop recording facility, Calliope Productions, where artists such as De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Black Sheep, A Tribe Called Quest, Brand New Heavies and Stereo MCs were recording their first records. (Bob Power, one of the engineer/musician/producers in residence, worked with The Roots, and assisted in the production of Deee-Lite's crossover club/radio hit "Groove Is In The Heart.") The sound of these artists and others became a key element in BANG's early musical identity.

1990s

In 1993, BANG left Calliope and established its own studios downtown, occupying the second floor of a two-story landmarked building in New York's Flatiron District. The building, believed to have once been a horse stable, was converted into the company's recording and office facilities.

In the mid-1990s BANG Music ventured into the record business, forming a boutique label imprint called Notorious Records. The first single, 1995's "Release Me" in 1995,^[2] was a dance-house track that became an international club hit and reached the Top 5 position on Billboard's Dance Chart. Composed by then partner C. Joannou, a video for the song was filmed in Greece and the band, known as Industry,^[3] was signed by MCA Records in the UK for European distribution.

In 1996 Notorious also released "I Have No Fear", written by BANG's Greenfield and British-born composer Gavin Spencer, and performed by singer Annette Taylor under the artist name Le Monde.^[4] The song became a minor club hit and "gay anthem", rising to #34 on Billboard's Dance Chart.^[5] Dance Hall Of Fame mixer Tom Moulton ("Disco Inferno") was enlisted to create the "Hallelujah Journey Mix" of the song, which became a seminal DJ spin, later to be licensed by Rhino Records for their "Circuit Party Spins" CD. Notorious followed up "I Have No Fear" in 1997 with a Le Monde house remake of Phil Collins’ iconic hit "In The Air Tonight". Billboard praised the recording, saying "Just when you think every plausible rock song has been converted into a dance track, here comes another natural selection...This New York-rooted act does a solid job of linking the song's darkly intense lyrics with a firm house beat and ethereal keyboard."

Also in 1997, Greenfield joined a group of nearly three dozen music production companies in New York City who were engaged in discussions concerning fair business practices and rights for those hired to create music for the commercial and entertainment industries. The following year a new trade association was incorporated, with Greenfield suggesting its new moniker - AMP: The Association of Music Producers. (AMP),.^[6] He was voted AMP's first President and served in that position on the association's national board for two more terms^[7]

Later in 1997, musician Jane Mangini joined the company's roster of composers. A formally trained keyboardist from the Berklee College of Music who was at the time playing in a piano bar on Manhattan's Upper East Side, she brought a very different melodic sensibility to the BANG collective—a pronounced stylistic shift from the music of BANG's guitar-trained composers. In 2001, Mangini married metal guitarist Al Pitrelli in BANG's studio, "given away" by Greenfield in the moments before the ceremony. By 2003, the couple was performing together as musicians with The Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the group's annual, sold-out Holiday tour.

2000's

In mid-2000, Greenfield and Joannou amicably ended their partnership.

Also in 2000, Mangini recorded an album of her own compositions at BANG's studios under the artist name O’2L (pronounced O’Toole). Mangini/O’2L was subsequently signed to a record and distribution deal with Peak Records in Los Angeles by record producer Mark Wexler. She has since recorded her third album for the label.

In January of that year, Greenfield hired Brian Jones, then working at William Morris Agency in New York, as BANG's executive producer and composer.

Sara Iversen (née Russo) joined BANG as a senior producer and marketing strategist in June, 2000. She had worked previously for advertising agencies, first as account executive at DeVito/Verdi on the Seagram business, then at Lowe Worldwide on GMC. Iversen currently serves as one of BANG's EPs and Head of Sales.

In 2001, Espen Noreger joined as a composer for BANG. Noreger is best known as the drummer for Norwegian music group The Getaway People, who released two albums on Columbia Records in the U.S

By 2004 Jones was made a full partner in Bang Music.^[8] in the years that followed his writing credits, often with co-writer Espen Noreger, would include TV programs and series on NBC, Bravo, TLC, Sundance Film Festival, CBS, Spike, Lifetime, ESPN and E! as well as dozens of commercial spots for National brands.

In early 2008 Brad Stratton joined BANG Music as Executive Producer. Previously, Stratton helped establish Sound Lounge Music and Sound Design in New York City, was a senior producer at Fluid Post and was head of music production at D’Arcy Advertising in New York.

Stratton brought Juno and Thank You for Smoking composer, Mateo Messina, to BANG for commercial representation in the United States.^[9][10]

In September 2008, Ryan Billia joined BANG as its Chief Engineer and sound designer. In January, 2009 the company celebrated its 20th year in operation.

2010 to Present

In 2010, Jones was hired as music supervisor for the premiere season of the CBS drama Blue Bloods starring Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg. At the same time, BANG continued to expand its work in Television, Film and Interactive audio production completing music supervision and audio post for several films featured at the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals as well as a wide variety of games and apps for The Walt Disney Company.

In 2012, Senior Engineer Paul Vitolins joined BANG at its Post FactoryNY facility. In addition to film and TV mixing, Vitolins oversees BANG's work with music streaming service, Spotify, recording live artist sessions in New York City and in tour locations, including at "The Spotify House" during the 2013 SXSW Festival.

In January 2013, Jones was named President of the company, succeeding its founder in that position for the first time. Stratton became a partner and officer.

In April 2013, BANG was commissioned to write a song for the state of New Jersey called "Stronger than the Storm",^[11] a jingle that would be a central part of the state's campaign to win back tourism, enterprise, and confidence after the effects of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey.

Also in 2013, Greenfield spearheaded, along with other AMP Board members, the creation of The AMP Awards for Music and Sound,^[12] an endeavor he had been championing for several years. It debuted on May 7 in New York City as an integral part of Creative Week.^[13]

References

External links

• Bang Music Website