There's a brand new office in a familiar music recording complex in Eastpointe, Michigan - the office of the president.  Tom Gelardi, president of Developing Artist Productions, is gearing up for mentoring of independent artists that may someday be tomorrow's gold record superstars.
     The gold and platinum sales awards that line the office walls are only a minor portion of the awards Tom has received, acknowledging a "job well-done" in his four-decade Motorcity career in music promotions and marketing.  Many of the artist names that are on the awards owe their stardom in no small part to Tom's expertise; names like The Beatles, Grand Funk Railroad, Heart, Run DMC and Digital Underground.  Artist names that are missing (but could be there if there was more room) include Bob Segar, Helen Ready and a host of 1970's post-Motown stars like The Chairman of the Board, Freda Payne and the Honeycone.  Some of Tom's professional career has been chronicled in the October, 2000 biography article entitled, Promotions and Marketing Guru.

TOM GELARDI President DEVELOPING ARTIST PRODUCTIONS   December, 2003.  Tom relaxes in his new office, being setup to help mentor and train independent artists and producers on the road to attaining their own gold sales awards.

     Tom is no longer in the business of promoting superstars.  Who needs a 13th gold record on the wall? - I don't have that much wall space for them anyway, says Tom.  He instead opts to help the local recording artist and producer with distribution through local sales outlets and to advise upcoming local music makers on the things that they need to do that will get them a foothold in today's music industry.
     Recording Institute of Detroit music producer program students are familiar with Tom.  Tom holds periodic student-attended panel discussions with instructors on how the current music marketing needs to be for today's music retail scene.  Many local producers don't realize that we are in a fast-changing industry where the "rules" change every few months.  I'm happy to be able, through RID, to keep the new producers updated on exactly what is needed in today's market, says Tom.  The RID program is unique in that it doesn't just teach how it used to work last year or last decade.
     Every producer and new artist has a situation that is unique.  The ultimate solution for the new music maker is to get good training and learn marketing of their music for themselves.  The training and the application of this in the field is what will ensure long-term success.  The training program that would be of interest centers around RID's Production Specialist Course.
     Some people that come to us are ready to release and understandably don't want to wait until they complete a training program.  Some don't have time to sit in a classroom each week and need the more personalized service of DAP distribution and marketing mentoring, others want both.  Some are not savvy enough with the Internet to market and promote in this relatively new format that is so critical to today's marketing of music.  By RID and Developing Artist Productions combining efforts, we are able to give the local act or producer exactly the kind of help needed for them and their situation, says Tom.  For a complete list of training and mentoring services available, go here.
     Here's a message from Tom to the independent artist or producer planning a release in the Motorcity: