Hit country music producer and record label executive, Tony Brown, and renowned entertainment attorney, John Mason, celebrated their joint 70th birthday and the launch of their latest business venture, Velvet Stone Management.
Brown is best known for his music production work with Reba McEntire, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy Buffet, Brooks and Dunn, Steve Earle and Lyle Lovett, amongst being at the helm of all creative endeavors at MCA Records for 25 years, where he served as the Vice President for a decade, eventually becoming President of the label. Within those 25 years at MCA Records, Brown launched the careers of several of country music’s A-List recording artists and has been presented with 10 CMA Awards and seven ACM’s. Brown has also worked with Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart, the Mavericks, Lionel Ritchie, Pat Green, Joe Ely and has been the producer on nine Grammy Award-winning songs, and took the Grammy home for Country Album of the Year with George Strait, the same year he was honored by the Americana Music Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Says Brown, "Velvet Stone Management is where art marries commerce…A Brain-Trust of experience, style, taste and enough blind faith to take on any challenge. Four partners who complement each other like no other team before.”
Mason’s stance in the entertainment industry consists of the high profile deals he has executed including the movie Grease and the talent he has represented such as Reba McEntire, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (Jersey Boys), Smokey Robinson, Travis Tritt, Olivia Newton-John, Shakira and Brian Wilson. Mason is recognized throughout the world as a leader in the fields of entertainment law and intellectual property; he has represented directly--or through their heirs—six Oscar winners as well as recording artists whose worldwide sales exceed 100,000,000 units. He has been named Entertainment Lawyer of the Year by Billboard Magazine and has been the recipient of the pre-eminent and coveted A/V national attorney rating in the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory for more than 30 years.
“The opportunity to help artists in a new and unique way where I can combine my decades of business and legal experience with the creative genius of Tony Brown and the branding and marketing expertise of Melissa Core and Rick Caballo was irresistible--and here we are!” comments Mason.
For Velvet Stone Management, Brown and Mason partnered with Melissa Core and Rick Caballo of Dead Horse Branding—a full service branding company based out of Nashville, TN. Core and Caballo bring strong creative and management components to the management company. Core is known for her management work with many Australian idols and is the business mind behind Dead Horse Branding, which has helped to develop and manage several National Brands such as Calvary Fashion by Jep and Jessica Robertson of A&E’s Duck Dynasty and Australia’s Leading Lifestyle Doctor, Dr Karen Phillip.
“Tony Brown brings the velvet…a plush, stylish, gentle, risk-taking and distinctive feel. John Mason is as strong as stone; he is a heavy hitter with a rock solid business mind. This is a home of loyalty and authenticity,” says Core.
As Head of Creative at Dead Horse Branding, Caballo is known as the “Brandmaker.” He is the creative force behind Dead Horse’s branding style and his strategic art direction has built many national and international brands from scratch including the Loving Mary Band, who also tours as Steven Tyler’s solo band and Corello Rock Fashion, which was inducted into the Tennessee State Museum. Most recently, Caballo signed Tacklebox Films and represents their Music Division.
Comments Caballo, “The entertainment industry is not what it used to be. Today it requires streamlined revenue plans and strategic brand building. The team that makes up Velvet Stone comes together to bring a broad spectrum that encompasses everything an entertainment brand needs today. This is a perfect marriage where creativity meets business.”
Both Mason and Brown have had an impact on shaping the music and entertainment industry. Their track record and leadership aim to be the perfect ingredients when mixed with young gun, cutting-edge brand builders. Velvet Stone Management has signed the recently Grammy-nominated O’Connor Band featuring the legendary Mark O’Connor.
For more information, visit VelvetStoneManagement.com.
