Where are you based?
I work in Toronto, but live in Waterdown – a small hamlet located about 45 min west of the city.
Where do you work? What do you do?
I own a media company, and run Canada’s largest online classical music community Ludwig-Van.com. Every week is a mix of development, sales, meetings, writing, planning, and events. I’m blessed to be able to work with some amazingly talented people.
What are you listening to?
Today I listened to The Carpenters’ 70s soft-rock classic We’ve Only Just Begun — a low-key fanfare without a hint of irony. I’ve also been listening to a lot of David Lang, William Byrd, Laura Stevenson, Orville Peck, and Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. That’s such a great album.
How do you discover new music?
I subscribe to MusicREDEF, which is a great industry newsletter that arrives in my email inbox every morning. Anthony Fantano’s reviews on YouTube are thoughtful, as well as NPR’s All Songs Considered. Fridays are all about listening to new releases on Apple Music or Spotify. The hope of finding a new Joni Mitchell or Stevie Wonder keeps me going.
What formats do you usually listen to? LP, CD, Cassette, Digital, Streaming Services? Why?
My dirty little secret is I got rid of my CD player years ago, yet I still receive CD review copies in the mail every week. I keep telling them to save their money, but they just keep sending them. I only listen to “desert Island” music on vinyl, and the rest is streamed on Apple Music (great for albums) and Spotify (great for playlists).
“My dirty little secret is I got rid of my CD player years ago, yet I still receive CD review copies in the mail every week. I keep telling them to save their money”
Where do you do most of your music listening?
Sound quality is important, so I’ve invested in good quality equipment. This includes my car, home, and office.
How do you find and listen to pre-release music?
Being in media, I’m fortunate to have access to a lot of music before it’s released to the public. It’s usually sent via email using a secure stream link by kind PR folks.
What are your frustrations with listening to music digitally? Any benefits?
Having the world’s music at your fingertips is a miracle, but option paralysis is real.
How do you keep track of everything you are listening to?
If I like what I hear, I’ll save the album to my ‘recently added’ list. Most will only be listened to a few times, but once in awhile, one will make it over to my permanent vinyl collection.
Do you tip other people off to new music? How?
There are few things in the world that people truly care about. Music is one of those things. I pay it forward by telling my friends about a special new artist. I hope they’d do the same for me.
Anything you want to “promote”?
If you’re into classical or opera, you can keep up with local and visiting artists at Ludwig Van Toronto and Montreal.
