INDUSTRY HEROES PROFILE: SAT BISLA

I was just reminded of another one of the "good guys" out there that is doing things for music and for bands for all the right reasons, and his name is SAT BISLA.

Sat is the brainpower behind A&R WORLDWIDE, the incredible MUSEXPO Conference in Los Angeles, and the DJ on PASSPORT APPROVED. Sat's the champion of all things international and for years has been helping bands around the world get heard in America, and now is going the other direction with artists from here to places everywhere. They have plans to spread to China and India and have even recently opened an office in Japan.

If you have never attended MUSEXPO that takes place in LA in April each year, then you're missing out on a music conference that hasn't lost it's grip on being personal and taking advantage of how powerful networking for bands, managers, agents, lawyers, etc can really be. CMJ, SXSW and others are so enormous now you really have to map everything out and schedule meetings just to cover your bases, whereas at Musexpo, there are daily mixers that encourage a community feeling rather than straight competition. The talent that is brought in from around the world is excellent and the industry turnout that actually attend the showcases is also priceless. Sat and his team make that extra effort to make this conference feel different, feel personal, and they are successful in that attempt.

PASSPORT APPROVED is aired on INDIE 103.1 FM here in LA, but is also syndicated out to 15+ radio networks worldwide and that number jumps often. It focuses on acts from all around the world and breaks up the stagnant playlist that most stations drub us over the head with (KROQ). What I like about the show is that it takes chances, plays things not easily in synch with the "format" that's out there, because I hate those defined formats.

I've been to many of the Passport Approved events and shows around town and each time I end up having a great talk with some manager from New Zealand or somewhere, that is in the US for the first time and tells the story again of how Sat came through for them, booked them this show, played them on his radio show, and has passed CD's around within the industry. I've had some great scores on the Future Sounds front thanks to Sat (DUNE - FS28). I get the feeling that if Sat weren't married, he'd have these bands sleeping on his floor when they come to play in LA.

My conversations with him are never about 'units' or who someone's attorney is, or the falling stock prices at Warner Brothers, it's always about the music and some band that has his heart at the moment. Another one of the good guys........

In fact, Passport Approved is hosting a show this Friday at Safari Sam's. It's ALL AGES and it's FREE, and it features a group of bands like CAPRA. See flyer below.