Eric Martinez

Tell us a bit about the career path that led to where you are now.

I was the music director at my college radio station, but didn’t immediately jump right into anything music after college. It’s been a somewhat unconventional path to where I am now. For a minute I thought I wanted to go into higher ed so I worked at a university in Philadelphia. But a few years ago, I decided to sort of blow up my life and relocate to LA to find what I wanted to do next. It took me a couple of years in LA before I landed where I am today, but I’m grateful and having lots of fun.

What is your favorite experience you’ve had in your career? Perhaps a musical idol you got to meet? A festival you were able to attend? A project you were involved with promoting?

I was fortunate enough to attend a Yeah Yeah Yeahs session in LA about a month ago. Utterly surreal because it was essentially a private Yeah Yeah Yeahs show for me and a handful of techs and DJs. Afterward, I told Karen O that I used to record music videos on MTV2 with my VCR in high school. She just said “whoa” and laughed. I nearly melted.

What are your duties there? What aspect of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

It’s a handful of things. It mostly revolves around pitching music to commercial and non-commercial AAA and college radio stations for artists across all 5 labels of Dead Oceans, Ghostly International, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory Records, and Secretly Canadian. I keep in touch with artists management and try to find wins for each project through airplay, tour promo, etc. The most satisfying thing for me is turning folks on to the more experimental leaning artists under our label umbrella like Molly Lewis, They Hate Change, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, etc. Please never hesitate to reach out to me about any of the artists on the labels.

What band/artist or style of music outside the realm of your college/community radio promotion would people be most intrigued to hear you love?

When I’m driving in my car in LA I listen to Go Country 105 about 75% of the time. I really love 105.5 The Outlaw (Asheville, NC) after getting turned on to it by the manager for the band Wednesday. It’s got the best mix of new and old. Townes Van Zandt, George Jones, Joe Diffe, Jo Dee Messina, Vince Gill, Emmylou, Midland, and so many more. But yeah, lots of country music. Stagecoach looks sick next year.

What job do you think you would have if you weren’t in this industry?

I really don’t know. I wanted to get into creative ad strategy when I moved here. Might give that one a go?

Fall is still here with the holidays on the way! What do you have lined up that has you the most excited?

I love Halloween, so I’m stoked for that. Definitely looking forward to being back home in Texas with my family for the winter break.

You just won 10 million dollars. What are you going to do with it?

Pay rent. Order Zankou Chicken. Buy a place. Invest. Idk.

Entertainment Time: What is/are your current favorite TV obsession(s)? What’s a great movie (new or old) you’ve watched recently? What is your current favorite album?

I don’t keep up with TV much. Five Easy Pieces is a great movie I watched recently. My current favorite non-work album(s) are probably from Alex G, Julia Jacklin, and Sudan Archives.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in town for take out or to take out-of-town guests to?

I live in Chinatown and there’s so much good take out here. Come visit.

You’re stranded on a desert island. What five well known people (dead or alive) would you like to have there with you?

Hmm, really tough. Guy Fieri to maybe cook us something fire. Giannis Antetokounmpo because he’s really tall, goofy as hell, and will keep our spirits high. Karen Black because I just watched her in Five Easy Pieces and love her music. Jason Stewart from the How Long Gone podcast. That’s my dude. Faye Webster for some fun yo-yo tricks entertainment.