Jacob Daneman, Pitch Perfect PR
Jacob Daneman, Pitch Perfect PR
💭 Thoughts on Chicago’s booming music scene, Solid Sound Fest, and Trek’s 520 touring bicycle.
Jacob Daneman is the Executive Publicist at Pitch Perfect PR, and is the longest-tenured publicist at Pitch Perfect apart from the owner/founder, having been at the company for 16 years. He is based in Chicago, IL.
Jacob went to music school to learn to be an orchestral clarinetist, but then college radio corrupted him. He started at Pitch Perfect PR back in 2008 after a series of odd jobs, some music related, some not. He was the company’s first employee, and after a few years of focusing on regional and tour press, he graduated to national publicity campaigns, cultivating his own roster of clients. Over the years, he has had the pleasure of working with some very significant artists, some since their inception. His current roster includes (but by no means is limited to) Wilco, Big Thief, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Parquet Courts, Sufjan Stevens, Mount Eerie, Dry Cleaning, Kevin Morby, Dinosaur Jr., MJ Lenderman, Grace Ives, Kurt Vile, and many more.
🎯 Current focus
There are so many, it’s hard to pick. This year I started working with a newer artist named Mei Semones, who was profiled here on Thought Enthusiast as well, and it’s such an exciting time for her. She’s still quite young but is incredibly mature, and is the full package of immense talent and musicianship, as well as being incredibly organized and having a healthy ambition. I think big things are ahead for her.
💥 Chicago’s booming music scene
Chicago’s youth music scene is absolutely bustling. We have bands that are composed of members in their early 20s or even under 20 that are doing really remarkable stuff. The Lifeguard/Horsegirl/Hallogallo circle of kids are absolutely crushing. I’m especially into Kai Slater from Lifeguard’s other musical project, Sharp Pins.
📺 Ripley
I love the TV show Ripley. It’s the best show of the year, it’s a tremendous artistic achievement in television, and everyone should watch it. The decision to take a somewhat pulpy source material like the Tom Ripley character from the Patricia Highsmith novels and turn it into a black & white Antonioni-esque arthouse show is brilliant, and Andrew Scott plays a perfect dead-eyed sociopath.
🏋️♀️ Tireless work ethic meets commitment
My mentor is Jessica Linker, the founder of Pitch Perfect PR. Not only is she my boss, but she’s a very dear friend as well. She sets such an example for all the publicists at Pitch Perfect with her tireless work ethic, her commitment to her clients, and her desire to turn over every stone to get a record the coverage she feels it deserves. And somehow she manages to do this while juggling a busy family life as well as a working mother of two children. I’m pretty much in awe of her, and everyday I sit at my desk, I try to follow the precedent she sets.
I’m looking forward to Solid Sound, my client Wilco’s music festival in North Adams, MA. It’s an incredibly curated festival in an absolutely idyllic environment (Mass MoCA, one of the best museums in the country). Every year offers something new, and I feel lucky to be a part of the team that helps promote it.
🎧 Multitasking with your favorite podcasts
Of all the ways to consume content these days, I would say podcasts are my favorite. I listen to a ton of podcasts while doing chores, riding bikes, or just walking around. The main topics tend to be politics/philosophy, history/current affairs, sports (basketball & football aka soccer), and some comedy. The reason I’d recommend it is because, if you can focus on two things at once, you can get stuff done while enjoying your favorite pods. Some of my favorite podcasts include American Prestige, Revolutions, Aufhebunga Bunga, Chapo Trap House, The Lowe Post, The Hoop Collective, Fulhamish, Men in Blazers, In Our Time, and Blowback.
I’ll reframe this question as “what is one thing that you have that you are grateful for in your life,” and I’ll say my bicycle. I have several bikes actually, but let’s focus on my Trek 520, which is a touring bike, meant to ride long distances. I recently rode it from Chicago to Milwaukee. I’m really happy that I have this mode of transport that can also be really meditative to use. If I’m stressed or upset, going for a bike ride can really help you expend all that energy and feel like you put it toward something productive.
Follow Jacob on Instagram & check out Pitch Perfect here.
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