Tony Valenziano, owner of Smile Media Group, President of Something Music and CEO and Founder of both Smile Records and Model Music Group got his start in the biz accidentally. His music background started at an early age when his father, then a Capitol Records Sales Manager (later to be head of marketing for Capitol), brought home records by a band called The Beatles. Back in ’64, when Tony was only 2, he was taken by the sound of the only music he had ever heard. From that early moment, Tony was driven by a force called rock ‘n’ roll. Also influenced through his early years by music of his grandparent’s era, mainly big-band swing
and the crooners of the day, by default Tony was suppose to be in music. By his late teens, Tony had a band of his own and was playing the L.A. club circuit. The style of music he was playing, power pop, was at the height of popularity in the late 70’s, early 80’s and his band, The Stand, got signed to A&M Records. They released four records which garnered three top 40 hits and three #1 hits in the college market (CMJ). Tony was the writer and producer on all four releases. This success created a demand for Tony’s producing services for other pop acts of the day. These included Jacob’s Trouble, Chris Stacey, Smash. This started his music business career after the band broke up in 94. Smile Records was started in 1995 with the release of 12 artists before the end of 2002. Valenziano in 2000 had signed a long-term distribution deal with Image Entertainment; one of the leading distributors of videos/DVD’s who entered into the audio market with the signing of Smile. “Powerpop is a continuous genre that transcends all those that come and go,” Tony explains, “yet there’s never been a label that has focused entirely on that style of music. Image shares my vision and I’m excited to have them in our corner. In 2009 Tony Valenziano founded Model Music Group. The Company is based in Los Angeles and is a global operation that licenses, acquires, develops, and distribute both popular and established recording artists, home visual entertainment products, online-digital entertainment and music for filmed entertainment
worldwide. Home to The Bangles and John Waite MMG’s main goal, concentrating on the signing of established or “Heritage” artists,
is bringing a “new business model” to the record industry. With the infrastructure of a major and the focus of an indie, MMG intends to be THE trendsetter for this new horizon of the music entertainment business. In 2012, as President of Something Music, his current mission is to develop and exploit catalogs of full-featured, high-resolution music/video content by establishing co-venture relationships with prominent artists/musicians, producing new products using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques and exploring all existing and emerging distribution channels (Optical discs, Internet, wireless, subscription, pay-per-view, cable and satellite, etc).. Home to Berlin, The Babys and Dave Mason Tony Valenziano’s Previous Activities Include: President of Smile Records. Signed The Knack, Carla Olson, Wondermints, Stew, The Andersons, Hutch, The Oranges, sparkle jets u.k., The Negro Problem, Supremium. Valenziano is also a Producer, Musician and Sound Engineer, and has worked in his family owned studio, the famous Sea-Saint in New Orleans. Tony was instrumental with Cello Studios (formerly Western), in the effort of acquisition of the studio, keeping the doors open, and not letting it be torn down. Western was one of the most legendary recording studios in Hollywood (many recordings by Frank Sinatra and Elvis were recorded there). In Valenziano’s years with the studio, amazing records were recorded there with a who’s who list of artists including: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Tom Petty, Willie Nelson, Weezer, The Vines, Madonna, Kris Kristofferson, and Prince, to name a few. His Producing and Engineering credits include: Al Martino, Aaron Neville, Nick Heyward, The Stand, The Mornings, The Ultra Suede, Johnny Angel and The
Swingin’ Demons, Russell Scott & His Red Hots, Paul¹s Grandfather, Recycled Soul, Secret Affair, E.G. Daily, Aguafantastica, Seanna, The Dares,, The Gibson Bros, The Chubbies, Smash, Jacobs Trouble, Maureen & the Mercury 5, Brian Hogan, Jake Hays. As an artist during the mid 80’s to mid 90’s , Valenziano’s band “The Stand” was signed to A&M Records which landed 4 number 1’s at College Radio, 2 top 40 hits and 3 top 5 hits in the CCM market.