Stray Dog Music

Photo of Erik Steinert, Amber Rhodes, and Axel Neihaus

Dude, we gotta get signed! had been the unsigned bands mantra for years and years when the only turnstile to major pop stardom was at a record executive's desk. High speed internet access, huge hard drives and super fast computers have changed everything and the 21st century has seen opportunities in music evolve like never before. While a major record company is still the fastest way to get your house toured on MTV, establishing a career in music (one where you're not flipping burgers to pay for your art) is more possible than ever. Of course these new opportunities also bring a host of new challenges. An artist in today's market needs to be aware of all of the new possibilities and must be organized and savvy enough to flow with the industry changes to properly take advantage of them. In short, ya gotta know your business. Erik Steinert and Axel Niehaus have been working in the music industry for over 20 years. Through working alongside everybody from unsigned bands and broadway singers to the likes of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, The Roots, Alicia Keys and O-Town, Erik and Axel have learned first and foremost that the most successful artists, while not always the most talented, have always been the ones most in control of their own business.

Stray Dog Music was formed to take our shared insight and apply it to changes and opportunities in the new music business. Our time spent as artists, engineers, producers, managers, road managers and marketers have given us the experience and allowed us to develop relationships with key players in the industry to construct and implement business plans for indie and major label artists alike.

This website is intended to be more like a forum than a catalog. You will be able to see our artists and what they are up to but moreover it will be a place where you can see what we're up to, what we're listening to and thinking about; there will be blogs and podcasts from our A&R staff, songwriter forums from our publishing staff and tons of other cool stuff for you to enjoy and share with us and with your friends. Please feel free to drop us a line. We want to hear your music and your story but please don't send us anything unsolicited, tell us about yourself first. Wouldn't want you to waste a CD and a stamp.

Enjoy your visit!