Gold Circle Entertainment, Inc., was formed in 1996 by Norm Waitt, Jr., one of the founders of Gateway 2000 computers. First launched as Antipreneur Entertainment Services, Inc., to record a friend's band, Waitt realized that there was a large demographic of the music market-discerning adults-that wasn't being adequately served. As a result, he began soliciting the advice and assistance from respected music industry pros. That subsequently led to a relaunch of the company as Gold Circle, a subchapter S corporation based in South Dakota
Gold Circle develops, records and markets quality music to the world through its primary label, Samson Music, through other labels that it may launch to serve the musical tastes of targeted niche markets, and also through various other subsidiaries, such as Samson Publishing, Inc., that Gold Circle will create or acquire to form a full-service, music-based enterprise. The company currently operates from its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. In addition to Waitt, who serves as Chairman and CEO, management includes Michael Delich, President and COO; Richard Musil, Vice President of Sales and Marketing; and Steven Seline, Vice Chairman.
What sets Gold Circle apart from other entertainment companies is its strategic, long-term approach to artist development and its commitment to innovation in marketing and distribution. This attitude is reflected in the company's name. It represents an unbroken circle in a relationship that begins with the artist and his/her creative output, which flows through the company into various distribution and retail channels, to finally reach the consumer who generates a return back to the artist in the form of purchases and fan support.
Guided by this metaphor, Gold Circle is dedicated to finding quality music by compelling artists, and then developing a marketing plan to deliver it to the targeted demographic audience in the most effective, practical manner. To that end, the company has made a commitment to develop artists over a longer period than most traditional labels allow. The idea is to spend the time and resources necessary to produce the best possible product, and then use a variety of innovative marketing tactics, including direct-to-consumer marketing (which is an effective means to reach the educated, adult demographic targeted as the primary audience), to build a large installed fan base for artists, with the anticipation that a growing fan base will pay dividends-for both the artist and the company-down the road. This strategy also may include the launch or acquisition of certain resources or business operations, including record labels, publisher catalogs, radio stations and other relevant entities that support the company's long-term objectives.
Various entities currently operate under the Gold Circle banner, including its primary label, Samson Music, Inc.; and a publishing entity, Samson Publishing, Inc., to handle the acquisition of properties for the label. The company also has financial interest in a second label called Back Nine (which will focus on pop-oriented, singer-songwriter music by solo artists as opposed to groups), and is in the process of launching another yet-to-be-named label for ambient music. In addition, as a part of its overall communications strategy, the company recently completed the purchase of an FM radio station based near Omaha, KOTD - FM 106.9.
The company has five projects completed, an instrumental album by F5; "Big Top Shop Talk," the Samson Music debut by Portland, Oregon-based singer/songwriter/ bassist, McKinley; The Day I Fell Down, a new acoustic pop group from Seattle; "Ten Bulls," the Samson Music debut by Douglas September; and a self-titled Samson Music debut album from Happy Rhodes. All projects have been developed under the company's objectives to find projects that fit naturally in the culture it is trying to establish.
Currently, Gold Circle's products are distributed by RED Distribution, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, which covers the United States. The company is currently engaged in identifying distributors for Canada and Latin America, and plans to employ independent distributors for the European market.
Gold Circle and Samson Music headquarters are located at 13906 Gold Circle Drive, Suite 201, Omaha, Nebraska, 68144. In addition, both entities maintain sites on the World Wide Web, at www.goldo.com and www.samsonmusic.com, respectively.