Delivering Hot Stuff:
Pizza Party Music’s Derek War
Contact Derek War, http://pizzapartymusic.com
Edgy, eclectic and underground. Pizza Party Music places up-and-coming artists with specific visual media. The company’s founder, Los Angeles-based Derek War, wears a number of hats in his developing career: as an independent music supervisor for hire, as a promoter and as a champion of maintaining the integrity of the artists that he represents. Pizza Party Music is not limited to film and television: they have placed the band Wild Wild Wets in a promo piece for Quiksilver Snowboards and another band Froth in a live runway fashion show for Saint Laurent Collection X. The company also does PR and booking for their artists.
MC: Stylistically, what are the specific needs that you fulfill for music requests?
DW: A lot of upbeat, driving indie-rock punk vibes for films. Not too many slow songs.
MC: From obscure filmmakers to well known corporate clients, the outlets you discover are diverse, but the musical styles of your bands are identified with a certain street sensibility. What are your criteria in signing artists and bands who you would like to represent?
DW: I want to work with who I want––that means smaller bands. I feel there are more opportunities with smaller bands. I want to make this a collective. We want to educate people that making money in the industry isn’t about touring or living in a van. There are other outlets to making money in the industry. I just want to make these guys feel that there is hope.
MC: Licensing requires a depth of knowledge, understanding of copyrights, performing right organizations, how to negotiate sync fees and how music to ask for a license. How did you learn about the business?
DW: I graduated from the Music Business Program at Musicians Institute. I interned at a post-production company while attending MI. Without the educational background I wouldn’t be focused on what I am doing now. But it isn’t the education alone. You have got to want it and to make it your life.
I was working with a small label in Echo Park, and then I formulated Pizza Party Music. Having more than one approach to helping artists and bands makes it all more versatile, and this allows me to balance a number of endeavors. Pizza Party is fairly new. I set up meetings with music supervisors and I used my own connections to set up the necessary relationships.
MC: Do you have a day gig too?
DW: Yes. I work for an independent publishing company.
MC: In a very short definition, what is music for picture and what is your role in connecting it?
DW: It’s all about feeling and emotion and passion. It’s not an easy gig, but it’s one of the best.
