Unsigned artists with the potential to break into the big time.
Katie Hasty, N.Y.
If you were one of the Super Bowl's 97.5 million viewers this year, there's a good chance you heard Latch Key Kid. In a commercial for Coke, the Californian singer/songwriter's "Good Times" played while James Carville and Bill Frist hammed up their bipartisan friendship.
It's the latest licensing placement for the charming 31-year-old, who also has credits in such TV shows as "The Amazing Race" and "Survivor." It all originated with a fruitful collaboration with publishing company Experience Records and action sports.
"Guys who make these documentaries and feature films are always looking for cheap, original music to throw over their segments," says Latch Key Kid, aka Gavin Heaney, whose tunes are the backdrop for several films on surfing and mountain biking. "My music isn't necessarily high-octane or anything, but I mix up a lot of genres. If an individual song doesn't fit the feel, I can always work close with the filmmaker to remix it."
And that's one of Heaney's biggest strengths: He produces, plays multiple instruments, is stylistically diverse and Internet-savvy and has a deep back catalog of tracks ready to use. His live show has been marketable, too, as he anticipates showcases at big Los Angeles clubs like the Roxy and the Troubadour this season.
Heaney has already released his self-titled debut record and is prepping the physical release of his sophomore set, "Miracle Mile"; it is already available on iTunes. "The Super Bowl thing certainly helps with funding an album release," he says.
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