Pressing Matters Podcast

Madi Florence

Madi Florence is a senior publicist at the independent music publicity firm Big Hassle. She is currently based in Nashville, but grew up in Florida and attended the University of Florida. In her time as a student, she dove deep into the local music scene and started offering freelance services to some of the bands she still works with today. After working a few years at Universal Music Group and Capitol Records, the draw to be back in the independent music world was inescapable. At Big Hassle, Madi specializes in the wheelhouse of post-punk, indie-pop, indie-rock, and alt-R&B music, because the best work is done when you are a genuine fan of what you are working on.

Some artists she currently represents include alt-J, Dashboard Confessional, flipturn, Glove, Hotel Fiction, Maz, morgen, shy martin, Sun Room, Sylo, The Aquadolls, The Greeting Committee, The Hails, Tobias Dray, Young the Giant and Yumi Nu. She is also a publicist on the teams for Bonnaroo and Echoland Music & Arts Festival.

Wes Davenport

Wes Davenport is a Director at Universal Music Group’s °1824 division. He creates strategic partnerships with media, brands, universities, non-profits, influencers and other culturally impactful outlets. He oversees °1824 projects for UMG’s Nashville-based artists, as well as runs the department’s publicity and social media teams. Wes ideated UMG’s central Twitch brand, 3point5, which he current books and markets premium livestreaming programming for the company.

Since joining °1824 at Universal Music Group, Wes’ partnerships include producing a livestreamed Animal Crossing concert with Island Records pop artist Tove Lo, launching a craft beer for Republic Records rock band The Struts, as well as booking artist and executive conversations with organizations like Music Biz, Belmont University, University of Southern California, GrammyU, She Is The Music, the Mental Health Coalition and YMCA International. He launched a virtual press conference offering in 2020 to connect Gen Z blogs, zines, student media and curators with artists like Katy Perry, Yungblud, Jon Batiste, Lauv, Still Woozy, Sofia Carson and many more.

Wes has 13 years of experience in digital marketing, communications, strategy and public relations. Prior to joining Universal Music Group, Wes ran marketing agency ECHO AVE. As his entrepreneurial outlet, ECHO AVE offered marketing and PR services to Red Bull, 25th Annual Pollstar Night Club of the Year nominee Mercy Lounge and a roster of artists. Client PR coverage included NPR Music, Consequence of Sound, American Songwriter, Huffington Post and many more. 

Rebecca Bloch

Rebecca Bloch is a 21-year-old creative from Los Angeles, California. She is currently in her fourth year at the University of California, Los Angeles where she is studying Cultural Anthropology and Entrepreneurship. Her favorite movies are Call Me By Your Name, The Social Network, 1917, Good Time, Moonrise Kingdom, Sorry To Bother You, and Palo Alto. Some of her favorite artists include BROCKHAMPTON, Kali Uchis, Travis Scott, The Neighbourhood, Arctic Monkeys, and Hunny. Her favorite snack from Trader Joe’s is either the Strawberry Mochi or the Teriyaki Seaweed. Aside from working on Unpublished, she loves writing, watching movies, and photographing her friends. She also loves studying astrology and doing readings with her tarot cards. After college, she hopes to pursue a career in the magazine industry or start her own business. (from Unpublished Magazine website)

Sophie Severs

Sophie Severs (she/her) is a student at Emerson College in Boston, majoring in Journalism and minoring in Public Relations.

As a music PR representative and journalist, she seeks to shed light on the inequities faced by many within the industry. Her work highlights the experiences of a diverse range of artists — both those signed to major labels and those that are completely independent. Ultimately, she hopes to help people who have never received representation in the music industry find the art that they are looking for.

Angie Mitilian

Angie Mitilian is a multi-media creative from Los Angeles and a student at Chapman University. She is the Co-Founder and Editor In Chief of Fever Dream Zine, a creative collective that ignites artistic motivation and establishes a creative outlet for artists worldwide. Her work with Fever Dream has opened new opportunities and has connected her with equally passionate creatives that work in the industry. Besides all that, Angie is a big fan of exploring new coffee shops and seeking new experiences and adventures in her neighborhood!