In mid 2001, Kate Smith joined Premonition Records as a free-lance radio promoter working each of the Premonition titles to jazz (and other) programming formats across the U.S. She quickly found success charting Premonition’s titles on the national jazz charts published by The Yellow Dog Service and CMJ. Ms. Smith is best known as the former owner of The Bop Shop, a prominent 1990s Chicago Jazz Club which booked local and national acts nightly and as a presenter of independent musical events including Bill Russo Chicago Jazz Ensemble’s “Mardi Gras Concert”, the Old Town School of Folk Music mini-jazz fest “Women Who Swing Chicago”, the Asian American Jazz Festival and Marian McPartland’s “Tribute to Jimmy McPartland” at the University of Chicago. Through her experience as a club owner, jazz presenter and independent marketer at Premonition Records, Ms. Smith has gained an insider’s knowledge of marketing in the jazz realm.
“Kate always comes through for Premonition Records. I like her because her life is music. I’ll bet she’s the only radio promoter in the world who owned and operated a thriving jazz club for an extended period of time. That gives her an insight into musicians that is uncommon. She’s also very intelligent and hard working. She will not give up on a project until she’s gotten everything out of it that she can. She loves what she’s doing. Her attitude is great. Hire her! You’ll be happy with the results.”–Mike Friedman, Premonition Records
“Kate makes the process of working with radio programmers a pleasure. She keeps me, as label/artist, informed about what is happening, where and why. On top of all that, her daily communiques make checking my email a blast during (after) the promotional campaign.” –Russ Gershon, Accurate Records
“One thing you don’t have to worry about her is whether the CD will be listened to- I listen to everything that comes in, esp. if I suspect that the Queen of Tracking will be wanting to know about it.” –Jeff Holtz, WIUM
“You are a promotions Goddess.” –Michael Jacobs, KIOS
Radio Promotions is my personal passion!
Kate Smith Promotions specializes in non-commercial community public, college, internet, and cable tv radio airplay... CD and Digital service; artist interviews, and chart ratings for all jazz and jazz-related CD projects. We have worked with diverse artists such as Von, George, & Chico Freeman, Christopher Hollyday, Wayne Wallace, Either/Orchestra, Nnenna Freelon, Kim Nazarian, Joseph Daley, Jason Kao Hwang, and Dave Stryker.