Vice-President, Creative Minds Records
Johnny Mars
Johnny Mars has worked in various areas of the Music Industry for over 16 years and is known for his reliable intuition and business savvy in commercial mainstream music. His extensive and diverse experience in many intricate facets of the industry has allowed Mars the flexibility to effectively work with both creative and business professionals alike.
For Mars, it all started with a passion for songwriting and music production. While learning creative development from legends like Steve Alaimo, Ron Albert, and Howard Albert, Mars suddenly developed an intense passion for the business side of music. Mars enrolled at Miami Dade College where he would meet his next valuable mentor: Steve Roistein, founding member of the Grammy nominated band PALO!. A music business professor who happened to also be a successful publisher, songwriter, composer and jingle creator, Roistein noticed the passion Mars had for music publishing and offered Mars additional one on one “off campus” mentoring.
Mars became a believer in the mentoring concept and has since acquired a few more mentors along the way. These include industry heavyweights David Bercuson (established entertainment attorney), Frank Harris (entertainment attorney, manager for Jason Derulo, Warner Music), Randy Acker (former attorney for Def Jam Records), Ted Lucas (CEO of Slip & Slide/Atlantic Records) and others.
With just a few credits left to complete his music business degree, Mars was offered two opportunities in New York City in the same month. Mars accepted both and moved to New York for 3years. He would manage a NBA basketball player with the NY Knicks while also working as a Jr. A&R representative at an established record company in Manhattan. This chapter of his life shaped him into the executive that he is today.
Mars founded Single House Music Publishing, LLC. where he signed and managed talented songwriters from several different genres. He has since been able to license his catalog of songs to several commercials, motion picture films, and short films.
Mars continues to strive for excellence while at the same time giving back to the community. As a consultant, Mars has educated and mentored new and emerging artists, musicians, producers, and engineers through a series of music business workshops.
Mars has worked with a hand full of established artists in entertainment, helping them in the areas of creating original music, branding, engineering, and consulting. He emphasizes the importance of creating a unique sound that separates one artist from the other artists in the market.
Mars has worked with The Flip Tones, Young Money, Jason Derulo, Jim Jones, Zoey Dollaz, DMX, Kevin Lyttle, Jaimie Foxx, King Los, Idarose, and multiple projects from Republic, Capital, Epic, Def Jam, Sony, and Atlantic Records.