20 Years of CEG
Croshal Entertainment Group celebrates 20th anniversary while positioning itself for ongoing growth in 2024 and beyond
— Led by industry veteran Fred Croshal, the company continues to expand and posture itself for growth and expansion in the coming years —
Hollywood, CA, October QQ, 2023 — Croshal Entertainment Group (CEG), a leading music consulting, marketing, artist management and label services firm, continues to thrive thanks to a leadership vision that incorporates flexibility and an insightful understanding of the markets itservices, as well as solid business fundamentals emphasizing client service and support with the ability to embrace change.
This philosophy has been the cornerstone of the Croshal Entertainment Group for the past 20 years, and the company continues to experience exponential growth despite constant technological and business upheavals in the music industry. Led by President/CEO Fred Croshal (former executive at Sony Music and General Manager at the Maverick Recording Company), CEG has a proven track record in serving its clients, consistently earning themnumerous GRAMMY® wins and nominations and setting Billboard chart records, all the while providing unparalleled label services for a wide range of clientele in various genres of the music industry.
The formation of Croshal Entertainment Group in 2003 was both timely and prescient, as all manner of artists, from independent up-and-comers to major-label stars, have explored alternative distribution models in the new millennium. CEG was formed to provide an infrastructure and alternative way for artists to release their music competitively. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary beginning in October of 2023, CEG continues to be at the forefront of this trend and is proud to have provided services that include establishingindependent record labels and coordinating the marketing of releases from major artists like Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Herb Alpert, Collective Soul, The Immediate Family, Gnarls Barkley, Jason Mraz, CSN (Crosby, Stills and Nash), TLC, Smokey Robinson, Tommy Lee, AJ McLean, Sinead O’Connor, Seth MacFarlane, New Found Glory, The Doobie Brothers, and more. CEG is currently working on the development of Bella Rios and Trinity Bliss, who will both have new music out in 2024. .
Setting its sights on 2024 and beyond, the company is continuing to expand and prepare itself for ongoing growth in the coming years, with added personnel and promotions enhancing its management team:
Jimmy Brunetti, who previously served as VP of Label Services, has been promoted to Executive VP of Business Development and Project Management. During his 17-year tenure at CEG, Brunetti has had numerous responsibilities, including helping to oversee the daily operations of Jackson Browne’s Inside Recordings imprint and Herb Alpert’s boutique label, Herb Alpert Presents. He product-managed the release of the 2007 album Elliott Yamin, which set a Billboard record for highest independent debut in the history of the Top 200 Chart at #3 and received an RIAA gold certification. In 2012, he product-managed the marketing for Bonnie Raitt’s GRAMMY® Award-winning album Slipstream.
Kirbie Croshal, who has been with the company for nearly 15 years, has been promoted to Sr. VP of Marketing and Digital Strategies. Previously she served as Director of Social Media and Project Management, developing high-profile multi-platform social media strategies and implementing successful and dedicated artist/label programs. Mentored by her father Fred, Kirbie has been part of the CEG team since 2009, when she began as an intern, eventually moving to serve as marketing director and day-to-day manager for her first artist, AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys. During her early years at CEG, she took an intricate role in creating social media campaigns for clients to help promote their projects and build their brands. She worked with artists such as New Found Glory (helping double their social media presence) and Redfoo (managing the rollout of his debut solo album). She now oversees all online strategies for the company and several clients (Herb Alpert, The Immediate Family, Bella Rios, Trinity Bliss, and others) and oversees day-to-day management for Noel Casler.
“Our growth is propelled by working with original and contemporary artists, plus a staff of professionals that truly understands the markets and clients we serve,” stated Fred Croshal. “Innovation has enabled our company to remain on the forefront of the industry. By providing our clients with practical and profitable ways to reach their audience, along with ourunparalleled customer service and hiring the best people in the business, CEG is positioned for continued expansion and growth in the coming years.”
About The Croshal Entertainment Group
Founded in 2003 by Fred Croshal, a respected executive at Sony Music and GM at Maverick Recording Company, CEG has worked with hundreds of labels and artists, coordinating releases in the U.S. and internationally with combined sales of over 6 million albums and counting. CEG offers a full array of label services and provides a la carte services for clients who are looking for help in only certain areas. The firm’s extensive lists of industry contacts also allow it to set clients up with elite outsourced talent. CEG’s label services set an industry standard for releasing independent music, with the creation of a record label that belongs to the artist, the organization of a distribution model, and the execution of a customized marketing campaign on par with major-label releases. Artists who engage CEG’s services maintain ownership of their music and exert complete control over the marketing of their art and their revenue stream.
About Fred Croshal
Fred Croshal’s rich history in the industry goes back over 45 years. He began his career as a retail sales representative at a local record store in the Bay Area before securing his first position at CBS Records. Soon after, he obtained executive positions at Sony Music Distribution and Columbia Records’ Work Group, working with artists such as Michael Jackson, Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more. In 1996, Madonna hired him at the Maverick Recording Company, where he soon became General Manager, overseeing all departments, including sales, press, radio, marketing, creative, etc. At Maverick, he was able to build and nurture the careers of artists like Alanis Morissette, Deftones, Candlebox, Michelle Branch and more.
Fred continues to nurture and share his passion and give back to the industry he loves. He serves as a proud GRAMMY Mentor and advocate for the industry, lending his voice to speak up for artists at all levels. Fred is a board member of the Guitar Center Music Foundation andhas lectured to music students at Wharton School of Business (Penn), USC, UCLA, Chapman University and Cal State Northridge. Whether speaking at multiple music industry conventions and events or appearing as a guest on industry podcasts, Fred shares his wealth of knowledge with the next generation of industry professionals on a regular basis.
