Kyra Caruso currently works for Universal Motown Republic Group as the Coordinator of International Marketing and Promotions. Originally from Austria, Caruso got her start right here in Philly, in offices above the Electric Factory.
 
What is it that you do, exactly?
I work in the International Department of Universal Motown Republic Group where I market and promote artists internationally. In a nutshell, I coordinate promotion and publicity plans with Universal affiliates; maintain all artists' calendars, travel itineraries and budgets. Basically, if a U.S. artist gets signed here, I have to promote and market him/her/them outside of the U.S.
 
How did you get started with this particular gig?
I got started in the music business after I finished high school in Austria. I promoted parties booking underground hip hop artists, graffiti artists, and break dancers from all over the world. I booked Hieroglyphics, Brand Nubian, Mr. Liv, Wild Child, Peanut Butter Wolf, and artists from Stones Throw Records, The Beat Junkies, and King Britt, to name a few.
 
How did you end up coming to Philly?
After interning for Loud and Epic Records in NYC in ’99 I decided I didn’t like learning from major labels because they were too big and scattered and one ends up not learning a lot. Through consistently reading album liner notes, I kept finding a Philadelphia based label/management/production company named Axis Music Group, which was affiliated with all the artists I liked and had been listening to in the past. Some of which were Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, D' Angelo, The Roots, etc. I found Tayyib, who was part of Axis, and told him I wanted to intern for him. Tayyib, being open to diversity, was fine with me coming from abroad to intern for Axis. So, I made my way from Austria in the summer of 2001 and started my internship at Axis Music Group. I was extremely excited being able to work at Axis because of the music scene that flourished in Philly at that time.
 
What do you remember from your Axis days?
At Axis my work always varied. I worked on many different albums and projects that helped to expand my resume and knowledge in my field. While living and working in Philly, I would use the city as my point of origin but would go to New York, especially Wednesday nights to go to Rich Medina’s party at APT and I would have to get up early the next morning to travel back.
 
Who have you gotten to work with through Axis?
James (Poyser), Vikter (Duplaix), Vivian Green but also Ahmir (Thompson), Ursula Rucker and Tye Tribbett. Fun revelations I remember were that Musiq Soulchild turned out to be pretty short and when Jennifer Lopez came to record at Larry Gold's (The) Studio we suddenly had "fancy" toilet paper, scented candles and flowers in the bathroom.
 
What else have you been up to?
I’ve been promoting parties in New York for the past three years. Every Friday night I host and DJ a party at a place called Cantina, a Latin restaurant and bar. It is fun and it helps me keep my sanity. Furthermore, I have been working on other ventures, such as Blend Media Group, a boutique full-service lifestyle firm that offers marketing, promotion, management, and other services essential to artistic success. New projects are always fun.