Hypnotic

TOM TREUMUTH has been involved in virtually every aspect of the music industry including record company ownership, recording studio ownership, marketing, promotion, advertising, being a musician/writer, artist management, manufacturing, concert promotion, retail distribution, record production and domestic / international buying and selling of product. A graduate of the Music Production program at Fanshawe college (London), Tom is proud of the fact that just after leaving college his own group TRUE MYTH was released internationally on the Warner music label.

Co – produced by Tom and world famous producer JACK RICHARDSON it was the start of Tom’s production and songwriting career. Deciding that record production was what he wanted to focus on success came quickly as Tom notched up production/co-manager credits with debut hit albums for Warner act HONEYMOON SUITE (now 4 x platinum) and Capitol/EMI act HELIX (2 x platinum). Both albums were nominated for Juno awards for Album Of the Year and achieved high sales positions on the American Billboard chart.

After more successful production work for a second HELIX album (certified Platinum) the SPOONS (Polygram),DARKROOM(Warner),THE DEADBEAT HONEYMOONERS (Anthem), SMASH PALACE (Columbia) as well as the discovery and development of Gord Peterson (INDIO) who subsequently signed to Columbia Records (USA), Tom was then appointed A&R scout for RCA RECORDS New York by US president Bob Buziak. Tom was also given his own production company to find and develop talent. One of Tom’s discoveries was hard rock act GYPSY ROSE which through Hypnotic Management he co-managed with GENE SIMMONS (KISS). Having co-produced and co-written most of the Gypsy Rose material resulted in Tom being signed as a writer to RCA/BMG Music Publishing. Another A&R signing and co-production, the BREIT BROTHERS featured Kevin Breit currently Norah’ Jones guitarist/writer. Tom also had a hand in the signing of the COWBOY JUNKIES during his tenure at RCA.

To meet the demand of all his production work Tom opened up HYPNOTIC studios in downtown Toronto. This led to the formation of HYPNOTIC Records which was distributed by A&M/ POLYGRAM in Canada.

During Hypnotic Record’s deal with A&M/ Polygram Tom discovered, produced and orchestrated worldwide success for BIG SUGAR culminating in platinum sales in Canada and international success through RCA/BMG. Tom’s production of the first BIG SUGAR album also resulted in the album winning the Grammy award in Holland for best album of the year. Through Hypnotic Records,Tom compiled two TV promoted dance compilations one of which featured material and mixes by BARRY HARRIS who as “Thunderpuss” went on to be the number #1 dance mixer in the world. Tom also licensed exclusive rights to the ICHIBAN label from Atlanta which resulted in the national # 1 hit “ WHOOT THERE IT IS”.

Successful licensing to foreign territories for HYPNOTIC signed artists such as VOIVOD, LOOK PEOPLE, OTIS, RAZOR, HEAVEN’S CRY, ANVIL, OBLIVEON, KATAKLSYM and blues guitarist PHILIP SAYCE earned Hypnotic its reputation as one of Canada’s best independent labels. After the demise of A&M Records and Tom’s involvement in alternative Universal signing MADE, Universal then offered Tom a new distribution deal for new Hypnotic artists and its catalogue. This arrangement ended up being successful for both parties with the highlight being the success of Quebec worldbeat punk artists GRIMSKUNK who wound up selling over 25,000 copies of their Fieldtrip album.

Seeking more independence Tom started his own distribution network called TNT and immediately picked up music DVD company MUSIC VIDEO DISTRIBUTORS from the USA as an exclusive client. He then joined forces with PHD Canada resulting in the successful North American DVD release for goth act NIGHTWISH. Stepping into CD/DVD manufacturing Tom partnered with MAGNETIC AIR Productions based in Lewiston New York. Recent clients have included TOYOTA, WYNTON MARSALIS, TORONTO JAZZ station 91.1, CHERRY LANE MUSIC PUBLSIHING ( an Elvis Presley compilation) and the HARRIS INSTITUTE FOR THE ARTS.

Wanting to return to management Tom resurrected HYPNOTIC MANAGEMENT in 2001 with its first artist KAZZER being signed to a direct US deal with EPIC/SONY In New York. Kazzer’s album “Go for Broke” and hit single “PEDAL TO THE METAL” was released in 12 international territories and was also placed in the key car chase scene in the remake of the movie “ THE ITALIAN JOB”. The song was also used in numerous TV shows including “Malcolm in the Middle”. Tom during this period co-managed Kazzer in the US in conjunction with Los Angeles based HANDPRINT ENTERTAINMENT ( Jennifer Lopez, Vin Diesel, Nicole Kidman,Red Hot Chili Peppers).

During 2004, Tom was appointed director of A & R and international licensing at Linus Entertainment, where he signed Kazzer to his sophomore record and signed and produced the debut album of rock outfit, Everything at Once. Tom also co managed jazz diva Sophi Milman during his stay at Linus. He then departed Linus to take on full time management duties for Honeymoon Suite and also return back to his first love of producing and running an independent label with Cargo handling European distribution.

Tom departed Linus in 2005 in order to establish a new label, Fallen Sky Recordings, which would allow him to be more involved in the musical record production process as well as management. Catalogue administration rights of Hypnotic Records are now handled by Linus in order for Tom to focus on these newfound artist partnerships.