Ben started his music career as the guitar player and songwriter of a Seattle based band in the mid-90s. After 2 independent album releases and four years with the band, he headed to Los Angeles to accept a financial analyst position with the Walt Disney Company.
Ben worked as an analyst with Disney’s Corporate Operations and Real Estate team, responsible for multiple lines of business’ financial reporting and analysis, annual operating budgets, and five year plans. From Disney, Ben transitioned into a creative role at BMG Music Publishing. At BMG, Ben quickly moved from an assistant to Manager of A&R proving his talent for artist discovery and copyright exploitation. He was an integral part in building BMG’s Rock roster, developing new talent, and placing songs with recording artists; one of which received a Grammy award nomination. Ben successfully provided the guidance and insight that led 3 unknown acts to major label record deals. Passionate about artists’ careers and noticing a void in their development, Ben left BMG in 2004 to form Brannen Creative Management and Ares Records. BCM/Ares was built as an artist development company that invests in, manages, distributes, and markets artists and their content by combining both management and record label resources and responsibilities.
While growing BCM/Ares Ben worked intimately with companies like RCA Records, Island Records, Universal Publishing, SONGS, SONY/ATV, Trustkill Records, Revelation Records & Distribution, and Epitaph Records, among other. He negotiated favorable merchandise deals, secured national tours and sponsorships, coordinated independent publicity and radio campaigns, and created sustainable business models for independent artists.
Ben took his operation on the road while managing tours throughout the US, Canada, Europe, UK, and Japan. His bands participated on tours both large and small including Social Distortion, Flogging Molly, Stone Sour, Avenged Sevenfold, Family Values Tour, Warped Tour, and many more.
Ben joined Digital Trellis as COO in late 2008 and is responsible for the management of company operations and business development. He oversees all daily activities, strategic partnerships, product design and manufacturing, execution of new business models and marketing plans, and the implementation of technology enhancements and website development. |
Ruben R. Lozano II
Founder & CEO
Ben Brannen
COO
Chris Hansen
Design
Board of Advisors
Jason Flom
Jeff Kempler
Kevin Lyman
John Greenberg
Bill Fold
Mike Gilligan
Sean E Demott
Brian Schall
Bryan Christner |
