From 1977-1979, as a partner in American Entertainment Management, Toby represented the rock bands Blondie and The Runaways.

Prior to joining Alive, from 1980 into 1986, Toby operated FTM Enterprises, a management and consulting firm with clients including Island/Alive Films, the Music Business Symposium, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, actress Shell Kepler, and Rhino Records.

As part of his work with John Lennon, he helped organize the "One To One" benefit concert in New York City with John & Yoko, Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, and Sha Na Na, co-produced by Geraldo Rivera, and the "Ten For Two" benefit concert in Ann Arbor for John Sinclair, with John & Yoko, Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Phil Ochs, and Charles Lloyd.

As a music journalist, among Tobys writing and editorial credits include regular stints with Performance Magazine, Zoo World, Kal Rudmans Friday Morning Quarterback, and CREEM Magazine; and freelance contributions to, among others, Circus, Crawdaddy, Hit Parader, Melody Maker, New Music Express, Oui, Penthouse, Rolling Stone, Scholastic Magazines, and Sounds.

A voting member of NARAS, and a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame voter, Toby has also written liner notes for over a dozen albums.

Do you anticipate more arena shows this summer?
No, unless arenas lower their rent and associated charges to compete with the sheds.

What is the future of the multi-act, day-long festival?
There is always an audience for these shows as long as the concept is fresh and the artists appeal to a targeted demographic that is narrowly focused. Unfortunately, the concept of broad spectrum events is probably dead in this era of narrow-casting and extreme market segmentation.

Where are ticket prices going?
Up because touring costs are going up (fuel, for instance), because agents, managers and artists want more profit per show, and because so many promoters now need to increase profit margins continually, because of corporate ownership's (and shareholders) demands.

Can a band tour successfully without radio or MTV?
Yes. Not very many bands, but some. Classic rock acts, R&B acts, Phish or Dave Matthews type of acts, country acts, oldies acts. The acts that need radio and MTV are hit-single driven acts with too-large touring entourages who need to fill the lawns at the sheds or the upper concourses at the arenas in order to make the economics work.

Who will be this year's break out act(s)?
If I knew that, I wouldn't tell you but I keep hoping that the Dandy Warhols will be one of them. In the teen pop world, Dream is exploding faster than a speeding bullet. And if the second Buckcherry album hits the mark, watch out.

Who's your pick for the Stanley Cup Championship?
The Stanley Cup is too close to tell at this point, but not the Stars and not my Kings.

Who's your pick for the 2001 World Series?
New York Yankees (of course); too soon to see if anyone has really improved enough to challenge them, though the Oakland A's will be better this year.

Toby may be contacted at (818) 506-7258 or famoustm@aol.com.

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