300/Elektra Free Agents: Austin & Willis
• RAMP has confirmed that promo pros Ric Austin and Jamie Willis have exited 300/Elektra during a recent round of downsizing.
Austin (left) most recently served as 300/Elektra’s Florida/Texas/Southeast Regional Promotion Manager. His career started at Florida State University’s WVFS (V-89)/Tallahassee, which lead to positions at WTHZ and WFHT/Tallahassee, WSGY/Albany and WXXL/Orlando before he transitioned to the label side in 1994 with Priority Records, followed by stints with Red Ant, Maverick, Arista, Capitol, and the last 15 years with the Elektra/Roadrunner/FBR/Atlantic team.
“I’ve been blessed to be employed on the label side for 29 years and got to work with amazing colleagues and some awesome artists and bands!” Austin said. “To be there at the beginning of Coldplay and twenty one pilots and to be a small piece of their success are just a couple of highlights.” He added, “I still love this job, but I know things are much different than they were 15 years ago when this last happened to me. I would love to make it to 30+ years on the label side, and who knows what doors may open for me, but if this door has closed, then I’ll say, ‘Best job I ever had!'” Austin can be contacted at 407-497-3563 or ricaustin@aol.com.
• Willis (right) was most recently Pacific Northwest Regional Promotion Manager for 300/Elektra. He had spent the last 18+ years with Lava, Roadrunner, Elektra, an 300/Elektra, covering radio in the Pacific Northwest after moving from the Boston area.
Willis previously worked the New England/Northeast markets for Elektra, Virgin, Mercury, C2, Maverick and DreamWorks. He’s now looking for his next opportunity — reach out at 206-240-8877 or jdkw29@gmail.com.
