Heavy Duty (music)

Heavy Duty
Company typePrivate
IndustryMusic industry
Founded2010
Founder
Headquarters
Los Angeles
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Josh Kessler
  • Ariel Rechtshaid
  • Kate Urcioli
Services
  • Publishing
  • Music consulting
  • Supervision
  • Custom music
Subsidiaries
  • Heavy Duty Music Publishing
  • Heavy Duty Projects
Websiteheavydutymusic.com

Heavy Duty is a music publishing and production house based in Los Angeles.[1] It comprises Heavy Duty Music Publishing and Heavy Duty Projects.

History

Heavy Duty Music Publishing was founded in 2010 by Grammy-winning record producer Ariel Rechtshaid, who has written and produced for artists including Vampire Weekend, Haim, Adele, and Usher, and music industry veteran Josh Kessler.[2] Rechtshaid is the executive creative director,[3] and Kessler is CEO.[4] Their past and present roster includes Daniel Nigro, Cass McCombs, Miya Folick, Cherry Glazerr, Jim-E Stack, BJ Burton, Buddy Ross, Justin Raisen, Nightfeelings, Anthoine Walters, Gabe Goodman, and Whitmer Thomas.[2][4] Their writers and producers have received credits on songs by Frank Ocean, Bon Iver, Miley Cyrus, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Travis Scott.[4] Jeremiah Raisen (pka Sadpony), signed to Heavy Duty Music, wrote and produced "Trollz" by 6ix9ine and Nicki Minaj, which reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5]

The music agency Heavy Duty Projects was established in 2015, with Kate Urcioli as partner and executive producer.[2] They offer original composition, production, mixing, sound design, and music supervision, for television, films, video games, and commercials.[4][3] Heavy Duty Projects has created original music for ad campaigns for brands including American Eagle, Bud Light, Chase, Apple, Google, Postmates, Nintendo, Marriott, Gatorade, Target, and Gillette.[2][4]

In 2019, the company launched Heavy Duty Trailers, with Kevin Seaton as creative director. The division provides original and licensed music for feature film trailers and television series promos.[6][7]

In 2023, Heavy Duty Projects had songs on the soundtrack album for The Muppets Mayhem, which reached number 1 on the Billboard Kid Albums chart, on the animated film Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and on the Netflix series Beef.[3] Heavy Duty composer-producer Amanda Yamate scored the Netflix films Do Revenge and You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah[3] and the Netflix series Dream Academy.[4]

Divisions

Division Formed Description
Heavy Duty Music Publishing 2010 A music publishing company with a roster of songwriters, producers, and artists.
Heavy Duty Projects 2015 Offers music supervision, original compositions, artist collaborations, remixes, and post-production services such as sound design and mixing, with studios in Los Angeles, New York, and London.[1]
Heavy Duty Trailers 2019 Provides original and licensed music for film trailers and television promos.[6]

Awards

At the 2022 AMP Awards for Music & Sound, Heavy Duty Projects won Best in Show for the spot Keep Walking; Best Use of Music in a Promo, Trailer or Title Sequence for Film, TV or Game for Shillin, created for the TV series Atlanta; and Outstanding Adaptation/Arrangement.[8] Heavy Duty Projects won the 2024 AMP Award for Most Effective Use of Music in a Campaign, for the Etsy campaign Your Mission.[9] They won a 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Award for Best Music Supervision for a Video Game (Synch) for their work on Saints Row.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Friedman, Sara (5 September 2023). "Not your mom's jingles: Ad music is getting an upgrade". The Hustle. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Hampp, Andrew (1 October 2019). "Songs For Screens: Inside Producer Ariel Rechtshaid's Commercial Sync Business". Variety. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Amorosi, AD (27 July 2023). "Heavy Duty Projects Goes From No. 1 Kids Album with 'Muppets Mayhem' to Music for 'Spider-Verse,' 'Beef' and Beyond". Variety. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Rys, Dan (15 December 2023). "Inside Heavy Duty Music's Heavy-Duty Year: How the Publisher Scored Big In 2023". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  5. ^ Carley, Brennan (18 September 2020). "More Than A Decade In, Songwriter & Producer Ariel Rechtshaid Stays Winning". Grammy.com. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  6. ^ a b Pace, Lilly (15 November 2019). "Moves at Universal Music Group, AWAL, AudioSalad & More". Billboard. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Music house Heavy Duty Projects launches trailer division". Shoot. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  8. ^ "2022 AMP Awards winners announced". Shots. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Wave Studios Wins Best in Show as Winners Honoured at 2024 AMP Awards". Little Black Book. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  10. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (5 March 2023). "'Elvis,' 'Stranger Things' Win at 13th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 June 2024.