Lone Star State Breeds `Cyber Pioneer' in Music Industry; Capitol Records Executive Makes Headlines With Garth Brooks in the Life Of Chris Gaines Project

Business Wire, Nov 3, 1999

AUSTIN, Texas--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 3, 1999--

Let's face it, most of us are finally getting it and jumping on the Internet bandwagon, but not Capitol Records Inc. Senior Executive Robin Bechtel. She's kicking up her boots and sitting pretty. This Texan has laid the path for cyber-junkies worldwide. Bechtel is a veteran, or 'pioneer' if you prefer, when it comes to the World Wide Web. She was the first member of a major music label to embrace what is now being touted as "New Media."

"When people were calling the Internet a fad or doubting its longevity, I just somehow knew its potential was far and beyond what the mainstream was saying," said Bechtel. "I think of it in terms of the perfect marriage. I'm just the match maker who introduced the music industry to the Internet."

Bechtel, raised in Austin, moved to Los Angeles in 1989 and joined Capitol Records. And she's been making headlines ever since. She was the first to create a screen saver for a band (The Beastie Boys), the first to create a destination website called Megadeth Arizona, the first to create a digital postcard online called the Beatlegram and the first to offer a commercial download of a single for sale for Duran Duran.

Bechtel, a University of Texas graduate, credits many of her inspirations, ideas and accomplishments to her native Texas. Her office, on the 12th floor of the legendary Capitol Records building, is decked out in Texas memorabilia and Lone Star artifacts.

"There's no doubt all my work is Texas-themed in one way or another, maybe even subliminal to a degree, it's the way I stay connected to my roots," said Bechtel. "I patterned the Megadeth Arizona site after a small Texas town, I produced 'A Thousand Clowns' music video at the Dallas State Fair and Stubbs BBQ in Austin." Bechtel adds, "In fact my inspiration for the first digital postcard came from my college days of working at a card shop in Austin on Sixth Street."

Her latest project is the online album release of Garth Brooks alter ego, Chris Gaines. "With this venture, the challenge was to reach an entire new demographic," said Bechtel. "This album is more than country, it appeals to a wider audience rather than just Garth fans."

An extensive list of accomplishments, awards and most importantly, vision prove Bechtels' services are in high demand. Bam Magazine calls her one of the 100 most important people in the record business. Her Megadeth, Arizona, the first destination website for a major recording artist, garnered press in Forbes, Fortune, Time, Newsweek, Billboard and USA Today magazines. In addition, critics says Bechtels' branding and launching of the Capitol Records website Hollywood and Vine paved the way for the proven success of its inventor. That site was named "Best Music Site" on the Internet by the LA Times and nominated "Best Music Site" by Yahoo.

Bechtel has created, produced and marketed over 150 websites, screen savers and games for major artists including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Duran Duran, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Garth Brooks, Frank Sinatra, Adam Ant, Meredith Brooks, Megadeth, Everclear, Foo Fighters, Marcy Playground, Ultra-Lounge, Grand Funk Railroad, the movies Scream 1 and 2 and Big Bad VooDoo Daddy.

Robin Bechtel is available for interviews via phone, e-mail or in person. For more information or to set up an interview, please call Julie Grayum at de La Garza Public Relations, Inc. at 713/622-8818