<p><em><strong>Kathleen Laccinole interviews Wende Crowley, Senior Vice President of Film and TV at Sony/ATV Music, about being a <a href="https://esme.com/voices/perspectives/whats-a-solo-mom" target="_blank" class="wordlink">Solo Mom</a> in the music business</strong></em></p><p>Music-publishing powerhouse, Wende Crowley works at Sony/ATV Music—the company that controls copyrights for more than two million of our favorite songs by artists such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Kanye West, Taylor Swift, and Lady Gaga, to name a few. She is a Solo Mom with the dream job of music supervisor—the person who places pop music in film, television, and video games. Her credits include <em>Annie</em>, <em>Easy A</em>, <em>Freaks and Geeks</em>, and <em>Arrested Developmen</em><em>t</em>, among others. </p><p><strong>Q: How did you get into the music business?</strong></p><p>A: I drove cross-country from Boston to Los Angeles two days after graduating college to do an internship at Sony Records. After my internship ended, I got a job working in promotions and marketing for Nederlander Concerts and the Greek Theatre—but my dream was to become a music supervisor. There was an ad in the <em>Hollywood Reporter</em> as an assistant to a music supervisor. I applied and actually got the job!</p><p><strong>Q: When and how did you become a Solo Mom?</strong></p><p>A: I became a single mom in 2010. My ex and I decided it was time to end the marriage, but, luckily, we have remained great friends and coparents.</p><p><strong>Q: Did being a Solo Mom impact your career in the music business?</strong></p><p>A: Time management became a challenge. I became aware of how precious my time is with my son. It’s a constant balancing act between work and family life.</p><p><strong>Q: How do you manage?</strong></p><p>A: I evaluate and separate the work events I have to attend and plan accordingly. If there is something I can’t miss because we’re dealing with a big client or signing, my ex will usually help cover for me—and I do the same for him. We accommodate each other’s schedules, and we are very flexible when one of us needs coverage. I realize how rare this can be in <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/divorce" target="_blank" class="wordlink">divorce</a>, and I am grateful for it. </p><p><strong>Q: When your status shifted from being married to being a Solo Mom, did you feel a shift in your community?</strong></p><p>A: No. If anything, I felt a lot of love and support from everyone. Luckily, no friends were lost in this divorce(!), although I definitely find myself seeking out other single moms or just mom friends in general. I’m always trying to pull my friends together to do things with the kids—trying to expand the circle. More people to love in your life is always a good thing.</p><p><strong>Q: Are there specific resources that help you?</strong></p><p>A: Having friends with kids helps. Build your network of moms, and help each other. You’ll make close friendships and so will your kids. Working in the music business means nights out from time to time. There is no way around it, so get your support system in place. There are a lot of moms in the music business. Find them! </p><p><strong>Q: Has being a Solo Mom posed any sort of detriment to furthering your career?</strong></p><p>A: In between the time I’ve become a single mom and now, I’ve been promoted twice, so I can say with certainly that it hasn’t held me back from furthering my career, and because I have a great relationship with my ex, he’s willing to help out if it’s “my night” and I have an important work event I need to attend. I do the same for him. We both love the extra time we get with our son, so if covering each other means we get extra time, we always take it.</p><p><strong>Q: Was there a defining moment when you realized you were a Solo Mom?</strong></p><p>A: My son was with his dad, and it was one of my first nights after my ex moved out. I pulled up to my house, and it was empty and dark. I sat in the driveway feeling so alone. I’ve never felt lonely as a parent, but in that moment, I felt alone as a person realizing that I was thirtysomething and single again. The feeling stunned me with deep sadness. I remember not wanting to go into the house. I think right after that I decided to throw a big party to fill up the house with people and happiness. I’ve come a long way from that night, and I can say it does get better.</p><p><strong>Q: What are you most proud of as a Solo Mom?</strong></p><p>A: I’m proud of how my relationship with my son only grew stronger out of this experience. Since I only have him half of the time, when I’m with him, I’m fully with him. We have more quality time, and hanging out with him is my favorite thing.</p><p><strong>Q: What is one of your favorite single-<a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/parenting" target="_blank" class="wordlink">parenting</a> tips?</strong></p><p>A: Sleepovers! And put your damn phone away, and be present!</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 12px;">Photo Credit: Wende Crowley</span><br></p>
<p><strong><em>An interview with Latin Grammy Award Winner and <a href="https://esme.com/voices/perspectives/whats-a-solo-mom" target="_blank" class="wordlink">Solo Mom</a>, Claudia Brant</em></strong></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p>Argentinean born Claudia Brant is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer, who at 46 has already worked with scores of music greats including Ricky Martin, Josh Groban, and Jennifer Lopez. She, along with cowriters Luis Fonsi and Gen Reuben, won the 2009 Latin Grammy for Song of the Year for “Aqui Estoy Yo,” and she recently won ASCAP’s 2015 Latin Music Award for Songwriter of the Year.</p><p>Proficient in all music genres, Brant got her first record deal at age 19. At 29 she moved to Los Angeles to take her career to the next level. After just three months, she had five offers. Three years later, she got married. Three years after that, she had twins, Nina and Luca, now 11 years old.</p><p>She shared about her life, career, and motherhood with ESME’s Kathleen Laccinole.</p><p><strong><em>How did you become a Solo Mom?</em></strong></p><p>Six years ago I got divorced and my ex-husband moved to Houston. So I thought, <em>What should I do? Should I go back to Argentina? </em>There was a moment I thought I could not handle it. But at the end of the day, I realized it was not going to be such a big change. I was already handling so much, and I like multitasking. </p><p>In the beginning it was hard. If I don’t have a session, then I don’t write songs, and if I don’t write songs, then I don’t get paid. But between my friends and some great babysitters I somehow figured it out. My kids are troopers. They spend a lot of time in the studio with me because they know how much I love my job. I’m happy I decided to stay.</p><p><strong><em>You’re being a good role model.</em></strong></p><p>I hope so. I try to bring them into my world as much as I am in theirs so they can see that I love what I do. I think when they pick a career they will make sure it’s something they really like.</p><p><strong><em>Has having kids full-time posed any detriment to your career?</em></strong></p><p>On the contrary, my career has been great. The only thing that affects my work is if someone wants me to go on a writing trip <em>tomorrow</em>. That won’t work. I tell everyone, “I don’t have a problem going to NY but you need to tell me a month in advance so I can plan for my kids.” </p><p><strong><em>How did you get into the music business?</em></strong></p><p>I started writing songs at a young age. I had a traditional family so my parents sent me to university (for architecture). I tried to follow the mandate for a couple of years, but I quit because it was not for me. I was already singing commercials and writing music. I always had this dream: when I get old, I want to be writing songs. And that dream came true—so that’s what I do every day.</p><p><strong><em>What are you working on now?</em></strong></p><p>Gosh, like twenty-thousand projects: stuff for Interscope, Enrique Iglesias, some Sony stuff. Then in June I’m taking the kids to Europe for a month. In the summer I need time away so I can get the energy up to write more songs. </p><p><strong><em>What are you most proud of as a Solo Mom?</em></strong></p><p>I raise my children in a particular way where they don’t watch TV, they don’t have cell phones or iPads, and we travel a lot. My best investment is on traveling with my kids. They have already been to many countries and have seen a lot of things, and since they are not stuck on a computer, I feel proud that I did a pretty decent job raising them to be interesting characters.</p><p><strong><em>Can you recommend resources for breaking into music?</em></strong></p><p>Get in touch with a writers’ society (<a href="http://www.ascap.com/" target="_blank">ASCAP</a> or <a href="http://www.bmi.com/" target="_blank">BMI</a>). They help connect people to other people. Listen to as much music as possible. It is a matter of being in the right place at the right time and working hard. It took me 17 years to get where I am. Perseverance and effort.</p><p><strong><em>Favorite Solo Mom <a href="https://esme.com/resources/c/parenting" target="_blank" class="wordlink">parenting</a> tip?</em></strong></p><p>My children and I can talk about anything and everything. It makes it easier. They know I’m doing my best, and that’s the best I can do.</p><hr><p><span style="font-size: 11px;">Photo Credit: Omar Guerra</span></p>