About Me
I was fortunate to have music journalist Michael Dwyer compile a career summary for me. Read the whole sordid story here:
Michael Parisi is one of Australia's most renowned A&R men: an acknowledged master of finding and nurturing raw talent and connecting it to successful outcomes. In more than 30 years in all facets of the global music business, the artists he has signed have accounted for sixteen #1 albums and 15 million album sales.
From REM and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Muse, Kylie Minogue, the Whitlams, Dan Sultan and Vera Blue, Michael has helped to forge the musical landscape of the last 30 years. Today, his management, music publishing, and recording and consultancy connections span from The Voice in Australia to the world's largest music conglomerate, Universal Music.
"What stays the same is the passion for it; loving music," he says of his four decades in the game. "I've never been a genre-specific A&R guy. I don’t care what kind of music it is. It just needs to be great, and the person making it has to be great. I work with artists because I like their music and I like them as people. That's it."
Raised in Melbourne, Australia, Michael followed his passion for music into his first job as a writer and advertising salesman for InPress in 1988. From promotions to label management and Head of A&R, he worked for Warner Music Australia through the boom decade of alternative rock, helping shape the careers of Snoop Dogg, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson and signing major Australian acts Regurgitator, the Superjesus and the Whitlams.
As General Manager Australia for US-based Imago Records, he developed Baby Animals and Henry Rollins. As Festival Mushroom MD in the 2000s, he forged a massive international roster that ran from Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears to AC/DC, Yothu Yindi, Garbage, Ash and George. Through a plethora of labels worldwide, you'll find Michael's fingerprints on success stories ranging from UK stadium rock trio Muse to Australian legends 28 Days, Motorace, Eskimo Joe, Gabriella Cilmi and Daniel Merriweather.
"A&R is hands-on, ear to the ground, knowing everyone," he says. "Lawyers, agents, promoters, managers… getting out there and seeing bands until 'til three in the morning, making sure you get in the way of luck."
Today Michael vast experience has culminated in a roster that has guided the careers of many artists including Vera Blue, Xavier Rudd, Polish Club, Stonefield, Owl Eyes, Sunshine and Disco Faith Choir, Dan Sultan & Production team’s MSquared and The Mak Bros. His Left Hand Publishing company, his Wunderkind record label (in partnership with Michael Gudinski) and his consultancy role on The Voice keep his radar on permanent alert to unheard voices.
His latest venture, The Right Path is a one-on-one consultancy which tailors unique designs for success for new artists taking their first steps into the music business. "I have an affinity for helping artists discover who and what they are," he says. "I enjoy watching artists grow from zero to hero."