Forrest Capital Partners (PRNewsfoto/Forrest Capital Partners)
Forrest Capital Partners has numerous investments in the entertainment vertical and looking for new ways to diversify has been paramount over this past year. Ben McConley comments, “I’ve long been on the peripheral of the music business and certainly have relationships with talent, but never out in front in any major capacity.” Last week in Los Angeles changed all that. McConley continues, “I took a meeting with a young singer and prolific songwriter and I made the decision it was time to make the move to support, contribute and connect all of my various relationships. I want to give the opportunity to artists I believe in who have a solid foundation and talent.”
Ben McConley, an executive producer of over 29 film and television projects, has always enjoyed giving new producers a chance to get their projects financed and distributed. Now, with the landscape of music changing so radically, it’s an interesting time where there is clearly not one road to success. The music business has its challenges, is extremely competitive and will continue to individualize as new artists break through.
At the end of the day, artists still need the support of even a small independent record label. It’s in the same way that films and TV need a solid distribution plan beyond the hopes of a festival route. In keeping with McConley’s initial foray of financing films, this new investment into artist development and production will be the ultimate goal stepping into this new venture. It’s an opportunity for McConley to support talent, unite them with the right producers and managers, and set them on a creative path with all the right financial backing—in essence, connect the dots.
“I was introduced to this new talent, heard them belt out an original song and thought I had already heard it before. I think there’s incredible potential here.” McConley is being quite hush and private thus far regarding his rollout or future plans or the talent at hand. However, undeniably, the challenge for supporting young talent is finding and putting together the right team from management to producers to musicians. It further comes down to getting the right exposure with important social media platforms leading the way.
McConley is somewhat reserved about having long standing relationships with major talent in the music business, but it’s a valid point for him. His relationships will most certainly be a driving force.
Forrest Capital Partners will continue to grow its entertainment ventures through the end of this year and into 2018.