Tom Leu - Independent Entrepreneur

First, can you give me a little background of how you got into Christian music?

I have played drums in rock bands for over twenty years throughout the Midwest. In 2001 I met the guys in Anavox to do a review of their debut CD, A New Voice, for a local newspaper I was writing for at the time. We hit it off immediately; I was struck by their music and message, and soon became their manager and drummer.

How did things develop for you from artist to more of a management role?

With my experience as a player and manager for both secular and Christian artists, I created the Musician’s Corner® columns, books and audio programs in 2001. I began to realize that there weren’t any unsigned indie artist music resources out there for bands and artists at the local and regional levels. The Musician’s Corner® teaches unsigned bands and artists (regardless of genre) how to market and sell their music more effectively, more often… from right where they’re at today. This is the nuts and bolts on how to get more gigs, sell more CD’s and merchandise, and consistently bring more people out to your shows. The progression from artist to manager was natural once the Musician’s Corner® came out. Musician’s Corner® articles appear on hundreds of indie music websites and on over 50 broadcast and internet radio stations. Today, I speak at music conferences across the country, manage the band Anavox, and produce Under Truth Radio.

You're running an online radio station. How does that all tie in with artist development?

Under Truth Radio (UTR) features the best Christian and positive mainstream artists from all over the world. In addition to big name signed acts, UTR also feature some of the best unsigned independent artists from across the U.S. UTR also broadcasts my syndicated Musician’s Corner® radio spots that deliver marketing and promotion tips and strategies for indie artists to take their music career to the next levels. Best of all, you can listen to Under Truth Radio for FREE online, 24/7! Here’s the direct link to listen: www.undertruthradio.com

In regards to the radio station, how have you gone about song selection? I notice that you switch it up a lot and play both secular and Christian music. As well, you play a nice variety of Christian music, from old-school to present day.

Song selection and programming for Under Truth Radio is very deliberate and purposeful. I listen to a lot of music from today’s new artists to yesterday’s classics and always keep up with what’s happening currently in the music business. Through my Musician’s Corner® books and CD’s, as well as from UTR, I get exposed to a ton of great indie music out there that most people don’t even know exists. Under Truth Radio accepts unsigned band submissions through Sonicbids at www.sonicbids.com/undertruthradio

Second part, do you ever get complaints? I'm asking because bands like Alice In Chains come fairly close to darkness at times.

I haven’t gotten any complaints on the play list. I would welcome complaints though, as well as praise for the station, because that means people are really listening… and that’s what I want. This station is for ALL people, Christian or not, who have normal concerns and questions about life and spirituality. I wouldn’t be able to attract a non-Christian audience with just “Christian-labeled” music. These people have never heard of Third Day, Disciple, or Tait… as good as they are. My approach is to play the best of yesterday and today’s Christian and positive mainstream artists, as well as the searching and questioning songs by some secular artists. For example, I play a song by the band Alice in Chains called “Down In A Hole” because it’s about a guy crying out for answers; searching for something more; wondering if he can really be saved. A place all of us have been more than once if we’re being honest. And unfortunately, for the lead singer of this band, he never found out… he never got out of the hole. This song, this band, and this radio station are about real life; the real stuff that most people go through. This isn’t designed to be a cutesy, unrealistic view of the world, of Christianity, or of life for that matter. I want to talk about real issues and challenges that we all face, and then provide the answer… God’s answer in His word. This is about asking questions AND providing the answers.

I want to attract listeners first with a wide variety of well known mainstream artists, and then expose them to some great Christian bands and artists that they are not familiar with, and WOW them from there with the great music and the great message these artists provide. Follow this approach up with some of the best indie and unsigned bands from all over the globe along with powerful inspirational messages by yours truly; and I know we’re on to something very cool that I haven’t been able to find in the past.

The positive feedback I’ve gotten from so many listeners already is telling me that we’re definitely striking a chord in people. This is the kind of station playing the music and messages that I could have used years ago on my roller coaster journey… and I know I’m not the only one, I’m not unique.

I've heard a few guest endorsements from secular bands like Cheap Trick. Aside from the Rockford connection is there another connection there behind the scenes?

Bun E. Carlos, the drummer of Cheap Trick, endorsed my Musician’s Corner® radio spots which air on Under Truth Radio, and has appeared as a guest on my TV talk show called Ground Level. Bun E. is a great guy who has always helped support Rockford-area people doing cool things. Of course, Anavox and Anavox Ministries also encourage and support both Under Truth Radio and the Musician’s Corner®.

Can you elaborate on "salvation not segregation" and how does that tie into your ultimate goal?

That line is from one of my A Moment of Truth segments that air on Under Truth Radio. My A Moment of Truth messages, like the music programming on UTR, are designed to be compelling, provocative, and relevant for today. With titles like “Shift Happens”, “Talking Heads”, “Breaking the Silence”, and “Zealous or Jealous”, I believe we are accomplishing just that. Too much secular and Christian media, in my opinion, polarizes people to choose a side before giving any of us the chance to really listen to what’s being said BEFORE we make a decision. The lines that we draw between “the left” and “the right” need to be blurred. Without watering down the Truth, all of us need to be able to reach people right where they are at to give them the best chance to hear our life changing messages. Segregation is usually the product of extreme left liberalism and/or extreme right religiosity. This isn’t about politics, but I personally don’t subscribe to either extreme. I suspect that the majority of the world doesn’t either. Most folks live somewhere in the middle; and these are the people that I am trying to reach through Under Truth Radio.

Anything else?

Thank you Ken for featuring what I am doing with Under Truth Radio, the Musician’s Corner® and Anavox!

For more information on these endeavors please direct visitors to the following websites:

Tom Leu – www.tomleu.com
Under Truth Radio – www.undertruth.com
The Musician’s Corner® – www.successinmusic.com
Anavox (the band) – www.anavox.com

Email Tom Leu at info@undertruth.com with questions, comments, or to book Tom to speak at your event. Thank you!