CoinopTODAY.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — AMI Entertainment, the software and music subsidiary of jukebox maker Rowe International Corp., has promoted Brian Hoekstra to the newly formed position of Content Manager. 

Hoekstra, who joined AMI two years ago as Music Librarian, will exercise greater authority in developing and expanding AMI music products in his new management post. He also takes on additional duties, which includes the writing of press releases announcing new artists and label deals, and will author monthly AMI updates for various trade publications within the music industry designed to keep Rowe/AMI patrons on top of the latest, hottest and upcoming music playing on the AMI Entertainment Network.

Rowe’s music expert will continue to be involved in the tasks for which he was responsible as music librarian. Among these are communicating with more than 50 record labels, coordinating the flow of new content to jukeboxes, and managing and overseeing re-releases, title editing, issues concerning explicit lyrics and audio replacements. In his customer service functions, Hoekstra identifies and obtains music for niche markets and educates record labels about Rowe’s digital jukebox products and the coin-op industry’s resurging role as a promotional tool for the music industry and artists.

“Brian’s love of music and his growing experience in the jukebox segment make him a perfect fit for the new position of content manager,” said John Margold, Rowe’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, “and he will participate in decisions pertaining to different areas of AMI music that he was not involved in before. And because he understands and relates well to music fans of all ages, Brian can offer valuable insight during the design and update phases for our jukeboxes’ graphic user interface and the system’s attract loops...just about any software component related to the selection of music at the point of sale.”

Prior to joining Rowe’s AMI Entertainment division in November 2004, Hoekstra held a variety of jobs related to music. He was music director for radio station WCKS (1610 AM) at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI), where he was an adjunct professor of media planning. He was a member of the production crew for stage and lighting at AVR Productions for such international touring acts as Keith Urban, Edgar Winter, Gladys Knight and Starship. He also was media services director at Rivertown Media & Communications. His writing credentials include published articles in Creem Magazine (Detroit), D.I.W. Magazine (Modesto, CA), Spin (New York), Harp (Maryland), Lansing State Journal (Lansing, MI), HearSay Magazine (Streetsboro, OH), Big Idea Magazine (Detroit), Music Revue (Grand Rapids, MI), and Indulge GR Magazine (Grand Rapids, MI),

What are the new content manager's favorite bands of all time? “Oasis, Boston, Van Halen, Buffalo Tom, Dandy Warhols, and Descendents,” Hoekstra answered. “All the music I listened to in high school provided a blueprint for my listening habits. In a sense, I am eternally 18 years old.”

Hoekstra is passionate about music and would be happy to discuss content issues with jukebox operators. He can be contacted by calling (800) 393-0201, ext. 294, or by emailing bhoekstra@roweinternational.com.