TEAM

FRANCIS GARCIA Chief Creative Officer

Francis Garcia brings 20+ years of multidisciplinary music executive experience spanning creative direction, composition, music supervision, sonic identity, licensing, A&R, live experiences, and audio production to his role of CCO/Co-Founder of AFS. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Radio/TV/Film, Garcia spent the better part of the 90s scoring indie feature films, skateboarding and spreading the DIY gospel in Austin, where his former bands recorded with Black Flag/Descendents producer, Spot, and shared the stage with Fugazi, Green Day and Jimmy Eat World. Following several years as Head of Music Supervision & Composer at Elias Music in NYC, Garcia founded SHOUT IT OUT LOUD MUSIC - one of Sonic Scoop Magazine’s ‘Top Music & Audio Business Developments of 2012’. His body of work consists of hundreds of spots, including music for YouTube, Squarespace, Amazon, Verizon, Broad City, Disney, Viceland, Audi, Toyota, Ralph Lauren, Victoria’s Secret, CoverGirl and Hasbro. Most notably, he helmed the sonic rebrand of Comedy Central, garnering ‘Best Sonic Branding’ accolades at the 2019 Association of Music Producers Awards. Garcia’s accomplishments also include: curating 16 consecutive SXSW showcases; sponsoring high-visibility events with Idles, Phoenix, Moby and BrooklynVegan; co-creating the longstanding music supervisor DJ night, HANG THE DJ; and co-directing the SXSW Film-premiered, documentary short “100 Bands In 100 Days”.

LYLE HYSEN SVP Creative Licensing

In addition to his work with Academy Fight Songs, Lyle Hysen is the Founder/Head Creative of preeminent music licensing company, BANK ROBBER MUSIC. Since being established in 2004, BRM has worked closely with revered labels (including Merge, Mute and Delmark Records) to place songs in acclaimed television shows such as “The Walking Dead”, “Silicon Valley”, “Shameless” and “13 Reasons Why“, as well as in commercial campaigns for internationally renowned brands like Facebook, Nike, Sonos, Chipotle and Red Lobster. In 2007, Lyle created the music publishing company, House Of Hassle, with partners Ken Weinstein and Gandhar Savur, who subsequently signed artists such as Built To Spill, The Magnetic Fields, The Tallest Man On Earth, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Tortoise, Minor Threat and Zach Schwartz from Rogue Wave. In 2016, House Of Hassle acquired ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING (originally founded by Cathi Gibson and Geoff Travis in the UK) and merged it with the existing HOH publishing company. Prior to founding BRM and HOH/RTP, Lyle functioned as Head of Film & TV Licensing at Matador Records. Previous to Matador, Lyle was the drummer and manager of the band, Das Damen, from 1986 to 1994, who toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe, while releasing records on a number of stalwart independent labels including SST, Sub Pop and Twin/Tone Records. Lyle is currently the drummer of The Royal Arctic Institute.

MATT DUFOUR Chief Operating Officer

Nashville-based Matt DuFour began his music career at The Cornerstone Agency, managing specialty radio campaigns for many heavy hitters, while also working in the experiential marketing department to execute programs for lifestyle brands like Converse, Adidas, Puma and Diesel. Matt then began his transition into live events as the Director of Vibe at Hard Rock Hotels where he launched a live music series with acts like the Black Lips, Built to Spill, YACHT and Best Coast, forming new partnerships with venues, brands and media outlets along the way. Matt then took on the role of VP of Artist Development at ReverbNation, all the while continuing his work in live events and brand sponsorships. In 2019, Matt began working with Virgin Hotels, playing an integral role in the opening of the brand’s Nashville property in spring 2020, where he crafted the property’s musical point of view, including music and entertainment programming for all three hotel outlets. Matt marries this extensive background in A&R, live events and branding - along with significant experience as the President of his family business, the DuFour Legacy Corporation, and as the founder of Loose Change Ventures - with his role as Chief Operating Officer of AFS.

GANDHAR SAVUR SVP Legal Affairs

Gandhar Savur is a transactional music attorney based in NYC, who currently serves as a Partner and SVP of Legal Affairs for Academy Fight Songs, Rough Trade Publishing and Bank Robber Music. He is a co-founder of Academy Fight Songs and Rough Trade Publishing. In this capacity, Gandhar leads the negotiations for all signings to the client roster, oversees the administration of all licensing efforts in tv, film and advertising, as well as managing catalogue licensing for new platforms and technologies. In addition to his work with these companies, Gandhar is also the founder of Savur Law PC - a boutique music law firm that represents over one hundred artists, individuals and businesses on all matters related to entertainment, corporate, transactional, employment, intellectual property and contract law. Gandhar’s wealth of experience is derived from over 15 years of practicing law in the music industry, particularly in the areas of licensing, recording agreements and publishing. Gandhar brings this knowledge and experience to his leadership role at Academy Fight Songs. Before practicing law, Gandhar began his music industry career in the licensing department of Matador Records. And before that, he spent a number of years touring in relatively unsuccessful punk bands.

JOSH JOSEPH Chief Strategy Officer

Josh’s extensive success in business has led him to the position of Chief Strategy Officer for Academy Fight Songs. Josh was a Founder of Grassroots Cannabis, a multi-state cannabis company that was sold in July 2020 for approximately $850 million. Starting with three successful dispensary license applications in Illinois, Josh and his partners built Grassroots to the largest privately-held cannabis company in the US, operating in 12 states and with over 1100 employees. Josh also spent the majority of his career in commercial real estate, with principal and brokerage transactions totaling in excess of $1 billion. His vision behind investing has been strategic and opportunistic, while the clients he has served and continues to serve to include some of the country’s largest banks, special servicers, and public and private real estate companies. In addition to his goal of achieving market domination for Academy Fight Songs, Josh is the Founder and CEO of Big Plan Holdings, a Nashville-based diversified family holding company with investments in various industries, including music and entertainment. As a serial entrepreneur, Josh helps incubate new business ventures and sits as a Board Member of various companies and organizations.

AJ TOBEY SVP of A&R

If you've attended a show in NYC, chances are AJ Tobey was there, too. As SVP of A&R for Academy Fight Songs, Rough Trade Publishing and Bank Robber Music, AJ has been busy curating the best new sounds to join the already impressive publishing roster that includes artists like The Magnetic Fields, Alvvays and Chelsea Wolfe, and labels such as Merge, Polyvinyl and Mute Records, among many others. In the music publishing business, you are only as good as your last sync. Luckily for AJ, and the rest of his cohorts at Bank Robber Music, they consistently land big pay days for all of their artists by placing music in top tier shows like “Lovecraft Country,” “Shameless,” “The Simpsons” and “Fargo,” in recent films “Candyman,” “Moxie,” “Play It As It Lies" and “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before,” as well as in commercial campaigns for internationally renowned brands, including Apple, Volkswagen and Chips Ahoy. Before accepting a position in the licensing world, AJ spent 8 years managing emerging indie rock bands, consulting for record labels, and heading up operations for Flea Marketing, a company that served as the liaison between labels (including Warner Bros, Dangerbird and Barsuk Records) and top independent record stores.

KYRA WENDEL Creative Services Manager

Kyra Wendel is our Manager of Creative Services. After working in the fashion industry for nearly a decade in New York and San Francisco, Kyra settled in Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. She eventually landed a position at The Greater Goods Co., where she handled creative pitching, A&R, marketing, music supervisor relationships and social media management. She also worked alongside LA-based producers and recording artists to create custom songs that ultimately landed in ads for Nike and Apple. In addition to her position at AFS, Kyra currently resides at Bank Robber Music and Rough Trade Publishing, where she is able to fuel her passion for indie music and her desire to help artists, while representing a roster she admires.

KIM VLACHOS Head of Administration

As Head of Administration, Kim Vlachos manages all areas of copyright administration for AFS, including registrations, royalties and catalogue licensing. A Berklee College of Music graduate, Kim has held licensing positions at Cherry Lane Music and the record label division of BMG. She has also worked at YouTube, functioning specifically in content management, while assisting in projects related to YouTube Music. Following YouTube, Kim transitioned back to music publishing as Director of Licensing at Reservoir Media Management, overseeing various license types, including mechanical, samples, lyrics, digital video streaming and grand rights. Kim also manages the daily operations of the administration and royalties department of Rough Trade Publishing.