Billboard puts Amble Down founder on "30 Under 30" list
For every wizard, there is a man behind the curtain. In the case of Bon Iver, that curtain man is Kyle Frenette.
A Chippewa Falls native, Kyle decided as a mere teenager to start a record label out of his bedroom. The purpose: to shed light on the amazing music coming out of our part of the world. It's safe to say Amble Down Records has accomplished that (though in their very specific musical niche), with releases for bands like Daredevil Christopher Wright, Gentle Guest, Meridene, Mike Perry & the Long Beds, Halloween Alaska, Cranes & Crows, and We Are the Willows.
Oh yeah, and he helped launch a little project called Bon Iver. A forgettable, small-town act that has something like 350,000 copies sold of its debut album (and some good buzz for its second). While not on Amble Down, Bon Iver is related to Frenette through his Middle West Management company. He represents the band, as well as S. Carey.
Well, now Kyle has gotten some deserved acclaim. Billboard placed him on their "30 Under 30" list of rising music executives. This started with nominations from readers, then editors chose the cream of the crop. An honor once shared by a small-time dude named Mark Zuckerberg. No big deal.
So check out their nice little write-up on Kyle, and look for him in the corners of music venues near you. He deserves a free high five.