Champagne Hits Right Notes for Mix of Clients

First things first: Yes, Derek Champagne is his real name.

“That’s a good question, though,” Champagne said with a laugh.

It had to be asked given Champagne’s past life as a songwriter, vocalist and bassist with Los Angeles-based act Just Off Turner. And while Champagne remains active as a songwriter, the vast majority of his professional time since 2007 has been devoted to The Artist Evolution LLC.

TAE is a full-service marketing agency that integrates print, video, Internet and social media tools into its campaigns. Champagne specializes in handling medical groups of all sorts, but also works with interests ranging from a construction company to Bo Mattingly’s sports radio show.

All told, TAE has clients in 12 states, from New York to California. Champagne said he’s had an interest in business since he was a teenager, and it intensified when he served as JOT’s manager.

“I loved business as much as I did music and I just wanted to explore my options as an individual rather than as part of a group,” Champagne said.

If Champagne misses any of the excitement of performing at venues such as The Viper Room and Whisky a Go Go, he doesn’t show it. He’s much prouder, it seems, of royalty checks he still gets from songs featured on “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and MTV’s “Road Rules” among others.

Acts are paid lump sums – usually in the thousands, Champagne said – up front, while royalties are paid quarterly and more often are in the hundreds.

“Sometimes I might get a check for 12 dollars,” Champagne said, “but it’s always good to get money in the mail.”