Get To Know The WTF Team: Stephanie Maksimow
Here at WTF Publicity, we are a tight-knit group of hard-working publicists! We each have a unique personality, approach to PR, and taste in music. Since we are experts at arranging interviews for our clients, we think the best way to get to know us is through a Q&A too! To start off our new series of “Get To Know You” features, please meet our fearless leader, Founder/CEO, and Director of Publicity - Stephanie Maksimow.
1. Why did you decide to launch WTF PR?
Stephanie: “I had been a music publicist and artist manager for many years before moving into a corporate position. During the pandemic, things changed, and I realized my corporate job was not where I wanted to be. I hit a major depression, missed my old life and career, and was burnt out by people above me who control my decisions (corporate life, amiright?!) I felt pretty stuck at the time, so I took time off of my job to focus on my mental health and reflect on my goals -- and I came back to the music industry! Instead of finding a new job, I just started my LLC and told friends I was returning to the crazy world of music PR - and the rest is history!”
2. How did you get involved with music publicity?
Stephanie: "This feels like a loaded question, haha. I guess you can say I got into the music industry early. My mom worked in the music industry as an editor for a rock band's fanzine, and I started hitting the road with her and going to concerts at a VERY early age (my first show, was RUSH when I was 6!). My love for music and concerts grew with me into my teen years and in high school I was one of the kids hanging out with local bands, booking and promoting shows, and "managing" my friends. I then widdled my way into Street Teaming for Fueled By Ramen and fell in love with the promotional and marketing side of the industry. Years later, I went to graduate school to get my MBA in Music Business and interned at a music PR agency during that time. By the time I graduated, I had been with that company for years and made it to Publicity Director.”
3. What do you think makes your approach to PR unique and indispensable to the industry?
Stephanie: “I tend to see all possibilities and then work, backward? Is that the right word? I tend to view campaigns from the outside-in...as a long-term marketing strategy, seeing publicity as a marathon, not a race. It's not about always getting an article on a well-known magazine or blog - one piece on Rolling Stone or Alt Press will likely not break your career. But it could be a variety of things that break your career - partnering with the right brand, collaborating with another artist, playing a showcase, partnering with a charity. There is value to long-term, consistent publicity support. Publicity is not just print news and magazines anymore, it's partnerships. Partnering with influencers, other artists, brands, etc. I try to see publicity as casting a wide net to spread word of mouth -- and shaking hands and playing nice, and sometimes even taking big risks along the way, so people never forget you.”
4. What is your most noteworthy project or achievement to date?
Stephanie: “I have a really special place in my heart for the band RIVALS. They have been with me for about 6 years -- minus the 3 years when I worked in the corporate world (although I still supported them then!). They were the first client who came back aboard when I started WTF, and although it has been a long time coming, I am incredibly proud of their growth over the years. From their first album, "Damned Soul," to their latest release, "Sad Looks Pretty On Me," -- and now, they are independently releasing singles, and finally, it feels like we have hit that burst of momentum that will make us unstoppable. It feels really good to be part of a band's growth and development like that.”
5. What are your favorite genres of music? Favorite artists?
Stephanie: “Oooohhh this is a fun one!!! I love weird music. My favorite genres are genre-bending (lol). I grew up heavily influenced by progressive music, so I think that translates to my tastes in adulthood...my favorite bands are the ones that you can't quite assign a specific genre to, or you have to come up with some weird creative use of words to explain the genre -- The Dear Hunter, Jon Bellion, Between The Buried and Me, AWOLNATION, Twenty One Pilots, are just a few. I also REALLY love Showtunes and Musical Theatre (yup! guilty pleasure), so I joke around a lot that my favorite genre is "Showtuney and Circus-y Rock Music" like Panic! At The Disco, Forgive Durden, or The Killers.”
6. If you could do PR for ANY artist, who would you choose and why?
Stephanie: “HAH! Shiiiiit... I don't know... PR is not easy. and I wouldn't want to ruin a good thing by working for one of my personal favorite bands. So for this, I'd have to say Weird Al Yankovic. Just because, as much as I love him - nothing he does is without fun, so even when the job gets hard, I feel like I would still have a fantastic time (and I can actually listen to all his albums on repeat, dude is a genius).”
Interested in working with Stephanie and the rest of the WTF Publicity team? You can contact us here to arrange a time to ask questions, learn more, and brainstorm ideas on how we can help you take your band, brand, or event to the next level!
