Your Music America (YMA), a newly-formed independent boutique label, has announced its first signings with an innovative blend of artistic experience and a finely-tuned business sensibility. Burbank, California-based YMA is dedicated to seeking out fresh new talent to develop an independent rock n’ roll roster backed by the extensive marketing, promotion and production resources that major-label artists enjoy. YMA was formed by renowned musicians/producers Larry Lee and Richie Zito along with a group of investors headed up by Amy Brandt, President and CEO of WMC Mortgage, one of the largest mortgage banks in the country. In 2004, after building WMC into a 3 billion dollar company, Brandt, along with her partners, owners of Sirius Radio, sold WMC to General Electric. Brandt, Lee and Zito created this label with the specific intent to not only unearth and sign hot new musical acts, but also to focus on exploring the process and growth from which each artist evolves. “A&R is more than simply scouting and signing musical talent…it is guiding Artists through the creative journey of making records for years and years to come,” says Richie Zito, VP of A&R. “In a sense, we want to bring it back to what the business used to be about,” says Larry Lee, President/Head of A&R, “We are an artist centric company, focusing on the development and enrichment of the artists we sign,” adds Lee. The combined musical expertise and business savvy of each of YMA’s co-founders make this forward-thinking label a key addition to the growing trend of independent record labels in the music industry. Larry Lee, President/Head of A&R at YMA, began his musical career at age 16 by landing a record deal with RCA Records and in the 70s toured with Badfinger & cult favorite The Scooters. As a musician and producer, Lee has worked with such artists as Meatloaf, Roger Daltry of The Who and numerous projects with composer and three-time Oscar-winner Giorgio Moroder. For A&R support, Lee turned to long time friend, renowned record producer and now VP of A&R Richie Zito. Zito’s career began when he signed a record deal with Atlantic Records at the ripe age of 15. Throughout the 70s and early 80s Zito recorded and toured with Elton John, Neil Sedaka, The Beach Boys and many more. As an arranger he contributed to such soundtracks as Flashdance, Top Gun and Scarface. Zito then went on to produce over 40 chart hits and was named Billboard’s Producer of The Year in 1990.