"48 Music Biz Jobs of Tomorrow -- And How to Get Them"

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CHIPOTLE PLAYLIST CURATOR
Studio Orca owner Chris Golub chooses the tunes soundtracking your lunch

Golub’s interests in music and the culinary world dovetailed early in his career: After serving as his college radio station’s music director at Villanova University, he became the resident DJ at influential clubs like Philadelphia’s Bank, then opened his own wine/sake bar in Denver. It was there that Chipotle founder Steve Ells paid him a few visits in 2009, eventually asking if Golub would make a couple of sample playlists for his fast-casual chain. That same year, Golub founded Studio Orca, which now curates music for a variety of restaurants, boutique hotels and retail stores. As Chipotle’s official “director of vibe,” Golub programs the in-store playlists from a pool of “unique, upbeat, cross-genre” songs he estimates as “floating around 600 tracks.” He starts each day scanning music blogs to stay up to date on the latest releases and hits local clubs early in the night, “so I can catch the opening acts, many of whom will be the next superstars in the industry.” In between, he researches bands, producers and labels.