My name is Austin Cook. I wanted to have this page on the website to give you an idea of why I started Band With a Mission.

I grew up in Franklin, TN which most people say is the heart of the Christian Music Industry. They are right :) Chances are, if you go to school or church in Franklin, then you are going to become friends with someone who is either in the Christian Music Business, or their family is.

My best friend's sister is an artist, so every once in a while I would go out with them and do whatever they needed me to do, merch, help with lights, etc. It was at that moment, when I was 13, that I realized that I had to do something in music. So I started playing in a band with 3 guys from my school, and after many years, we actually got pretty good! So good that we thought we could go "Mainstream" :) At this point we were too cool for school. Its one of those scenarios where, if you grew up in Hollywood on a television set (lets say Full House, haha), then you didn't want to do anything in TV its more intriguing for you to be a Movie Star than a Television Star. So, not knowing anyone in Mainstream, I signed us up for the "big event" in Manhattan, NY. The registration fee was $700!!!! I don't think showcase events or seminars should ever be that much money!!!! We were promised that there would be huge record label executives watching and looking to sign people. So we got there, and the only people there were bands that were playing, and there was one person running the event from Las Vegas whos music credentials consisted of her uncle formerly playing drums for a band that nobody had ever heard of.....Awesome......

So we drove home pretty discouraged. On the drive back I thought to myself, "I know enough people in Christian Music to hold a legitimate event." I always remembered that. So I kept it in the back of my mind and went on living life and playing music for a while, then I decided to go for it!

I got everything in place, sponsors, labels, management, etc. Held the event, and at the completion of the first year found a band named Rush of Fools. Their Record Label is Midas Records, they are Managed by Patton House Entertainment, and Booked by The Greg Oliver Agency. They received a #1 on the Christian AC Charts on the exact weekend of their 1 year anniversary from when they played at Band With a Mission, and they are the 2nd highest selling debut artist. All of this is good, but the amazing thing about the band is how they are changing lives across the globe. Hearing the stories they tell is nothing short of unbelievable!!

Over the years we have restructured a couple of details with Band With a Mission. We are now concentrating on Artist Development, with the benefit of one band getting signed to a major label. We show every band what they are great at, and what they need to work on, and give them a 3 page assessment at the end of their showcase. Also, a handful of bands and artist get chosen to come back to Nashville and work with a producer and label and develop a 4-6 song demo.

I hope this gives you a better understanding of what Band With a Mission is.

Blessings!