Highlighted Press

THE BARCLAY CRENSHAW PROJECT — UKF

Hotstar: Mersiv, Colorado’s Rising Bass Music Star — Pollstar

20 Questions With Eprom — Billboard

About MP3 PR

MP3 PR is a leading independent music and entertainment public relations firm, specializing in conveying authentic stories about music, people, and experiences. Our services are marked by a comprehensive, personalized approach, deep industry knowledge, and an unwavering commitment to amplifying our clients' unique visions.

Our Approach: MP3 PR’s approach to PR is grounded on 3 core pillars:

1) Brand Strategy: Crafting a unique brand identity and voice that resonates with audiences.

2) Brand Awareness: Expanding visibility through strategic placements across various media channels.

3) Press Relations: Building strong relationships with key press outlets, securing impactful coverage.

Services & Deliverables

• Editorial Coverage/Placements

• Playlist Placements

• Influencers/Content Placements

• Social Media Placements

• YouTube Placements

• Local/Regional Media (Radio, Editorial)

• Dance-Focused Social Placements

By working with MP3 PR, you'll have access to a network of industry resources, contacts, and consulting services. We work internally with teams for long-term goals, amplifying authentic storylines for brands, projects, and artists.

Labels Worked With

Artists Worked With

The Team

Franz Hilberath - Founder

Meet Franz Hilberath, a dynamic professional celebrated for his ability to craft compelling narratives in the music industry. Starting his journey in journalism, Franz has contributed to esteemed publications such as Creative Loafing, USA Today, EDM.com, MP3 MAG, and CULTR. His work includes covering international events and conducting insightful interviews with industry pioneers like ODESZA, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Marc Rebillet, and RUFUS DU SOL.

In 2019, Franz transitioned to public relations, leveraging his storytelling expertise to elevate iconic artists and labels. As an independent publicist, he has propelled music from labels such as Zeds Dead’s Deadbeats & Altered States, Of The Trees’ Memory Palace, and Monstercat. He has led campaigns for high-profile albums including DIESEL’s (Shaquille O’Neal’s DJ project) GORILLA WARFARE, Eprom’s Syntheism, PEEKABOO’s Eyes Wide Open, KOAN Sound’s Led by Ancient Light, and Mersiv’s Pretty Dark Loud.

Franz's recent successes include collaborations with new clients such as the Infrasound Festival, Destructo’s Friendship Cruise, and Barclay Crenshaw’s pivot from Claude VonStroke, further solidifying his reputation as a trusted partner in the music industry.

Franz owns and manages MP3 PR, an independent public relations firm focused on press management that provides an in-house feel for the entire brand, event, or artist team. His strategic approach includes consulting on short and long-term plans and goals, ensuring alignment with clients' visions and objectives.

As a music and branding strategist, Franz excels at enhancing the profiles of artists, brands, and events through innovative activations, extensive coverage, and strategic content placements. He is also the founder and head of operations at MP3 MAG, covering the North American music festival scene, and manages artists such as Meduso and MLOTIK.

Connor Phillips - Lead Publicist

Connor Phillips, based in Miami, is a lead publicist at MP3 PR. He has conducted successful PR campaigns for the likes of Zeds Dead’s Altered States label, VASSY, and Throttle to name a few. Currently, Connor is spearheading campaigns for Monstercat, NITTI, Night Tales, and more.

Specializing in modern PR and innovative activation, he excels in connecting clients with evolving younger audiences. With a knack for bridging different sectors of the world together, Connor frequently engages in partnerships across sports, cinema, gaming, food, and a wide spectrum of brands and influencers for the labels and artists he works with.

Expanding on his time as a resident DJ and independent event coordinator, Connor’s life revolves around dance music and its ability to unify people from across the world. He is a passionate melodic house and techno enthusiast, bringing his love for the genre into his career. Additionally, Connor serves on editorial teams for Magnetic Magazine, iEDM, and MP3 MAG. These dynamic roles further enrich his industry insights and connections.

Riley Lopez - Lead Publicist

Meet Ashley, also known as Riley, a versatile professional who has excelled in various roles within the music industry, including record label A&R, artist management, and crafting compelling narratives for artists and music festivals worldwide in the PR world. With a strong foundation in dance music, Riley has made significant contributions to esteemed teams and organizations such as INFAMOUS PR, Mad Decent Records, Insomniac Events, Dim Mak Records, Next Step Management, and now leads artist and festival campaigns at MP3 PR.

Her track record includes handling label distribution for a diverse range of artists, including Diplo, Dillon Francis, NITTI, Party Favor, Sidepiece, Wax Motif, Burna Boy, Blondi:sh, among many others. She is adept at strategizing and executing campaigns for top-tier festivals globally, such as Coachella's Do LaB, Insomniac's HARD Summer Music Festival, Holy Ship! Wrecked, Hangout Music Festival, Lightning in a Bottle, CRSSD Festival, Imagine Music Festival, ARC Music Festival, Seismic Dance Event, many more, demonstrating her expertise in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the industry.

Riley, in collaboration with her co-partner Franz Hilberath at MP3 PR, emphasizes press management to create an in-house environment for the entire brand, event, or artist team.

Petey Mac - Lead Publicist

I’m Petey and have been fortunate to work in the music industry for 13 years now. It all started my freshman year of college in 2011 where a friend of mine helped me get a job writing for Your EDM, which at the time was just a small blog with about 50 followers. I always loved writing and I enjoyed the opportunity not only because it introduced me to so much great music, but gave me free access to shows and festivals. What more could you want?

This opened the door for me to meet so many other journalists, artists and managers over the years, which in addition to my own artistic pursuits, motivated me to want to get into PR. I’ve always been drawn to the story of who people are and why they create their art. I’ve also been passionate about using my love for writing to help tell that to as wide of an audience as possible. Plus, I’ve always loved working with people so PR seemed like a no brainer.

After operating independently for years, I joined forces with Magnum PR, where I refined my skills even further on campaigns for industry giants like Claptone, Pendulum, and Disco Donnie’s festivals, among many others.

Since parting ways, I’ve been blessed to be working with so many great clients, including my friends such as rising Chicago artist Sherm, Deep Tropics Music Festival, pop/emotronic artist Rich Delinquent, as well as beginning work with the great team at MP3 to help lead campaigns with their clients. I’ve been able to land stories with the likes of Forbes, DJ Mag, Uproxx, Earmilk, and the best part is, these stories have made a tangible impact on the careers of my clients.

I love what I do and am excited for all that the future has in store!

Ashley Kelaita - Artist Management

Ashley Kelaita, a founding member of the MP3 MAG team and a Florida State University alumna, thrives at the heart of the electronic music scene in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her extensive background in managing underground artists and maintaining a network of promoters across the Southeast enriches her role. Alongside Franz of MP3 PR, she co-manages promising projects like Meduso and MLOTIK, bringing a wealth of industry insight to elevate emerging talents. When not shaping the trajectories of up-and-coming artists or delving into music journalism, Ashley indulges in her passions for concerts, music festivals, and travel, continually exploring new cultural landscapes.

Maddy George - Executive Asst. / Jr. Publicist

Maddy George, based in Chicago, serves as the Executive Assistant and Junior Publicist at MP3 PR. With a rich background in music marketing, event coverage, branding, and social media, Maddy has contributed to projects with Insomniac, MP3 MAG, and various underground event companies. Her experience spans from promotional roles to artist and event photography, making her a well-rounded asset in the music industry. Passionate about music since childhood, she’s dedicated her career to becoming an actively contributing member of the music scene.

Maddy’s current focus is honing her PR skills, aiming to perform at a level that matches her peers and surpasses industry standards. She’s deeply committed to the craft, driven by her desire to support artists and amplify their stories through strategic campaigns.

Outside of her professional life, Maddy is a full-time music fan who enjoys traveling, exploring new places, and immersing herself in nature. When she’s not attending shows, she’s either at the beach, hiking, or dominating in fantasy football. Music is the thread that ties her personal and professional life together, making her an invaluable part of the MP3 PR team.