On My Radar: Dave Rocco

Dave Rocco is music director at West Coast-based Deutsch LA, overseeing music for all the agency’s clients. He has worked with some of the biggest names in music and has helped break artists such as Icona Pop and C2C in his time at Deutsch.

Rocco's career prior to his current role was also all about the music. While attending Boston College he scouted talent for Epic Records and moved on to Atlantic Records to sign and develop artists. He worked as music director and on-air personality in NY, and consulted for MTV, LiveNation, Westwood One, Universal Music and more. He has even played an instrumental part in the success of names like Justin Bieber, plus many more along the way.

Here he turns the focus on himself revealing what makes him tick, including real life Ronald McDonalds, music apps, websites and secret FBI fantasies.

What’s the best ad campaign you’ve seen recently?

Taco Bell Ronald McDonald. (Yeah, it was ours, but it was bold!)

What website(s) do you use most regularly and why?

The Hype Machine for new music and musical trends. Also Indie Shuffle and Billboard.

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought and why?

A new Macbook Pro, because I live on my computer.

Facebook or Twitter?

Neither, Instagram.

What’s your favourite app on your phone and why?

Beats Music, they have awesome playlists.

What’s your favourite TV show and why?

Modern Family, it always makes me laugh.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

Private Parts.

Where were you when inspiration last struck?

My psychologist’s office.

What’s the most significant change you’ve witnessed in the industry since you started working in it?

It’s no longer TV and the Internet; it’s now Internet and TV.

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?

Less voiceovers, more music.

What or who has most influenced your career and why?

Vic Palumbo, our director of integrated production. He gave me the chance to follow my dreams and the ability to make them reality.

Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…

I still secretly wish I was in the FBI.