Top 20 Under 40- Mike Rosenthal

Shalom Life is proud to present our 3rd annual ”Top 20 Under 40” list. Over the next 20 days, Shalom Life will showcase 20 individuals of diverse talents and backgrounds that have made a significant contribution to their field both locally and globally. From entrepreneurs to philanthropists, entertainers to doctors, this list places a spotlight on a small sampling of the spectacular, innovative, and passionate Jews that call Toronto home.

Top 20 Under 40- Mike Rosenthal

Age: 30

Born and raised in Toronto, Mike Rosenthal is not your stereotypical musician. Beginning at a very young age, he felt a strong connection to innovative and lyric-driven music that not only told a story, but evoked emotion. After teaching himself to play guitar, he began writing his own songs, at first playing for anyone that would listen, and eventually for fans throughout North America.

In high school and his 20’s, Rosenthal led several popular Toronto-based bands- most notably, Krupke. Although Rosenthal’s sound was avant-garde, thought-provoking, and innovative, he became best known in the industry and among fans for his creative (and most often guerilla) marketing tactics. With one of his bands, he distributed thousands of swearing dictionaries, teaching Torontonians how to swear in multiple languages. Additionally, he saturated the city with “Lyrics on the go” posters, a smart play on the popular “Poetry on the go” TTC campaign. With Krupke, he and fellow band members created an album cover and corresponding promo materials from clay. Needless to say, Rosenthal has a creative mind, not only for music, but music marketing as well.

While pursuing a career as a musician, Rosenthal entered the corporate world, landing a job as a copywriter/campaign manager for a social media and marketing company. After leaving this position for “irreconcilable differences” , he and a close friend launched their own entertainment-focused online advertising firm, Sans Blah. Rosenthal produced one-of-a-kind campaigns for major labels artists with Sony BMG, Warner Music, and more… but quickly realized that although he was becoming successful, his heart lay with Toronto’s indie music scene. Rosenthal wanted to find a way to promote local bands, but understood their limited financial resources… and so Show Gopher was born.

Launched in March 2012, Show Gopher (www.showgopher.com) is the first “listenable concert listings site.”

Show Gopher allows Toronto’s music lovers to not only search through daily, weekly, and monthly listings, but also listen to a sample of each band simply by clicking on their name. Visitors never have to leave the site, can select favorites, create a personal concert schedule, and stay updated through Facebook and Twitter. Show Gopher has become a favorite of venues, music aficionados, promoters, bands, festivals, and anyone looking to discover new music and keep up to date with their local music scene.

Rosenthal, as you can see from the short description above, has been involved in quite a few successful projects in his 30 years, but he considers Show Gopher his greatest accomplishment to date.

“It was something that Toronto really needed, so it feels great to have been lucky enough to get to be a part of it,” Rosenthal shares.

“We couldn’t believe a site like this didn’t already exist. Current listing sites provide information, but they don’t encourage discovery. Show Gopher puts the music into music listings.”

Rosenthal and Show Gopher’s co-founders, Owen Norquay and Devin O’Haire, were thrilled by the site’s instant success, but insisted additional features only available via mobile platforms needed to be implemented to further assist their beloved music scene… and so the Show Gopher mobile site was born.

Find out more about Mike & Show Gopher on page 2!