Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiki Plesha.
Hi Kiki, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve worked in the entertainment industry for most of my life. In my early years, my focus was on music, dance, and theater. I first stepped on a stage at age 4 and discovered that I loved applause. I took up guitar/singing at age 8 and I was off to the races. After High School, my attention turned to fashion and makeup artistry and I was hired by a modelling agency in Chicago where I mostly worked representing various cosmetic companies. One day, I heard about an opportunity to apply for a position in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart on the 8th floor. I thought, “Why not?” The company was looking for a woman that had a “model look,” but could type, answer phones, and formulate an intelligent sentence…a tall order in the modelling world. There was a “cattle call” for this position and I found myself smack dab in a room full of leggy blondes. At that time, I was a sensible brunette dressed in a pin-striped charcoal business suit sporting my grandmother’s pearls around my neck. I felt perfectly dowdy next to all of these wannabe Rockettes in mini skirts. Needless to say, I was shocked to learn that I landed the position! Apparently, my new boss liked the pearls. That is how I found myself working in a marketing and advertising office that represented late night talk show king, Johnny Carson. This is also where I honed my marketing skills and found that I really enjoyed the “business side” of entertainment. I parlayed these abilities into a career in public relations. 40 years later, I am fortunate to work in this field to this day.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As I feel an affinity with unsigned independent artists, I sought to utilize my “gift for gab” and creative writing to their betterment. Many of the artists I worked with were what we call “emerging artists.” Translated, no one has heard of them and it’s my job to advance their careers and obtain media coverage for them. However, unlike my early endeavors in the 80’s, we now had the introduction of the world wide web, which some refer to as a blessing and a curse….a blessing due to the global reach, and a curse due to the saturated market it creates. I choose the “half full” route and embraced the tools that social media and the internet presented. I’ve often said that anyone can promote a super star — the interviews literally come to you, but you must be especially tenacious to put an independent artist on the map! I thrive on meeting that challenge. Choosing music as a career is not for wusses. It’s a hard road. There aren’t any “overnight sensations.” It’s hard work and only the cream rises to the top. However, one must be patient, keep it moving, and pay their dues! This takes TIME.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have the unique opportunity to work from home. As long as I have a phone and a computer, I’m in business! Good thing, as I moved 26 different times over the decades. Somehow, the bill collectors still find me in spite of my transient life (j/k). Currently, I reside in the wide, open spaces of West Texas in ranch country.
Besides serving a publicist to Ashley Wineland, in the industry, my moniker is “The Fairy Rock Mother.” This title was bestowed on me many years ago due to my dedicated work with independent artists. In the music arena, I am recognized in two different arenas — Public Relations and also, I’m the founder of the global music publication ION Indie Magazine. I launched the magazine in 2014 as I saw a deficit in the realm of music journalism as so many publications were genre specific and there was sparse coverage of talented, deserving emerging independent artists. Media coverage is paramount to struggling artists, thus, ION always features an independent artist on our cover. The magazine is bi-monthly, digital, and interactive. We also work actively to acquire radio airplay for the artists/bands that appear in our pages. However, we also cover and photograph some of the biggest names in music entertainment (i.e. Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Guns N’ Roses, Van Halen, Judas Priest, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Elton John, to name a few) — which drives readers to our magazine who then discover the independent artists, and hopefully, become a member of their fanbases. ION Indie Magazine is a photography-centric publication which celebrates ALL genres of music. Recently, I stepped down as Editor-in-Chief in order to pass the magazine on to my very capable staff so I can now concentrate on my public relations duties for Ashley Wineland. Her career is a full-time job now!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
As I mentioned earlier in this interview, tenacity is paramount when working with artists. At the risk of sounding unoriginal, thinking outside the box is key. A good publicist has a keen eye for detail, creates opportunities for her clients to keep them in the public eye, and understands the artist’s vision and brand. It’s definitely not a 9 to 5 job! It’s long hours (especially during tour season). For the “Love + Heartbreak” tour 2026, Ashley is performing in about 60 cities across the U.S. It is my job to identify the media markets in each of these cities, interface with them, and procure media coverage while promoting Ashley’s music.
When not on tour, there are numerous other tasks to oversee. I also contribute some graphic design duties and support our fabulous social media guru/photographer, Sarah Vitel. Ashley is always working on new music and rolling out video releases, which we build dynamic campaigns around. The website also must be updated, as it is constantly changing to reflect the latest projects and appearances. There are numerous strategy meetings, collaborations to procure — all while following a solid business plan which includes establishing a timeline for various tasks as so many details are time-sensitive such as Press Releases, which I write and distribute in collaboration with Ashley’s. Success is achieved with a defined plan in place and then sticking to it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleywineland.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleywinelandmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyWinelandMusic/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-wineland-3354596a/
- Twitter: https://x.com/AshleyEWineland
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AshleyWineland
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/60ldQrVz9fNI5lZwVqK2dc?si=JXCkBhMqQtK71qpLribKtA
