Leadership Music has named its 2018 class composed of 49 industry leaders from across the country. Founded in 1989 by twelve music industry alumni of Leadership Nashville, Leadership Music has graduated more than 1,100 industry leaders.
The annual program is designed to create a forum for established music industry leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry; to learn as they deep-dive into almost every segment of the music business; and to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences while building lasting relationships with classmates and alumni.
“The Leadership Music Class of 2018 is an impressive group of industry professionals with a wealth of experience and expertise from a diverse field of those that work within the music business,” said Mike Craft, Senior Vice President, Finance, Big Machine Label Group, who, as immediate past president of the board of directors, co-chaired the selection committee with Jeff Gregg, President of Leadership Music and an agent with CAA.
“We had a record number of applications, up 22% from last year, and choosing 49 applicants from among those who applied is one of the most challenging tasks for the selection committee. The selection committee, composed of 33 alumni from every facet of the industry, deliberates over a four-week period, and makes every effort to choose the most balanced and diverse class possible. We all consider it a privilege to serve on this committee.”
Members of the Class of 2018 are:
Al Andrews, Founder/Executive Director, Porter’s Call
- David Angell, Violinist, Nashville Recording Orchestra
- Dave Barnes, Artist
- Amelia Wang Binder, Vice President, NMPA, (Washington, DC)
- Legina Chaudoin, Principal, O’Neil Hagaman,
- Kelly Clague, Senior Vice President, EM.Co
- Monica Coates, Vice President, A&R, Motown Gospel
- Chris Cobb, Co-Owner/Co-Founder, JR Facility Management
- Tim Dadson, Deputy General Counsel, SoundExchange (Washington, DC)
- Kat Davis, CEO/President, The Brown Book Agency
- Chris DeStefano, Songwriter/Record Producer
- Nic Dugger, Owner, TNDV: Television LLC
- Darren Elrod, Senior Vice President, Finance & Operations, Provident Music Group
- Mike Fernandez, Dean, College of Entertainment and the Arts, Lipscomb University
- Jason Fridenstine, Business Manager, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.
- Rick Froio, Executive Vice President, Black River Records
- Phil Guerini, Vice President, Music Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide/GM, Radio Disney Network (Burbank, CA)
- Michael Guth, Chief Operating Officer, Opry Entertainment Group
- Wayne Haun, President, Stowtown Records
- Tera Healy, East Regional Director, The Recording Academy (Park Ridge, IL)
- Carletta Higginson, Corporate Counsel, Global Music, Google, Inc. (New York, NY)
- Mallory Hines, Managing Director, Entertainment & Exhibits, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo (San Antonio, TX)
- Mason Hunter, Executive Director, Events & Strategic Partnerships, BMI
- Kurt Johnson, Senior Vice President, Townsquare Media (Dallas, TX)
- Claude Kelly, Songwriter/Owner, Wierdo Workshop
- Brad Kennard, Vice President, Creative, Razor & Tie Music Publishing
- Kris Lamb, Vice President, Promotion, Big Machine Label Group
- Fletcher Lee, CEO, TourGigs, LLC (Knoxville, TN)
- Curtis LeGeyt, Executive Vice President, Government Relations, National Association of Broadcasters (Washington, DC)
- Jesse Mann, Senior Vice President, Strategy & Operations, AC Entertainment
- Chris Mara, Owner, Welcome to 1979
- Michael McDonald, Founder, Mick Management (Brooklyn, NY)
- Kevin Meads, Agent, WME
- Lee Thomas Miller, Songwriter
- Paul Oakley, Vice President, Communications, Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
- Thom Oliphant, Vice President, Development, Taillight TV/Co-Founder, My Country Nation
- Annie Ortmeier, Senior Director, Streaming & Digital Marketing, Universal Music Group
- Tom Osborn, Vice President, Marketing, New West Records
- Buster Phillips, Agent, CAA
- Paul Schiminger, Executive Director, International Bluegrass Music Association
- Cass B. Scripps, Vice President, APA
- Matt Signore, COO, Warner Music Nashville
- Trina Smith, Owner, Me Gusta Music
- Elise Stawarz, Vice President, Marketing, Crowd Surf
- Shanna Strassberg, TV and Live Event Talent Booker/Producer/Media Coach
- Jensen Sussman, President/Owner, Sweet Talk Publicity
- Stephanie Taylor, Attorney, Stites & Harbison
- Lauren Tingle, Writer, CMT.com
- Kevin Wilson, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, CMA