Leadership Music has named its Class of 2019 made up of 45 carefully selected leaders from every sector of the music industry. While Nashville based, the program, founded in 1989, has graduated 1,200 industry leaders from across the country.
Now in its 30th year, the annual program is designed to create a forum for recognized music industry leaders to learn as they deep-dive into almost every segment of the music business, while identifying and exploring issues currently affecting the music industry; and to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences while building lasting relationships with classmates and alumni in all areas within or related to the music industry.
Disclosure: I was a member of Leadership Music Class of 2016, the best class ever, and can attest that Leadership Music provides a profoundly valuable experience, both personally and professionally.
“Personally, being selected for inclusion in Leadership Music Class of 2003 was a life-changing experience,” CAA’s Jeff Gregg (LM ‘03), co-chair of the Selection Committee, stressed. “These 45 leaders selected for the Class of 2019 are embarking on one of the most significant journeys of their career. As a member of the committee, I know I speak on behalf of those that served, we don’t take the responsibility lightly. Choosing the class from the more than 300 qualified candidates who applied is done with great deliberation and thought.”
Founding Council member and inaugural Leadership Music President, Jim Ed Norman of Curb/Word Entertainment, reflected on the 30th class: “Thirty years in the life of any organization is an impressive milestone, and much has happened in the three decades since a dozen Leadership Nashville alumni from the music industry met to give structure and form to what was, then, just an idea on how to ensure and protect the dialogue and relationship building within the Nashville music community. What this organization has come to mean to the entertainment industry, not only in Nashville but throughout the U. S., is testament to the quality and commitment of our almost 1,200 alums. That we continue to set records in the number of applicants each year is extremely rewarding. Observing the leaders selected for this historic class gives all of us a great deal of confidence in the future of Leadership Music.””
Participants first attend an orientation and alumni welcome reception in September, a two-day Opening Retreat in October, followed by six all-day sessions once a month, ending in May with graduation at a two-day Closing Retreat.
The 45 Members of the Class of 2019 are:
Austen Adams, Attorney, Dickinson Wright
Miles Adcox, CEO/Owner, Onsite
Joseph Atamian, Agent, Paradigm Talent Agency
Greg Barnes, General Counsel, Digital Music Association (Washington, DC)
Michael McAnally Baum, President, Smack Songs
Drew Burchfield, Co-Founder, Aloompa
Anna Bonny Chauvet, Assistant General Counsel, U. S. Copyright Office (Washington, DC)
Jarrod Cooper, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development, ONErpm
Kevin Dalton, Business Manager, Wiles + Taylor
Scott Day, Chief Technology Officer, SoundExchange (Washington, DC)
Mehmet Dede, Talent Buyer, Drom NYC/Assistant Professor, The Hartt School (New York City, NY)
Nick Di Fruscia, Vice President, Awards & Membership, ACM (Los Angeles, CA)
Ryan Dokke, Senior Vice President/General Manager, Curb/Word Entertainment
Beville Dunkerley, Head of Nashville Artist Marketing & Industry Relations, Pandora
Serona Elton, Associate Professor/Chair, Music Media & Industry Department, Frost School of Music, University of Miami (Miami, FL)
Jessica Frost, Executive Director, Industry Relations, BMI
Scott Gerow, Producer/Songwriter/Composer, Battery Lane Music
Tim Godwin, Director, Artist & Entertainment Relations, Taylor Guitar (El Cajon, CA)
Tony Grotticelli, Vice President, Digital Marketing, UMG
Chuck Harmony, Artist/CEO, Weirdo Workshop
Debra Herman, Head of Music Partnerships, Shazam (New York, NY)
Eric Holt, Assistant Professor, Belmont University/Partner, Lovenoise
Leigh Holt, Co-Owner/Manager, Redjett Management
Jackie Jones, Director, Music & Talent, CMT
Meredith Jones, Agent, CAA
Gina Keltner, Director, Talent Scheduling & Logistics, Grand Ole Opry
Jay Knowles, Songwriter/CEO WhaleFarm
Garrett Levin, Deputy General Counsel, IP Law & Policy, National Association of Broadcasters (Washington, DC)
Taylor Lindsey, Vice President, A&R, Sony Music Nashville
Chappel McCollister, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Sandbox Entertainment
Marie Miscia, Promotion Director, WKDF/WSM-FM, Cumulus Nashville
Paul Moak, Producer/Studio Owner, The Smoakstack
Jessica Nicholson, Managing Editor, Music Row
Nathan Nicholson, Head of Creative, Thirty Tigers
Ashleigh Overly, Managing Director, Sports & Entertainment, SunTrust Bank
Mike Rittberg, Chief Marketing Operator, BMLG
Lindsay Rothschild, Songwriter & Publisher Relations, Lead North America, YouTube (Los Angeles, CA)
Chad Schulz, Vice President, Radio & Streaming, Warner Music Nashville
Karen Silhol, Executive Vice President, Finance & Administration, RIAA (Washington, DC)
Brandi Simms, Senior Director, Awards & Industry Relations, CMA
Lauren Spahn, Attorney, Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton LLP
Jessica Tomasin, Manager, Echo Mountain (Asheville, NC)
Nate Towne, Agent, WME
Christy Walker-Watkins, President/Co-Owner, AristoMedia Group
Garry Wall, President/Founder, Sparknet Communications