Leadership Music Announces 2018 Class

Leadership Music has chosen the members of its 29^th class, composed of 49 industry leaders from across the country. Founded in 1989 by 12 music industry alumni of Leadership Nashville, Leadership Music has graduated more than 1,100 leaders.  The annual program is designed to create a forum for established industry leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry, to learn as they delve into nearly every segment of the business, and to provide unique 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:
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 (Chicago, 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