Rising Women On The Row Spotlight: 5 Questions With Paradigm’s Lenore Kinder

Lenore Kinder

MusicRow Magazine’s eighth annual Rising Women on the Row event will be held Tuesday, March 26, at Omni Hotel Nashville.

This year’s honorees include Sandi Spika Borchetta (Big Machine Label Group, Sr. VP Creative), Janine Ebach (Curb|Word Music Publishing, VP), Kelly Janson (Kelly Janson Management, Manager), Meredith Jones (Creative Artists Agency, Agent), Lenore Kinder (Paradigm Talent Agency, Agent), and Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI, Sr. Director of Operations).

Leading up to the event, MusicRow is spotlighting each honoree with a brief Q&A.

Lenore Kinder is at the helm of the touring careers of Kacey Musgraves, Tori Kelly, Weyes Blood, Lucie Silvas, Anna Moon, Elise Davis, TAELA, and LUME. In addition to managing the live aspect, she strategically identifies opportunities in film, TV, branding, and other avenues that elevate her clients’ repertoire. Prior to transitioning to the agency side, Kinder gained 10 years-experience as a talent buyer for AEG Presents & Messina Touring Group. She garnered a number of accolades, including Pollstar’s Rising Star award, and ACM’s Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year recognition, curating North American tours for Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and The Lumineers. She is also responsible for growing the tours of Mumford & Sons, Adele, and Imagine Dragons from clubs to arenas in the Southeast region. Kinder accelerated her career with a move to Nashville in 2006 after serving as Director of Operations at local Knoxville, Tennessee venue Blue Cats.

MusicRow: What is the biggest lesson on leadership you have learned in your career?

It is an acquired skill that requires being mentally and emotionally available to your team. You have to know when to lead, and when to step back to allow them to shine. Good leaders are not always at the front of the room, but they’re always leading the charge.

MR: Who has been one of your biggest mentors and what has he or she taught you?

From my promoter perspective, Louis Messina is someone that I look up to professionally – he empowers his team to “be the boss.” His employee retention is second to none – he is a curator of dreams not only for his clients, but also for his staff.

From my agent perspective, Jonathan Levine has been such an inspiring leader to work with and alongside. His tenacity and compassion for his clients, staff and family are unparalleled – he’s a force and I’m deeply honored to learn from the best.

My wife is another mentor – she leads with courage and kindness. Leading from fear is a lonely place to be…

MR: Describe a time that you took a big risk in your career, and how did it pay off?

Making the leap from promoter to agent didn’t feel like a huge risk professionally, but the internal change was profound. It pushed me to think outside of the box in all areas of life. I feel deeply honored to represent the clients I’ve amassed in such a short time. I like to believe my renewed perspective has helped bring them success.

MR: As Nashville continues to grow and evolve, what changes in the music industry excite you the most?

DIVERSITY; ideas that generate from a silo mentality are merely self-fulfilling prophecies. Art has no boundaries and therefore the people representing it shouldn’t either.

MR: Favorite Nashville place to hold a business meeting/lunch?

Joe’s Crab Shack

(City National Bank, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group, and Loeb & Loeb are again the Presenting Sponsors for the 2019 Rising Women on the Row.)