Music Council Refocuses, Rebrands

The Nashville Music Council has re-branded with a new name, re-focused with fewer members, and added a full-time staffer.

Now known as the Music City Music Council (MC2), the new moniker emphasizes one of Nashville’s most important offerings, its music. “We’re not just any city. We are Music City, and that designation is an appropriate and descriptive name for the Council as it works to further cement our Music City identity,” explains Mayor Karl Dean. “Under this new structure, the Music Council will be better equipped to recruit entertainment companies and visitors to our city and all that Nashville offers.”

MC2 is co-chaired by Dean and Music Row veteran Randy Goodman, who was most recently president of Lyric Street Records. Goodman says, “As we evaluated different approaches and strategic initiatives toward our overarching goals, it became obvious it was necessary to downsize the Council to be nimble and focused enough to give appropriate and timely counsel to the Mayor, his staff, the Chamber and the CVB.” Previously, sixty artists and music executives served on the Council. The new 21-member body places a greater focus on economic development.

Additionally, Honey Hopkins has been hired to the newly created, full-time position of director of the Music City Music Council. Hopkins, who had served as the liaison between the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Music Council, will manage the group’s initiatives and day-to-day operations.

The Council includes: Co-Chairs, Dean and Goodman; Butch Spyridon, president and CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau; Ralph Schulz, president and CEO, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce; and Mary Ann McCready, immediate past co-chair.

Committee chairs: Ryman Auditorium General Manager Sally Williams, chair of the Live Music Committee; Vector Management Partner Ken Levitan, chair of the Business Development Committee; Nancy Shapiro of The Recording Academy, chair of the Education Committee; Bohan & Associates Partner David Bohan, chair of the Marketing Committee; and Country Music Association CEO Steve Moore, chair of the Association and Trade Organizations Committee. Goodman will chair the Hospitality Committee.

At-large members: Joe Galante; Clarence Spalding, president, Spalding Entertainment; Troy Tomlinson, CEO, Nashville Sony/ATV Publishing; David Ingram, chairman and president, Ingram Entertainment Inc.; Scott Clayton of Creative Artists Agency; Mike Wells, president and CEO, Jackson National Life Insurance Co., and Steve Turner, principal, MarketStreet Enterprises.

The organization launched in 2009 as a partnership between the Mayor’s Office, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Honey Hopkins can be reached at (615) 880-1506 or hhopkins@musiccitymusiccouncil.com.