Rusty Gaston Receives Milestone Award from Belmont and ASCAP

L-R: ASCAP's Ryan Beuschel, Michael Martin, LeAnn Phelan, Rusty Gaston, Belmont's Sarah Cates, Dan Keen. Photo: Donnie Hedden

Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and industry partner ASCAP celebrated Belmont’s connection to Music Row by honoring alumnus Rusty Gaston, GM and partner of This Music, as the first recipient of The Music City Milestone Award (MCMA). The award recognizes a young Belmont graduate who has achieved superlative success in the entertainment and music industry.

Gaston’s moved from Texas to Nashville 16 years ago and is today at the helm of This Music, a partnership with writers Tim Nichols and Connie Harrington. The company is a  joint venture with Warner/Chappell and supports nine songwriters with hits from artists such as Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Chris Young and Luke Bryan.

Belmont Instructor of Music Business and creative force behind the MCMA award, Dan Keen notes, “One of the most rewarding facets of nurturing young people is celebrating their growth and successes. Rusty Gaston was a stand out student in my music publishing class at Belmont and is already one of the most successful independent publishers on Music Row. He is the type of person that Belmont and ASCAP want to encourage students and young executives to emulate.”