Wendy Pearl Named VP, Media For Sony Music Nashville

Wendy Pearl. Photo: Donn Jones

Sony Music Nashville announced today the appointment of Wendy Pearl to the position of Vice President, Media. Pearl, who starts on Sept. 4, will report to SVP Media & Corporate Communications Allen Brown in creating media strategies, national opportunities, and exposure for Sony Nashville’s roster of artists.

In welcoming Pearl to the team, Brown said, “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Wendy Pearl in various capacities for many years. She embodies all the facets of a fierce advocate: exceptional written communication skills, strong musical context, a great sense of who artists are and why they matter, a tireless work ethic, and strong relationships with the media, business community, and fellow publicists. I am confident she will contribute depth, unbridled enthusiasm, and distinction to the department and contribute on a high level to achieving our label groups’ goals.”

“Since getting my start as a reporter at The Miami Herald, I have believed that the essence of everything is the story,” said Pearl. “I have tried to build my career on finding that core truth, then working with the artists, songwriters, and industry stakeholders to expand that message in a way that reaches consumers. It is thrilling to be working alongside John Zarling and Allen Brown at the company that gave me my break in the music business; and I am eager to take that experience and those relationships and develop individual artists’ stories that help them establish their place in the world of country music.”

Sony Music Nashville Executive Vice President, Marketing & New Business John Zarling remarked, “Wendy Pearl is not only fluent in all media platforms, she is one of the most respected messengers in the realm of country music on a national and international basis for the past two decades. Beyond her extensive experience at the Country Music Association, she has guided major label and network television media departments, and most recently operated her own hyper-focused corporate firm, consulting the Academy of Country Music, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the state of Georgia’s Music Foundation, and the CMA.”

As Vice President of Corporate Communications for the Country Music Association, Pearl helped advance the format on a national and international scale for 17 years. She capped her tenure with the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards and global launch of “Forever Country.” She and her team also won the prestigious Award of Excellence from the International Association of Business Communicators for CMA’s quarterly CMA Close Up, garnered national exposure for the CMA Foundation and its programs supporting music education, and increased national coverage for CMA Fest and the CMA Awards.

A desire for new challenges compelled Pearl to open Wendy Pearl Public Relations in 2017. Focusing on tactical execution and story definition, Pearl was in demand for targeted, general, and task-oriented campaigns. She also provided copywriting services, campaign advisement, and media training to the T.J. Martell Foundation in addition to several Nashville labels and independent public relations firms.

Having spent eight years at The Miami Herald, including participating in their Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Gulf War in 1991, and a stint at CNN’s Miami Bureau, Pearl joined Sony Nashville’s Media & Artist Development Department in 1992, where she oversaw campaigns for the Dolly Parton/Loretta Lynn/Tammy Wynette Honky Tonk Angels project, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Waylon Jennings, and Patty Loveless. She also ran Asylum Records’ Media & Artist Development Department, working with Emmylou Harris, Mandy Barnett, Guy Clark, and Bryan White, before taking on the Communications directorship at TNN (now Spike TV).

A native of South Florida, Pearl has a degree in Communications from the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

She can be reached at wendy.pearl@sonymusic.com.