WHO KNEW...PRESENTS THE PITCH: AN EVENING WITH MUSIC SUPERVISORS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

High-Profile Music Executives Representing ABC Television Network, New Line Cinema and Electronic Arts Among Panelists Considering Placements

Previous WHO KNEW... events attracted standing-room only, sell-out crowds. The event will be a first-of-its-kind for Nashville as music supervisors representing television, film, trailers, video games and advertising, will listen to live bands perform their material in hopes that a song may materialize into a placement right on the spot. The event will also be an educational platform for musicians, songwriters, publishers, managers and artists to learn how to land a placement.

Steve Schnur (Global Head of Music at Electronic Arts) and Anastasia Brown (veteran TV producer and music supervisor) will moderate a panel of senior-level music supervisors, who will also share stories and tips about the types of music they’re seeking to place in television, film, trailers, video games and advertisements.

“Steve and Anastasia will moderate an amazingly entertaining and informative panel discussion about synch licensing and how artists should engage with music supervisors, including what to do and not to do to land a placement,” said Tom Truitt, WHO KNEW…creator and CEO of MusicRowSearch. “I’m thrilled to bring this level of talent to our audience who will experience a ‘takeover’ of the event.” Truitt went on to say, “when we launched WHO KNEW…, it was intended to be a mixture of TED Talks meets speed dating meets Shark Tank. We have nailed TED Talks and speed dating. And now we’re going to deliver the Shark Tank experience to our audience.”

The panel, which includes some of the biggest names in the industry, has been carefully curated to address the five most important verticals for music synchronization or “synch” rights:

- Dawn Soler - Senior Vice President of Music at ABC: Over the course of her career, Soler has worked with dozens of major movie and television projects—from TV shows such as ABC’s Nashville, Scandal and How to Get Away with Murder to classic films including Sweet Home Alabama, Notting Hill, Being John Malkovich and The Big Lebowski. She is one of the most highly regarded music supervisors working in television today.

- Cybele Pettus - Senior Music Supervisor at Electronic Arts (EA): With credits that include powerhouse video game franchises such as Madden NFL Football, The Sims, FIFA and Need for Speed, Pettus has overseen in-game music for some of the gaming world’s biggest titles. Prior to joining EA, she worked in A&R with Warner/Reprise Records.

- Aaron Mercer - Partner at Wool & Tusk: Mercer is a partner at Nashville-based Wool & Tusk where he oversees music supervision and artist partnerships for advertising, brand marketing and consumer products. During his career, he has worked with major advertising campaigns (including some that have debuted during the Super Bowl) for brands such as BMW, OREO and Chobani Yogurt.

- Erin Scully - Executive Vice President of Music at New Line Cinema: As a senior executive at New Line Cinema, Scully oversees music for all films developed and produced by Warner Brothers Entertainment. With countless credits to her name, she has worked on film projects including The Hobbit Trilogy, Sex and the City, Rock of Ages and The Notebook, to name a few.

- Anastasia Brown, moderator: Recently, Reese Witherspoon tapped Brown to curate music for “SOUTHERN SOUNDCHECK,” a monthly playlist for Witherspoon’s online Southern specialty store, Draper James. Brown is a music supervisor and entertainment executive whose next project, “I Saw the Light,” a biopic about country singer Hank Williams, will be in theatres November 27.

- Steve Schnur, moderator: Currently serving as the worldwide executive for music at videogame giant Electronic Arts (EA), Schnur spent years working with some of the music industry’s biggest labels before pivoting into the world of video games. He is a recognized thought leader on shifting trends in the music industry.

Following the panel, soulful singer/songwriter Gabe Dixon, along with some special guests, will perform a full set during the WHO KNEW… After Party.

WHO KNEW... is presented MusicRowSearch and MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment, with support from Dell Nashville, The Arnett Group, Stites & Harbison, Nashville Scene, Do615, Jive! Printing, Signs First, Real Water and Kaleidoscope Media.

Don't miss out on the next WHO KNEW Nashville meetup returning Wednesday, July 22 at 3rd & Lindsley!  

LIVE entertainment by Native Run will follow the panel discussion, featuring music industry executives:

• Tom Zutaut - With one of the best-ever ears for talent, including Guns N’ Roses, Mötley Crüe, and Tesla, Tom boasts a storied A&R career the likes of which the music industry has seldom seen in the last 30+ years.
• David Macias - One of the Nashville music scene's most dynamic and eclectic thinkers, Macias is the founder of Marketing and Distribution outfit Thirty Tigers which helps artists, including The Avett Brothers, Chase Rice, and The Eli Young Band, deliver their work to market while maintaining ownership.
• Kevin Grosch - Kevin Grosch is the founder of Made In Network, an innovative YouTube channel giving fans a unique window into music as it's being made. The Made In Network’s original shows include 24HR Record, Find the Beauty, Festival Junkies, and Small Batch Presents, and the channel has partnered with music industry community members including Ben Folds, The Blackbird Academy, and Nashville Scene. 
• Scott Hendricks - Senior Vice President of A&R for Warner Music Nashville, Scott Hendricks produced a staggering 96 Top 10 hits, with 58 of those hits going all the way to No. 1. Hendricks’ producing efforts have been instrumental in Blake Shelton’s ascent from mid-level act to bona fide star with 15 No. 1 singles (14 of which are in a row with the 15th currently inside the Top 5).
• Mark Montgomery - Mark Montgomery, founder of EchoMusic and Flo Thinkery, is living proof that musical ambitions can take a sharp left turn and blossom into wild success. 
• Rachel Beauregard and Bryan Dawley – Country duo Native Run will speak about their own experience as recording artists, as well as recently signing to Universal Music Group Nashville (UMGN) and Toby Keith’s Show Dog Nashville.  Native Run will also perform a set.
• Bailey Spaulding: With a Biological Anthropology degree from Harvard and a law degree from Vanderbilt under her belt, Co-founder and CEO of Nashville’s Jackalope Brewing Company, Bailey Spaulding, decided to take a risk and follow her passion. Her passion for home brewing and great beer lead her to create one of Nashville’s most popular Breweries and Taprooms.

Don't miss out on networking with world-class speakers during the next WHO KNEW meetup set for Wednesday, May 13 at 3rd & Lindsley. 

WHO KNEW, quickly becoming a must-attend event, gathers thought leaders and powerbrokers with yet-to-be discovered change-makers in the entertainment industry.

The speaker series returns for the third time, during MUSIC BIZ CONFERENCE,  with live performances by Grammy-award-winning musicians and nationally renowned artists.

The full roster of speakers includes industry veterans:

- Mark Mulligan, Midia Consulting Co- Founder, Creator of the Music Industry Blog and Author of "Awakening: The Music Industry In the Digital Age"

- BJ Leiderman, composer of NPR's theme music

- Bryan Calhoun, Blueprint Group/Maverick-Head of Digital Strategy, Freeform Development Co-Founder and Creator of the Music Business Toolbox

- Deborah Newman, Digital Music Consultant/Attorney, Internet Marketing Pioneer and Former Label Executive

- Kate O'Neill, Digital Expert, Songwriter, Published Author

- Judy Tint, Music Industry Attorney and Working Musician

- Kristin Thomson, Future of Music Coalition, Artist Revenue Streams Project Co-Director

- Jill Block, CEO of Nashville Non-Toxic and Co-Founder of the Billy Block Corporation

- Kamaal Malak, Former Bassist for Arrested Development, Co-Creator of Freedm Riders, performing full set with the band

- Alanna Royale, Recording Artist, also performing full set with her band.

Previous sold-out WHO KNEW events presented executives from Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Spotify and Warner/Chappell Music, among others.

WHO KNEW is presented by City National Bank, MusicRowSearch, Wannado, The Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State, Jive! Printing, Make it Pop Creations, Nashville Scene, Nashville Muse and Constellation Brands - Svedka Vodka, Modelo Beer and Milestone Wines.

WHO KNEW, an event bringing together thought leaders and powerbrokers with yet-to-be discovered change-makers in the entertainment industry, returns Thursday, April 2, from 5-8 p.m. at the Listening Room Café. The speaker series continues after its debut sell-out event in January.  Advance tickets are available here for $10 and include two drinks and hors d’oeuvres.

“Our audience can’t stop talking about our first WHO KNEW, and they’re eager to get together again, so we’re delivering another impressive, insightful lineup,” said Tom Truitt, founder of MusicRowSearch and Music Industry Forum. “These discussions are opening lines of communication, dispelling myths and encouraging new thinking; we are compelled to keep the momentum going.”

The full roster of speakers includes industry heavyweights:

- Steve Savoca, Spotify Chief Content Officer

- Randy Wachtler, Warner Chappell Production Music President & CEO

- Hunter Williams, Creative Artists Agency

- Doyle Davis, Grimey’s Records Co-owner

- Charles Alexander, Outside the Box Music Founder

- Stephanie Middleton (known as “Notelle”), EDM artist

- Brittany Wegusen, CEO of Kalatech

- 8 Project Music entrepreneurs from Nashville’s Entrepreneur Center.  

“We’re continuing this first-of-its-kind platform for industry heavy hitters to provoke robust discussions about the music industry while providing attendees the opportunity to network and establish working relationships,” Truitt said.

WHO KNEW is presented by Verizon, Wannado, City National Bank and MusicRowSearch.  Tickets at the door will be $15.

Industry titans and visionaries, seldom heard in a public format, will deliberate challenges and trends during the first-ever WHO KNEW meetup set for Thursday, January 29, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at ONE, on the top floor of the Cannery Ballroom.  WHO KNEW will provide a first-of-its-kind platform for industry heavy weights to provoke robust discussions about the music industry while providing attendees the opportunity to network and establish working relationships.

“Think Shark Tank meets TED Talks meets speed dating,” said Tom Truitt, founder of MusicRowSearch and Music Industry Forum. “We’re providing a forum where thought-leading industry veterans can come together to present their ideas and potentially establish working relationships that expand opportunities for all involved.”

The full roster of speakers includes veterans: 

- Bertis Downs, R.E.M.’s long-time lawyer

- Jim Griffin, Managing Director OneHouse and copyright expert

-Ken Gay, entertainment technologist and founder of ShowViz

- Debbie Carroll, MusiCares

- Tatum Allsep, Music Health Alliance

- Jeff Price, Audiam co-founder

- Heather McBee, Project Music/former Sony executive

- Terry Cologne, Richards & Southern merchandising.

“We’re striving for a strong reaction from insiders and the public alike,” Truitt said.  “What we’d like to hear is: ‘Wow! Who knew incredible music biz projects like these are happening right now in Nashville?’ ”

WHO KNEW is presented by MusicRowSearch, City National Bank and the Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State University. 

"We are pleased to work with Tom and the Music Industry Forum on this inaugural event,” said Keith Perissi, Director of Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program.  “The educational and networking opportunities with vital entertainment industry professionals are important to our students as well as the community.”

Following the panel discussion, ideas will meet influence as speakers and audience members have a chance to network and mingle.

“WHO KNEW is for those who want to be ‘in the know’ in Nashville,” said Holly Bell, Senior Vice President of City National Bank Entertainment Division.  “Every day our team supports startups and groundbreaking ideas. WHO KNEW will be a great platform to showcase what’s in store here in Music City.”

WHO KNEW tickets are available for $10 at http://www.musicindustryforum.com/whoknewnashville.