Owner, Essential Broadcast Media

CLIENTS: Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, George Strait, Darius Rucker

ACHIEVEMENTS: Eric Church tour messaging and scalper ticket cancellations; Wheeler Walker Jr.’s unorthodox, adversarial attack; Walker Hayes roll-out (publishing to label to radio).

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHANGING FACE OF NASHVILLE?
The number of people saying they’re publicists without the experience, relationships or understanding of what it takes to orchestrate a campaign that has long-range impact. Knowing the names to drop, or getting your call taken with an act who has some momentum is one thing. When those acts don’t deliver, it’s harder for everyone’s developing acts. Management and label teams want TV. They will push for a perhaps too early Today fourth-hour booking, but it could ultimately be what keeps you off the first two hours when your artist should be there. Make a bad impression with an artist who’s not ready, and you’ve done more harm than good. That’s where knowing when is as important as saying “I’ve got the booking.”