HITS presents a brand-new feature on the agents who work behind the scenes to help get your favorite tours up and running. Do they want to deal with us? We're pretty sure that's a no. But ready or not, here comes...

Jackie Nalpant: EVP & Managing Executive, Wasserman Music

A lifelong music junkie who grew up in Merrick, New York, listening to local station WLIR-FM, Nalpant jumped into the biz straight out of high school with gigs at Island Records, several New York venues and an artist-management company. She got the agent bug working at Monterey Peninsula Artists, where she was mentored by Fred Bohlander, Dan Weiner and the late Chip Hooper and honed her discerning eye and ear for artist development.

At Wasserman, where she's co-head of the Nashville office with Jonathan Levine, her client roster is led by breakout star Chappell Roan. The Island artist dazzled this summer during high-profile looks at Governors Ball, Lollapalooza and Outside Lands and just played the last show on her calendar for the time being, at Austin City Limits.

The oft-lauded Nalpant, whose acts also include Cigarettes After Sex, Tash Sultana, Sylvan Esso, Local Natives, Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, is a champion for women in the industry, particularly on the male-dominated Nashville scene.

And now, two questions:

What was the first concert you ever saw?

U2 at Malibu Night Club in Long Island, 1981.

How do you relax away from the job?

By spending time with my dog, Gene Parmesan. He's a real good boy.