Ali Harnell

MusicRow is proud to announce that Ali Harnell, Senior Vice President at AEG Live, will be the featured speaker for the fifth annual Rising Women on the Row breakfast on Friday, April 8, at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Guests will be treated to insights from Harnell during a conversation with MusicRow Publisher/Owner Sherod Robertson.

A special performance will also be given by Capitol Records Nashville rising star Mickey Guyton.

As previously announced, the 2016 Rising Women honorees are: Abbey Adams, Senior Creative Director, A&R – Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Amanda Cates, Head of Marketing and Digital Strategy – Maverick Nashville; Cris Lacy, VP, A&R – Warner Music Nashville; Leslie Roberts, Executive Director, Writer/Publisher Relations – BMI; and Risha Rodgers, Partner – WME.

Tickets for the 2016 event are sold out. With any Rising Women on the Row inquiries, please contact Eric at [email protected].

Harnell has managed the Southeast region for AEG Live, overseeing all aspects of bookings and operations as well as national touring activity for Sugarland, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes, and others since 2004. She is co-creator of and curates talent for the international country music festival C2C.

In 2014 Harnell was named Promoter of the Year for IEBA, made Billboard‘s prestigious Top 50 Women in Music annual list the past two years as well as Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City list. In 2015 she was nominated CMA Promoter of the Year and listed as a Nashville Power Player by Billboard.

In addition to her position at AEG Live, she is artist co-manager for The Shadowboxers and Kristian Bush. Philanthropically over the past few years, she chaired Magdalene/Thistle Farms annual fundraiser, was TJ Martell’s Ambassador of the Year, and has produced the annual All For The Hall benefit concerts in Nashville since 2009.

Memberships include Board President, NACPA; Vice President, IEBA; Lifebeat/Music Fights AIDS; ACM; and CMA.

City National Bank is the Presenting Sponsor for the 2016 Rising Women on the Row.

City National Bank Promotes Three

Pictured (L-R): Lindsay Stewart, Aaron Sweet, and Jamie Lay

Three staffers have been promoted within City National Bank in the Nashville office. Lindsay Stewart is promoted to Senior Account Manager, Aaron Sweet to Assistant Vice President and Jamie Lay to Vice President. They all joined City National during its first year on Music Row in 2011.

Lay is Vice President and Senior Account Manager at the Nashville office for City National Bank. Originally from Daphne, Alabama, Lay has lived in Nashville since 1998 and has 13 years of experience working in both business management and banking with the music industry. She has been with City National Bank since March of 2011 and works with Diane Pearson on day-to-day client banking needs. She enjoys hiking, skiing, cooking and spending time with her fiancé, Kels Fitzpatrick and dog Stella.

Stewart is Assistant Vice President and Senior Account Manager at City National Bank’s Nashville Entertainment office. Originally from Germantown, Tennessee, Stewart has been in Nashville for the past 19 years and is an avid music fan. She has been with City National since November 2011 and oversees day-to-day client banking and financial needs. Prior to City National, Stewart was with US Trust/Bank of America. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her two boys ages 3 and 10.

Sweet is Assistant Vice President and Assistant Operations Manager of the Nashville Entertainment Office for City National Bank. Originally from Hart County, Kentucky, Sweet has been in Nashville for the past 6 years. He has been with City National since July 2011 and oversees the branch operations. Sweet has been in the banking industry for over 13 years while in Kentucky and Tennessee. During his downtime he enjoys the Nashville music scene.

Warner Music Nashville Adds Sr. Director, Sponsorships & Activations

Marieke Bianchi

Warner Music Nashville has welcomed a new Sr. Director, Sponsorships & Activations, Marieke Bianchi. Bianchi previously worked at Hunter PR in New York, where she promoted brands including Gallo Wines, Kraft Foods and Tabasco, among others. She can be reached by email at [email protected]. She will report directly to Ben Kline, VP of Revenue.

SoundExchange Adds A2IM CEO To Board Of Directors

Richard James Burgess

SoundExchange has appointed Richard James Burgess, chief executive officer of A2IM (the American Association of Independent Music) to its Board of Directors. Burgess brings experience as a businessman, artist manager, musician and producer to the SoundExchange board. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Richard to the SoundExchange Board of Directors. His vast background and knowledge of the independent music community make him a strong ally for indie labels in the marketplace and on Capitol Hill. He is an asset to our organization, and his credentials in the independent music community distinguish him as true indie leader,” SoundExchange President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Huppe said.

“It is a great privilege to join the SoundExchange board during this incredible period of change in the music industry. The independent music sector is on the rise, and now more than ever independent artists and labels can reach and engage music fans worldwide through thousands of digital music services. SoundExchange is an exciting bright spot in the industry, and incredibly important to our community. I am excited to work with such an outstanding group of individuals who are committed advocates for recording artists and rights owners. Together, we have the potential to truly shape the future of music,” said Burgess.

Burgess will fill the position previously held by Molly Neuman. The SoundExchange Board of Directors is comprised of 18 individuals, split evenly between artist representatives and label representatives, serving virtually all aspects of the recorded music industry.