Leadership Music Names New Board For 2017-2018

Leadership Music has selected its leadership for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, which began July 1.

Songwriter Stacy Widelitz (“She’s Like the Wind”), has been elected president; Provident Label Group’s Jimmy Wheeler is president-elect; Jeff Gregg, an agent at CAA, is Past President; and Amy Smartt, CMA, remains as treasurer. Julie Boos, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy re-joins the officers as secretary. Other members of the Executive Committee include Linda Bloss-Baum, SoundExchange; Mike Craft, Big Machine Label Group; Andrew Kautz, Big Machine Label Group; and Justin Levenson, Lev’s House Entertainment.

In addition, Leadership Music has selected eight new board members. Incoming board members are: John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville; EJ Gaines, Motown Gospel; Kelli Haywood, Starstruck Management; David Kells, Bridgestone Arena; musician Jerry Kimbrough; Heather McBee, Nashville Entrepreneur Center; Rachel Whitney, Pandora; and freelance TV producer Bret Wolcott.

“Being part of the Leadership Music class of 2007 was a life-changing experience for me,” said Widelitz, who has also chaired LM’s Gift of Service Committee focusing on community outreach, since its inception in 2012. “That’s why I’m incredibly honored to have been elected President of the Board of Directors of Leadership Music. I’m excited to work closely with our amazing Executive Director, Debbie Linn, and with our dedicated and talented board. I look forward to another successful year for this important organization.”

The complete board list includes:
Linda Bloss-Baum, SoundExchange
Julie Boos, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy
Debbie Carroll, MusiCares
Bradley Collins, BMI
Ron Cox, SFH Pursuit Company
Mike Craft, BMLG
Jaynee Day, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville
EJ Gaines, Motown Gospel
Joe Galante, Galante Entertainment Organization
Teresa George
Jeff Gregg, CAA
Kelli Haywood, Starstruck Management
BJ Hill, Warner Chappell Music
Andrew Kautz, BMLG
David Kells, Bridgestone Arena
Jerry Kimbrough, Musician
Chandra LaPlume, Taillight TV
Ellen Lehman, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Justin Levenson, Lev’s House Entertainment
Tom Lord, Red Light Management
Heather McBee, Nashville Entrepreneur Center
Wendell Moore, MNA Government Relations
Chip Petree, Ritholz Levy Fields LLC
Amy Smartt, CMA
Neal Spielberg, Spielberg Entertainment
Jimmy Wheeler, Provident Label Group/Sony Music Nashville
Rachel Whitney, Pandora
Stacy Widelitz, Stacy Widelitz Music
Lane Wilson, WME
Bret Wolcott, Freelance TV Producer
Erika Wollam-Nichols, Bluebird Café.
Will Cheek of Bone, McAllister & Norton and Lynn Morrow of Adams & Reese serve as legal counsel.

Leadership Music is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization founded in 1989 providing programs designed to further communications and understanding among facets of the entertainment business and to assist established leaders in their roles as decision makers. The eight-month program explores how all elements of the industry operate, individually and cooperatively from record labels, artist management, music production, songwriting, music publishing, media, new technology, marketing and more. Close to 1,200 industry leaders from every segment of the music industry have participated in the 29-year-old program.

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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