John Zarling, Jackie Campbell Team For Marketing Venture 615 Leverage + Strategy

John Zarling and Jackie Campbell

John Zarling and Jackie Campbell have announced the alliance of their individual companies to create the new boutique marketing company, 615 Leverage + Strategy. The company will function as a full-service extension to artist and label marketing teams.

“During my 20 years in the music business, I have been part of building and expanding careers by converging multiple marketing pillars. As the industry adjusts to a new paradigm of music consumption, it is essential that focus on the larger career arc of an artist is not lost,” said Zarling, the firm’s President & Chief Strategy Officer. “I am excited to partner with Jackie, someone whom I have immense respect for, to focus in these lanes. By combining our strengths into a cohesive effort, all of our clients will benefit.”

Zarling & Campbell, whose collective proprietary client list includes artists, labels, management firms, and festivals, will bring their complementary skill sets to every campaign as Co-Founders and Partners.

“For me, this journey started nearly three years ago, when I decided to launch my own company to see if there was a better way to implement marketing and strategic partnerships within the music industry world,” said Campbell, the firm’s Head of Business Development & Client Service. “John has been a dear friend and mentor from Day One, and I could not be more thrilled to take this next step with him to expand and create a full-service marketing company to continue our mission to craft artist narratives through live events, partnerships and branded content.”

Joining 615 Leverage + Strategy at launch are Cheyana Weekley as Project Director and Jordan Lipsey as Project Manager.

Zarling launched his career at Mercury Records in 1999. He was promoted when the label merged with MCA in 2003, and later elevated to Manager, Charts & Syndication when DreamWorks was absorbed by the label group in 2004. During that time, Zarling found a mentor in Scott Borchetta, label group’s Sr. VP/Promotion at the time. When Borchetta launched Big Machine Records, Zarling became one of the company’s first employees.

He served Big Machine, The Valory Music Co., BMLG Records (formerly Republic Nashville), Dot Records & NASH Icon imprints as SVP/Partnership Marketing & Promotion Strategy, from the label group’s launch in 2005 through 2016. In 2017, Zarling transitioned to Sony Music Nashville where he spent two years as EVP/Marketing & New Business, overseeing marketing, digital, international, media, branding, premium content, and creative efforts for the RCA Nashville, Columbia Nashville and Arista Nashville imprints. Throughout his career, Zarling has been an integral part of over 100 million units sold, over 100 No. 1 hit singles and has inked partnership deals with brands worth over $30 million. Zarling is also executive producer the annual Bob Kingsley Living Legend Award ceremony, which has raised more than $350,000 for the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund. He currently serves on boards of the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund, Brad & Kimberly Williams Paisley’s The Store, and the Entrepreneurship Center/NEXT Awards. Zarling is a graduate of Belmont University.

Campbell most recently ran her own boutique brand strategy startup, directing partnership strategy for record label, artist management, festival, and brand clients. She previously served as the Director of Partnership Marketing for nearly six years for Big Machine Label Group, overseeing corporate partnerships and brand integrations for the label group’s 30+ artists and numerous initiatives. Prior to her Nashville move, Campbell spent nearly 10 years working for CBS Radio (now Entercom) in Chicago in various marketing and business development roles. Campbell serves on the Academy of Country Music board of directors and is a graduate of DePaul University.

Zarling can be reached at [email protected] or 615-975-7553. Campbell can be reached at [email protected] or 773-220-2633.