Warner Music Nashville Promotes Three On A&R Team

Warner Music Nashville’s A&R team has announced three promotions across the department.

Representing artists such as Drew Parker, Jessie James Decker, Ian Munsick, Randall King and Tyler Braden, Stephanie Davenport rises from Director to Sr. Director. Meanwhile, Jason McColl is being elevated from Manager to Director, and Mackenzie Blake from Assistant to Project Coordinator. All three positions will report to EVP A&R Cris Lacy.

“In what I would consider one of the toughest seasons for the entire industry, every person in our A&R department has demonstrated how industrious, innovative and dedicated they are,” Lacy says. “They have leaned into the challenges of this changing climate and have been instrumental in growing and developing our roster. Stephanie, Jason and Mackenzie, along with Scott Hendricks and Rohan Kohli, form the perfect A&R team.”

Davenport joined the Warner Music Nashville family as a coordinator a decade ago. She started her career at William Morris Endeavor in 2007 after graduating from Belmont University. Lacy comments: “Stephanie’s A&R prowess is in part due to her broad appreciation for all types of music and a comprehensive knowledge of what it takes for an artist to be a stadium act. I’m proud to work alongside her every day.”

McColl, also a Belmont alumnus, spent three years in radio promotions at Universal Music Group before joining the WMN A&R team in 2018. He will continue managing the Warner Nashville music catalog while transitioning into a more traditional A&R role. “Jason has an innate song sense that can’t be taught,” Lacy offers. “I’m excited for him to take on a larger creative role where he can apply that to our present and future signings.”

Blake graduated from Indiana University and entered into the industry via WME. Following a stop at Live Nation Entertainment, she began at Warner Music Nashville in 2019. Lacy adds: “Mackenzie is the glue that keeps us all together. Her ability to bring structure to our creative madness is a true superpower.”