New Owners Of Exit/In, AJ Capital Partners, Tap Dan Merker As Lead Talent Buyer

Following the news of ownership change at Nashville’s historic Exit/In, the venue’s new management, AJ Capital Partners, has named a new talent buyer in Dan Merker. According to Billboard, the venue has plans of re-opening sometime early next year after its temporary closure on Thanksgiving.

Rather than looking to a large promoter, such as Live Nation, the 51-year old independent venue will utilize an in-house team led by Merker. Charged with overseeing talent buying for all AJ Capital properties, he has previous stops at Outback Presents, HUKA Entertainment and Tortuga Music Festival.

According to the report, AJ Capital Partners acquired the Exit/In, as well as Hurry Back bar, in July 2021 for $6.45 million from Anthony Rentals. The company will officially take over operations of the property on Jan. 1, 2023.

AJ Capital currently owns the Graduate Hotel chain and developed Live Nation’s Nashville office in the Nashville Warehouse Co., as well as the newly opened Nashville headquarters for the Academy of Country Music. The company also owns the Minglewood Hall venue in Memphis; New Orleans’ Joy Theater; The Senate in Columbia, South Carolina.; Houston’s White Oak Music Hall; and Iron City in Birmingham, Alabama.

First opening in 1971 at 2208 Elliston Place, the 500-person capacity venue is one of Music City’s most beloved independently owned venues and played host to tens of thousands of notable acts, including Etta James, Rosanne Cash, Johnny Cash, Linda Rondstadt, Talking Heads, Billy Joel, Muddy Waters, Leonard Cohen, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Willie Nelson, Chuck Berry, Sharon Jones, Kings Of Leon, Lucinda Williams, The Allman Brothers Band, Cage The Elephant, REM, and many more.

In February of 2021, it was announced that the Exit/In property was being listed for sale. Venue owner Chris Cobb, in partnership with Grubb Properties, created a GoFundMe campaign in an attempt to help purchase the property and, in turn, solidify the future of the club. However, none of their bids were accepted.