117 Entertainment Taps Dave Felipe As Director Of Publicity [Exclusive]

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Pictured (L-R): Dave Felipe, Jessica Vandergriff, Zach Farnum, Mae Dowda. Photo: Jason Myers

117 Entertainment Owner Zach Farnum has announced the hiring of Dave Felipe as Director of Publicity.

Bringing with him more than two decades of experience in public relations, media strategy and corporate communications, Felipe will oversee all publicity initiatives for the company’s roster of clients, which include Hall of Famers, award-winning brands, hit singer-songwriters and rising talent.

Felipe began his professional career in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he helped develop and lead expansive business policy and political PR initiatives for one of the country’s most influential lobbying organizations, among other things. He then lived in New York City for nearly seven years, working as the Director of Communications for an emerging e-commerce company, while simultaneously pursuing his own musical endeavors as an independent singer-songwriter and recording artist.

After moving to Nashville in 2013, Felipe spent more than six years as the publicist for the Nashville Symphony, where he spearheaded the communications efforts for several special projects and programs, notably the historic Violins of Hope Nashville initiative in 2018. Prior to joining 117 Entertainment, Felipe was the Public Relations Manager for the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC).

“Dave is the prime person to grow our rockstar team with! I am pumped to welcome him and continue to build the powerhouse that is 117 Entertainment—a team of incredibly passionate and talented individuals working together to bring the most impact to our clients,” shares Farnum of his hiring. “His experience and wealth of knowledge, along with his authentic media relationships in Nashville and around the country are already elevating us to a whole new level.”

Felipe joins 117 Entertainment’s growing team that also includes Publicity Manager Jessica Vandergriff and Publicity and Tour Marketing Associate Mae Dowda.

Felipe shares, “I am beyond excited about joining the talented team at 117 Entertainment and the opportunity to serve and advocate for such an incredible array of artists and groups. Zach has created something really special here that I’m proud to be a part of, and I see tremendous promise in each and every one of 117’s clients. I look forward to working alongside Zach, Jess and Mae to deliver on that promise and build on 117 Entertainment’s outstanding reputation.”

117 Entertainment manages the careers of David Nail, Bobby Bare, Scooter Brown Band and Karissa Ella. 117 Publicity represents those artists along with Randy Travis, Jo Dee Messina, Adam Hood, Lee Roy Parnell, War Hippies, Emily Ann Roberts, Chuck Negron from Three Dog Night, David Tucker, Hobbs Sisters, Timmy Brown and the estates of Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, along with Icon Entertainment Group’s portfolio including House of Cards, the Johnny Cash Museum, Johnny Cash Bar & BBQ, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, the Patsy Cline Museum, Skull’s Rainbow Room and Sinatra Bar and Lounge.

“We are diversifying beyond my wildest imagination,” sums Farnum. “[We are] taking on music adjacent projects like Icon Entertainment Group’s incredible portfolio of museums and restaurants, and talking to some nonprofits about their goals and how we can help attain them. Our artist roster began with strong roots; Chuck Negron, Jerry Lee Lewis and, of course, Randy Travis, thanks to their lead, we have been able to grow an incredible family tree over the past nearly six years that most recently welcomed major hitmaker Jo Dee Messina and Starstruck Entertainment’s incredibly promising and inspiring Emily Ann Roberts. The projects we get to announce for our artists in the coming months and the opportunities we are working on to expand our roster are sure to make 2023 the best year yet for all at 117 Entertainment.”

LB Cantrell
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