John Zarling Honored With Belmont’s Robert E. Mulloy Award Of Excellence

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John Zarling honored at Belmont University. Photo: Matt Willoughby

John Zarling, Chief Marketing Officer at Results Global, was presented the 2025 Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence by Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business last weekend during a ceremony before the university’s annual Best of the Best Showcase.

Belmont alumnus Zarling has become a pivotal force in the industry by transforming marketing strategies for some of music’s biggest names. In 2019, his entrepreneurial vision led him to co-found 615 Leverage + Strategy with Jackie Campbell, now known as Results Global. Throughout his career, his innovative approaches have driven more than 100 million units sold, 100 No. 1 singles and generated brand partnerships in the tens of millions.

Belmont University’s Sarah Cates, John Zarling and Belmont University’s Brittany Schaffer. Photo: Matt Willoughby

The award recognizes Zarling’s ongoing contributions to both the entertainment industry and entertainment education. Since graduating in 2001, he has maintained strong ties with his alma mater while building a successful career in music marketing and brand partnerships.

“I am deeply honored to recognize John Zarling as this year’s recipient of the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence,” says Brittany Schaffer, dean of the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. “JZ’s remarkable achievements in the music industry are paralleled only by his quiet, steadfast dedication to serving Nashville, Belmont University and the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. His impact — both visible and behind the scenes — has been profound, and no one is more deserving of this recognition.”

“John has not only served the industry through his rooted character, inspired creativity and generous innovation, but he has also served Belmont,” says Sarah Cates, Belmont’s Vice President of Imagination, Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, who presented the award to Zarling. “For more than five years, John and his business partner Jackie have taught a brand partnership course for Curb College. Over the last two years, John has been a central player in the development of Belmont’s partnership with Dolly Parton and CTK Enterprises.”

“So much of my identity today in the business and beyond, is aligned here with Belmont,” says Zarling. “I couldn’t be prouder to continue to be a small part of this university’s story. When I look at the list of those who have been honored [with this award], I’m humbled to be named among them.”

At Results Global, Zarling leads Dolly Parton’s marketing agency of record in Nashville. Under his guidance, the firm has orchestrated campaigns for Parton’s New York Times-bestselling books and chart-topping albums, including the Gold-selling album Rockstar, which delivered the biggest first-week sales debut of her seven-decade career. This partnership extends to Belmont through Zarling’s work with “Dolly: An Original Musical,” premiering this summer at Belmont’s Fisher Center before its Broadway debut.

Zarling joins a distinguished list of past recipients including music publisher Donna Hilley, Grammy-winning artist and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill, Curb Records/Publishing owner Mike Curb, Sony/ATV Music Publishing president Troy Tomlinson, Grammy-winning writer/producer Gordon Kennedy, and Grammy and Academy of Country Music award-winning engineer/producer Chuck Ainlay.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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