BREAKING: EMPIRE Nashville Appoints Jennifer Way To Executive Vice President
Jennifer Way. Photo: Gregg Roth
EMPIRE, the leading independent record label, publisher and distributor founded by Ghazi in 2010, has appointed Jennifer Way to Executive Vice President – Nashville.
In her new role, Way will lead the overall strategy for EMPIRE’s Nashville team and its day-to-day operations, including signing and developing new talent, supporting each artist’s creative vision with impactful music release campaigns, cultivating new business opportunities and driving the continued growth of EMPIRE Nashville’s roster and presence in Music City and around the world.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be joining EMPIRE—a team of disrupters who prioritize originality, innovation and artist-first thinking at every turn,” says Way. “I’m inspired by Ghazi and the culture he has built, and I’m excited to dive in and contribute to the continued success of this incredible team as we redefine together what a modern music company can be.”
“Jennifer is a powerhouse whose vision and track record align perfectly with our mission to redefine what’s possible in music,” shares EMPIRE Founder / CEO, Ghazi. “Her deep roots in Nashville and ability to break global stars make her the perfect leader to continue to drive our momentous country music division forward.”
With more than 19 years of music industry experience, Way joins EMPIRE from Sony Music Nashville, where she served as SVP of Marketing and oversaw the label group’s domestic and international marketing efforts which included digital marketing, artist development, creative, content development and media. Under her leadership, Way and her team created strategic campaigns for a diverse roster, including Kane Brown, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Old Dominion, Megan Moroney and more, resulting in countless No. 1 hits across multiple genres, RIAA-Platinum and multi-Platinum records, and a multitude of award wins. Prior to joining Sony Nashville, she worked in Marketing and Artist Development at UMG Nashville, where she was integral in launching the careers of superstars Chris Stapleton and Kacey Musgraves.
The news of Way’s appointment arrives after a record breaking year for EMPIRE, where breakout country acts Shaboozey’s crossover hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” went top 10 on four major charts: Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay—an unprecedented accomplishment. The record currently holds the title for longest running in No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 history at 19 weeks and celebrated over one billion streams globally.
