
MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees for the Rising Women on the Row Class of 2025. These six female executives are making a significant impact on Nashville’s country music industry, including: Lydia Schultz Cahill, Rakiyah Marshall, Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Katie Kerkhover, Jessi Vaughn Stevenson and Julie Sturdivant.
City National Bank is Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Rising Women on the Row, which will take place at the Omni Nashville Hotel at 8:30 a.m. March 20.
Now in its 12th year, MusicRow‘s annual Rising Women on the Row event has honored over 50 women in the Nashville music industry.
Tickets for Rising Women on the Row are now closed. They will not be sold at the door.
For any questions regarding the event, contact LB Cantrell at lbcantrell@musicrow.com.
This year’s honorees include:

Lydia Schultz Cahill
Lydia Schultz Cahill – Senior Director, Creative Services, SESAC
Lydia Schultz Cahill is Senior Director of Creative Services at SESAC PRO, where she oversees the country genre in Nashville. She supports songwriter and publisher affiliates, recruits new talent and collaborates with artists and songwriters like Blanco Brown, Jon Nite, Allison Veltz Cruz, Dillon Carmichael and Jenny Tolman. Cahill also produces SESAC-sponsored events, including Tin Pan South, SESAC Presents at the Bluebird and songwriter showcases across the Southeast. Before joining SESAC in 2016, Cahill was Creative Director at Magic Mustang Music, where she worked with acclaimed songwriters Steve Bogard, Kristian Bush, Rob Hatch and Justin Lantz. She began her career as an assistant to Grammy-winning songwriter JD Souther and later held roles in the Legal and Finance Department at Broken Bow Records. A Wisconsin native, Cahill graduated from Belmont University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from its Music Business program. In 2024, she completed her master’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee.

Rakiyah Marshall
Rakiyah Marshall – Founder + CEO, Back Blocks Music
Rakiyah Marshall is the Founder and CEO of Back Blocks, a full-service publishing, management and artist development company. Under her leadership, Back Blocks has guided the careers of Blake Pendergrass, Ashley Cooke, Tucker Wetmore and Lily Rose. Marshall and her team recently celebrated major milestones, including Cooke and Wetmore’s first No. 1 hits. Before founding Back Blocks, Marshall built a strong foundation in pop promotion at Republic Records in NYC, including time at UMG’s classical division (now Verve). She later brought her expertise in radio, streaming, marketing, and artist development to Nashville, working at Cornman Music under hall of fame songwriter, Brett James and BMG under Kos Weaver. There, she advocated for writers, placed notable songs and bridged Nashville with the global creative community. Now, Marshall continues to shape Back Blocks into a leading force in the industry, driving success for her roster through innovative strategies and dedicated advocacy.

Michelle Tigard Kammerer
Michelle Tigard Kammerer – Head of Country Music, Amazon Music
As Head of Country Music at Amazon Music, Michelle Tigard Kammerer has driven the streaming service’s growth in the genre since 2021. She oversees marketing, artist and label relations and innovative collaborations, managing influential brands like Country Heat. Under her leadership, Amazon Music has introduced new initiatives and strengthened connections between country artists and their fans. Kammerer’s career began at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she helped sign and launch the careers of several leading country acts. She then served as Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. (CRB) before re-launching the historic Dot Records label under Big Machine Label Group as National Director of Marketing & Promotion. In 2017, she expanded her leadership as Senior National Director of Marketing & Promotion at BMLG Records, where she worked closely with a range of top artists. Now at Amazon Music, Kammerer continues to champion the evolution of country music, leveraging her experience across agencies, labels and streaming to innovate and elevate the genre.

Katie Kerkhover
Katie Kerkhover – SVP, A&R, North America, BBR Music Group/BMG
Joining BMG in 2020, Kerkhover currently serves as SVP, A&R, North America, a position she was elevated to in December 2024. Her first position at BMG was as Senior Director, Creative, in music publishing, where she managed BMG’s Nashville roster of songwriters, including Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Stephen Wilson Jr., Emily Landis and Chayce Beckham, among others, while also signing and developing new songwriters and artists. Kerkhover was promoted to VP, A&R, Frontline Recordings for BMG Nashville in 2022, where she was responsible for BBR Music Group’s (BBRMG) roster of recording artists across its imprints Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records and Wheelhouse Records, as well as scouting, signing and developing new talent. Since leading A&R for BBRMG, she’s worked with Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Chayce Beckham and is working with Blake Shelton’s team on his BMG Nashville debut. Previously, Kerkhover served nearly three years as a Creative Manager at Sony/ATV and garnered experience as A&R, Creative at CAM Creative. Before jumping behind the scenes of the music industry, she spent years on the road as a performing musician often playing fiddle, guitar or providing backing vocals for acts like Sara Evans and Rebecca Lynn Howard.

Jessi Vaughn Stevenson
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson – VP, A&R / Digital, Warner Chappell Music Nashville
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson is VP, A&R and Digital at Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville, where she strategizes innovative opportunities and guidance for songwriters and artists. With a proven track record of success, Stevenson has helped advance the careers of influential country music creators, including Jessi Alexander, Aaron Raitiere, Rhett Akins, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Hailey Whitters, Morgan Wallen, Randy Montana, Will Bundy, Lee Miller and Little Big Town, among others. Born and raised in Nolensville, Tennessee, Stevenson honed her industry acumen during her time at Belmont University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Business and gained valuable experience through roles at CMT, Warner Brothers Records, Bill Silva Entertainment and SoundExchange. In 2015, she founded JV Writer Management, successfully supporting the careers of award-winning songwriters Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall. At WCM, Stevenson champions diverse talent across genres, identifying and developing the next generation of hitmakers. While dedicated to her professional endeavors, Stevenson finds her greatest joy in motherhood and family.

Julie Sturdivant
Julie Sturdivant – Music Brand Partnerships Executive, CAA
Julie Sturdivant is a Music Brand Partnerships Executive at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Nashville, leading brand collaborations for artists like Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban and Kelsea Ballerini. Over the past year, she orchestrated major partnerships, including Jelly Roll’s multi-year deal with HeyDude, Warren Zeiders’ ambassadorship with Wild Turkey’s 101 Bold Nights and Koe Wetzel’s collaboration with Rock & Roll Denim. She also brokered Charley Crockett’s campaign with The Alamo Foundation and Aaron Watson’s Texas-sized Super Bowl commercial with HEB. Sturdivant began her career on-air at KOST 103.5 in California before joining Universal Music Group-Interscope Records, where she worked on campaigns for Lady Gaga, All American Rejects and Black Eyed Peas. She later built a reputation for innovative marketing during her 12 years leading Marbaloo Marketing. With expertise spanning radio, global marketing and digital innovation, Sturdivant continues to create impactful partnerships in music.
Dwight Yoakam, Corey Kent, More Set For ‘L.A. Revival’ Benefit At Bridgestone
/by Lorie HollabaughDwight Yoakam, Turnpike Troubadours, Corey Kent and more are among the lineup for “LA Revival,” a special benefit concert for L.A. on Feb. 19 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
The show, presented by Thirty Tigers and Triple Tigers, will also feature performances from Cam, Carter Faith, Shane Profitt and Brit Taylor.
All proceeds from the event will go to the MusiCares L.A. Fire Relief Effort to help support those impacted by the devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area last month. Tickets for the show are on sale now here.
Kenny Chesney Shares A Love Letter To The Faithful In His First Book ‘Heart*Life*Music’
/by Lorie HollabaughKenny Chesney. Photo: Danny Clinch
Kenny Chesney is sharing glimpses from his journey in his first book, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC, with William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, due out Nov. 4.
The story follows the superstar’s path from small town East Tennessee dreamer to commanding huge stages across the country as he captures the sparks of creativity, ventures to places long gone, makes music in Jamaica, the Kremlin, New England and Cabo San Lucas, drifts across the waters of the Caribbean, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and encounters and collaborates with heroes.
“This is not my memoir,” cautions Chesney, “but something far better. It is almost a love letter to people who shaped and inspired me, the fans who’ve been there from tiny bars, radio stations who believed when nobody else did, a team who just kept coming back, legends who gave me wisdom and opportunities and all the friends who’ve been there along the way. To me, that’s where the music came from – and this is the story of how it turned into the soundtrack for the way No Shoes Nation lives their lives, too.
“I always said I’d never write a book,” he adds. “Too many things happened almost to be believed, let alone lived, but I realized with the world moving in such fast forward motion, too much of what made Nashville, the music business and our lives great would be lost to the churn of the next click. To have been in a room as a kid writing with Dean Dillon, have Sean Payton call an NFL press conference to announce he’s drafting me to the Saints, be in Tuff Gong Studios with Aston “Family Man” Barrett and Alvin “Seeco” Patterson or on a private plane with George Jones after opening for him defies logic. So, for everyone in No Shoes Nation, I realized: you deserved to share the magic.”
Written with longtime friend and collaborator Holly Gleason, HEART*LIFE*MUSIC celebrates the life and rise of a man whose songs have set the tone and whose shows have anchored a world without borders for the last quarter century.
Warner Music Group & Spotify Ink New Multi-Year Deal
/by John Nix ArledgeWarner Music Group and Spotify unveiled a new, multi-year agreement today (Feb. 6). Through the deal, which covers both Recorded Music and Music Publishing, the companies hope to strengthen their commitment to artists, songwriters, fans and to growth in the industry.
The agreement will help deliver new fan experiences, a more expansive music catalog, more paid subscription tiers and differentiated content bundles. The deal builds upon the companies’ alignment around artist centric royalty models that protect artists as they attract new audiences. Additionally, the publishing agreement introduces a direct licensing model with Warner Chappell Music in several additional countries, including the U.S.
“This major agreement delivers new benefits for artists, songwriters, and fans, while unlocking further collaboration that expands the music ecosystem,” explains Robert Kyncl, CEO, WMG. “It’s a big step forward in our vision for greater alignment between rights holders and streaming services. Together with Spotify, we look forward to increasing the value of music, as we drive growth, impact, and innovation.”
Daniel Ek, Spotify’s Founder and CEO, adds, “For Spotify, 2025 is a year of accelerated execution, and our partners at Warner Music Group share our commitment to rapid innovation and sustained investment in our leading music offerings. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for audiences worldwide—making paid music subscriptions more appealing while supporting artists and songwriters alike.”
NSAI & SoundCloud Partner For New Standout Award
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (front to back): Jennifer Turnbow (COO – NSAI), Caroline Adley (Senior Manager, US Label Relations – SoundCloud), Lyndsie McClure (Director of Development – NSAI) and Matthew Alioto (Head of Social – SoundCloud).
SoundCloud and the Nashville Songwriters Association International have partnered to spotlight songwriters with the new NSAI SoundCloud Standout Award.
The digital platform is currently featuring the Top 10 Song Category Finalists in a playlist called “NSAI Presents: The SoundCloud Standout Award” as part of SoundCloud Selects. Until February 7 at 12 p.m. ET, listeners can vote for their favorite song by liking it. The song with the most likes at the end of the competition will win the 2025 NSAI SoundCloud Standout Award.
The winner of the SoundCloud Standout Award will be announced on Feb. 11 and will receive a SoundCloud prize package, which includes a one-on-one strategy session with a SoundCloud Representative, a SoundCloud Merch Pack and a one-year SoundCloud Next Pro Account.
Listeners can check out the playlist and vote here.
Concord Music Publishing Elevates Kourtney Kirkpatrick & Matt Turner
/by Madison HahnenKourtney Kirkpatrick & Matt Turner.
Concord Music Publishing has promoted Kourtney Kirkpatrick to Senior Vice President of Synchronization and Matt Turner to Vice President of A&R.
Kirkpatrick currently leads the television division, overseeing series, promos, trailers and sports media, and managing a team of three direct reports in Los Angeles, Nashville and New York. In her new position, Kirkpatrick will continue her work pitching and licensing songs from Concord writers, promoting catalogs such as those by Rodgers & Hammerstein, John Fogerty, Phil Collins and Genesis, Robert Johnson and more. She and her team will focus on reimagining these works to make them suitable for sync placements, with her deep knowledge of the catalog playing a crucial role in revitalizing Concord’s collection through remixes and covers.
During her time at Concord, Kirkpatrick and her team have secured sync placements across a wide range of television series on nearly all major networks and streaming platforms, including The Bear, The Penguin, Shrinking, Hacks, You, Euphoria, Stranger Things, Yellowstone, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Ozark, Big Little Lies, True Detective: Night Country, Ted Lasso and Grey’s Anatomy. Their work also spans trailer placements for studios like FOX, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Apple, Amazon and Starz, as well as for major brands like Xbox and Microsoft. Over the course of her career, Kirkpatrick has also signed and developed sync-focused artists and writers, including Ruelle, who has been featured on Billboard/TuneFind’s year-end chart of Top Synced Artists multiple times, reaching the top spot in 2018.
Kirkpatrick also leads Concord’s annual sync camp in Nashville, now in its twelfth year. The event brings together over 80 songwriters and several music supervisors for a week of creating original music for all types of media. To date, the camp has resulted in more than 350 sync placements. In addition to the Nashville camp, Kirkpatrick has driven the global expansion of Concord’s sync camps, tailoring them to specific regions and media types. Over the past year, Concord has hosted ten sync-focused writing camps in locations such as Los Angeles, Nashville, Ireland, Dorset, Paris, New Zealand and Mexico City, among others.
Kirkpatrick was recognized on Billboard’s 40 Under 40 list in 2020 and is a member of the Nashville Film Festival. She is also a founding board member of Nashville in Sync, a community-driven organization for sync professionals focused on connecting and growing the music and film industries in Nashville. Before joining Concord in 2018, Kirkpatrick served as Senior Director of Film/TV at Razor & Tie (which was later acquired by Concord) and began her career at the independent publisher Big Yellow Dog Music, where she helped establish the company’s sync department.
In his new position as VP of A&R, Turner will maintain his responsibilities of discovering talent, managing new client negotiations and driving catalog exploitation. This promotion recognizes his commitment and contributions to Concord, particularly his efforts in expanding the company’s roster within the Nashville and country music scenes. Turner works with a wide range of songwriters in the country genre, including recording artists, producers and topliners.
With 18 years of experience in the industry, Turner brings executive-level insights to the team and has helped bring some of the top talent in the industry to the Concord roster, driving success on the country charts. In 2024, songwriters from Concord’s Nashville roster contributed to five Country Radio No. 1s and, within the first month of 2025, they’ve already added more, including Morgan Wallen’s “Lies Lies Lies,” Parmalee’s “Gonna Love You” and Dan + Shay’s “Bigger Houses.” Turner has played a key role in securing publishing deals with writers like Josh Miller, Andy Albert and Abram Dean, all of whom have earned No. 1 hits.
Before joining Concord, Turner worked at the independent publisher Big Loud Shirt, now known as Big Loud, where he collaborated closely with founder Craig Wiseman and writers such as Chris Tompkins, Rodney Clawson, Matt Dragstrem and the Warren Brothers. He was also involved in the early songwriting careers of Morgan Wallen and Chris Lane. After his time at Big Loud, Turner joined Downtown Music Publishing, where he represented their extensive roster of writers, including country music hitmakers Andy Albert, Andrew DeRoberts and Joey Hyde. Turner’s promotion highlights Concord’s continued growth in Nashville and the expansion of its country music roster.
Charles Wesley Godwin To Release ‘Lonely Mountain Town’ This Month
/by John Nix ArledgeJust 17 months since the release of his breakout album Family Ties, Charles Wesley Godwin slates a new seven-song EP, Lonely Mountain Town, for Feb. 28 via Big Loud Records.
Markedly quieter and more contemplative than Family Ties, Godwin’s new EP is a collection of quiet moments in his life. “These are character songs,” Godwin explains. “Most of them aren’t about my life. They’re just little pieces that I’ve taken from traveling.” Lonely Mountain Town serves as a stark contrast to the swift upward momentum the artist has experienced since his last release.
Over the last year, Godwin has made appearances on Colbert, Kimmel, CBS Saturday Sessions, and even ESPN’s Sports Center. These, paired with his debuts at festivals such as Bonnaroo and Stagecoach and opening for Luke Combs, caused Godwin to pick up his pen and write even more, penning over 30 songs in 2024.
Written primarily on the road and recorded with longtime producer and bandmate, Al Torrence, at Torrence’s Music Garden Studios in New Brighton, PA, Lonely Mountain Town features a handful of moving and even melancholy cuts that exemplify true sincerity.
This project saw Godwin working with new people such as labelmate Ernest on “Dead to Rights,” and one of Godwin’s musical heroes, Scott Avett, on Jason Molina’s “Hammer Down,” which they performed together while opening for Luke Comb’s 2024 stadium tour “Growin’ Up and Gettin’ Old.”
“It meant a lot to me and I think it turned out really cool too,” Godwin says of recording with Avett. “It brought new life to a song that a lot of people probably haven’t been exposed to.”
As he heads back on the road this winter and spring with his band the Allegheny High, Godwin is thrilled with where things stand. “I just want to continue writing like I have been and continue to record when I can and to keep producing and making music,” he says. “Because that’s what makes me happy. If I keep doing that, then I think everything else will work out just fine.”
Lonely Mountain Town Track List
1. “Lonely Mountain Town” (Charles Wesley Godwin)
2. “It’s The Little Things” (Charles Wesley Godwin)
3. “Dead To Rights (feat. ERNEST)” (Charles Wesley Godwin, Ernest Keith Smith, Chandler Paul Walters)
4. “It’s Her Move” (Charles Wesley Godwin, Wyatt Flores, Aaron Raitiere)
5. “Then I’m Gone” (Charles Wesley Godwin)
6. “She Don’t Love Me Anymore” (Charles Wesley Godwin, Zach McCord)
7. “Hammer Down feat. Scott Avett” (Jason Molina)
Touring Career Workshop Rebrands To Eccho Live
/by Madison HahnenTouring Career Workshop (TCW) has transformed into ECCHO Live, an acronym representing Education, Community, Connection, Health and Opportunity, reflecting the powerful impact of mentorship within the live event industry. For over ten years, the nonprofit has been dedicated to supporting live event professionals at every stage of their careers by offering resources and guidance for both career and personal challenges.
ECCHO Live’s mission remains focused on empowering current professionals, mentoring future talent and encouraging collaboration and stewardship. This rebrand follows a comprehensive year-long process, including research, industry interviews, workshops and member feedback. The rebrand highlights the organization’s continued commitment to providing live event professionals with vital resources, mental health support and career tools, at no charge.
“With our industry’s evolving demands, TCW’s identity needed to adapt,” says ECCHO Live Founder and Executive Director Chris Lisle. “Collaborating with our board, partners, and staff, we developed a name and brand that reflects our current resources and future vision. ECCHO Live supports every aspect of a live event professional’s career.”
ECCHO Live’s outreach includes several key initiatives, such as the All Access Program, which offers four free, confidential counseling sessions with approved therapists to professionals, their spouses or partners and dependents. In 2023, All Access on Site (AAOS) expanded its mental health services to festivals, fairs and large music events, allowing artists, crews and staff to schedule on-site sessions with therapists. AAOS plans to increase its reach from three festivals in 2023 and nine in 2024 to 18 events this year. Additionally, the flagship Touring Career Workshop will return later this year as the ECCHO Live Fall Workshop.
Day Off events take place on the second Monday of every month, offering a relaxed, semi-active setting for industry professionals to connect while enjoying activities such as karaoke, TopGolf, trivia or a chili cookoff. Networking Nights are also held regularly, focused exclusively on fostering industry connections.
Since its inception, over 5,000 individuals have attended the Touring Career Workshop’s annual event, gaining valuable insights from industry leaders on topics such as financial well-being, work-life balance, business planning, resume updates, security concerns and networking.
“Our mission has always been to empower live event professionals,” adds ECCHO Live General Manager Kara Kemp. “The rebrand will strengthen this mission with continuous year-round programming to support our industry.”
ECCHO Live is entirely supported, sponsored and funded by industry professionals. Recently, the organization received a $100,000 donation from the Country Music Association (CMA), as part of the CMA’s commitment to supporting mental health organizations within the music industry.
Dylan Marlowe & Conner Smith Team For New ‘Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour’
/by Lorie HollabaughDylan Marlowe and Conner Smith are teaming up for a new co-headlining tour, the “Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour” this spring.
Featuring openers Hannah McFarland and Cole Goodwin, the tour will kick off on April 2 in Columbia, South Carolina and includes stops in Orlando, Tampa, Chattanooga and more through April 12. General on-sale starts on Feb. 7, and fans can purchase tickets here.
Marlowe has dropped a series of self-penned singles and EPs like “Record High” and Dirt Road When I Die, eventually racking up 328 million global career streams as an artist, while co-penning Jon Pardi’s No. 1 hit, “Last Night Lonely.” Most recently, he released his debut album, Mid-Twenties Crisis. Marlowe has also toured with Dan + Shay, Cole Swindell, Hardy, Brantley Gilbert and more.
Smith’s 2024 album Smoky Mountains, pairing sharp hooks and timeless country sonics with a sincere nod to his love for Appalachia featured the Gold-certified, multi-week international chart-topper “Creek Will Rise.” He also released the all-acoustic Smoky Mountains Sessions and fast-paced “Steal My Thunder” (feat. Tucker Wetmore) which was featured in the summer blockbuster Twisters. His latest project The Storyteller is out now.
“Did We Just Become Best Friends? Tour” Dates:
April 2 – Columbia, SC – The Senate
April 3 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
April 4 – Tampa, FL – Dallas Bull
April 10 – Chattanooga, TN – The Signal
April 11 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer
April 12 – Wilmington, NC – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre
Jelly Roll’s Goodnight Nashville To Host Grand Opening
/by Lorie HollabaughGoodnight Nashville building exterior. Photo: Andrew Keithly Photography
Jelly Roll’s new venue Goodnight Nashville located on Broadway in downtown Nashville will host a Grand Opening Celebration on Feb. 20.
First floor stage. Photo: Samantha Kunz
The new four-story venue was created in partnership with Arizona-based Evening Entertainment Group and offers a full dining experience, tattoo parlor pop-up and lively nightlife inspired by Jelly Roll’s raw, authentic spirit. The vibrant first floor features a full bar, diverse menu and live music—all under the glow of a massive skull chandelier, drum-head lights and a “Save Me/I’m Fine” art installation.
The second floor pays tribute to Jelly Roll’s wife, Bunnie Xo of the Dumb Blonde podcast, with a larger-than life likeness of her above the bar. Bunnie’s immerses guests in a sultry world, featuring a stage for live DJs and plush booths perfect for nightlife and VIP table reservations.
The third floor offers a more intimate, elevated experience with Buddy’s, a cocktail lounge named in honor of Jelly Roll’s late father. This upscale, speakeasy-style venue serves craft cocktails and a limited, thoughtfully curated food menu in a cozy setting. Reserved mainly for private events and for Jelly Roll’s personal use. Buddy’s will occasionally open its doors to the public for a more exclusive night out. Finally, the top floor is an indoor-outdoor rooftop, offering sweeping views, comfortable booths, space for a DJ, bar fare, and another signature rotating skull chandelier.
Photo: Samantha Kunz
“As we set out to create EEG’s first venue in Nashville, we knew there was no better person to partner with than a true hometown hero like Jelly Roll,” says Les Corieri, co-owner of Evening Entertainment Group. “Goodnight Nashville is more than just a place to grab a drink—it’s an experience where music, culture, and hospitality meet. Nashville has always been a vibrant city of energy and creativity, and we’re excited to be part of that spirit, bringing something new to the scene.”
BREAKING: MusicRow Reveals 2025 Rising Women On The Row Honorees
/by MusicRow StaffMusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees for the Rising Women on the Row Class of 2025. These six female executives are making a significant impact on Nashville’s country music industry, including: Lydia Schultz Cahill, Rakiyah Marshall, Michelle Tigard Kammerer, Katie Kerkhover, Jessi Vaughn Stevenson and Julie Sturdivant.
City National Bank is Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 Rising Women on the Row, which will take place at the Omni Nashville Hotel at 8:30 a.m. March 20.
Now in its 12th year, MusicRow‘s annual Rising Women on the Row event has honored over 50 women in the Nashville music industry.
Tickets for Rising Women on the Row are now closed. They will not be sold at the door.
For any questions regarding the event, contact LB Cantrell at lbcantrell@musicrow.com.
This year’s honorees include:
Lydia Schultz Cahill
Lydia Schultz Cahill – Senior Director, Creative Services, SESAC
Lydia Schultz Cahill is Senior Director of Creative Services at SESAC PRO, where she oversees the country genre in Nashville. She supports songwriter and publisher affiliates, recruits new talent and collaborates with artists and songwriters like Blanco Brown, Jon Nite, Allison Veltz Cruz, Dillon Carmichael and Jenny Tolman. Cahill also produces SESAC-sponsored events, including Tin Pan South, SESAC Presents at the Bluebird and songwriter showcases across the Southeast. Before joining SESAC in 2016, Cahill was Creative Director at Magic Mustang Music, where she worked with acclaimed songwriters Steve Bogard, Kristian Bush, Rob Hatch and Justin Lantz. She began her career as an assistant to Grammy-winning songwriter JD Souther and later held roles in the Legal and Finance Department at Broken Bow Records. A Wisconsin native, Cahill graduated from Belmont University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from its Music Business program. In 2024, she completed her master’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee.
Rakiyah Marshall
Rakiyah Marshall – Founder + CEO, Back Blocks Music
Rakiyah Marshall is the Founder and CEO of Back Blocks, a full-service publishing, management and artist development company. Under her leadership, Back Blocks has guided the careers of Blake Pendergrass, Ashley Cooke, Tucker Wetmore and Lily Rose. Marshall and her team recently celebrated major milestones, including Cooke and Wetmore’s first No. 1 hits. Before founding Back Blocks, Marshall built a strong foundation in pop promotion at Republic Records in NYC, including time at UMG’s classical division (now Verve). She later brought her expertise in radio, streaming, marketing, and artist development to Nashville, working at Cornman Music under hall of fame songwriter, Brett James and BMG under Kos Weaver. There, she advocated for writers, placed notable songs and bridged Nashville with the global creative community. Now, Marshall continues to shape Back Blocks into a leading force in the industry, driving success for her roster through innovative strategies and dedicated advocacy.
Michelle Tigard Kammerer
Michelle Tigard Kammerer – Head of Country Music, Amazon Music
As Head of Country Music at Amazon Music, Michelle Tigard Kammerer has driven the streaming service’s growth in the genre since 2021. She oversees marketing, artist and label relations and innovative collaborations, managing influential brands like Country Heat. Under her leadership, Amazon Music has introduced new initiatives and strengthened connections between country artists and their fans. Kammerer’s career began at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where she helped sign and launch the careers of several leading country acts. She then served as Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Strategic Partnerships at Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. (CRB) before re-launching the historic Dot Records label under Big Machine Label Group as National Director of Marketing & Promotion. In 2017, she expanded her leadership as Senior National Director of Marketing & Promotion at BMLG Records, where she worked closely with a range of top artists. Now at Amazon Music, Kammerer continues to champion the evolution of country music, leveraging her experience across agencies, labels and streaming to innovate and elevate the genre.
Katie Kerkhover
Katie Kerkhover – SVP, A&R, North America, BBR Music Group/BMG
Joining BMG in 2020, Kerkhover currently serves as SVP, A&R, North America, a position she was elevated to in December 2024. Her first position at BMG was as Senior Director, Creative, in music publishing, where she managed BMG’s Nashville roster of songwriters, including Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Stephen Wilson Jr., Emily Landis and Chayce Beckham, among others, while also signing and developing new songwriters and artists. Kerkhover was promoted to VP, A&R, Frontline Recordings for BMG Nashville in 2022, where she was responsible for BBR Music Group’s (BBRMG) roster of recording artists across its imprints Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records and Wheelhouse Records, as well as scouting, signing and developing new talent. Since leading A&R for BBRMG, she’s worked with Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean and Chayce Beckham and is working with Blake Shelton’s team on his BMG Nashville debut. Previously, Kerkhover served nearly three years as a Creative Manager at Sony/ATV and garnered experience as A&R, Creative at CAM Creative. Before jumping behind the scenes of the music industry, she spent years on the road as a performing musician often playing fiddle, guitar or providing backing vocals for acts like Sara Evans and Rebecca Lynn Howard.
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson – VP, A&R / Digital, Warner Chappell Music Nashville
Jessi Vaughn Stevenson is VP, A&R and Digital at Warner Chappell Music (WCM) Nashville, where she strategizes innovative opportunities and guidance for songwriters and artists. With a proven track record of success, Stevenson has helped advance the careers of influential country music creators, including Jessi Alexander, Aaron Raitiere, Rhett Akins, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Hailey Whitters, Morgan Wallen, Randy Montana, Will Bundy, Lee Miller and Little Big Town, among others. Born and raised in Nolensville, Tennessee, Stevenson honed her industry acumen during her time at Belmont University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Business and gained valuable experience through roles at CMT, Warner Brothers Records, Bill Silva Entertainment and SoundExchange. In 2015, she founded JV Writer Management, successfully supporting the careers of award-winning songwriters Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall. At WCM, Stevenson champions diverse talent across genres, identifying and developing the next generation of hitmakers. While dedicated to her professional endeavors, Stevenson finds her greatest joy in motherhood and family.
Julie Sturdivant
Julie Sturdivant – Music Brand Partnerships Executive, CAA
Julie Sturdivant is a Music Brand Partnerships Executive at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in Nashville, leading brand collaborations for artists like Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Keith Urban and Kelsea Ballerini. Over the past year, she orchestrated major partnerships, including Jelly Roll’s multi-year deal with HeyDude, Warren Zeiders’ ambassadorship with Wild Turkey’s 101 Bold Nights and Koe Wetzel’s collaboration with Rock & Roll Denim. She also brokered Charley Crockett’s campaign with The Alamo Foundation and Aaron Watson’s Texas-sized Super Bowl commercial with HEB. Sturdivant began her career on-air at KOST 103.5 in California before joining Universal Music Group-Interscope Records, where she worked on campaigns for Lady Gaga, All American Rejects and Black Eyed Peas. She later built a reputation for innovative marketing during her 12 years leading Marbaloo Marketing. With expertise spanning radio, global marketing and digital innovation, Sturdivant continues to create impactful partnerships in music.