Phil Guerini
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.
Phil Guerini is CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment. Having amassed over 25 years of experience, across three divisions and 5 businesses at the Walt Disney Company, multiple big market radio stations and major record labels, Guerini has been named a Billboard Power Player multiple times.
While at Disney, he was responsible for overseeing the music strategy of Disney Channels Worldwide networks and all aspects of programming, strategic direction, talent, label relationships, branding as General Manager for Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country businesses.
In 2013, Guerini created and launched the Radio Disney Music Awards – Music’s Biggest Event for Families and reimagined Radio Disney’s highly acclaimed NBT artist development program while supporting the career launches of Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Shawn Mendes, Gabby Barrett, Demi Lovato, Tori Kelly, BTS, Zendaya, Becky G and Kelsea Ballerini, among many others.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I was born in San Diego and grew up in south Florida in small town within Fort Lauderdale.
Were you into music?
I’ve been into music as long as I can remember. My father was the lead singer in the Air Force Band. We had music in our house growing up. I grew up on everything from Al Jolson to Frank Sinatra to Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass and Sergio Mendes to whatever was [on the radio]. My mother had really diverse taste, so it was really well-rounded.
Did you want to pursue music or was it just a passion at that point?
I didn’t know what it meant to pursue it per se, but like many young people, I certainly grew up with aspirations of potentially being a rockstar. By default, I fell into the path of chorus and shows. I not only loved the music and the performance of it, but I loved the community. It was like what has been showcased on shows like Glee. I was an athlete as well for a brief period, but it was a community within a larger community of similar interests and aspirations. At that point in my journey, I definitely aspired to be an artist.
What did you do after high school?
I went to college, but through a series of events, I realized that being a performing artist was not necessarily in the cards for me [even though] I had such a deep love for music. I stumbled my way into radio. That’s where it began for me—on the air. I did everything you could do at a radio station at various radio stations. From answering the phones to being on the air to programming, I did everything with the exception of sales. They wore ties and that was just so not cool. [Laughs] That set the path for me. I was close enough to what I loved. I was getting to engage with artists. I found myself in the recording studio with some of the biggest artists in south Florida at the time, who became global superstars. I was just constantly surrounded by it and loved music.
What stations were you at early in your career?
I spent a year at the University of South Georgia in a small town in Georgia, which is where I got my start in radio. Later that summer, I went back to south Florida and having no context of market size or anything about the business, I went to the radio station that I grew up on. It was the preeminent pop radio station in south Florida at the time. I just continued to pursue it until I was finally given an opportunity. The Program Director took favor on me at the time and [gave me a job] on the phones during the overnight shift. I worked my way through and connected with people and the rest is history. I did radio in south Florida and south Georgia for a period of time, and ended up working in radio in Atlanta.
What happened in Atlanta?
Being in Atlanta and having had the background that I did led to my transition into the record business. I began that path at MCA Records. At the time, we were home to Bobby Brown and we had just returned Elton John to MCA. I was part of a marketing team who developed the first ever mall tour with an artist by the name Tiffany. We toured Tiffany through malls and it blew up.
While I was at MCA, I got my first opportunity to come to Nashville. I was given an opportunity to shadow the local promotion person in an effort to move my career forward. This would’ve been in late ’80s, and at that time, MCA Records was the heart of Nashville. It was Reba McEntire, George Stait and Lyle Lovett. I wasn’t on the country side of the business—I was a pop guy in Nashville trying to get Bobby Brown, New Edition and Tiffany records played, so I didn’t have as much fun necessarily. [Laughs] I was housed off of Music Row in Tony Brown‘s office. It was an extremely memorable 12 or 16 months that I was here.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
What led to your next career move?
I spent a number of years in the record business, bouncing around to various labels as as many do. Because I was based in Atlanta, oftentimes my region would include Florida. As part of a radio promo person’s responsibility, bringing my artists through marketplaces would often include Orlando. At that time, Disney’s new Mickey Mouse Club show was being taped there, so we would bring our younger developing acts through Disney for things like that. I established a number of relationships through that, and when I was between labels, I was chatting with some friends who suggested [trying to work at Disney]. At that point, I probably had been in the business 10 years. I was under contract with Atlantic Records and my family still lived in south Florida, so I decided to go for a job at Disney.
At Disney, I was put into some various capacities that were both challenging and exciting, as well as being given opportunities that really aligned with my past experience in booking artists and doing music things. Lo and behold, what I thought was going to be a just a temporary diversion ended up being where I called home for 28 plus years.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
That’s awesome! Tell me about your path at Disney.
I started in the theme parks in Orlando, which I’m forever grateful for because that really is the heart of all things Disney. I had so many opportunities there that inevitably led to me being a talent executive, overseeing bookings and strategies on bringing talent to the theme parks for grand openings for special events. I booked the Super Bowl halftime show that was presented by Disney in 2000. I realized during that time that if I really wanted to continue to grow and have opportunities, I needed to be where the company was based and where the greater amount of opportunities were, so I moved to Burbank in 2003.
Then I started at Walt Disney Records, which is the branded label division of the Walt Disney Company. I was Head of Broadcast Marketing Synergy and held a number of different capacities while there. I was blessed and fortunate to be there during a special period of time and to have been part of projects like High School Musical. I brought the Jonas Brothers to the Walt Disney Company and helped launch them, as well as [shows like] Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, Camp Rock and more.
What was next?
While I thoroughly loved that chapter and all of those opportunities, I aspired to have greater influence in the broader marketplace. I was given two opportunities: one was to go work within the Walt Disney Company for the Jonas Brothers and one was to go to Radio Disney. I had been part of Radio Disney’s launch back at the parks as it was coming into fruition, and [as I had learned in my early career], I felt this connection with radio and felt that I could really create something special there.
I entered Radio Disney as the Head of Marketing under one General Manager but within about six to nine months, I became the General Manager. I set a course from there to grow the business exponentially and expand into the country space with Radio Disney Country. To this day, that is probably one of my fondest achievements.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
Is that what brought you back to Nashville?
Someone whom I worked with at Walt Disney Records and a dear friend of mine who now runs the ACM, Damon Whiteside, had come to Nashville to work for the CMAs.
At the same time, I had just gone through one probably one of the most difficult periods in my professional career, which was assessing the Radio Disney business, how would it continue to grow and how would it move forward. That was cumbersome, emotional and difficult, and we had to make the difficult decision to divest the majority of our stations. Immediately we became profitable, as we had anticipated, but we had to say goodbye to a lot of friends and great people. The next question was what were we going to do next to grow the business.
It took a bit of selling [to create Radio Disney Country] because of the perception that country music is about heartbreak and drinking, which wouldn’t work with Disney, but at its core, the country music community is family. That aligned with the Walt Disney Company 100%. So armed with that and some very valuable insights that Damon and the CMA were able to provide to us, we made ultimately the decision to pursue Radio Disney Country. We were focused on supporting younger artists, similar to that of Radio Disney, as well tremendously underserved acts, such as female artists.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
What led to you joining Jonas Group Entertainment (JGE)?
We had had the most amazing, albeit brief, run at Radio Disney Country. We launched a few careers or certainly were instrumental in supporting some artists. Through that period, I was re-ensconced in Nashville, the community, the connection and the specialness of what this community is. Fast forward, [we decided] to sunset that business. We were heading into the pandemic and I was contemplating what that would look like.
I was living in Los Angeles still at the time, but I decided to come and spend a little time in Nashville while contemplating what was going to be next. I was fortunate to be presented with a number of great opportunities. I reconnected with Kevin Jonas Sr., who is the Founder of JGE. He was kind enough at that pivotal moment to call. He said, “I’m really just calling to say thank you for your support of the guys for all the years. You were instrumental at so many points. What are you doing now?”
We had some conversations that continued to evolve. I left the Disney company on April 30th and joined the Jonas Group on May 19th. It’s been an incredible transition that’s still a work in progress but we’re so tremendously excited about what’s ahead.
What are your goals now as CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment?
We’re still in a transition stage. I obviously inherited an infrastructure that has been in place for a while. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to partner with Kevin in this next chapter. We are evaluating the business that we were doing and what might be ahead of us. We’ve been in the process of really transforming and evolving the artist management side of the business. We are also in the TV and film business, as well as the consumer products business. We recently renewed out commitment to our publishing business, bringing in Leslie DiPiero. There are more exciting announcements that are still in the planning stages.
I hope that, when all is said and done, we can create and foster a community of creatives that can come together, irrespective of what publishing company or label they may work with. That really is a result of my time at Disney and recognizing that the sum of the parts is always greater when working together.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
Who have been some of your mentors?
I’ve been so blessed throughout my career to have so many mentors, but I may look at mentors different than many. I look at people in general as mentors. They’re not necessarily seniors to me. The mentors in my personal and professional life are those that set the example, those who inspire me, those who are optimistic and those who approach life and work with a sense of “We’re going to get through this together as a team.”
What is some of the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
The best advice I’ve gotten was from my father, who I unfortunately lost when I was 13. During the short years we had together, he both embodied and communicated the message that if you can pursue the things that you love, you never feel like you work a day in life. I am living proof that this is indeed the case. People often will consider my life unbalanced and wonder where the sleep comes in. My only response is that. I love every minute of it.
When you look back on your career, how do you feel?
The only word to describe my life is blessed. I’ve had blessing upon blessing that is far greater than I ever deserved. I’m blessed to be surrounded by, supported by and given opportunities by amazing people.
Buddy & Julie Miller Slate ‘In The Throes’ For September
/by Lorie HollabaughBuddy and Julie Miller are set to release their new album, In The Throes on Sept. 22 via New West Records.
The 12-song set was produced by Buddy and features guests such as Emmylou Harris, Regina McCrary, Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams, Gurf Morlix and Matt Slocum of Sixpence None the Richer. In The Throes follows their 2019 album Breakdown on 20th Ave. South, their first album in a decade. The soulful collision of dusty country, gospel, blues and R&B came to life during an intensely creative period for Julie. She ended up with more than one hundred songs or fragments of songs —and penned every song on the project with the exception of “Don’t Make Her Cry,” which is a rare co-write between Julie, Bob Dylan and McCrary.
McCrary started the song several years ago, then met with Dylan, who wrote, and rewrote more lyrics. Dylan suggested that Regina give it to Buddy to write the music, who then passed it to Julie, who added more lyrics and set it to music. Featuring a sympathetic lead vocal from Buddy, “Don’t Make Her Cry” is a soft-spoken ode to perseverance and protection.
In the Throes will be available digitally, on CD and standard black vinyl. A limited seaglass blue-colored vinyl edition autographed by Buddy and Julie will be available via independent retailers and is currently available for pre-order.
In The Throes Track Listing:
1. “You’re My Thrill”
2. “In The Throes”
3. “Don’t Make Her Cry”
4. “Niccolo”
5. “I Love You”
6. “The Last Bridge You Will Cross”
7. “The Painkillers Ain’t Workin'”
8. “Tattooed Tear”
9. “I Been Around”
10. “I’ll Never Live It Down”
11. “We’re Leavin'”
12. “Oh Shout”
Linda Bloss-Baum Exits SoundExchange, Joins American University
/by Lorie HollabaughLinda Bloss-Baum
Linda Bloss-Baum is exiting her post of Sr. VP of Government Relations and Public Policy at SoundExchange in Washington, D.C., and is joining the Kogod School of Business at American University.
Bloss-Baum will serve as Assistant Program Director in the Business and Entertainment Program at the university and teach two undergraduate courses as a full-time faculty member, including Protection of the Creative Class in the Digital Age and Introduction to the Entertainment Industry. She joined the Kogod School of Business in 2013 as an adjunct professor, and received AU’s Adjunct Professor of the Year award in 2018.
“We are thrilled to announce that Linda Bloss-Baum will be joining us at the Business and Entertainment Program,” says John Simson, BAE Program Director at the Kogod School of Business. “She is the perfect fit for this unique program.”
In March, Bloss-Baum led a delegation of students to the SXSW conference in Austin for a week-long course in networking and professionalism in the entertainment industries. She has held several senior positions in public policy and government affairs, including at Time Warner, Inc., Warner Music Group and NBC Universal/Universal Music Group.
“It is such an honor to return to my alma mater as a full-time faculty member and assistant program director to teach and mentor the next generation of leaders in the entertainment industry,” says Bloss-Baum. “The Business and Entertainment Program at Kogod has grown rapidly over the past decade. I look forward to working with John Simson and the Kogod community to foster future growth and opportunities for the program’s exemplary students in the years to come.”
BMI Implements New Customer Service Initiative
/by Lorie HollabaughBMI has launched a new initiative to modernize and enhance the customer service experience for its songwriters, composers and publishers.
The new project will roll out in multiple phases and include the creation of a dedicated customer service team based in BMI’s Nashville office as well as the implementation of new processes and technologies to more effectively manage the high volume of royalty administration inquiries the company receives.
Alison Smith, BMI’s EVP, Chief Distribution & Publisher Relations Officer, will oversee the new initiative, working closely with Mike Steinberg, BMI’s EVP, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer.
“It has always been a priority to address the many administration and royalty questions we receive from our affiliates and offer the guidance and help that is so important to our creative community,” says Smith. “Given the millions of affiliates we serve and the trillions of transactions we now process each year, we’re very excited to take on this new initiative that will accommodate the ever-growing volume of affiliates who require our assistance on a daily basis. By using the latest customer service technologies and strategies, we will be in a much stronger position to respond in the fastest and most effective way possible to the evolving needs of our songwriters, composers and publishers.”
BMI worked with Material, a global strategy and customer experience transformation consultancy, to help define and build its new strategy. Material will serve as an advisor to BMI during the project’s start up period. Phase One of the project includes the hiring of a new customer service team, creating new streamlined and centralized processes, and implementing a new telephony platform. Later phases will include the establishment of a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform, the building of an affiliate self-service portal and deploying a chat function to better handle incoming calls and questions.
“This is a great solution to help us better manage the many calls that come into our Creative team about royalty systems and processes,” says Steinberg. “By streamlining this process, we can make sure that the inquiries we receive are sent to the right place and that our Creative team can continue to focus on providing creative support and guidance to our incredible roster of affiliates.”
Sara Evans Signs With Melody Place Records
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Melody Place’s Sanborn McGraw, Leigh Shockey, Sara Evans and One Spark Entertainment’s Craig Dunn
Sara Evans has signed with Nashville-based label Melody Place. She joins the label in partnership with her own imprint, Born to Fly Records.
Earlier this year, Melody Place announced it had re-branded to be more focused on artist-driven projects and career development. Evans plans to return to the studio in October to begin working on new music for 2024, her first album of original material in seven years.
“Throughout her career, Sara Evans has consistently proven why she is one of the most talented and respected entertainers in this business,” says Sanborn McGraw, Melody Place President/General Manager. “Her gift of writing and selecting the best material has given us unexpected hits and beloved country music anthems. Sara and her team share the Melody Place goal of finding outside of the box ways to grow an artist’s global reach. To make this signing and to join forces with Sara and Born to Fly Records is an incredible opportunity we couldn’t be more excited about.”
“As an artist I’m always looking for ways to bring my music to as many fans as possible,” says Evans. “When the Melody Place team approached me about working together and expanding all the things I’d already been doing with my own label – Born To Fly Records, it became clear that they share the same passion and excitement about trying new and innovative things to connect fans with music. I’m so excited to partner with them and get in the studio later this year to record my next studio album of new material!”
As the fifth most-played female artist at country radio in nearly the last two decades with five No. 1 singles include “No Place That Far,” “Suds In The Bucket,” “A Real Fine Place To Start,” “Born to Fly” and “A Little Bit Stronger,” which was certified Platinum, Evans plays close to 100 shows each year across the U.S.
Mark Turcotte Joins Outback Presents As Senior VP Of Marketing
/by Lorie HollabaughMark Turcotte
Mark Turcotte has joined Outback Presents as Senior VP of Marketing.
Turcotte began his career as a professional musician in Syracuse, New York. He transitioned into media full time in 1987 as a promotions and marketing director. He was previously a former Cox Media Group national marketing executive before joining Outback, and brings with him vast experience in the concert/event promotion space.
“This is a landmark moment for Outback Presents,” notes Outback Presents president Mike Smardak. “Mark will be instrumental in fostering success with our artists, managers, agents, venues and brand partners. I’ve known Mark for over 25 years and it has always been a professional goal of mine to find a way to work with him. I’m excited that we’ve found the opportunity and am looking forward to great potential in our future.”
“My dream since first getting into the business is to help bring joy, through music, comedy and performance, to diverse audiences and to make sure the artists are given the respect and consideration they deserve in marketing their shows,” explains Turcotte. “All my life I’ve been in the business of filling seats, whether in a theater or on a program log. Either way, I’m not satisfied unless there’s a line of people waiting for a seat to open.”
Turcotte begins his new role at Outback Presents’ Nashville headquarters effective July 18. Reach him via email at Mark.Turcotte@outbackpresents.com.
Date Set For The 66th Annual Grammy Awards
/by LB CantrellThe Recording Academy has announced its key dates and deadlines ahead of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, which will take place Sun, Feb. 4, 2024, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
This year’s Grammy nominees will be announced on Fri, Nov. 10, 2023. The 66th Annual Grammy Awards will air live 8:00-11:30 p.m. ET/5:00-8:30 p.m. PT on CBS and will stream on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs).
Key dates for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards season are as follows:
Oct. 1, 2022 – Sept. 15, 2023
Product Eligibility Period
July 17, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2023
Online Entry Period
Oct. 11, 2023 – Oct. 20, 2023
First Round Voting
Nov. 10, 2023
Nominees Announced for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards
Dec. 14, 2023 – Jan. 4, 2024
Final Round Voting
Feb. 4, 2024
66th Annual Grammy Awards
UMG Nashville Names Charlene Bryant As Sr. VP, Business Development & Strategy
/by LB CantrellCharlene Bryant. Photo: Thomas Crabtree
Universal Music Group Nashville has appointed Charlene Bryant as its Senior Vice President, Business Development & Strategy. Bryant brings with her a wealth of experience and track record of success spanning across country, hip-hop and Christian music.
A Canton, Ohio native and Belmont graduate, Bryant joins UMG Nashville after 5 years at the helm of artist management company, Riveter Management, which she founded in 2018. She was named one of Billboard’s Hip-Hop and R&B Power Players in 2020 and 2021, and was part of CMT and mtheory’s inaugural Equal Access Development Program. Acknowledging her leadership in the community, Nashville Business Journal recognized her with the Women in Music City Award in 2018 and 2019.
“Charlene has spent her career in artist development and learning to merge cultures of Christian, R&B, Hip-Hop and Country music,” says UMG Nashville Chair & CEO Cindy Mabe. “She’s had success at major labels and independents, as well as success as an entrepreneur. As Universal Nashville is investing deeper to expand our growth in partnering in innovation with entrepreneurs, the independent label sector as well as our sister labels, Charlene is the perfect person to help merge those worlds and cultures to help build the next era of Universal Music Group Nashville. I could not be more excited to have Charlene Bryant help build our vision.”
Industry Ink: Sony, Brooke Eden, Songs For A Cause, More
/by Caela GriffinSony Music Marches In Nashville Pride Parade
Sony Music staff in the Nashville Pride Parade. Photo: Courtesy of Sony Music Nashville
Sony Music Entertainment’s Nashville offices joined together Saturday (June 24) to march in the Nashville Pride Parade. Representatives from Sony Music Nashville, Sony Music Publishing, Provident Entertainment and The Orchard marched the parade route down Broadway on behalf of the organizations’ Nashville Equity Taskforce.
Brooke Eden Participates In ABC’s ‘Pride Across America’ In New York
Brooke Eden performed at NY Pride as part of ABC’s Pride Across America segment. During an interview with ABC, Eden spoke on her recently released EP Outlaw Love as well as her marriage to wife Hillary.
“I got to marry my best friend and better half. Getting to do that and it be legal in the United States is amazing,” said Eden. “In country music there’s just not a lot of representation for the LGBTQ+ community, so it was really important for me to be able to show representation and be visible, not just back there but here just like every other country artist is allowed to do with their partner.”
Eden also gave her younger generation of fans advice. “Stand in your truth,” she said. “I know it can be really hard in the world, especially with where we are with a lot of anti-LGBTQ legislation. But when you are yourself it inspires other people to be themselves. I would just say try as hard as you can as long as you feel safe to live in your truth.”
Songs For A Cause Raises $2,5000 For Opry Trust Fund
Pictured (L-R): Tia Sillers, Bryce Leatherwood, Jeannie Seely, Jamie Dailey, Shaun Richardson and Jeffrey East. Photo Courtesy of Morris Higham Management
Morris Higham Management’s songwriter series, Songs for a Cause, returned June 21 to a sold-out house at Nashville’s historic Bluebird Cafe. In total, proceeds from the event tallied to $2,500 benefiting Opry Trust Fund.
The evening featured performances from Grammy, CMA, ACM and Dove Award-winning songwriter Tia Sillers; Grammy, Dove and 35-time IBMA Award-winner Jamie Dailey of Dailey & Vincent; Season 22 Winner of NBC’s The Voice making his Bluebird Cafe debut, Bryce Leatherwood; and songwriter Jeffrey East.
In addition, Grand Ole Opry matriarch and Grammy-winning artist Jeannie Seely surprised the crowd with a song she co-wrote with the late Glen Campbell.
Both Dailey and Seely spoke of their love and respect for the Opry Trust Fund as Dailey is a former board member who worked through the COVID pandemic. Seely spoke of how the Opry Trust Fund helped her when she lost everything during the 2010 flood disaster.
“The Opry is often referred to as a country music family,” said Dan Rogers, Opry Executive Producer & President. “For nearly 60 years, that family has assisted members of the country music community in need through the Opry Trust Fund. With thanks to Opry members Jeannie Seely and Jamie Dailey as well as their friends plus so many others who will assist the Trust Fund this year, that important work is guaranteed to continue.”
Country For A Cause Raises $60,000 For Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital
Pictured (L-R): Wes Schmitz, Kathy Ashworth, Marcia Campbell, Charlotte Sneed, Makenzie Phipps, T.G. Sheppard, Kelly Lang, Jenny Streams, Sherri Forrest and Scott Sexton
Country For A Cause raised $60,000 for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt during their CMA Fest 2023 concert at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley. Hosted by country legend T.G. Sheppard and Kelly Lang, along with Devon O’Day, an eclectic group of performers donated their time and talents to raise money for children in health-related crises.
Mark Wills, Wade Hayes, John Conlee, Paulette Carlson, Tim Atwood, Makenzie Phipps, Elizabeth Cook, Michelle Wright, Heath Wright of Ricochet, Terry McBride, Leon Everette, Brandon Davis, Jake Hoot and Jamie O’Neal were among the evening’s performers. The night also included surprises from Alex Miller, T. Graham Brown, Jeannie Seely, John Schneider, John McEuen and Charlene Tilton as well as a special tribute to Jeanne Pruett.
Hosts Lang and Sheppard note, “We have always considered it an honor and pleasure to host Country For A Cause. To see it grow into such an incredible event that has helped so many is truly a blessing for us both. It continues to succeed because of the efforts of Scott Sexton and the great board along with so many great friends and artists who have performed and given their time to support such a worthy cause. To say we are thankful is an understatement for all who have worked so hard.”
Jazz In The Park Returns To Hadley Park
Jazz in the Park, the Nashville Jazz Workshop’s summer concert series, kicked off in Hadley Park on May 19 and continued last Friday (June 23) with jazz vocalist and trumpeter Rod McGaha.
Chicago-native McGaha is a longtime favorite of local jazz fans who loves performing for children and has appeared on the NJW Jazz AM series.
This family-friendly concert series builds on the Nashville Jazz Workshop’s mission to enrich lives and build community through their jazz education programs and community performances. Each performance is free to attend, with the next being July 14 featuring saxophonist Cord Martin.
Jobi Riccio Receives John Prine Songwriter Fellowship Award
Jobi Riccio
Nashville singer-songwriter Jobi Riccio has been named the 2023 recipient of the John Prine Songwriter Fellowship Award, created by the Newport Festivals Foundation in partnership with Prine’s family. Riccio recently announced her debut album Whiplash, which will be out in September, and a string of U.S. tour dates. She will also make her Newport Folk Festival debut next month.
“John Prine was such an integral part of the Newport Folk community. It’s an honor to celebrate his legacy by giving a stage to newer artists who show the sparks of truth and the willingness to embrace all aspects of the human condition in their songwriting. It’s clear Jobi embodies much of this spirit which is why we’ve chosen her as the John Prine Fellowship recipient for this year,” says Newport Folk Festival Executive Producer, Jay Sweet.
“John always loved being around other songwriters. Later in his career, he really went out of his way to spotlight and champion the next generation of writers. It’s a real honor that Newport lets us continue that important part of his legacy. I can’t wait to see Jobi at the Fort!” says Prine’s wife, Fiona.
My Music Row Story: Jonas Group Entertainment’s Phil Guerini
/by LB CantrellPhil Guerini
Phil Guerini is CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment. Having amassed over 25 years of experience, across three divisions and 5 businesses at the Walt Disney Company, multiple big market radio stations and major record labels, Guerini has been named a Billboard Power Player multiple times.
While at Disney, he was responsible for overseeing the music strategy of Disney Channels Worldwide networks and all aspects of programming, strategic direction, talent, label relationships, branding as General Manager for Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country businesses.
In 2013, Guerini created and launched the Radio Disney Music Awards – Music’s Biggest Event for Families and reimagined Radio Disney’s highly acclaimed NBT artist development program while supporting the career launches of Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Camila Cabello, Jonas Brothers, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Shawn Mendes, Gabby Barrett, Demi Lovato, Tori Kelly, BTS, Zendaya, Becky G and Kelsea Ballerini, among many others.
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I was born in San Diego and grew up in south Florida in small town within Fort Lauderdale.
Were you into music?
I’ve been into music as long as I can remember. My father was the lead singer in the Air Force Band. We had music in our house growing up. I grew up on everything from Al Jolson to Frank Sinatra to Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass and Sergio Mendes to whatever was [on the radio]. My mother had really diverse taste, so it was really well-rounded.
Did you want to pursue music or was it just a passion at that point?
I didn’t know what it meant to pursue it per se, but like many young people, I certainly grew up with aspirations of potentially being a rockstar. By default, I fell into the path of chorus and shows. I not only loved the music and the performance of it, but I loved the community. It was like what has been showcased on shows like Glee. I was an athlete as well for a brief period, but it was a community within a larger community of similar interests and aspirations. At that point in my journey, I definitely aspired to be an artist.
What did you do after high school?
I went to college, but through a series of events, I realized that being a performing artist was not necessarily in the cards for me [even though] I had such a deep love for music. I stumbled my way into radio. That’s where it began for me—on the air. I did everything you could do at a radio station at various radio stations. From answering the phones to being on the air to programming, I did everything with the exception of sales. They wore ties and that was just so not cool. [Laughs] That set the path for me. I was close enough to what I loved. I was getting to engage with artists. I found myself in the recording studio with some of the biggest artists in south Florida at the time, who became global superstars. I was just constantly surrounded by it and loved music.
What stations were you at early in your career?
I spent a year at the University of South Georgia in a small town in Georgia, which is where I got my start in radio. Later that summer, I went back to south Florida and having no context of market size or anything about the business, I went to the radio station that I grew up on. It was the preeminent pop radio station in south Florida at the time. I just continued to pursue it until I was finally given an opportunity. The Program Director took favor on me at the time and [gave me a job] on the phones during the overnight shift. I worked my way through and connected with people and the rest is history. I did radio in south Florida and south Georgia for a period of time, and ended up working in radio in Atlanta.
What happened in Atlanta?
Being in Atlanta and having had the background that I did led to my transition into the record business. I began that path at MCA Records. At the time, we were home to Bobby Brown and we had just returned Elton John to MCA. I was part of a marketing team who developed the first ever mall tour with an artist by the name Tiffany. We toured Tiffany through malls and it blew up.
While I was at MCA, I got my first opportunity to come to Nashville. I was given an opportunity to shadow the local promotion person in an effort to move my career forward. This would’ve been in late ’80s, and at that time, MCA Records was the heart of Nashville. It was Reba McEntire, George Stait and Lyle Lovett. I wasn’t on the country side of the business—I was a pop guy in Nashville trying to get Bobby Brown, New Edition and Tiffany records played, so I didn’t have as much fun necessarily. [Laughs] I was housed off of Music Row in Tony Brown‘s office. It was an extremely memorable 12 or 16 months that I was here.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
What led to your next career move?
I spent a number of years in the record business, bouncing around to various labels as as many do. Because I was based in Atlanta, oftentimes my region would include Florida. As part of a radio promo person’s responsibility, bringing my artists through marketplaces would often include Orlando. At that time, Disney’s new Mickey Mouse Club show was being taped there, so we would bring our younger developing acts through Disney for things like that. I established a number of relationships through that, and when I was between labels, I was chatting with some friends who suggested [trying to work at Disney]. At that point, I probably had been in the business 10 years. I was under contract with Atlantic Records and my family still lived in south Florida, so I decided to go for a job at Disney.
At Disney, I was put into some various capacities that were both challenging and exciting, as well as being given opportunities that really aligned with my past experience in booking artists and doing music things. Lo and behold, what I thought was going to be a just a temporary diversion ended up being where I called home for 28 plus years.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
That’s awesome! Tell me about your path at Disney.
I started in the theme parks in Orlando, which I’m forever grateful for because that really is the heart of all things Disney. I had so many opportunities there that inevitably led to me being a talent executive, overseeing bookings and strategies on bringing talent to the theme parks for grand openings for special events. I booked the Super Bowl halftime show that was presented by Disney in 2000. I realized during that time that if I really wanted to continue to grow and have opportunities, I needed to be where the company was based and where the greater amount of opportunities were, so I moved to Burbank in 2003.
Then I started at Walt Disney Records, which is the branded label division of the Walt Disney Company. I was Head of Broadcast Marketing Synergy and held a number of different capacities while there. I was blessed and fortunate to be there during a special period of time and to have been part of projects like High School Musical. I brought the Jonas Brothers to the Walt Disney Company and helped launch them, as well as [shows like] Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, Camp Rock and more.
What was next?
While I thoroughly loved that chapter and all of those opportunities, I aspired to have greater influence in the broader marketplace. I was given two opportunities: one was to go work within the Walt Disney Company for the Jonas Brothers and one was to go to Radio Disney. I had been part of Radio Disney’s launch back at the parks as it was coming into fruition, and [as I had learned in my early career], I felt this connection with radio and felt that I could really create something special there.
I entered Radio Disney as the Head of Marketing under one General Manager but within about six to nine months, I became the General Manager. I set a course from there to grow the business exponentially and expand into the country space with Radio Disney Country. To this day, that is probably one of my fondest achievements.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
Is that what brought you back to Nashville?
Someone whom I worked with at Walt Disney Records and a dear friend of mine who now runs the ACM, Damon Whiteside, had come to Nashville to work for the CMAs.
At the same time, I had just gone through one probably one of the most difficult periods in my professional career, which was assessing the Radio Disney business, how would it continue to grow and how would it move forward. That was cumbersome, emotional and difficult, and we had to make the difficult decision to divest the majority of our stations. Immediately we became profitable, as we had anticipated, but we had to say goodbye to a lot of friends and great people. The next question was what were we going to do next to grow the business.
It took a bit of selling [to create Radio Disney Country] because of the perception that country music is about heartbreak and drinking, which wouldn’t work with Disney, but at its core, the country music community is family. That aligned with the Walt Disney Company 100%. So armed with that and some very valuable insights that Damon and the CMA were able to provide to us, we made ultimately the decision to pursue Radio Disney Country. We were focused on supporting younger artists, similar to that of Radio Disney, as well tremendously underserved acts, such as female artists.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
What led to you joining Jonas Group Entertainment (JGE)?
We had had the most amazing, albeit brief, run at Radio Disney Country. We launched a few careers or certainly were instrumental in supporting some artists. Through that period, I was re-ensconced in Nashville, the community, the connection and the specialness of what this community is. Fast forward, [we decided] to sunset that business. We were heading into the pandemic and I was contemplating what that would look like.
I was living in Los Angeles still at the time, but I decided to come and spend a little time in Nashville while contemplating what was going to be next. I was fortunate to be presented with a number of great opportunities. I reconnected with Kevin Jonas Sr., who is the Founder of JGE. He was kind enough at that pivotal moment to call. He said, “I’m really just calling to say thank you for your support of the guys for all the years. You were instrumental at so many points. What are you doing now?”
We had some conversations that continued to evolve. I left the Disney company on April 30th and joined the Jonas Group on May 19th. It’s been an incredible transition that’s still a work in progress but we’re so tremendously excited about what’s ahead.
What are your goals now as CEO of Jonas Group Entertainment?
We’re still in a transition stage. I obviously inherited an infrastructure that has been in place for a while. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to partner with Kevin in this next chapter. We are evaluating the business that we were doing and what might be ahead of us. We’ve been in the process of really transforming and evolving the artist management side of the business. We are also in the TV and film business, as well as the consumer products business. We recently renewed out commitment to our publishing business, bringing in Leslie DiPiero. There are more exciting announcements that are still in the planning stages.
I hope that, when all is said and done, we can create and foster a community of creatives that can come together, irrespective of what publishing company or label they may work with. That really is a result of my time at Disney and recognizing that the sum of the parts is always greater when working together.
Photo: Courtesy of Phil Guerini
Who have been some of your mentors?
I’ve been so blessed throughout my career to have so many mentors, but I may look at mentors different than many. I look at people in general as mentors. They’re not necessarily seniors to me. The mentors in my personal and professional life are those that set the example, those who inspire me, those who are optimistic and those who approach life and work with a sense of “We’re going to get through this together as a team.”
What is some of the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
The best advice I’ve gotten was from my father, who I unfortunately lost when I was 13. During the short years we had together, he both embodied and communicated the message that if you can pursue the things that you love, you never feel like you work a day in life. I am living proof that this is indeed the case. People often will consider my life unbalanced and wonder where the sleep comes in. My only response is that. I love every minute of it.
When you look back on your career, how do you feel?
The only word to describe my life is blessed. I’ve had blessing upon blessing that is far greater than I ever deserved. I’m blessed to be surrounded by, supported by and given opportunities by amazing people.
Keith Urban To Return As Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament Presenting Sponsor
/by Liza AndersonKeith Urban
Keith Urban will return as Presenting Sponsor of the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament (MRLGT) for the seventh consecutive year.
The Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament (MRLGT) is one of the Nashville music community’s longest-running charity events. With hundreds of industry professionals and artists participating each year throughout its 36-year history, the tournament has raised over $2.45 million for United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Middle Tennessee.
Nashville-based boutique investment and development firm E3 Construction Services has once again signed on as Tournament Host. Longtime supporters ASCAP and Tim McGraw will serve as Title Sponsors alongside Warner Music Nashville, an original MRLGT Title Sponsor.
The 36th annual MRLGT will take place on Monday, Aug. 14 at Old Natchez Country Club. Registration is now open and team space is extremely limited. For more information, click here or contact Suzanne Lee at mrlgtnash@gmail.com.