MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees for the Rising Women on the Row Class of 2024. These six female executives are making a significant impact on Nashville’s country music industry, including: Tiffany Kerns, Taylor Lindsey, Sloane Cavitt Logue, Halie Hampton Mosley, Melissa Spillman and Candice Watkins.

City National Bank, Loeb & Loeb and CMT Next Women of Country are Presenting Sponsors for the 2024 Rising Women on the Row, which will take place at the Omni Nashville Hotel on the morning of March 19.

Industry veteran Kerri Edwards will be this year’s featured speaker. Presented by CMT Next Women of Country, singer-songwriter Carter Faith will be the special performer at the event.

Now in its 11th 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. Tickets will not be sold at the door, as the event is sold out.

This year’s honorees include:

Tiffany Kerns – SVP, Industry Relations & Philanthropy, CMA | Executive Director, CMA Foundation
In her role as SVP, Industry Relations & Philanthropy, Tiffany Kerns oversees the strategic direction and management of all CMA’s membership events, initiatives and programming. By developing and enhancing robust and innovative CMA membership strategies, Kerns ensures professional development pathways align with the needs of the member base and the future of the industry. Established as CMA’s philanthropic arm, the CMA Foundation has invested nearly $30 million across all 50 states. In her role, Kerns is responsible for the growth, development and execution of the nonprofit’s charitable investments by creating intentional partnerships and implementing an impact-driven grant process. With a steadfast focus on improving the philanthropic model of giving, Kerns has led the charge in enriching music education programs across the United States. She oversees advocacy efforts for the CMA Foundation at the state and federal level, which includes working with dozens of community partners, policymakers, educators and industry leaders to elevate the CMA Foundation’s mission.

 

Taylor Lindsey – SVP, A&R, Sony Music Nashville
Taylor Lindsey is the SVP, of A&R at Sony Music Nashville, where she oversees SMN’s dynamic new A&R team as well as signs and develops a diverse roster that includes recorded music icons, breakthrough acts and newcomers. Prior to taking on her current expanded role, Lindsey was directly involved with the development of artists such as Old Dominion, Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Ryan Hurd and Mitchell Tenpenny, among others. Before joining SMN, Lindsey was at BMG where she signed and developed the careers of songwriters and artists as well as pitched the catalogs of 13 chart-topping songwriters, including her award-winning sister, Hillary Lindsey. A respected industry executive, Lindsey has been included in a number of industry power lists including Billboard’s 40 Under 40 (2018), Billboard’s Women In Music (2018, 2019 & 2023), Billboard’s Country Power Players (2022 & 2023), Variety’s Hitmakers Impact (2020), Variety’s Young Leaders In Music (2019) and more. She is also a graduate of the 2019 Class of Leadership Music. She resides in Nashville with her husband, Grammy-nominated songwriter Derrick Southerland, and their daughter, Lyle, and son, Ryder.

 

Sloane Cavitt Logue – Partner, WME
Sloane Cavitt Logue leads the Nashville Client Strategy Division at WME, where she works across several departments in navigating various opportunities outside of the live space, including digital, fashion, literary, film, television, talent ventures/partnerships, theater, sports and social impact for clients. Additionally, Logue connects clients with internal opportunities within the Endeavor network, which includes WWE, UFC, PBR, 160over90, Harry Walker, IMG and many more. Prior to joining WME, Logue held tenure at Show Dog-Universal Music and Live Nation. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and the Deviate Leadership Program, which focuses on elevating and coaching future female leaders in the entertainment industry. Dedicated to mentoring up-and-coming industry trailblazers, she is actively involved in WME’s mentorship program, as well as Grammy U, and is an inaugural member of CMA’s Female Executive Leadership Program. Logue resides in Nashville with her husband, Dave, their son, Cavitt, and their Bernese Mountain Dog, Captain.

 

Halie Hampton Mosley – Chief Operating Officer, WHY&HOW
Halie Hampton Mosley joined WHY&HOW in October 2021 as Vice President of Roster Operations, and has helped define and oversee the goals and initiatives of the WHY&HOW roster and staff. Since joining, Hampton Mosley has been instrumental in streamlining and expanding roster operations, and establishing internal practices such as WHY&HOW’s parental leave policies. She also remains closely involved in WHY&HOW artist strategy for such acts as Chase Rice, Danielle Bradbery, BRELAND and Kelleigh Bannen, among others. Prior to joining WHY&HOW, Hampton Mosley spent seven years in Artist Management at Maverick Nashville led by long-time Manager Clarence Spalding. She most recently served as the Day-to-Day Artist Manager for Diamond-selling duo Florida Georgia Line at Hit Farm Management in partnership with Full Stop Management led by Irving and Jeffrey Azoff.

 

Melissa Spillman – VP, A&R, Concord Music Publishing
Melissa Spillman is VP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing. In her role, Spillman is responsible for signing and developing new and established songwriters and artists and placing songs with major recording artists. She started out her career at Dreamcatcher Entertainment which led to a seven-year stint in A&R at Capitol Records. After that she headed up renowned producer Jay Joyce’s Neon Cross Music as Head of Publishing and Production. From there she started her own company, Freetown Music where she oversaw the creative development and management of artists, producers and songwriters until she was tapped by Concord Music Publishing to become their VP of A&R in 2021. Beyond her work in music, Spillman proudly started a non-profit organization called Wan Fambul Foundation, which strives to support children and their families in Sierra Leone, West Africa, the birthplace of three of her sons. She resides in Franklin with her songwriter/producer/author husband Jeremy, four sons and their dog Canyon. You can find her cheering on her sons who play football for the University of Tennessee and Franklin High School this fall.

 

Candice Watkins – SVP, Marketing, Big Loud Records
As SVP of Marketing at Big Loud Records, Candice Watkins brings proven leadership and across-the-board expertise to the independent powerhouse, selected as one of Billboard’s 2023 Women in Music, and a Country Power Player for the last three consecutive years. Leading the label’s marketing efforts across its many ventures and partnerships, Watkins executes creative strategy and bold, cross-platform campaigns that make an impact. Recently, Watkins has led the marketing efforts behind chart-topping successes like Morgan Wallen’s back-to-back all-genre No. 1 albums, as well as the successful recent projects from HARDY, Hailey Whitters, Stephen Wilson Jr., Charles Wesley Godwin and many more. Watkins also spurred introductory campaigns for artists like Jake Worthington, Lauren Watkins, Ashley Cooke, Dylan Gossett and more, while embarking on major campaign efforts for heavy hitters Lauren Alaina, ERNEST, Larry Fleet and more. The Montclair, New Jersey native is a graduate of Boston’s Northeastern University and Los Angeles’ USC. Prior to joining Big Loud, Watkins served as Sr. Director of Marketing & Artist Development at UMG Nashville and preceded by stops at Red Light Management, Mozes Inc., Borman Entertainment and Martingale Entertainment. Outside of her work innovating campaign strategy for Big Loud, Watkins serves on the board for CMA, ACM, and Teen Dream Center.

Curb Records has elevated Craig Powers to SVP, Media and Lori Hartigan to National Director, Media.

“As we celebrate our 60th year in business, I am thrilled to see our company continue to grow. With the strengthening of our team, Curb Records is poised for a productive future,” shares Mike Curb, Curb Records Chairman.

Powers joined Curb in 2020. Previously serving as VP, Media, he will continue to oversee mainstream/crossover radio success for artists such as Sarah Reeves, Natalie Grant, Wyn Starks and For King + Country.

Hartigan has been with Curb Records for 10 years, working with developing artists like Dylan Scott. She was instrumental in his success at radio and other media platforms, and served the past eight years as Director, West Coast promotion. In her elevated role, Hartigan will renew her commitment to artist development as well as oversee a secondary promotion team for the entire Curb roster.

“I’d like to thank our chairman, Mike Curb, for his confidence in me. I’m so grateful to be working with all of our artists and team members at Curb Records. Lori has years of experience in our industry and is well known for her work in country promotion. I’m thrilled for her to join our media team, bringing her knowledge and expertise to all Curb artists and all formats,” says Powers.

“It’s been an honor to work with Curb’s talented country artists. I’m especially proud of having worked with Dylan Scott from day one and experiencing his growth along the way. I’m looking forward to working with all Curb artists in my new role,” says Hartigan.

Additionally, Todd Thomas will pivot to Director, West Coast Promotion for the label. Thomas has been with Curb since 2013, working in in-house booking and development before joining the promotion team in his previous role in 2019.

The company has also hired Bailey White as Director, Southwest Promotion, working with Scott, Brice, Ellis and Hart, among others. White comes to Curb following three years with Black River Entertainment’s promotion team and over ten years in the country entertainment world. She will report to SVP, Promotion RJ Meacham, rounding out the team that includes Mike Rogers, Allyson Gelnett, Samantha DePrez and Brian Day.

“I am thrilled to welcome Bailey to our country promotion team!” Meacham shares. “With her exceptional relationships and dedication to the job, I know she’ll play an integral role moving the needle for our artists and music with country radio. Additionally, I have full confidence in Todd Thomas as he pivots to the west coast, where he already has strong relationships throughout the region. Together, we’re poised for success and continued growth!”