Carleen Donovan, Charlotte Burke Bass
Public relations powerhouse Carleen Donovan has had her eyes on Music City for a number of years.
She’s a veteran of music publicity, who, at just 20-years-old, launched her career as Head of PR for influential independent label Mute Records after a series of internships. She went on to hold Senior Executive roles at KSA Publicity and Press Here Publicity, in addition to the post of Executive Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for Career Artist Management / Live Nation.
In 2015, Donovan founded DPR, which flourished and grew for five years before the 2020 launch of The Oriel Company. With teams in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville, the company represents Grammy Award-winning artists, Academy Award-winning creatives, Fortune 500 companies and global philanthropic organizations. In the music industry, The Oriel Company counts artists Zoe Kravitz, Maroon 5, Questlove, Robyn, André 3000, Phoebe Bridgers, Kelsea Ballerini, Reyna Roberts and Old Dominion as clients, as well as UTA’s Nashville division and Stagecoach Music Festival.
Donovan says that even though people thought her and her partners Chloë Walsh and Jen Appel were crazy starting The Oriel Company during the onslaught of the 2020 pandemic, it was the right time for them.
“I was based in New York and we had expanded to LA in 2018, but I was looking to grow our base there because so much of the music industry is based in LA and Nashville. We represent a lot of actors and we do a lot of corporate consulting in the film and television space, so we just needed a bigger team in LA,” Donovan shares with MusicRow.
Donovan’s wish to expand to LA led her to joining forces with Walsh and Appel. That’s when the firm officially changed names from DPR to The Oriel Company.
Old Dominion. Photo: Mason Allen
“That’s how it all began. We started expanding and growing from there, which led us to Nashville,” she says.
Donovan’s introduction to Music City was through Old Dominion’s 2017 album Happy Endings.
“I’ve always worked with bands and touring musicians, so I’m very familiar with that strategy. That was one of the reasons they approached me, they saw my work with Maroon 5 and The Roots, who really both made their names not only from their albums, but in the touring world.”
To help The Oriel Company grow its Music City presence, Donovan tapped 15-year music publicity veteran Charlotte Burke Bass to become Vice President of Nashville Operations. Bass joined The Oriel Company from Beeline Agency, a public relations and strategic communications firm she founded in 2020. Prior to that, Bass spent over five years at Big Machine Label Group as the Director of Communications, as well as seven years at ID Public Relations in New York City.
Bass said that the highlighted intention by the company to contribute to philanthropy aided her decision in joining the team.
“I was reading Carleen, Jen and Chloe’s backgrounds and all of the work that they do outside of the entertainment space. That was really inspiring to me. I thought, ‘Wow, these are three incredible women who do work not only for their clients, but for their communities.’ That was really important to me,” Bass shares.
Speaking of incredible women, The Oriel Company boasts an entirely female staff.
“It wasn’t intentional. Men are welcome,” Donovan says with a laugh. “But we are all female—female founders and female staff. Everyone works really well together.”
Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Patrick Tracy
The strategy at The Oriel Company is that of a multi-faceted approach. Most of their clients are multi-hyphenate entertainers who operate in different verticals both in and out of entertainment. Country star Ballerini, for example, is an author, a face of CoverGirl, an Aerie Partner and now a voice actor in Dolly Parton’s Run, Rose, Run.
“The work that The Oriel Company does expands beyond straightforward music publicity. A lot of the clients that we work with not only are musicians, but they may have their own fashion line, be actors or directors. You never know what’s going to happen,” Bass says. “We not only work with these artists, but we also work with different corporate clients that touch all different verticals across entertainment. That helps us help our clients when we’re able to have our hands in so many different parts of entertainment.”
As for Donovan and Bass’ goals for the Nashville office, the women are looking at strategic growth and projects.
“We want to continue the work that we’re doing, continue to super-serve our clients in every way that we can and eventually grow our base here,” Bass says.
Donovan says, “We look for projects that we can creatively invest ourselves in. Most of our clients have been with their publicists who are members of our team for 5 to 20 plus years in some cases. It’s really a family atmosphere.”
She sums, “We aren’t siloed as publicists. When you come here, you get the strength of the firm. Our resources and network are shared with the clients across the board. Every project is a priority, so when we find stuff, we look for projects we can all get behind.”
Meghan Patrick Signs With Make Wake Artists & WME
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Make Wake’s Sayre Baker, Meghan Patrick, and Make Wake’s Randi McFadden. Photo: Kurt Ozan
Meghan Patrick has signed with Make Wake Artists for management, working with Chris Kappy and Randi McFadden. She has also inked with WME for global agency representation.
“I could not be more excited to be a part of the Make Wake and WME families,” says Patrick. “They are both the kinds of teams any artist would be lucky to work with… creative, hardworking, authentic people who care deeply about their artists and hold the same values as I do when it comes to business. I know I have finally found my home, and we are going to do big things!”
“[Patrick] is the true definition of a rockstar,” says McFadden. “You can’t watch her live show and not want to bet on her. Add in the incredible connection she has with her fans, and her ‘watch me do it’ mentality, and she’s a dream artist to work with.”
“Meghan is a force to be reckoned with,” adds WME Nashville Partner Nate Towne. “Her powerful performances and bold songwriting captivates audiences everywhere. We’re thrilled to have her at WME and to continue building on her proven success.”
Additionally, Patrick will continue her longstanding label partnership with Riser House Records. Her new song, “She’s No Good For Me,” will be released Friday (Jan. 20), unveiling a new era of the Canadian country star’s music.
“Meghan Patrick has a rich culture and a strong, definable brand,” says Riser House Entertainment President & Co-Founder Jennifer Johnson. “She is the voice of strength, ferocity, independence and empowerment. She is wild and untamable, and her music embodies this. We are honored to present Meghan and her message to the world in 2023.”
Bobby Karl Works The Room: Gospel Great Dr. Bobby Jones Honored At NMAAM
/by Bobby KarlDr. Bobby Jones speaks at the National Museum of African American Music
Chapter 663
Nashville’s Dr. Bobby Jones is internationally known for his gospel-music leadership, which is reason enough to celebrate him, and now there’s another.
On Sunday evening (Jan. 15), the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) unveiled a new exhibit that underscores his legendary status. Four curated cases salute his educational accomplishments, entertainment awards, TV stardom and remarkable life.
Dr. Bobby Jones tours his new exhibit at the National Museum of African American Music
An invitation-only crowd filled the museum’s lobby, where a sequin jacketed Jones mingled with the elegantly attired attendees. Howard Gentry, Jackie Patillo, Marcus K. Dowling, Porsha Green, Metro council rep and mayoral candidate Sharon Hurt and George W. Stewart, the head of the Alabama-based American Gospel Quartet Convention, topped a list of dignitaries that also included former New Life singers Francine Belcher, Angela Wright Primm and Nuana Dunlap.
We proceeded to the museum’s auditorium. “You look good: Give yourselves a hand,” said H. Beecher Hicks III in welcoming the capacity crowd. The museum’s CEO added, “Tonight we celebrate someone who opened the door for so many artists.
“Dr. Bobby Jones helped to create this place. He was on the board when no one thought this would ever happen.”
The event’s emcee was Darrell Drumwright, Jones’s pastor at Temple Church. He introduced video greetings from Robert L. Johnson of BET and from gospel star Hezekiah Walker. Next up were the 28 mighty voices of The Nashville Super Choir, who electrified the audience with “The Lord’s Prayer,” “(When We Get) Over There” and “O Happy Day.”
The White House sent a huge framed plaque to honor Jones with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for 2023. “Dr. Jones brought gospel music into its own,” wrote President Joe Biden.
“I am extremely pleased to be honored in this manner in my hometown of Nashville,” said Jones. “I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful museum.”
He recalled his rural upbringing in Henry County. Jones came to Nashville at age 15 to attend Tennessee State University. He taught school in St. Louis before returning to Music City to earn a master’s degree at TSU, then a PhD at Vanderbilt. Attending First Street Baptist Church in North Nashville opened his eyes to gospel music.
In 1976, he launched a local gospel-music TV show on WSMV-TV. He parlayed this into national syndication on PBS. In 1980, he took Bobby Jones Gospel to BET, where it remained until 2015. This made him the longest lasting personality in the history of cable television, as well as the host of America’a only nationally telecast black-gospel program.
He earned a 1983 Grammy Award, four honors from the NAACP and a 1984 Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association. Jones and his group have recorded more than a dozen albums. All of this is reflected in his new museum exhibit.
Jones taught at TSU from 1972 to 1980, when he left to devote his full energies to BET. His top-rated, weekly show became the economic driver for the entire channel. He took his New Life singers on international tours and led them in collaborations with Barbara Mandrell, New Kids on the Block, Dolly Parton, Al Green, Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs and other stars. He formed The Nashville Super Choir in 1997.
He shared with the audience that he underwent open-heart surgery two weeks ago at age 83. “I didn’t know if I was gonna make it here tonight, but look at God,” he said. “One thing we need to learn to do is respect and love one another.”
The Bobby Jones exhibit at NMAAM opens to the public on Tuesday (Jan. 17) and will remain on display until April 15. Next up at the museum is “This Is Hip-Hop,” a photography exhibit celebrating the 50th anniversary of the style. It will open on Jan. 20.
Warner Chappell Music Inks New Deal With Truth Or Dare Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, back row): Spencer Nohe (WCM), Christian Barker (Lawyer) and Ben Vaughn (WCM); (L-R, front row): Missi Gallimore (Truth), Sam Williams and Sophia Gallimore (Truth)
Warner Chappell Music and Truth or Dare Publishing have joined forces in a new deal to work together on select artists from the Truth or Dare Management Projects roster.
Led by Missi Gallimore, Truth or Dare Publishing’s roster includes KK Johnson of Track 45, Ben Roberts of Carolina Story, Mary Gauthier, Abbey Cone and Sam Williams.
“Extremely excited to be joining my longtime friend, Ben Vaughn, and the Warner Chappell team to promote progressive talents that are driving the new front of this industry,” Gallimore shares. “I have worked with Ben in many capacities of country music and know the combining of forces will serve our music community with eagerness to grow. We are the New Nashville”.
“Missi has helped shape the country music songbook though her legendary A&R work, and now she’s shepherding a whole new generation of talent with her management and publishing businesses,” adds Vaughn, President & CEO, Warner Chappell Music, Nashville. “With the roster she’s building, Missi is charting a new path forward and we couldn’t be more excited to be in business with her and the whole team at Truth.”
Grandson of country pioneer Hank Williams and the son of outlaw legend Hank Jr., Sam Williams released his debut, Glasshouse Children, in late 2022, and also unveiled a deluxe edition of the record shortly after. Williams is currently gearing up for more music this year.
Jake Basden To Exit Big Machine Label Group
/by Lydia FarthingJake Basden
Jake Basden, the Senior Vice President of Communications at Big Machine Label Group, will exit the company after a nearly 12-year tenure. The only music business executive named to PR Week’s coveted 40 Under 40 list will be seeking new opportunities.
The University of Oklahoma graduate joined BMLG from the New York offices of Edelman, the world’s largest public relations firm, where he served as a Director in their Sports and Entertainment division.
A CMA Publicist of the Year, he had a hand in a variety of media campaigns, including the Grammy-nominated trio Midland re-opening the legendary Palomino, the Academy Award-nominated Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me documentary, Jennifer Nettles’ “I Can Do Hard Things” video, Carly Pearce’s CMA and ACM Female Artist of the Year campaigns, and more.
“Jake came to us right when I needed him most-right as Big Machine was exploding. He has been my communications foil and strategist and we’ve had an incredible run together”, says BMLG Chairman Scott Borchetta. “Jake always presented me and the label group in very creative ways that caught the attention and landed very important pieces in Fortune, Fast Company, Rolling Stone, the Wall Street Journal and so many more. I’m very proud of all that he’s accomplished here and I’m sure he will continue to reach new heights in his next adventure. He will always be part of the fabric of Big Machine.”
“The trouble with working with Scott Borchetta and a company as dynamic as the Big Machine Label Group is, honestly, there is no reason to leave,” Basden shares. “There comes a moment when you realize you must seek new horizons. You can get very comfortable working with incredible acts, these teams, and Scott’s many endeavors. Something I learned during my years in New York is don’t ever stop growing and reaching for new challenges. The culture at Big Machine always encouraged me to aggressively go in new directions.”
He continues, “With over 30 artists and multiple label imprints spanning country, Americana, hip-hop, rock and pop, every day was a fresh set of prospects to explore. I’ve gone places I once only dreamed of and worked with some of the best media, marketing, and brand people in not just America, but the world. I’m forever grateful for Scott, the BMLG family, artists, managers, agents, and media people who’ve made this decade one that flew by. It inspires me, knowing wherever I’m going, it’s going to be a foundation unlike any other to build from.”
Ben Kline & Cris Lacy Begin New Era Of Leadership At Warner Music Nashville
/by LB CantrellWarner Music Nashville staff. Photo: Alan Poizner
Warner Music Nashville Co-Chairs / Co-Presidents Ben Kline and Cris Lacy ushered in a new era of leadership at the label with the beginning of 2023.
In June of 2022, the music industry veterans were announced as successors to the beloved John Esposito, who remained Chairman & CEO through the remainder of the year. Esposito is now officially Chairman Emeritus, and Lacy and Kline are in charge. The two launched the new year last week (Jan. 11) alongside the full WMN team with a day of culture building and informational programming at a company-wide off-site meeting.
“I’m honored to lead WMN with Cris in what is an exciting time of change and opportunity for this business,” Kline shared of the transition. “We are committed to continuing our leadership position within that change by being laser focused on our incredible artists, their powerful music and their creative visions.”
Lacy added, “Let’s be honest, this is a time of great change in the world at large too. When culture shifts, music ignites, it bridges, it covers, it uncovers. We are here for all of that, and proud to be the Nashville contingent that amplifies those stories to all parts of the globe.”
Kline joined WMN in 2014 as VP of Revenue. In 2017, he was named SVP of Global Revenue & Touring, and was upped to EVP/General Manager years later where he oversaw radio & streaming, artist development, touring, and international. In his three decades in the music industry, Kline’s previous posts have included EVP of Sales & Marketing at Universal Music Group and SVP of Global Sales & Marketing at Ingrooves. He also founded and served as CEO of Brazenhead Entertainment and VP of Sales and Marketing at Rostrum Records.
Lacy joined WMN in 2005, following posts at Tom Collins Music Publishing, Rick Hall/FAME Publishing, Island Bound Music, and WMG’s Warner Chappell Music. At WMN, she was upped to SVP of A&R in 2017 and EVP of A&R two years later. Lacy has been the driving force behind the signing of many of the label’s most prominent artists, including Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band, Cole Swindell, Ashley McBryde, Cody Johnson, Chris Janson and Gabby Barrett.
Warner Music Nashville was established in 2009 under the direction of Esposito to expand Warner Music Group’s presence in Music City. Since then, the division’s artists have spent more than 107 weeks at No. 1, earning 74 chart-topping singles and more than 300 Gold and Platinum RIAA certifications, along with Grammy, CMA, ACM, Billboard, AMA, and People’s Choice awards.
Luke Bryan, Elle King, Kane Brown, More Among iHeartCountry Festival 2023 Lineup
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Luke Bryan, Elle King and Kane Brown
Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, Elle King, Sam Hunt and more are among the lineup for the upcoming 2023 iHeartCountry Festival, taking place May 13 at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
Now in its tenth year and presented by Capital One, the 2023 lineup will also feature performances from Parker McCollum, Justin Moore, Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Bailey Zimmerman and more, and will once again be hosted by iHeartMedia’s nationally-syndicated on-air country personality Bobby Bones.
“We are so excited to celebrate the tenth year of the iHeartCountry Festival with country music fans in the live music capital,” notes Rod Phillips, Executive Vice President of Programming for iHeartCountry. “With this lineup fans are sure to experience a night of unforgettable performances and we are thrilled to be returning to Moody Center in Austin.”
iHeartMedia’s country stations will broadcast the festival live in their local markets and on iHeartRadio.com on May 13 at 7 p.m. CT. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Jan. 27 via Ticketmaster.com.
Apple TV+ Unveils Details Behind New Music Competition, ‘My Kind Of Country’
/by Lydia FarthingApple TV+ has announced a new music competition series, My Kind of Country, will premiere globally on the platform on March 24. Featuring Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves, who also serve as executive producers of the series, the show will scour the globe to find talented artists with hopes of breaking country music’s next star.
Reese Witherspoon, Kacey Musgraves
Country singer-songwriters, including Grammy-nominated and 2021’s CMA New Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen, 4x Grammy nominee Mickey Guyton and songwriter, recording artist and activist Orville Peck will serve as scouts throughout My Kind of Country. They will each hand-pick a roster of up-and-coming artists and invite them to Nashville to showcase their unique sound. The competition winner will receive a prize from Apple Music, support and exposure on the platform.
Witherspoon and Musgraves executive produce alongside Hello Sunshine’s Sara Rea and Lauren Neustadter; Sandbox Entertainment’s Jason Owen; Emmy-nominated showrunner Izzie Pick Ibarra; and Done + Dusted’s Katy Mullan. Emmy Award-winning Adam Blackstone serves as music director.
The 8-part series will premiere on Apple TV+ on March 24.
The Neal Agency Taps Adi Sharma As Co-Head & Agent
/by Lydia FarthingAdi Sharma. Photo: Tiia Sparzak
Agent Adi Sharma has joined The Neal Agency (TNA) as co-head and agent, expanding the nine-act company to a dozen clients.
Coupled with the newest staff addition, TNA has also announced the signing of lifestyle brand Stevenson Ranch to extend the brand’s footprint in the live space and help curate and create live events.
Cementing one year in business in December of 2022, TNA has already begun to establish its place as a top talent agency with some of the highest grossing tours in 2022. The company has already earned recognition and nominations by both the 2023 CMA Touring Awards and Pollstar Awards.
Pictured (L-R): Hank Wiehebrink, Simone Chretien, Juliette Edwards, Haley Teske, Evan Kantor, Austin Neal, Andrew Greene, Kelly Sherin, Kolby Vetter, Adi Sharma, Marisa Mineo and Spencer Foote. Photo: Tiia Sparzak
“It’s surreal to think this time last year we only had two employees, other than myself, and no office. Going into 2023, I am able to walk into a full office of twelve each morning–which is both humbling and exciting,” shares Austin Neal, a third generation country music booking agent. “Adding Adi’s leadership to that mix will allow the company and our culture to reach new heights in our sophomore year. We are all so excited to be able to work with one of the brightest young agents in this business who will undoubtedly help lead the company going forward.”
“Austin and I have known each other since I moved to Nashville and we have always had a very like-minded approach to supporting and growing artists’ careers,” adds Sharma. “To see what he and this team have built in the span of a year is inspiring. I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this rapidly growing team, to work with one of the best agents in the business, and to help the company continue to grow into the future.”
TNA’s roster includes Ashland Craft, Ernest, Riley Green, Hardy, John Morgan, Chase Rice, Seaforth, Morgan Wallen and Lauren Watkins. With the addition of Sharma, the company will now add mike., Josh Ross and Bailey Zimmerman to its artist roster.
TNA has a hearty slate of shows on tap for 2023, including Wallen’s “One Night At A Time Tour;” Hardy’s 2023 “The Mockingbird & The Crow Tour,” which is sold-out across 19 cities; and Rice’s “Way Down Yonder Tour,” is set for 36 dates running through the summer. Additionally, Seaforth will embark on their first headlining tour in 2023, while Ernest, who embarked on his first headlining tour last fall, will join Wallen on all dates of his 2023 tour.
Jordan Davis Celebrates Fifth No. 1 With ‘What My World Spins Around’
/by Lorie HollabaughJordan Davis. Photo: Harper Smith
Jordan Davis has achieved his fifth No. 1 this week on the Billboard and MediaBase Country Airplay charts with his latest single, “What My World Spins Around.”
Written by Davis, Ryan Hurd and Matt Dragstrem, “What My World Spins Around” follows Davis’ 2x Platinum, multi-week No. 1 “Buy Dirt,” which he co-wrote along with his brother, Jacob Davis, and brothers Matt and Josh Jenkins–the same writing team behind Davis’ new song “No Time Soon,” out this Friday (Jan. 20).
In addition to the soon-to-be-released track, “What My World Spins Around” and “Buy Dirt,” Davis’ upcoming record, Bluebird Days, features several recently-released tracks, including fan favorites, “Next Thing You Know,” “Midnight Crisis” featuring Danielle Bradbery, “Part of It,” and more. Bluebird Days will be available everywhere Feb. 17.
Davis’ breakout song “Buy Dirt” featuring Luke Bryan racked up wins for NSAI and CMA Song of the Year, in addition to Billboard, AMA, iHeart and ACM award nominations. It was also one of the most streamed songs of the year in 2021 and 2022, with more than 780 million global streams.
The hitmaker will head to the west coast for upcoming sold-out headlining dates in Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Anaheim before heading to C2C in the UK/Europe and touring Australia.
The Oriel Company Grows Presence In Nashville [Interview]
/by LB CantrellCarleen Donovan, Charlotte Burke Bass
Public relations powerhouse Carleen Donovan has had her eyes on Music City for a number of years.
She’s a veteran of music publicity, who, at just 20-years-old, launched her career as Head of PR for influential independent label Mute Records after a series of internships. She went on to hold Senior Executive roles at KSA Publicity and Press Here Publicity, in addition to the post of Executive Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for Career Artist Management / Live Nation.
In 2015, Donovan founded DPR, which flourished and grew for five years before the 2020 launch of The Oriel Company. With teams in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville, the company represents Grammy Award-winning artists, Academy Award-winning creatives, Fortune 500 companies and global philanthropic organizations. In the music industry, The Oriel Company counts artists Zoe Kravitz, Maroon 5, Questlove, Robyn, André 3000, Phoebe Bridgers, Kelsea Ballerini, Reyna Roberts and Old Dominion as clients, as well as UTA’s Nashville division and Stagecoach Music Festival.
Donovan says that even though people thought her and her partners Chloë Walsh and Jen Appel were crazy starting The Oriel Company during the onslaught of the 2020 pandemic, it was the right time for them.
“I was based in New York and we had expanded to LA in 2018, but I was looking to grow our base there because so much of the music industry is based in LA and Nashville. We represent a lot of actors and we do a lot of corporate consulting in the film and television space, so we just needed a bigger team in LA,” Donovan shares with MusicRow.
Donovan’s wish to expand to LA led her to joining forces with Walsh and Appel. That’s when the firm officially changed names from DPR to The Oriel Company.
Old Dominion. Photo: Mason Allen
“That’s how it all began. We started expanding and growing from there, which led us to Nashville,” she says.
Donovan’s introduction to Music City was through Old Dominion’s 2017 album Happy Endings.
“I’ve always worked with bands and touring musicians, so I’m very familiar with that strategy. That was one of the reasons they approached me, they saw my work with Maroon 5 and The Roots, who really both made their names not only from their albums, but in the touring world.”
To help The Oriel Company grow its Music City presence, Donovan tapped 15-year music publicity veteran Charlotte Burke Bass to become Vice President of Nashville Operations. Bass joined The Oriel Company from Beeline Agency, a public relations and strategic communications firm she founded in 2020. Prior to that, Bass spent over five years at Big Machine Label Group as the Director of Communications, as well as seven years at ID Public Relations in New York City.
Bass said that the highlighted intention by the company to contribute to philanthropy aided her decision in joining the team.
“I was reading Carleen, Jen and Chloe’s backgrounds and all of the work that they do outside of the entertainment space. That was really inspiring to me. I thought, ‘Wow, these are three incredible women who do work not only for their clients, but for their communities.’ That was really important to me,” Bass shares.
Speaking of incredible women, The Oriel Company boasts an entirely female staff.
“It wasn’t intentional. Men are welcome,” Donovan says with a laugh. “But we are all female—female founders and female staff. Everyone works really well together.”
Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Patrick Tracy
The strategy at The Oriel Company is that of a multi-faceted approach. Most of their clients are multi-hyphenate entertainers who operate in different verticals both in and out of entertainment. Country star Ballerini, for example, is an author, a face of CoverGirl, an Aerie Partner and now a voice actor in Dolly Parton’s Run, Rose, Run.
“The work that The Oriel Company does expands beyond straightforward music publicity. A lot of the clients that we work with not only are musicians, but they may have their own fashion line, be actors or directors. You never know what’s going to happen,” Bass says. “We not only work with these artists, but we also work with different corporate clients that touch all different verticals across entertainment. That helps us help our clients when we’re able to have our hands in so many different parts of entertainment.”
As for Donovan and Bass’ goals for the Nashville office, the women are looking at strategic growth and projects.
“We want to continue the work that we’re doing, continue to super-serve our clients in every way that we can and eventually grow our base here,” Bass says.
Donovan says, “We look for projects that we can creatively invest ourselves in. Most of our clients have been with their publicists who are members of our team for 5 to 20 plus years in some cases. It’s really a family atmosphere.”
She sums, “We aren’t siloed as publicists. When you come here, you get the strength of the firm. Our resources and network are shared with the clients across the board. Every project is a priority, so when we find stuff, we look for projects we can all get behind.”