One of the mainstays of theNashville Postmagazine is our In Charge list. Each year, we highlight the people that make our city work. Be them newly minted or seasoned veterans, we have trimmed this year’s list to the best of the best.
Kris Ahrend — CEO, Mechanical Licensing Collective: Former Rhino Entertainment and Warner Music Group exec leads organization formed to license and administer music rights under 2018 Music Modernization Act. Been in position since January 2020.
John Allen — President, New West Records: Vanderbilt grad has been overseeing New West, which focuses on indie rock, alternative country and Americana bands, since 2014. Ros-ter included Jason Isbell and James McMurtry, and today includes Emily Nenni and Ben Folds.
Julie Boos — Owner and Vice President, FBMM: Veteran music industry financial adviser holds leadership role in firm with more than 100 staff in Nashville, New York and Los Angeles.
Mike Curb —Founder and Chairman, Curb Records: Former California lieutenant governor and songwriter and producer behind independent record company. Major benefactor of area universities and music-related causes has namesake buildings on multiple campuses. Record label was founded as Sidewalk Records in 1963.
Doyle Davis and Mike Grimes — Co-Owners, Grimey’s New & Preloved Music: Host music events and manage renowned indie record store that moved from Eighth Avenue South to Trinity Lane in 2018. Grimes, along with co-owner Dave Brown, runs live music venues The Basement and The Basement East.
Stephen Eaves — Dean, Belmont College of Music and Performing Arts: Trained conductor manages area school’s programs in music, theater and dance, including 900 students and 160 faculty and staff.
Holly G — Founder, Black Opry: Self-proclaimed “country music disrupter.” Started collective in early 2021 for Black artists in country music and Americana. Signed Jett Holden as first artist of the newly launched Black Opry Records.
Joe Galante — Chairman, Galante Entertainment Organization: Former Sony Music Nashville and RCA leader serves on several boards including CMA and Pinnacle Financial Partners. Key figure of country music history, he was inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame in 2022.
Becky Gardenhire — Co-Head, WME Nashville: Highest-ranking female agent in Nashville, first to be named co-head of an agency. Works directly with country greats including Reba McEntire and BRELAND.
Cesar Gueikian — CEO, Gibson Brands: Named to top spot in 2023 succeeding James “JC” Curleigh, after joining as chief merchant officer in 2018. Also serves as president and board member of Nashville-based guitar company.
Jed Hilly — Executive Director, Americana Music Association: Helped grow genre’s stature since taking charge in 2007 at advocacy group that hosts AmericanaFest. Former VP at Sony.
Mike Harris — President and CEO, Universal Music Group Nashville: Joined the company in 2013 and served as executive vice president and COO before replacing Cindy Mabe in 2025, with Dave Cobb taking the chief creative officer spot. Country-focused label works with artists including Chris Stapleton, Kacey Musgraves, The War and Treaty and Reba McIntire, among others.
John Josephson — Chair and CEO, SESAC: Longtime leader of licensing organization oversaw its sale to Blackstone in 2017 and currently licenses public performance of 1.5 million songs and more than 15,000 songwriters, composers and publishers.
Jay Joyce — Producer, Songwriter and Session Musician: Seasoned professional transformed East Nashville church into studio and has worked with Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Em-mylou Harris and Cage the Elephant. Named producer of the year by ACM in 2023.
Cris Lacy and Gregg Nadal — Co-Presidents, Warner Music Nashville: Nadal replaces Ben Kline, who stepped down in late 2024. Lacy also serves as vice-chair of the Academy of Country Music.
Taylor Lindsey — CEO, Sony Music: Nashville native replaces Randy Goodman, who retired at the end of 2024. She was the been head of A&R at Sony since 2021, working with artists like Old Dominion and Luke Combs.
Jonathan Loba — BMG President, Frontline Recordings, The Americas: Industry veteran leads team of executives across the U.S., including Nashville, Los Angeles and Miami, as well as Canada, Mexico and Brazil.
David Macias — Co-Founder and CEO, Thirty Tigers: Founded in 2001 firm that handles marketing distribution and publishing for artists such as Jason Isbell, Alanis Morissette and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Shane McAnally — CEO, SMACK and Co-President, Monument Records: Decorated songwriter who wrote more than 40 No. 1 hit songs for Sam Hunt, Kacey Musgraves and others. Began singing career with album on Curb Records in 1999.
Michael Milom — Partner and Founding Member, Milom Horsnell Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan: Industry veteran concentrates on intellectual property and entertainment and taught copyright and entertainment law at Vanderbilt for decades. Also serves as legal counsel to Country Music Hall of Fame.
Jason Owen — President and CEO, Sandbox Entertainment: Longtime music industry exec left Universal Music to start Sandbox artist management company in 2010. Worked with Shane McAnally to revive Monument Records in 2017.
Jackie Patillo —President, Gospel Music Association: Experienced exec at Sony has led Christian organization since 2011, now preparing for downtown museum to open spring of 2025. Lipscomb board member also helps produce GMA Dove Awards.
John Peets — Founder and CEO, Q Prime South: Seasoned artist manager partnered with longtime client Eric Church to establish Solid Entertainment in 2022. Q Prime opened new headquarters at East Nashville former church the same year.
Shannon Sanders — Executive Director, BMI: Grammy, Tennessee State alum is Dove and Emmy award winner who joined BMI’s Nashville office in 2020. Founder and original pro-gram director of local soul radio station The Ville 102.1 FM.
Mike Sistad — Vice President, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers: Belmont alum has spent more than two decades with performance rights organizations. Also worked with The Recording Academy, Operation Song and Association of Independent Music Publishers.
Sarah Trahern — CEO, Country Music Association: Former general manager at Great American Country began leading trade group in 2014 and oversees CMA Fest, CMA Country Christmas and CMA Awards, among other events.
Bob Valentine — CEO, Concord: Longtime employee of independent record company served as president and CFO before promotion to CEO in 2023. Represents more than 1 million songs with six additional offices internationally.
G. Preston Wilson Jr — Director, Fisk Jubilee Singers: Former member of ensemble was named director in 2023. Historic Black singing group thought to have brought “Music City” name to Nashville, and in 2021 marked 150 years and released Grammy-winning album.
Sally Williams — President of Nashville Music and Business Strategy, Live Nation: Came to Live Nation after 20 years with Ryman Hospitality/Gaylord Entertainment. Oversees operations of area Live Nation venues Ascend Amphitheater and Brooklyn Bowl.
