Here’s a recap on this year’s CMA Fest!
Read moreFeatured Merch: Alex Blue Spring Selection
by Maddy Hicks
In March, our artist Alex Blue launched a merch line with all new items! Alex spent time designing these pieces to make sure she would actually want to wear them herself. We might be biased, but everyone here at the office is in love with these items. They’re so aesthetically pleasing, and they really feel like Alex! From t-shirts to tote bags, hoodies to hats, there’s something for everyone.
My personal favorite is the “Remind Me of the Magic” t-shirt. It’s soft and sweet and reminds me of one of my all-time favorite Alex songs.
Check out Alex’s merch here to find your favorite!
Female Representation In Music Industry Executive Positions Is Lacking
By Madison Moll
Within the past 2 weeks, the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s newest report entitled “New report shows diversity on the charts, but not in executive ranks of music companies” highlighted some not-so-shocking statistics about women in music industry roles, specifically in higher-up executive positions.
The study examined executive diversity in three ways: among CEOs and presidents across 70 major and independent companies, across senior management teams at nine major music companies, and in executive roles across 119 companies from the VP-level and above in different industry categories.
Graphic creation credit to Instagram account @AMPLIFYHERVOICE
As an artist management company run mostly by women, it is interesting to see such little representation in other large areas of the industry. Covering 4,060 executives from the vice president level to C-Suite roles across 119 companies and industry categories including record labels (reported 11.7% women in executive roles), publishing (reported 22.2% of women in executive roles), streaming (reported 7.1% women in executive roles), live music (reported 6.7% women in executive roles), and radio (reported 20% women in executive roles) (See image above).
Image credited to Annenberg USC Research
Next in other major positions, amongst 70 major and independent music companies, only 13.9% of the people in the roles of CEO, Chairmen, and Presidents were reported to be women. This is more of a median statistic compared to the previous findings in the five different industry categories.
Figure 2 image credited to Annenberg USC Research
And finally, data provided from 9 major music companies broke down and reported their percentages for women in leadership positions in areas such as Music Groups (31.6%), Radio & Streaming (23.4%), and Live Music & Concert Promotion (40.6%). The highest being Live Music & Concert Promotion is a step in the right direction for inclusion and equality, but there still are miles required to get to full inclusion of women in music industry leadership roles
As women and advocates for women’s equality in executive roles in the music industry, it is crucial for you to let your voice be heard and to speak out about inequality in these roles so that we all can see change!
To read more in-depth about their research and reportings, check out the full article from Annenberg USC Research and check out Amplify Her Voice to read more on their blog about female empowerment and equality in the music industry.
Welcoming New Interns to the Team!
It’s summertime! And thank goodness because summer means new interns! It’s an honor and a privilege for us to introduce to you our brand new interns. Please welcome Jessie Mellott, Dawson O’Brien, and Cali Weddle to the team! Though we haven’t known them long, it’s obvious they’re full of passion, drive, and kindness. You can learn a little bit about them with us by reading on below!
Welcome to the team, you guys! So glad you’re here.
Jessie Mellott
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
Aside from music, I love soccer, drama tv shows/movies, and fantasy novels. I love watching women's soccer and British premier league. Some drama shows I like watching are Supergirl, Pretty Little Liars, The Vampire Diaries, and Gossip Girl, but I also loved the comedy show The Good Place. Some of my favorite book series are The Darkest Minds and The Taking.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Mangos! I know it's not a meal, but I love mangos.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I have not quite decided yet between management or publishing. I think both sound very interesting and am looking to figure out which I would prefer to pursue.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.
My taste is music has been changing a little since I started college. I used to exclusively listen to pop, but I currently love listening to folk, acoustic, and alternative music. One of my current favorite artists is Gordi and I have loved Jason Mraz for many years. In my hometown, Hershey, PA, I saw my first concert Matchbox 20 and the Goo Goo Dolls, as well as Train and Maroon 5. I also enjoyed seeing For King and Country here in Nashville my freshman year, but haven't been able to see too much down here because COVID hit in the middle of my freshman year. I am excited to start seeing live music again as more continues to open up. I love that music can bring people together through artists and songwriters experiences and carry you through tough times by connecting to songs on a deeper level. Music is taken in through your ears, but I love the way music can make you feel in your heart.
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
I'm not sure exactly what my favorite thing is, but the difference in weather from my hometown in Pennsylvania is nice. I also find that people tend to be slightly nicer here out on the streets.
Why did you choose to intern here?
I chose to intern here because of what I took away from the spring internship fair at Belmont. I knew I was looking to intern at a management company, but really liked the conversation I had with Erin and Maggie about the work environment and being able to learn as much as I can with this opportunity.
What would you like to get out of this internship?
I am hoping to use this experience to be able to apply what I am learning in my classes at Belmont and learn more at Olivia Management through hands-on experience. My goal is to do and learn as much as I am able to during my time here.
Dawson O’Brien
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
Outside of being a normal Belmont student, I am a lacrosse coach for a local middle school. Also, comedy has always been a passion of mine, so you might catch me at an open mic!
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
T A C O B E L L
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I have two dreams: I really want to become a business manager for entertainers, or become a professional comedian.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.
Favorite Artists/Bands (currently): - The Kid Laroi - Machine Gun Kelly - blink-182 - Silk Sonic - Post Malone Favorite Musicians: - Kurt Cobain - Tom DeLonge - Miley Cyrus - Travis Barker - Mark Hoppus Favorite Shows: - Travis Scott's Astroworld Tour - The Beach Boys - MGK's Tickets To My Downfall Tour (I haven't gone yet but I know it'll be one of my favs) - Kendrick Lamar - blink-182
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
I love the vibe here. "Music City" is the perfect name for Nashville because it is not simply country music anymore like it used to be. It is all kinds of musical genres here! I also love how the city loves their professional sports teams, as well as have one of the biggest comedy clubs in the nation.
Why did you choose to intern here?
I have heard great things about Olivia Management, and I felt very at-home and at-ease when I had conversations with the team members.
What would you like to get out of this internship?
I want to learn more about the duties and activities that go along with management in the entertainment industry, as well as make long-lasting friendships and business relationships.
Cali Weddle
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
My biggest passion is songwriting and making music. I play guitar and piano and love to sing! I also played college basketball and love anything active! But I’m at my happiest when I’m on a boat somewhere in the middle of the lake :)
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Hot Krispy Kreme donuts!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be some sort of mix of a manager / creative collaborator / songwriter where I get to work with artists on every aspect of their craft.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.
Some of my favorite artists are Old Dominion, Julia Michaels, Tyler Childers, and Jon Pardi, but NOTHING compares to a live Taylor Swift show! My all time favorite!!
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
I love being in a city full of so many driven, creative people who are working hard to get where they want to be.
Why did you choose to intern here?
I loved the idea of learning the industry from smart, powerful women and being in a space where I was encouraged to ask questions and grow as an individual.
What would you like to get out of this internship?
I hope to get a better understanding of the behind the scenes of the music industry, as well as make connections to help me pursue my future career as an artist manager or songwriter.
Our Returning Superstars: Madison Moll & Kylie Rose
We’re so excited to have Madison Moll and Kylie Rose returning to intern with us this summer. They’re so hardworking, intelligent, welcoming, and kind. Olivia Management is beyond lucky to have two amazing women working alongside us. Cheers, ladies!
Intern Wrap-Up Blogs: Kylie Rose
By Kylie Rose
I have never felt more cherished and challenged than when I’m with the family that has been built within Olivia Management. As a current sophomore, this has been my first industry internship, and can’t imagine anywhere better suited to help find my spark in the music industry. Each day has brought constant growth, and I can’t wait for even more lessons learned as I return this summer!
Artist management has always been something I was interested in but never had the skills or direction to effectively understand. At Olivia Management, you learn how to market an artist on various social platforms, organize merchandise shipment, have hard (but necessary) conversations, and use empathy to benefit those around you. You gain hands-on experience through meeting our artists, sitting in on important meetings, attending photoshoots, etc. Without the amount of trust that Olivia places in its interns, I wouldn’t have been able to take these vital lessons and successfully apply them to my classes and my own individual management projects.
My favorite moments have been Thursday chats with Erin, sending “gotd” (gif-of-the-day) check-ins to Maggie, and fun morning messages with Mackenzie. I am so thankful to be able to come back to the office this summer and hope to gain even more knowledge and memories!
Maggie and I at a photoshoot for one of our artists, Street Corner Symphony!
Slack: Keeping Communication Professional and Organized in a Work Environment!
By Madison Moll
During an ongoing pandemic, communication between co-workers and employers had to evolve from being in a typical office setting with face-to-face communication to trying to complete tasks and collaborate on projects through an online world. It can seem almost impossible to get work done when you can’t tap your co-worker on the shoulder to ask a question or knock on your boss’s office door to “grab a moment to chat”. However, Slack, an instant messaging app targeted for companies and businesses, makes it easy to communicate together on all-things business.
What is Slack + What Are The Benefits of Using Slack in Your Work Environment?
Slack is a (free) channel-based messaging platform which allows people to work together more effectively, connect all their software tools and services, and find the information they need to do their best work. The benefits of using Slack compared to a GroupMe, an iMessage groupchat, or Facebook group is that Slack allows the users to organize the channels however they would like (ex. alphabetical, level of importance, etc.) This allows members of the intended workspace to have access to the files and messages sent in those channels, and even create private channels that are only open to specific users. You also have the option to go back and be able to search for a specific message using keywords in a specific channel or in the whole workspace. Finally, one huge benefit is the option to link and connect your work’s apps and profiles for social media platforms, Zapier, Toneden, Dropbox, Google Drive, and so many more!
The working world is one where you want to keep conversations relevant and professional. There are so many ways to contact a potential employer or current co-worker that can blur some lines between personal and professional (Texting, DM’ing, Emailing, Facebook Messenger), but with Slack you can stay connected with everyone in your workplace and maintain that work environment level of professionalism, plus have the added benefit of everything being in one-access point for the company.
How Olivia Management Uses Slack
My favorite part about Slack is the different “channel” options–which can help moderate and distinguish different areas for specific conversations. At OM, we have many different channels for all of us to communicate back and forth about specific projects or areas of the company! It’s very convenient and relieving to have some separation of ideas and areas for organization sake, plus then we have a way to go back and track specific conversations about ideas or find answers to questions already asked. It’s a way to also keep our messages and emails de-cluttered since Slack is the one-stop space for all of those work conversations.
There are also options we use to make sure everyone sees a specific message, either about a project that everyone at OM has a hand in or a message about if we will be in person or online for a specific day. By sending @channel in a specific channel, everyone in that channel will get a notification that they have a “mention”, which ensures that most everyone will see the message. Typing @here is another way to notify everyone in a channel about a certain message as well! We can update our status in slack, which is helpful if someone is in a meeting or out to lunch, to notify those in the workspace that we might not see any messages for an hour or two.
To update your status, you click on your profile image at the top right-hand corner, type what you are doing in the “update your status” bar, and then pick an appropriate emoji for the situation. This makes communicating easier and a little more fun online!
Image found at Slack.com/features
Get Started with Slack!
Hopefully, after reading some of the benefits and how we use Slack at Olivia Management, you feel compelled to try it out for yourself. If you’re looking to enter the professional business world or start up your own company– you invest some time into getting comfortable with using Slack!
Instructions and installation download for Mac users click here!
More information on how to get started at Slack.com
Street Corner Symphony!
by Mackenzie Fey
In case you haven’t heard, things have been pretty exciting over here at Olivia Management. With the new year came a new addition to the roster: Street Corner Symphony. We’re beyond honored to be working with these guys and absolutely over the moon about getting to be a part of the art they bring into the world.
Street Corner Symphony is a contemporary a cappella group based out of Nashville, Tennessee, founded in May of 2010 to compete in NBC's all-vocal competition, The Sing-Off (which they did more than great on). They’ve done countless amounts of shows performing across the US and globe with albums for any season on every platform you can think of. Their music reaches every corner in music ranging from pop, rock, gospel…you name it, they sing it. There’s truly something in this for everyone. Not only are they incredibly talented guys, but they’re kind, smart, dedicated, driven, and so much more.
Welcoming New Interns to the Team!
New year, new semester. We all know what this means: great new additions to our team! As we begin to put 2020 behind us, we’re so excited for what lies ahead with these new interns we’re bringing on board. We’re over the moon to introduce you to Madison Moll and Kylie Rose. Keep reading to hear a little bit about why we just had to have them join us this semester.
Madison Moll
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
I sing and songwrite on my own time, I love to collect crystals and color in coloring books. I also have been making candles recently out of my old candles, and that's been fun. I love to write in general, I've tried to start a blog multiple times to no avail, but I'm working on it! I love exploring Nashville, going to coffee shops and thrift stores. When it's nice out I love to go on walks, hammock, and swim!
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Ooooooh, honestly, probably pasta. There are so many ways to prepare it and I basically already eat it everyday! I also love sushi.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be a manager, but most of all a creative in the music industry. Whether that be management or marketing or a creative director of a publishing company or label, I want to be able to be creative every day that I work.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.
Some of my favorite musicians of all-time include Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, and Sara Barielles, buuuuut, recently I've been listening to a lot (and LOVING) Clairo, Maude Letour, Hippo Campus, Josie Dunne, Phoebe Bridgers, Ben Rector, Lennon Stella, and Still Woozy. One of my favorite shows that I went to was a band called "Joan" in the Highwatt, also in the Highwatt I went to a "Vacation Manor" show that was really cool! I love listening to Alternative, pop, some christian, folk-pop, and some country music!
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
The live music, pre-Covid and hopefully sometime in the near future! Nothing is better than hearing music live in Music City surrounded by so many creative people, getting to meet those people, and make connections! I also love Love Circle because I can see the whole city.
Why did you choose to intern here?
I first heard of Olivia Management at a Music Row Promotion Event with Smooth Hound Smith and it was one of my favorite events. I love OM’s vibe and mission and I think they are very ambitious and a great place to learn. I have since only heard the best things from previous interns and other peers about OM, which drew me in. I'm very passionate about learning more about the industry, especially artist management, so I felt that this was the best and most perfect opportunity for me and my development as a professional.
What would you like to get out of this internship?
I want to connect with my co-interns, with the team, and learn more about artist management! I'm hoping to learn more about myself and what I truly want in the industry as well as gain some new skills!
Kylie Rose
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
Above all else, I honestly just love being around other people. Anything where I get to learn about other's stories and what makes them come alive! More specifically though, you can find me watching Sing Street, at the GoodWill Outlet, grabbing some matcha, making a slightly above average apple pie, attempting to learn photography, or memorizing each and every Just Dance routine.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Vegan chicken nuggets, it's honestly questionable how much my diet consists of them.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I would hopefully like to be managing world tours, or working at a label in Europe. My biggest passions are travel and music, but wherever I end up, I hope to be constantly evolving and helping inspire others.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.
Favorite Artists: Jon Bellion, Novo Amor, Jack Garratt, Joy Oladokun, Passenger, Sleeping at Last, Declan McKenna, Anderson Paak, The Wrecks, Jet Black Alley Cat, and Mr. Ed Sheeran himself. Favorite Genres: Acoustic-Folk and Indie-Rock Favorite Shows: The "Live. Life. Love." suicide prevention benefit concert last November will always be one of my favorites. Not only was the message so beautifully empathetic, but the lineup was incredible. That night consisted of Jon Bellion, Lizzo, Lovelytheband, Chelsea Cutler, Louis Tomlinson, along with a few other Nashville local acts. I remember screaming the lyrics "Tell me what you hate about me", from Jon Bellion's "Good Things Fall Apart", to some random strangers. Those random strangers are now some of my closest friends. That was the last time I really got to experience that live-music adrenaline before COVID-19 hit, and I miss it so dearly.
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
Coming from Louisville, Kentucky, I love how Nashville still has that southern charm whilst maintaining a bigger city feel. I also love the inspiration everywhere you turn, and how people aren't afraid to go after their passions.
Why did you choose to intern here?
Reading about Erin's story was my biggest pull to interview for Olivia Management. Female empowerment within the music industry is lacking big time, so it was incredible to find a company with women at its core. OM first appeared to me as a confident, genuine, and values-based business that I could not wait to get to learn under.
What would you like to get out of this internship?
I want to experience the artist management industry's most intricate functions, especially under the lens of a global pandemic. I hope to understand how to adapt when change comes around, and how to maximize growth among artists.
5 Social Media Tips to Build Your Artist Following
By Devin Renspie
If you clicked on this article, you’re probably an artist just starting to try to establish yourself on social media. If this is the case, you’re in good company, and hopefully the following tips will make this process feel a little less daunting!
Have a Cohesive Presence
The first step in building a social media following is to make sure that you have accounts on every relevant social media platform. Even if you’re not as invested in some platforms as much as you are in others, this assures that you already have your profile claimed in case you decide to use it more and that you reach the widest possible audience.
Moreover, it is essential that all of your accounts look and feel the same so that fans of yours can easily find you across all platforms. While a big part of this is ensuring that things like your username, profile picture, and bio are the same (or at least similar), it is also important that you have the same content on each platform. Software like Later allow you to easily schedule content that will automatically be published to your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts, or any combination of the four (and there’s a free version!), so you don’t have to worry about remembering and scrambling to post on each platform simultaneously.
Do More Than Promote Yourself
While there is a time for self-promotion, that time is after you’ve given your audience content to connect with. If you’re like me, you like to have a game plan before you dive into something as expansive as building a social media following, and luckily, the 70-20-10 rule exists to help you do that! The 70-20-10 rule is a general guideline concerning how much of each type of content should appear on your social media. As such, 70% of your content should build your brand, 20% of your content should build your network, and 10% of your content should be self-promotion. For more information on the 70-20-10 rule, check out this sonicbids article. If you still aren’t sure what to post, the following two points will give you some more insight regarding how to create content that your audience will engage with.
Focus on an Area of Content
Going back to having a cohesive presence, in order for your social media content itself to feel cohesive, it’s important to focus your efforts on one area of content. These main areas are documentation, education, and entertainment. When choosing an area, be sure to think about how it will fit into your brand, since whatever area you choose will be the basis of your brand-building content (the “70” in the 70-20-10 rule).
If you choose documentation, your content will mainly focus on the journey of your music career and what it looks like behind-the-scenes. A great example of an artist with this type of content is Jon Bellion, who posts a lot of “making of” videos, such as The Making Of All Time Low. Alternatively, with education, your content will mainly focus on teaching your audience a skill such as music production. Andrew Huang does an amazing job at this. Lastly, the arguably hardest area of content to make is that of entertainment, since your personality has to be the driving force. That being said, it is possible to include aspects of entertainment into the other two areas of content, as well. For more information about how to utilize the three types of content, check out Burstimo’s article.
Connect with Your Audience
Connection is the basis of social media platforms, and it should be the basis of your social media accounts, too. When you’re deciding what to post on your socials, be sure to keep in mind that social media is there to help you form relationships with your followers (and other music industry professionals). Therefore, no matter what area of content you focus on, make sure that you’re speaking to your audience, not at them. That is, find ways to allow your audience to communicate with you. If you’re thinking of focusing on documenting your journey as an artist, consider asking fans what they think of your unreleased songs. If you want to focus more on educating your audience, consider asking your followers what they want to learn more about. If you’re basing your content on entertainment, consider making content reacting to your followers’ questions or submissions. There are infinite ways to connect with your audience, but the bottom line is that your followers need to feel involved in your work and in your life in order for you to have a lasting impact on them.
Be Consistent in Your Efforts
If you only take one thing away from this article, let it be this. Social media is an art form, and like any art, there is no one way to do it. That being said, consistency is key to getting better at anything, and it is also key to growing an engaged following. To maintain such consistency, try to post on your socials around once a day. If this sounds too overwhelming, consider posting consistently at whatever interval feels maintainable to you, but keep in mind that once a day is ideal. To get the most engagement, check out Sprout Social’s best times to post on social media.
By consistently creating content and making efforts to connect with your followers using the tips I listed above, you are sure to accumulate followers that are invested in you and what you do. Best of luck in your social media endeavors!
My Favorite Music in TV & Movies
by Kaila Divak
1. “Tiny Dancer” – Elton John – Almost Famous
I honestly think this song has to be at the top of my list, because it is tattooed on my wrist for the rest of my life. When “Tiny Dancer” plays in Almost Famous, the whole band is singing together on the bus. Sir Elton John himself said that this song became as famous as it is today because of this movie. It came at such a pivotal part of the film, right after a huge fight, where nobody was speaking. One of the men in the band begins to sing along with the song, playing on the radio, and everyone else just follows suit.
2. “Epilogue” – Justin Hurwitz – La La Land
This one really pulls at the heart strings for me. I think I’ve always loved this song, but the idea that it was in the most frustrating part of the movie for me really made me overlook it for a long time. Once I watched La La Land a few times and understood that not every movie needs to end on a happy note, I realized how amazing this song was. It brings you along on a seven-and-a-half-minute story, and you don’t even need the video to picture what is going on, in my opinion. I also love how the end of the song is so simple, yet so heartbreaking. If you really listen to the end of the song, Sebastian doesn’t play the last note on the piano. I always thought that that was symbolism for him not wanting him and Mia’s relationship to end.
3. “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” – Jim Croce – Stranger Things
This one was awesome to me. I remember watching this part of the episode in season three of Stranger Things and immediately wanting to be a music supervisor. It obviously fit perfectly because the title is “Don’t Mess Around with Jim” and the scene was focused on Jim Hopper. He just successfully managed to get his step-daughter and her boyfriend to break up, and he is over the moon about it. It cuts from his initial satisfaction about the breakup to him screaming along to the song in his Bronco truck. The transition to this was unbelievable and could not have been placed better.
4. “Joshua Tree” – Ruthie Collins – The Ranch
I love the way this Ruthie Collins song was placed in the Netflix series, The Ranch. The song has a pretty melancholy sound to it, and in this case, it is playing in the background at the bar where Mary meets Heather and Luke to pick up the things that they saved for her when she was evicted from her house while in jail. It is a very powerful scene, as she refuses all help from them. “Joshua Tree” is super powerful in this part of the show, and I think that the music supervisors did a great job at placing Ruthie’s song here.
(This one’s on Netflix… Part 7, Episode 5 of The Ranch)
5. “Between the Bars” – Elliott Smith – Stuck in Love
I love the music in this movie. This song is played as Louis and Samantha sit in his car and share their favorite songs. Louis asks Samantha to close her eyes and listen, and she starts to cry because she’s scared of committing to having feelings for someone. I think that this song was a very indie choice, and it fits so well. It became sort of mainstream because of this moment in the movie. And I will always think of this moment in this movie when I hear this song.
What Our Artists Have Been Up To
by Cynthia Birkett
Our artist’s work so hard each and every week. Let’s take a peak at what they’re up to these days.
Jill Andrews
Jill is continuing her Outdoor Spaces and Covered Faces Tour and will be in Erwin, TN on Friday, September 18, Asheville, NC the very next night on Saturday and finishing up the weekend in Greenville, SC this Sunday the 20th. There are still some shows left in her tour, so be sure to grab your tickets. They’re going fast!
Derek Webb
For Derek Webb, the people have spoken. Derek will be recording his third completely fan-picked covers album, named Democracy Vol. 3. Want to see if your fan-picked song made it on the album, go check out his Instagram! We’re so excited to hear how this one turns out, it’s bound to be great.
Have you ever wanted to host a Derek Webb Show? Here’s your chance! Click here to find out more information!
Ruthie Collins
If we’re being honest, we’ve been watching Ruthie Collins new “Joshua Tree” music video on the daily since she released it back in January. Recently, the video has been getting lots of deserving love from DittyTV. If you have yet to see it, go check it out here! It’s absolute magic through and through.
Smooth Hound Smith
Smooth Hound Smith’s new single, "Little Rock N Roll Clubs" has the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO) and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) in mind as artists and venues all over the world have been impacted these past several months. Be sure to watch the official music video, shot at local Nashville venue Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge. If you’re looking to support our independent musicians and venues even further, check out the Save Our Stages Act here.
Exciting News!
Have you heard?! We are happy to announce that we are now managing Peter Groenwald! Peter Groenwald moved to Nashville after high school to follow his dreams! He works in the genres of Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, and Americana. He has sung background vocals, played keys, and toured behind acts like John Mayer and O.A.R.. Peter Groenwald has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brian and has performed at venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater, Radio City Music Hall and the famous Ryman Auditorium. Peter Groenwald found that the heart of his music was in his writing and producing so he joined forces with Jill Andrews in 2016 and formed the band Hush Kids. We are so happy to welcome Peter Groenwald to our team!
My Favorite Songs by Smooth Hound Smith
by Kaila Divak
When I was first researching Olivia Management, before I applied to intern here, I looked through all of their artists’ catalogs. I was really into everything that they put out, but I was particularly drawn towards one duo, and that was Smooth Hound Smith. I was obsessed with their harmonies, a mix of country and blues. Honestly, it was hard for me to even make that comparison because I think that they have so many different genres of music stitched into their three albums that it’s almost impossible to pin them within one.
But my all-time favorite song by them came out after I had discovered them. I would have to say that their newest single, “Little Rock N Roll Clubs”, is by far my favorite song that they’ve ever released. I had the privilege of listening to it to create social media content prior to the release, and I found myself walking around my house, doing something mundane like cooking or cleaning, and singing the song. I wanted to play it on Spotify so badly that I even looked it up a few times, remembering mid-search that the single wasn’t out until August 28th. “Little Rock N Roll Clubs” is a tribute to independent music venues across the world that have been getting hit hard due to concerts and other events being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This song was written with Save Our Stages, the National Independent Venue Association, and the National Independent Talent Organization in mind. So not only is it an amazing song, it also has some purpose behind it, which makes you feel good.
My second favorite song by Smooth Hound Smith is for sure “Steal Your Crown” off of their 2013 record, Smooth Hound Smith. This song has such a real rockabilly feel, like they were playing homage to The Black Keys and Thickfreakness. Every last detail down to the harmonica, tambourine, fuzzy guitar, and the steady drumbeat compliment Zack’s growly vocals and Caitlin’s harmonies perfectly. This song makes you want to get up and sing a karaoke song at a dive bar. I love to play this one while driving on the highway, with all of my windows down. And I’m sure you’d feel the same way.
My third and final favorite song would definitely be “Stopgap Woman Blues” off of their sophomore album, Sweet Tennessee Honey. For some reason, whenever I listen to this song, I think of “Black Country Woman” by Led Zeppelin. I don’t know if it’s the way the drums enter later on in the song, or the gritty guitar melody, but it gets me every time. The music video for this song also makes me laugh, but it’s true.
And I’ve missed so many amazing songs that Smooth Hound Smith has recorded, because if I listed all of the songs that I loved by them, this post be way too long long. They really do blend so many genres together to make an extremely unique genre of their own.
#TBT
by Madeleine Kelson
Somehow, it has been around two years since Hush Kids released their debut album. If you have already listened to it at least 100 times like I have, consider this blog post a really good excuse to listen to it for the 101st time. If you haven’t heard it yet… well, what are you waiting for? It’s full of chill songs, beautiful harmonies, an occasional banjo, and lots of good vibes. I know what you’re thinking - why should you, a person with really great taste in music, trust my opinion? The good news is, you don’t have to! Billboard debuted their single, “What’s Your Hurry,” so you can take their word for it instead.
Don’t forget to also check out their latest single “Wake Up (Acoustic)” just released this past September!
Chill Songs from Olivia Management
by Madeleine Kelson
Hey there friends and fans of Olivia Management! The world can be a pretty stressful place these days. With so many things to worry about, we all deserve a moment to just slow down and relax. With that in mind, I decided it was time to update my OM Chill Songs playlist from last summer. The new and improved playlist is longer and chiller than ever before. It is the perfect soundtrack to your walk around the neighborhood, the aimless drive you take to kill time, or even as a musical interlude for the time between dinner and your nightly Netflix binge. Whatever the occasion, turn on some of your favorite OM songs, and chill.
My Favorite Songs by Smooth Hound Smith
By James Muller
When I first began interning at Olivia Management one of the things I was most excited about; and continue to be excited by, is digging into all of our artist’s catalogs and enjoying the beautiful art that they create. I was familiar with our artists before starting, but I hadn’t yet fully committed my ears to their songs. From Jill Andrews to Derek Webb, Ruthie Collins, Hush Kids , and Smooth Hound Smith there’s a lot of great stuff to take in. Boy, am I glad I took the deep dive. It’s always difficult to pick favorites, but I am going to highlight some of the songs from Smooth Hound Smith that really spoke to me in the past month of diving into these tunes.
I love all kinds of music, but the music that really grabs my attention and sticks with me is the kind of music that you can put on, and it immediately has an effect on your mood. Music that puts you in the space where the artist is coming from. For me, that’s what music is all about: connecting with something and letting it take you to another place.
It wasn’t terribly difficult to find some favorites as I started listening to Smooth Hound Smith. They bring a vibe and a feeling to their music that makes you want to dance, and intently listen to the lyrics at the same time. Which is pretty awesome. Their song “Get Low”, is one of those tunes that gets your feet stomping with it’s pulsating rhythm, laid back guitar grooves, and ethereal vocal harmonies. It’s a song that could just as easily be played at a party as it could on a long drive. As a lover of blues music, “Get Low” is one of those songs that instantly scratches my itch for current blues music that is fresh and fun, while still holding on that rootsy, vintage inspiration. If I was on Spotify going through the blues and roots playlist, this would be the song I would hope to hear.
While listening to records is something I can’t get enough of, there is a level of energy that live music brings that takes a song to another level.
Check out Smooth Hound Smith playing “Get Low” live on #JamInTheVan here.
My next favorite song by Smooth Hound Smith is “Three Shades of Lonely”. This is one of those songs that comes on, and you immediately perk your ears up a little bit. The song perfectly showcases what I love about the band— they undeniably catchy hooks that are melded together through beautiful harmonies by this duo. The chorus from this song gets stuck in my head in the best kind of way, the kind that you are happy to have stuck in your head. One of the other reasons that “Three Shades of Lonely” is a favorite of mine is because of the gritty and soulful guitar that sits back with the drums and then comes out to speak later in the song. As a guitar player myself, this tasteful and expressive guitar work is what I love to hear. Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars and The Black Crowes plays slide guitar on this song, and If you're familiar with him then you know that he brings the soul to whatever group he plays with. Next time I’m in need of some music that brings the feels, this will undoubtedly be in the rotation.
Like I said before; It’s tough for me to pick favorites, especially when you're choosing from a lot of great music. I’m glad that I sat down and spun all three of Smooth Hound Smith’s records because I found some seriously groovy, soulful, and fun songs in there that I will be keeping in the mainstay of my listening routine. “Get Low” and “Three Shades of Lonely” take me to those places that I am looking to go when I listen to music, and I hope they can do the same for you!
Check out the duo live next Tuesday, June 30th on their Facebook page for a free livestream of all cover songs. Be sure to mark your calendars for the show! You won’t want to miss it.
How to Find New Music
by Chelsea Hallman
Ultimately, my favorite way to find new music is to hear it live. Going to a show with four artists, only knowing one of them, and coming out on the other side with a playlist full of new music is my ideal Friday night. Right now, since that option is not currently in the picture, we must go digging ourselves.
I find myself digging up the most music when going for drives alone. Spotify really helps me out with this one. I put on my Discover Weekly playlist and just cruise. I often find a single by a small artist that Spotify matches up with my taste. I then add that to a playlist and later will look into more of their music. More often than not, I end up with a new favorite! This is how you find stellar smaller artists like Derek Webb or Ruthie Collins. Another cool thing about my Discover Weekly is I will sometimes land on a single that came out years ago that I would have never listened to otherwise. Tell That Devil by Jill Andrews came out four years ago and every day still is rocks on. With songs like that I’ll listen to one old single and find a whole artist's discography. It’s one of the many tools we’re lucky enough to have these days.
Another way I find music is through my friends. I find they have pretty good tastes in music, too! I’ll follow my friends on Spotify and look at their playlists, or just ask them what they’ve been listening to. I can assume that at least one of your friends gets a little too excited when you like their music taste. We all have that friend (or friends) (or friend groups!) that prides themselves in their playlists, I know I do!
It can also be fun to find music from another generation than you. Ask your parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, coworkers! I know my Uncle Jim is a music fanatic. He will give me hours of playlists of underground oldies. It’s a totally unique and fun listen. It’s also something cool to show off to your friends when you find something great.
Social Media is a great place to find music too. Instagram and Facebook have live shows going on the daily. A new one for me is finding artists on Tiktok. All the dance videos can lead me to some good music that I probably wouldn’t have heard otherwise. Keep on dancing!
Also, I recently found the Music Map. You search one artist you love and it comes up with a whole map of artists around that it recommends you check out. You can get down a hole in this one and find all kinds of new artists. I know for me, I searched for one artist I liked, Billie Eilish, and Harry Styles, Lorde, Lana Del Ray, Ruel, Bea Miller, Lady Gaga, King Princess, and many more of my favorites showed up along with about 40 artists that I hadn’t heard of. I’m a little obsessed with this tool now. Check it out here!
Happy music hunting, and let us know of any solid finds in the music world below in the comments!
How Do You Find New Music?
By Connor Kozlecar
If you’re anything like me, you listen to a song or album on repeat until you literally can’t stand to hear it again and are always craving something new to grace your ears. In the ever-changing vast world of consumable music, how do you sort through the MILLIONS of songs and albums to find something that appeals to your specific taste? As consumers, we are blessed with an overwhelming amount of music to choose from. Many of the major platforms used around the world are equipped with algorithms to help out with just that. I’m going to help walk you through a few of the platforms that I use and the processes that I have to find new music to listen to. Check it out!
Spotify
Personally, my streaming service of choice is Spotify. One of the primary reasons that I love Spotify so much is the ease of being introduced to new music. First and foremost, they create a playlist every week literally called “New Music Friday.” This playlist introduces you to newly-released music from all different genres and allows you to explore that with the tap of a finger. Additionally, Spotify has a very effective algorithm that collects data from all of the tracks and albums that you listen to on a daily basis. It then uses that data in a few different ways to expose each listener to fresh music: every Monday, Spotify will take the data that it has collected from your listening tendencies, and it will create a playlist for you called “Discover Weekly.” Discover Weekly compiles a list of around 30 songs that are similar in style to what you have listened to in the last week and tries to nail down the next song that you could be looking for. Every Monday for me is a tradition. An opportunity to take advantage of this playlist and find new tracks and artists while having my morning coffee. On the same day, a similar algorithm will take that data and do a mass search through all of the artists that you have liked or saved in the past and compile a playlist of any new releases from artists that you enjoy or are similar.
Spotify’s search engine is also incredibly helpful when wanting to find new music. Similar to other platforms, you can browse through genres by scrolling through the browse option in the app. What’s great about manually searching instead, is the ability to search for things such as what kind of mood you’re in or a specific (maybe less familiar) genre and having a plethora of company created playlists to choose from. An example being, if you searched for “rainy day” (your mood) or “Americana” (a genre), hundreds of songs, hand-picked by Spotify will conveniently be organized into sub-playlists for you to choose from however you please!
Youtube
When it comes to visual stimulation alongside music, Youtube is the place to be. With literally millions of videos on YouTube being music forward, the opportunities here are endless. Similar to Spotify, YouTube uses an algorithm to track your views and suggest a video for you to watch next that you most likely will enjoy. One of my favorite tactics on the site to find new music is to subscribe to channels that ask artists to come in and perform acoustic or alternate versions of their own songs, and or covers of artists they look up to. A few of these channels that are my favorite include: Jam in the Van, AudioTree, NPR Music, Colors, and Triple J (in no particular order.) Youtube is endless music fun, for any style.
Just listening!
Living in Nashville has gifted me the most accessibility to live music that I’ve ever had in my life. In my opinion, there is no better way to find new music than going to local events or just noticing the music that is always playing around us. These days, in nearly every restaurant or store, you’ll hear music playing in the background. I’ve found that taking a moment to stop and listen has introduced me to some of the best songs and genres using tools like Shazam. When I first moved to Nashville a few years ago, I found the first Americana artist that I truly enjoyed using Shazam on my phone after just hearing a short snippet in a restaurant I was eating in. With tools like Bandsintown we also have access to lists of new artists and concerts coming to our very own cities that otherwise may have slipped by without knowing. Take advantage of your city and enjoy the music that’s around you!
HOWEVER you do it, we all know the joy of finding our new favorite song, and I hope some of these suggestions and tips on how I typically do it help you find your new favorites!!
New(ish) Songs on the Block: A Playlist
by Mackenzie Fey
If you’re like me, you tend to listen to the same three playlists with the same songs curated for any possible mood. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with this—it’s encouraged, actually. But sometimes it’s fun to get a little crazy and listen to songs we haven’t heard before. Unfortunately, this takes a lot of will power to go and seek music that you may find somewhat enjoyable (I know I can’t be alone in this). Lucky for you I’ve done the work necessary. All you have to do is press play!
Some newer Olivia Management playlist highlights:
“Good Grief” by Derek Webb
“Dang Dallas” by Ruthie Collins
“Dog in a Manger” by Smooth Hound Smith
“Back Together” by Jill Andrews
Spring Intern Introduction
Just last week, we had the honor and privilege of welcoming three new interns to the team here at Olivia Management! We can’t wait to watch them grow in all things artist management and music business. World, please meet Jackie Minton, Emma Martin, and Connor Kozelcar. We know you’ll love them just as much as we do!
Jackie Minton
Why did you choose to intern at Olivia Management?
I met Olivia Management at an artist panel I went to over a year ago and was so stuck by their community focused approach to artist management, I applied to intern here as soon as I could! I am so thankful for this opportunity to learn how they do their work from the inside out.
What do you want to get out of this internship?
I hope to learn how to work on a variety of tasks, while also learning how to dream about the future. I want to improve my skills in seeing things to their end, while also working with a team.
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
Oh, definitely the community. I also love all the variety of restaurants and coffee shops, but they are all a fruit of this city’s focus on encountering each other. When I moved here, I was amazed by the willingness of others to listen and share authentically about their experiences.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.
As a songwriter, I enjoy most anything with a poetic lyric and melodic sensibility. Some of my favorite artists include James Taylor, Ingrid Michaelson, Taylor Swift, Leif Vollebekk and Josh Garrels. If there is a guitar picking part or a cello, I’m sold.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would probably be almonds. I’m pretty sure I’m already halfway there.
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
I enjoy eating dark chocolate, drinking hot tea, and reading philosophy. I would minor in all three, but sadly I only study the latter. I also do calligraphy on the side for fun!
Emma Martin
Why did you choose to intern at Olivia Management?
I chose to intern at Olivia Management because I saw how passionate the company was in helping artists grow as much as possible both artistically and as people.
What do you want to get out of this internship?
During this internship I hope to gain more knowledge about touring and what kind of planning goes into sending artists on tour. I also am really interested in learning about the prep work right before album releases. In the future, I hope to work in the creative part of publishing or management.
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
My favorite part about Nashville is how you can walk into almost any restaurant or coffee shop and hear live music. I also love the sense of community that Nashville has even though it’s such a big city.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music!
Some artists and songwriters that I have been into lately are Emily Weisband, Madison Kozak, The Band CAMINO, Lizzo, Kelsea Ballerini and Dan + Shay. I love all different genres of music but my top genres are singer/songwriter and country.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would probably be pasta!
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
I love to go hiking and camping! I also love listening to music and playing card/board games with my family and friends.
Connor Kozelcar
Why did you choose to intern here?
Any internship opportunity is an opportunity worth taking in my opinion. When you are unable to find anything negative about past internship experiences and the reputation of a company you’re interested in, is in my opinion when you’ve hit the gold mine.
I chose to intern at Olivia Management because of the strong community that they promote and the clear message that when you’re devoting your time to their efforts, they’re devoting the same time right back to your experience. Since starting school at Belmont, I’ve had big hopes to find an internship that cares for their interns and cultivates the right atmosphere for growth. To me it just felt like Olivia management is doing exactly that.
What do you want to get out of this internship?
In a general statement, as humans we are all students, all the time. The whole goal of an internship is to learn right? With this being my first internship, I am excited to have the opportunity to work in an atmosphere with such hard-working individuals and a team aspect that promotes a strong sense of community. I am eager to learn, become proficient in this facet of our industry, and create the relationships that will help me succeed and confidently move forward with my career.
What is your favorite part about Nashville?
Aside from the music, The food options….. Wow. So much good food, so many cool little nooks and crannies in the city, and so many great genuine people that come out of the area. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to live and attend school here.
Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.
I’m a listener of almost all genres. A few of my favorite current artists include Allen Stone, Tom Misch, Theo Katzman, Joey Landreth, Chris Stapleton, Lawrence, Jordan Rakei, Marcus King Band, Stephen Day, The Dip, etc (I could go on forever). My all time favorite artists/musicians/bands include The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, The Beatles, Jack Johnson, and The Allman Brothers
I love everything about music, but what sticks out to me the most is the raw expression that the medium represents. Any single piece of music can tell you more stories about the person who wrote it than you can think up. I think that in the vast creative world that the music industry embodies, its infinity is the most fun part. Whether you’re listening or creating, the passion behind every piece of music tells a story that no other medium could.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Logical answer: Chicken - there are a million ways to prepare chicken and it never gets old. That's smart, right? The ~Just what i'm craving in this moment~ answer: Five Guys Fries
What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?
I love to sing! I am currently the Vice-President of a collegiate A Cappella group at Belmont University called The Beltones. When I’m not knee-deep in school work, singing my heart out with my friends, or working my other jobs, you can find me:
Stopping traffic to pull over and pet a dog
Playing far-too-competitive games of racquetball on Tuesdays
Browsing the internet for things that I would buy if I had the money to blow
2019 All Wrapped Up
As the year comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on a few of the great things that have happened this year for Olivia Management and all of our great artists. From new songs to hitting the road near and far, they’ve done it all! Take a look for yourself below!
Jill Andrews
Derek Webb
2 new singles for upcoming album, TARGETS: “All of Me Is Here” and “Targets”
Toured US for 10 year anniversary of Stockholm Syndrome
Hush Kids
Recorded a OurVinyl Sessions - EP
New single: “Make These Colors Real”
Ruthie Collins
Two new singles: “Dang Dallas” and “Joshua Tree”
Smooth Hound Smith
Toured across US in support of new album, “Dog in a Manger”
New music video for title track, “Dog in a Manger”
Lydia Luce
Toured all through Europe with Sam Outlaw and Sarah Walk
Released “Azalea Strings - EP”
…and the list doesn’t end there! There’s so much that’s happened and there’s WAY MORE where that came from! Just wait until 2020, y’all.
