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Nashville's SOLID Combines Networking and Community Service to Connect Future Music Industry Leaders
"2017 Board Photo" (Back Row, from L to R): Tim Gray (Grayscale
Entertainment), Ben Boyd (Music Services), Max Wiebrecht
(Paradigm), Courtney Hyder (The Media Collective), Johnny Cloherty
(artist management and digital promotions consultant, Kari Barnhart
(Regions Bank), Sarah D'Hilly (Monument Records), Lisa Nolan (For the
Record Entertainment), Nathan Pyle (The Recording Academy), Matt
Pramstaller (NAXOS), Elise Anderson (Nashville Music Media), Rachel
Seneff (Collective Artist Management), Matt Najdowski (Sony/ATV); (Front
Row, from L to R): Basak Kizilisik (Morris Higham Management), Rachel
Glidden (Universal Music Group/Fame House), Emma Tur (Warner
Music Nashville), Juliana Lee (Notes for Notes), Lindsey Hughes (Made In
Network), Amanda Remo (Martin, Albee and Associates).
Last November the Society of Leaders in Development celebrated its 20th anniversary by honoring some of its most successful alumni.
Nashville continues to enjoy the reputation as one of the most
vibrant and commercially viable music industry cities in the world --
and helping to lead that charge in the 21st century is a group of
youthful music industry professionals who have epitomized everything
that is great about the business for two decades.
For over twenty
years now, SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) has become known
for what is described as a mixture of business networking and community
service. According to the group's 2017 president, Basak Kizilisik, the organization takes a lot of pride in what it has been able to give back and accomplish.
"SOLID
has accomplished so much in 20 years. I'm so proud of the support we've
provided to countless local and national charity partners and also the
opportunities we've been able to give the talented and ambitious future
leaders of our industry," says Kizilisik, who works for Morris Higham
Management. "We become so focused on making a difference that we
sometimes forget to take a moment to celebrate what we've been able to
achieve. That's what 2017 is all about. There are so many executives,
CEOs, presidents, award winners and leaders in Nashville that began
their careers as SOLID members. I'm so thankful to those folks that have
waved the SOLID flag through the years. This organization is proof of
what can happen when great people come together to do great things."
Some of those great things that SOLID can point to include raising
over $270,000 for charity through a variety of events, such as their
yearly Crawfish Boil and an annual Music Row Madness bowling event that
benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters. In June of each year, the
organization puts on the Nashville Music Market -- held each year during
the CMA Music Festival -- which allows fans the opportunity to purchase
music, merchandise and industry-exclusive items from their favorite
artists. There are also various outreach programs at area universities
and opportunities for industry professionals to discuss issues that
affect their livelihoods. Needless to say, the networking possibilities
that SOLID offers are plentiful and crucial to career development.
"My years being an active member of SOLID and serving on the board were an absolute career boost," says The Collective's Craig Dunn.
"I know for a fact that there are many people I wouldn't have as
colleagues and friends today were it not for my time in SOLID. There's
something special about the music business in Nashville that sets it
apart from New York, LA, and the other music hubs in the country.
There's a camaraderie and willingness to cooperate and share contacts
and ideas, even when you might technically be in competition with
someone. Building and fostering those relationships is one of the core
tenets of SOLID and one of the many reasons why I've encouraged
countless others to join throughout the years and will continue to do
so."
Among the notable alumni from SOLID include such industry heavy-hitters as KP Entertainment's Kerri Edwards, Sony's John Zarling, G Major Management's Virginia Davis and veteran publicist Ebie McFarland -- who represents such acts as CMA Entertainer of the Year winners Kenny Chesney and George Strait. McFarland tells Billboard that SOLID has been invaluable to her in her career trajectory, as the business is often a contact sport.
"In the music industry, the predominate driver for business is our
relationships," she says. "Organizations like SOLID that afford its
members such incredible resources -- and do so during formative years --
are incredibly valuable. As a business owner, our firm has grown in
large part to the support system I established while I was a junior
publicist working my way up the rungs as a member of SOLID and there's
not a week that goes by that I don't communicate with, rely on or
consult with a colleague I met through SOLID. In growing through
experiences together, our bond is stronger than one client or one
project and because of that infrastructure and common drive its members
have, I've been fortunate in my career to witness some pretty incredible
personal and professional success stories."
Last November SOLID held a 20th anniversary celebration, where they paused to celebrate three of their members. Cris Lacy (VP of A&R at Warner) was recognized with the Distinguished Alum Award, Justin Levenson (Lev's House Entertainment) took home the Inspire Award, while SESAC'S Jayson Wyatt was honored with the with a Spirit of SOLID Award.
With
a new year comes a new board, and many of Nashville's rising business
stars are represented for 2018, ranging from The Recording Academy's Nathan Pyle to Nashville Music Media's Elise Anderson and Avery King to Peer Music's Heather Cook. This year's president, Johnny Cloherty, says that the aim of SOLID remains unchanged from what it was when the organization began years ago.
"We're
coming off of a lot of momentum from our 20th year, which has really
inspired our new board to propel forward and launch our next 20 years,"
he says. "SOLID has given back so much to the industry and our
non-profit partners over the years, and to us as members. We're looking
forward to continuing to build on a rich history, providing even more to
alumni, members, future members and the community."
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