Spring 2024 Intern Wrap Up!

It’s hard to believe how fast this Spring 2024 semester has flown. We’ve asked each of our interns to wrap up their semester in a couple of sentences. These last days with interns are so bittersweet! We have been so blessed to have them work with us semester and can’t wait to meet the new friends that are going to join us over the summer semester. Stay tuned to meet them so soon! But until then, here are the last words from our Spring 24 interns.

Grace Frazier

Being at Olivia management this past year has taught me so much and paved such a smooth path for me to grow. Getting to know Erin, Grace and Sidney has been an experience I will never forget. This is a company that does amazing business and I will be forever proud to have worked with them for the time that I did. Sad that this chapter is closing, but I know that there is so much more to come from both myself and everyone at Olivia. As a graduating senior, I am very emotional, but after working with these amazing women, it’s hard not to be.

Tyler Prondzinski

I really enjoyed my semester interning at Olivia Management! The practical, real world knowledge that I walked away with was amazing. There are just some things you can't learn in school, and a lot of the music business is about experiencing it yourself or learning secondhand. I specifically learned so much about marketing and event promotion that I have a lot to unpack!

Miriam DeYoung

This last day in office with the amazing Olivia Management team is so bittersweet. I absolutely love each and every soul that I’ve met and had the pleasure to work with over my past two semesters here! Grace is such a fabulous cheerleader, Sidney is always on top of her ish, Erin is such an amazing leader and friend. I’m going to miss them with every piece of my heart but, luckily, you can’t get rid of me yet. I’m so honored to have been asked to stay on for this next month while Erin is getting MARRIED and Sidney is graduating from Berklee (such a fun month for personal OM achievements). I’m so blessed that, in a town of opportunities, I’ve been offered this one.

Nick Royall

I started my MBA program last fall knowing that I wanted to pursue a career in artist management, but without any professional experience in the field. My internship at Olivia Management this spring semester was a valuable first look at what really goes into managing musicians. I was able to work alongside and learn from such amazing folks, and my time here only solidified my choice to pursue artist management as a career. Erin is such a knowledgeable and effective leader, and I appreciated her making herself available with her time and resources throughout the semester. Everyone at Olivia Management provided a welcoming environment for me to learn in, and I hope I’m lucky enough to be in workplaces with a similar culture in the future.

Staff Picks: Most Anticipated Summer Concerts

By Lauren Campbell

The flowers bloom, the sun shines, and summer concert dates are being sent out to fans.

Here at the OM office, music consumes our profession and pastime—and nothing is better than summer concerts. Here are our most anticipated shows:

Erin - Musicians Corner at Centennial Park from May to June

Musicians Corner is a summer stable during the spring/summer months in Nashville. Through May and June, Musicians Corner rallies the Nashville community around good music, food, and community—and free admission!

Maddy - Taylor Swift at Nissan Stadium on May 5

Swift famously combines setlists from all ten of her albums into one show—or rather, three sold-out stadium shows (that’s nearly 210,000 people in one weekend). Even if you got stuck in the queue or spent a whole paycheck on a ticket, it’s basically ten concerts in one, plus a stellar opening show from Gracie Abrams or Phoebe Bridgers…so all’s well that ends well.

Merk - Ed Sheeran at Nissan Stadium on July 22

Speaking of selling out stadiums…Ed Sheeran will be touring around the US this summer. Sheeran used to open for Swift, and is now one of the most successful singer/songwriters in his own right. The “+-=÷x” tour seems to be his take on the “eras” tour. For the past decade, Sheeran has been releasing albums named after mathematical symbols, and his - album seems to be the finally.

Grace - Sabrina Carpenter at the Ryman Auditorium on May 2

Sabrina Carpenter’s latest album emails i can’t send has got fans raving about her newfound bravado on the pop charts. Our favorites are “because I liked a boy” and “nonsense,” naturally.

Maddie - The Chicks at Bridgestone Arena on July 27

Thirteen-time Grammy award winners the Chicks have been around since the 90s, and they are back for an arena tour in Nashville. I mean, “Wide Open Spaces” has been a playlist staple on every burnt CD (or, now, Spotify account) since it came out in 1998. Now, the iconic track can be heard live at the Chicks tour from June to August.

Lauren - Vance Joy at Ryman Auditorium on September 1

Admittedly, not quite a true ‘summer’ concert, but I’ve been kicking myself for a solid year after missing Vance Joy’s pre-album release show of In Our Own Sweet Time at Ryman for the summer 2022 concert circuit. I’ve been playing “Missing Piece” and “Don’t Fade” on repeat ever since.

A Day In The Life Of An Intern

by Kylie Rose

Ever wondered what the day-to-day of one of the best artist management & consultation companies looks like? Well, seek no further ladies and gents, welcome to a day in the life of an intern here at Olivia Management!

Coming upon my sixth month here at OM, my tried-and-true first morning step is logging in to check my Asana task board. Asana is a team project management platform, designed to easily format task distribution. I’ll login, check what tasks/projects I am working on today, ask my questions, and get started!

Up first this morning, I worked on shipping out merchandise with some of our rockstar interns, Jessie Mellot and Madison Moll. Using systems like Shipstation and Squarespace, we packaged up some t-shirts for our artist Jill Andrews (which are so cute and available here, wink wink).

Coming up next on our intern lineup for the day, I start checking our artist’s ticket links and sales. Now that live music is starting back in full swing here in music city, we’ve got a lot of brand new tour dates on our hands. My job is to check that the links venues provide are functioning well, all of the information is correct, and our artists’ branding is up to date. 

Here comes one of my personal favorite moments, lunch break with an (almost) full intern crew! The biggest draw for my interest in interning here was the honest connection and trust between every member of our team. Since one of our newest interns, Cali, was in town, we stopped in for a special lunch munch at The Nashville Farmers Market!

My last project of the day was to write up this wonderful blog on all of the day's details! What I love about it here is that everyday brings new challenges and lessons learned. Whether it's attending our artists’ shows, creating tour spreadsheets, producing content for youtube, creating graphics, etc. There is never a moment that I am not learning something new to apply to my career in the music business. 

If you’re interested in interning here at Olivia Management, which honestly who wouldn’t be, we are currently interviewing applicants for Fall or Spring 2021! 

Some Pretty Great Music...

If you didn't know, I offer consulting on an hourly basis to a handful of up and coming artists each month. It's a really fun way for me to share what I have learned managing our full time clients and help more great music get out there into the world. If you are interested in learning more about consulting–fill out the form on our site by clicking the button below.

In the meantime, enjoy this incredible playlist of some of my recent consulting clients and their recent releases. I am SO proud to get to have a hand in so much art being released. 

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.

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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.

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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: Madison Moll

by Madison Moll

As a rising senior who’s had some prior internship experience, I never imagined starting my first day at Olivia Management would launch me into a stage of such immense self-growth and discovery of all of the buried skills I already had and new skills I was able to learn from my time here. This internship truly is like none other.

Already from my first day, I knew Olivia Management was a safe and nurturing environment for students and young music industry professionals. I instantly felt welcomed and invited to become a part of the team, that I was a valued asset to the company and the other interns and employees and Erin. They all put so much trust in me to get challenging and impactful tasks done without batting an eye.

The most valuable skill or takeaway that I’ve learned from my time at Olivia is that extending just a little bit of trust goes such a long way. I have been lucky to have the opportunity to attempt and have my hand in some really cool projects that other companies wouldn’t even consider putting into the hands of their interns. Erin believes in all of us and that we are capable of achieving any task she throws our way!

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to intern at Olivia Management alongside some amazing and talented interns and I’m so excited to be coming back for the summer!

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!

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.

Small Business Saturday

By Erin Anderson

My favorite thing about working with independent artists is helping them think about their music career as a business. I have been teaching entrepreneurship at the college level for 8 years now, and I love incorporating entrepreneurial concepts into managing artists. It's exciting to build new revenue streams, identify new opportunities, and optimize their businesses.

On Small Business Saturday, consider the ways you can support small businesses and independent artists that you love. One way you can support us as a small company that’s been in the business of helping artists for 8 years now is to check out our artist’s online stores that offer apparel, vinyl, cameos, handwritten lyrics, and more. Shop small, y’all! Click the links below and scroll down to see some of our other favorite small businesses to check out today!

Ruthie Collins

Visit the Store

Smooth Hound Smith

Visit the Store

Hush Kids

Visit the Store

Derek Webb

Visit the Store

Jill Andrews

Visit the Store

Local businesses we love

Backslide Vintage

Our favorite Nashville vintage shop is owned by our very own Smooth Hound Smith! Check out their unique stock and their Yelp page here!

Thistle Farms

Treat yourself or a loved one to candles, essential oils, lip balms, and more while also benefiting women survivors. Click here to shop.

Friendly Arctic

Friendly Arctic has been our longtime favorite company for merch AND they have a Small Business Saturday sale going on now! You can purchase beautiful screen printed posters and more on their website here.

Meet Our New (and Old) Interns!

It’s a new semester, and do you know what that means?! New (and old) interns! We know you’re just as stoked about this as we are. While things are still weird and uncertain at this point in time, we’re grateful to virtually surround ourselves with such great people. Allow us to introduce to you the newest additions to the Olivia Management team for the fall of 2020. Read on to see just a snippet of what makes these folks so wonderful! We’re certain it’s going to be a great semester.

Kaila Divak

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

I spend most of my free time watching stand up comedy, skiing (when possible), going to concerts, and visiting the dogs at the Humane Society.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

It is definitely a tie between cheesesteaks and Krispy Kreme donuts.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I would want to work with stand up comedians or classic rock bands. I would definitely love to be involved in the touring process in some way!

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

I'm definitely an old soul, and I grew up idolizing bands like Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and Foo Fighters. I love all things Frank Sinatra, yet I'm also the first one on line for anything related to Harry Styles. I'll honestly listen to anything!

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

Hot chicken, my Belmont friends, and the closeness of everything.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

I was researching companies on Handshake and I saw the Olivia Management position, stalked the Instagram and read the website, and felt like I would fit in well! I love how OM is a female-fronted company, and I am super grateful for the opportunity to learn from everyone here.

What would you like to get out of this internship?

Any experience possible! I'm open to learning literally anything within the entertainment industry, I'll take on any project put in front of me to see if I make a good fit in that realm.

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Devin Renspie

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

Right now my main hobbies are writing/producing music and playing video games, but I also like to draw, sew, make costumes, etc. Basically I dabble in all things artsy.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Steak and mashed potatoes maybe? That's a tough one.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

My dream is to eventually support myself as an artist/songwriter/producer, but until then I want to work somewhere in the music business where I can still be creative in my day-to-day.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

I'll listen to basically everything, though my favorite genre is probably alternative pop/rock. Right now I'm listening to a lot of Hayley Williams, Twenty One Pilots, Ashnikko, Grimes, Jon Bellion, and Kailee Morgue. I like music that incorporates unique/electronic sounds.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

I’ve only been able to spend a semester in Nashville so far, but I love that there are so many people who are able to pursue music as a career.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

Artist management is what I'm most interested in pursuing a career in!

What would you like to get out of this internship?

I want to learn as much as I can about all the facets of artist management as a profession as well as the aspects I can apply to my own side-gig as an artist.

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Kate Cosentino

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

I make guitar straps, I love to roller skate/skate dance, video games (Guitar Hero III obviously), reading (especially self help books-ironically an addiction I probably need help with) and eating ( also cooking but I love finding the best places to eat).

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

If there were no health repercussions—pure cookie dough. Otherwise, Orange Chicken from panda express which I guess is no better.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

An artist that writes songs that move people. You'll hear me in movies in video games and hopefully by then, I'll be a decent roller skate dancer.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

Phoebe Bridgers has been my SOUL this summer. I am a sucker for poetic, unique lyrics. I adore anything with a jazz influence. Lianne La Havas is one of my favorites as well as Regina Spektor. I listen to everything though from Sufjan Stevens to Tenacious D to J-pop bands. I always love finding new things to listen to! Equipment wise-I just bought an LA220 and I'm obsessed with it- also love my Gretsch hollowbody guitar. The best show I've been to that totally surprised me was The Presidents of the United States of America. Also, loved seeing Tuneyards live in Nashville.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

The mentality of "let's grow together" that I find in much of the music industry. Also, food.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

After taking Erin's Entrepreneurship class at Belmont, I left every day feeling more inspired to work in music and be an entrepreneur. I am also an artist in the folk/jazzy lane hoping to learn more about management and building a better business as a musician especially in a boutique management company rather than a major.

What would you like to get out of this internship?

I'd love to learn how Olivia Management seeks out business opportunities for their artists and the ways these artists make a living. What makes a successful campaign? How does an outside company help the artist? What business opportunities do these artists in various genres have?

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Cynthia Birkett

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

Concerts, hiking, going to the lake, shopping, hanging with friends & family, and cooking.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Sushi!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Successful in the music industry!

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

My favorite genres are Country, Pop, Singer/Songwriter. Favorite artists are Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Tyler Childers, Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley Mcbryde, Carly Pearce, Jason Aldean, Luke Combs, Lindsey Ell, Cassadee Pope, Kip Moore, Maren Morris, Lainey Wilson, Chris Brandi, Sean Stemaly, Dan & Shay, Josh Kerr, LANY, The Band Camino, The Brook & The Bluff, Conan Gray, Elle King, Harry Styles, Joji (just to name a few). I’ve been to so many shows, I try to go to more and more every year! I think my favorite concert that I've been to is a Jason Aldean and Luke Combs show. My favorite festival that I've been to is Stagecoach! I absolutely love everything about music and concerts. Concerts are probably my favorite thing because I love to see everyone else having a great time and singing the lyrics back to the artist.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

My favorite part about Nashville is the music that is everywhere and the sunsets out here are amazing!

Why did you choose to intern here? 

I chose to intern at Olivia Management because I loved everything that they’re about and have so much to offer as a company to your artists and so much knowledge to learn from as an intern.

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The Return: Connor Kozlecar

Connor will be joining us for a third semester this fall. To say we’re excited about it would simply be an understatement. He is loyal, passionate, reliable, ambitious, hardworking, and more of all the great things you crave to have in one human. He has easily become everyone’s right hand man for anything and everything. We’re so glad you’re here, C! Never leave, yeah?

Check out his old intro blog here to read some of his own answers to the questions above from way back when he was just starting out with us! Ugh. What a throwback.

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!

Summer Intern Introduction: James

Excited is an understatement when we get to announce the fact we’re on adding two new interns to the Olivia Management team for the summer of 2020! Now we get the privilege of introducing you to James Muller! We have asked him a few questions and he was willing enough to share some answers with us. Read on to learn more about James!

James Muller

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

Some of my favorite hobbies are making music with my friends, playing guitar, and spending time outdoors. I love to run, and go hiking. I have also just begun learning to cook, so I would say that is a hobby of mine.

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 have to be Mexican food. Tacos specifically.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I grow up I want to be immersed in the music industry and make a difference. I want to be a part of something bigger that helps bring beautiful music to people that deserve to experience it. Whether that be playing music, working in management or publishing or some other facet of the music industry.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

Some of my favorite musicians are: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dawes, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Dr. Dog, and Anderson Paak. I’ve always been a guitarist, and I love old guitars and amps. Being in Nashville is great with all the awesome old vintage guitar stores like Gruhns and Carters. My favorite thing about music is live shows. I try to go to as many shows as I can because I love the energy and atmosphere of live music. There is definitely something special and unique about the way live music brings people together and brings emotions out of us. My favorite live show that I have been to was Tedeschi Trucks live at The Ryman.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

My favorite part of Nashville has to be the amount of people that have all come here with the same passion for music. There are so many people in town to collaborate with musically, and that is really rewarding.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

I chose to intern here for a couple of different reasons. The first reason is that I took Erin’s Entrepreneurship class and I loved it. I really learned a lot of useful, practical skills and I loved her personal and honest teaching style. The second reason I chose to Intern here is because I have been managing my own band for the past three years, and I have really enjoyed doing it. I have learned a lot throughout the process, and I wanted to expand my knowledge and learn more about management! The last reason I chose to intern at Olivia Management is because I love that the company is a small boutique firm. I feel like these types of firms offer exceptional service to their clients, and I wanted to experience how that is done.

What would you like to get out of this internship?

I would love to learn as much as I can about the ins and outs of artist management, more specifically about how to help artists achieve their dreams and goals through strategic plans. I also want to get an overall better understanding and feel for the music industry, and how it functions. Overall I want to grow my skills and understanding not only professionally but as a person.

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!

1. 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!

2. 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.

3. 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!!

Top 5 Indie Venues in Nashville

By Jackie Minton

As a new Nashville native, many of my friends ask me where they can hear good live music. Now if you’re looking for a night of classic country covers, Broadway is your best bet. But off Music Row, where do the locals go to get their music fill? Now that you are here, search no further. I have compiled a list of the best independent music venues in the Nashville and I am ready to get you listening like a local. 

1. The Basement East

Located at 917 Woodland St., The Basement East has been home to a number of budding and established acts. Noted for hosting quirky shows such as singer-songwriter Charlie Worsham’s annual John Mayerathon and world-renowned acts such as Avi Kapplan, former member of the Pentatonix, a bad night at Basement East is slim to none. Last time I went to a show here, I turned around to see Leon Bridges listening in the midst of the crowd behind me. If that isn’t enough of a seal of approval— I don’t know what is. 

Derek Webb plays to an attentive crowd at The Basement East. Photo by Maggie Adams

2. Mercy Lounge

This cozy venue features acts from across the board of the independent music. This upstairs brick hall is surprisingly cozy when filled with strangers. The packed atmosphere is balanced by sweeping, silent fans hung above the crowd— making for a notably pleasing (and less sweaty) listening experience. May be TMI, but you’ll thank me later! Performers range from pop-rock to folk-americana, but the air is always filled with an excitement from the crowd. Pictured below, Nashville-based artist Jill Andrews performs as a part of the city’s annual Americana Fest. Jill is set to return to Mercy Lounge on April 2nd (4/2/20) to celebrate the release of her upcoming album Thirties. This is an anticipated night you won’t want to miss! (Get your tickets here!)

Jill Andrews performs for Nashville’s annual Americana Fest on Mercy’s Stage. Photo by Erin Anderson.

3. 3rd & Lindsley

The slogan of this warehouse is “Good music. Good food. Good friends.” Fittingly, 3rd & Lindsley hosts both artists and songwriters, featuring a breadth of the music local and traveling through music city. Ranging from a table-and-chairs listening room experience to a standing-room-only concert hall, this indie venue is versatile and compatible with all kinds of audiences. Shown below the folk-rock duo Smooth Hound Smith steals the stage of this prominent Nashville venue. 

Americana-Rock Band Smooth Hound Smith takes the stage at 3rd & Lindsley. Photo by Maggie Adams.

4. The 5 Spot

On the East side of Nashville, The 5 Spot occupies the cozy and cool corner of the city. They feature everything from throwback dance parties reminiscent of the 70s and rising country acts, such as Ruthie Collins. Their unexpected mix of shows blend well into the host of bars and restaurants popping all over East Nashville. This 21 & up club is noted for their relaxed vibes and spunky entertainment!

Ruthie Collins pulls her audience close during this intimate show at The 5 Spot. Photo by Madeline Heiskell.

5. The Bluebird Cafe

Known best for spotlighting artists like Garth Brooks and Taylor Swift early in their careers, the Bluebird Cafe is often filled with listeners from all over the world. Even still, this landmark is a resting place for some of Nashville’s local jewels. It may be last in this list, but it is certainly not least! The venue’s popularity has only garnered with their common feature on the previous hit show Nashville and the late release of the documentary film, Bluebird. Nestled between Whole Foods and a Tuesday Morning, this whole in the wall is not one you want to miss. Pictured below the Americana duo Smooth Hound Smith performs at this neighborhood icon.

Indie Americana duo, Smooth Hound Smith performs below the neon bluebird. Photo by Madeline Heiskell.

Our favorite Nashville venues and more!

By: Intern Olivia Wathne

Not only is Erin Anderson a strong and determined woman, she's a great teacher. The same goes for the day to day manager here, Meghan Conwell. As an intern, I was nervous that I would only be running errands and grabbing coffee all day, but the opposite is true here at Olivia Management. 

One of my duties as an intern is to check out some upcoming Americana, Country, and Indie musicians in Nashville. Some of the top places to find undiscovered and talented musicians are at 12th & Porter, 3rd and Lindsley, Exit/In, Mercy Lounge and many more that I have yet to find but will let you know about once I do. Some of our artists, The Secret Sisters and Jill Andrews, have performed at these venues.

12th & Porter

This past Sunday 12th & Porter hosted a free concert and I had the pleasure of listening to Rayvon Pettis, Matt Haek, Don Gallardo and Rocky Bottom. All of the artists sang their original songs on their guitars (Rocky Bottom incorporated a harmonica and a bass drum which was very great). 

All of the venues mentioned above are awesome places to go find some hidden gem musicians and listen to high quality music at a cheaper price. Olivia Management knows the importance of smaller venues and we love supporting up and coming artists; we're actually on the look out for a new artist to manage!

My point is that Olivia Management sincerely cares about its artists. Our love of music and Nashville is what motivates us to provide our artists with the best management possible and create friendships that will last a life time. I can't wait to see who we discover next.