(Another) Summer Intern Introduction: Madeleine Kelson

Surprise! We’ve got another intern to introduce! Woohoo! We’re so excited to add to the team (again). Let us introduce you to Madeleine Kelson. Madeleine interned with us last semester, and we loved her so much we just had to have her back on the team! She’s such a valuable person and we’re grateful to have her!

Madeleine Kelson

What do you want to get out of this internship?

I would like to immerse myself in the Americana music world and get a better handle on what it means to be a professional in that realm. I want to improve my skills in the different systems that OM uses and learn my way around any new ones. I’m also hoping to listen to lots of great music and hopefully pet Erin’s dogs.

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities? 

I love all things music; listening to it, writing it, playing it, etc. Lately, I have also been doing some recording and sound engineering. Other than music, I love hanging out with my dog, cooking, and watching brain-melting reality TV. I also love traveling and finding absurdly cheap ways to visit other countries.

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

Al Pastor tacos. Yum.

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

I am a huge Americana fan and all of its related genres. I grew up on Dolly Parton, Lucinda Williams, Mavis Staples, Bonnie Raitt, The Band, and Led Zeppelin. Lately, I have been listening to Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile, Noah Gundersen, Kacey Musgraves, Yola, and John Prine. My current favorite show I’ve been to was also the last show I went to — the “To Nashville, With Love” tornado relief show at Marathon Music Works. The lineup was PHENOMENAL, and it felt important to be there supporting my community. Moments like that, when the catharsis that music brings are so tangible, are the reason I love music.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

I chose to intern here, first and foremost, because I had such a great time and learned so much last summer. Supporting women in the music industry is also incredibly important to me. OM’s artists and the music they put out is also a major draw.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

I love how supportive the music community can be. There are so many people here who are dedicated to furthering their friends’ careers just as much as their own. I also love the mild winters.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be an Americana artist. There is nothing I love doing more than playing music for myself and other people!

Support Black Voices

by Madeleine Kelson

We observed Blackout Tuesday on Tuesday, June 2nd. This was a day for the music industry to stand in solidarity and support the Black Lives Matter movement, to research and educate ourselves on how to eradicate racism and become anti-racist. Not only are black artists are a cornerstone of American music, but black artists are the bedrock of modern music as whole. You’d be hard-pressed to find a genre that was not in some way influenced by the work of blues, rock and soul created by black artists in the early 20th century. Americana today would sound a lot different without artists like Elizabeth Cotten, Lead Belly, or Sister Rosetta Tharpe laying the foundation. In an effort to amplify those voices, we put together a playlist of some of our favorite black Americana artists. We hope you love these artists as much as we do, continue to listen to their music in the future, and are inspired to go find other similar artists to support. If you’re interested in supporting the Black Lives Matter cause further and retroactively taking part in Blackout Tuesday, check out DonateMyWage.org to find organizations fighting racial injustice.

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: Chelsea

It’s been a blast and a half remotely getting to know James and Chelsea. I get the honor of now introducing you to Chelsea. She’s an intelligent, loyal, and hardworking addition to the team. Stoked she’s part of the team! Hoping you get as much out of this interview as we did!

Chelsea Hallman

What do you want to get out of this internship?

I want to gain all and any knowledge that will further help me in this industry. I want to acquire connections and build relationships that are meaningful.

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities? 

I love to go to local shows and discover new artists. This is something I’m missing most during the pandemic. I love fashion and makeup. I have a bad shopping addiction. I love to be with my friends but also value self-care. I’m working on taking more time for myself. 

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

I would eat chicken piccata from the Cheesecake Factory for the rest of my life. If anyone wants to take me there, at any point you know what it do. 

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

I love Lorde. I love her writing style and the way she revolutionized the industry through unique sounds that are still appealing to the general public. I think she is a trend setter. I love Harry Styles and Billie Eillish for similar reasons. As a classic I love The Beatles and to jam out to Micheal Jackson’s hits. I think a lot of my fellow peers are outstanding such as Clare Ernst, Chloe Hogan, Cole Ritter, Analise Malick, Luke Prost, bstrok, etc.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

I chose to intern with Olivia Management because I see opportunities across the industry that are very accessible because of how tight knit the group is. I like the sense of community the company has. It feels home-y. 

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

The local bands. I love music being everywhere. I love the culture of the people. The fact that everyone loves music so much and supports the art of music is what keeps me here.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I don't know. I want to be where God places me. As long as I am personally content with my line of work and making enough money to live comfortably, I think I’ll be happy. 

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.

Intern Wrap Up: Finishing the Semester Strong

By Emma Martin

I can’t believe this semester is over! I have had so much fun interning at Olivia Management these past few months and have learned so much. Working with everyone at the company has been such an honor and a great learning experience. This was my first internship and I couldn’t have asked for a better company to begin my journey at.

What I Have Learned

One thing I have learned is that there are a ton of moving parts when it comes to managing artists, but the hard work is worth it. My favorite thing about this internship was working with everyone on releasing Jill Andrew’s album, “Thirties”. I loved seeing the beginning stages of marketing, press, planning her tour and then watching the album go out into the world. I think there’s something truly rewarding about starting a project from the beginning and then seeing the finished product be successful. I have learned so much about myself and how passionate I am about the projects I work on, especially when it’s for this lovely company.

Future Goals

I am so grateful that I am going to be interning here this summer! Hoping this summer brings new lessons that I will continue to learn more about scheduling tours, album press, marketing, and helping artists stay connected with their fans during this time of uncertainty.

Shoutout to the Olivia Management team

 This company and everyone here have allowed me to grow in ways I never thought I could and I can’t thank them enough for their support. I will take everything you all have taught me and remember it for future internships, jobs and just life in general. Erin, Maggie, and Mackenzie THANK YOU for everything you have done for me. Looking forward to continuing my experience here this summer! 

Intern Wrap Up: An Inside Perspective–Intern Style

By: Connor Kozlecar

Olivia Management = A Hidden Gem

To say that my time here with Olivia Management has been fruitful would be a terribly blatant understatement. The sheer volume of knowledge, experience, and love coursing through the veins of this office is almost too much to put into words but I will surely do my best to paint a picture of what this semester has been like and some wisdom I have gained through my experience. I’m so very fortunate to have had this opportunity, and I am even more blessed to be able to continue working alongside these wonderful women and welcome some new summer interns here in the near future!

-A Few Tidbits I’ve Grabbed Along the Way-

ASK

I like many others, have a natural-born curiosity for all things that I see, hear, read, etc. Although I’ve always felt that I have been vocal about my interests in most situations, I will never take for granted the atmosphere that Erin and the rest of the team have cultivated here. Along with being incredibly kind and open, each of them has been consistently available to answer any question you could possibly have. From semester one-on-one’s to just casual conversation, the relationships that I feel like I have built with these ladies are ones that I will cherish forever and I am confident that the knowledge I have gathered from them will continue to help me in my career moving forward. I advise you to take full advantage of any opportunity in any facet of life that you can to simply just ask questions.

Go All In

Wherever you’ve interned before, or wherever you plan to in the future; no matter how daunting or simple the task, put everything you have into it. It will pay off. Through a few large projects that I have had the pleasure of tackling I’ve learned that if you take your time and go above and beyond what you think is sufficient, the payoff is so much sweeter and wholly more rewarding. Do more than what is expected of you. Go all in. All the time.

YE OLDE ZEN ZONE

My favorite project

Play to Your Strengths AND Your Weaknesses

As an intern, you should not only help everyone out by capitalizing on your strengths, but also be clear about what you struggle with and what you would like to get better at. As someone who fears failure like no other, this is a struggle for me. As you continue to develop work relationships and grow more comfortable with those that you work with, be clear about what you need help on. No one will ever get mad about you simply asking for help. On the contrary, if you don’t know what on earth you’re doing and you mess up really badly, that is absolutely no bueno my friend.

Roll With the Punches

Nothing ever goes exactly to plan. We’ve all seen this in 2020 so far.

And so what? That’s Life.

Choosing to continue working through our current situation was the best decision I’ve made by far. Surely this group could handle their own and more without a few interns. It’s the apparent effort made by you to the people that you don’t necessarily owe anything to that sets you apart. Instead of finishing my semester solely focusing on school, I, along with our other two lovely interns Jackie & Emma locked arms and continued simply because we love what we do and who we work with. I’m a big proponent of “getting what you give,” if you will, and I would give my left arm for this company for how impactful they have been on me and my college career. I’ve had a handful of personal things happen in my life this semester, as they do, and what has kept me grounded and moving forward is the internal obligation that I feel like I have for everyone that works here to hold up my end. I will always thank them for that.

Enjoy it

Being an intern is fun, so enjoy it! Especially when you’ve got the backbone that they do here at OM. Don’t get too caught up in your own world, and just enjoy yourself and the experiences that you get to create as an intern.

A Wonderful Memory

To Erin, Maggie, & Mackenzie

I cannot express how thankful I am to be a part of this team, and I am more than excited to continue here through this summer as an intern with Emma. Nothing but wonderful things to say about my coworkers and the wildly creative, motivating, and lighthearted space that they operate in. Thank you SO SO much for the best semester I have had at Belmont.

See you soon!

Intern Wrap Up: Life Lessons with an Intern

By Jackie Minton

The end of the semester is here, yet again. You would think by now I’d have learned to get used to this rhythm (after being in school for close to two decades!) but alas—I have not. It always seems to catch me by surprise! Over the handful of months I have spent here at Olivia Management, however, I have learned quite a bit about the industry, working with a team, and well, myself. Here are a few nuggets of wisdom I have gleaned from my time as an intern. I hope they are good lessons (or reminders) for you, too. 

A photo from my visit to the Library of Congress this semester, Spring Break 2020.

Organization is a worthy struggle.

The Olivia Management team has inspired me to reevaluate how I work on tasks. They spend a notable amount of time, energy, and brain power on the front end to set up processes that help their world go around in the future. From watching their approach first hand, I have learned that if a task seems overwhelming, it probably simply hasn’t been processed into manageable steps. Organizational work at the beginning may seem tedious, but it is worth the reward!

Don’t put up a wall where there isn’t one.

Why can’t a coloring book be a merch item? Why have we drawn lines where there needn't be any? Creativity is just as necessary, if not more so, on the business side of things. I hope to take this perspective into my own career as an artist and as an entrepreneur.

One simply does not stop learning. 

Not only does the music industry grow and change everyday, but so do our goals. Admitting that there is more to learn, is only the first step. Make time to research what interests you, listen to podcasts that inspire you, and seek out knowledge from those closest to you. Don’t be afraid of the unknown! That open landscape is an exciting place full of possibilities.

Humility is powerful.

Olivia Management’s founder Erin Anderson quietly teaches this invaluable lesson to all of those close to her. She makes a point to listen, consider others’ perspectives, and voice gratitude, not simply for her clients, but for everyone that walks through her office door. Being on the receiving end of her respect (even as an intern) was such a powerful reminder for me: humility doesn’t simply move mountains, it moves hearts. Living in the light of humility is a grounding gift, not just for yourself but for all you encounter. 

Saying goodbye is never easy.

(Especially when the people you’re saying goodbye to are amazing!) I’m thankful for my time with this incredible team and am dually excited for the interns to come that will get to learn from and contribute to Olivia’s future! I look forward to seeing all that is yet to come, both for them and for me.

Photo by Sophie Flemings.

Signing off with a grateful heart - Jackie :)

Olivia's Digital Tool Box: Featuring Airtable

By Jackie Minton

When trying to work in a disorganized space, I feel a bit like a fish out of water. Unsorted papers look like abandoned intentions taking up my desk and piano bench. Bring that disorganization into the kitchen and my anxiety can take root when it comes to simply looking for that matching Tupperware lid. If you’re anything like me, a clean workspace is a must. 

However, having a clean physical space isn’t the only key to peaceful and productive work these days. With working from home becoming the new normal, an organized area now includes the digital plane. Today, the Olivia team is going to share our secret weapon to making a few hours of elbow grease look like an incorporated production.

Photo by Robert Bye from Unslpash

Meet our friend, airtable.com.
Whether you’re looking for a system to organize your personal passwords or a sophisticated way to track project deadlines, Airtable can help make your organizational dreams come true. The best part about this trusty tool is that a free account comes with unlimited data bases to dream, build, and track your information.

Here are a few ideas of ways you can use this powerful tool to maximize your digital workflow!

Centralize Passwords

Get your personal information out of the notes on your phone and into a singular location you can reach from anywhere. Include links to your account’s website to have one place to click through. We use this to keep track of all of our artists’ info from PRO accounts to social media.

Log Contacts

Whether it’s from your last business lunch or the booking contacts for your upcoming show. Log contacts and tag them by company and event needs. 

Create a Business Calendar

Or 5! Airtable has a great ability to house different calendars with various sharing parameters, and the ability to overlap calendars in your personal view.  Make a calendar for your social media plan, your travel schedule, or your upcoming co-writes. 

Sort Your Work Spaces

No matter what business you are in, it’s likely that you have to wear a few different hats to make your job happen. In the music business, we know this best! Venue details, marketing operations, and even managing a blog ;) are all small parts of the big picture we paint every day we come into work.

What parts of your process need some digital additions to the cyber-office space you’re building? Don’t be afraid to dream big!

Photo by Nastuh Abootalebi from Unslplash

Disclaimer: Airtable did not approve nor pay us for this article, but they should have.

Happy 8th Birthday Olivia Management!

Eight years ago today, Erin Anderson founded her artist management company Olivia Management! The company has come a long way from when it first started, and it has grown so much over the years. Since she has started the company, she has helped grow the careers of many artists and left her mark in this corner of the music industry.

An article by Forbes says that about 80% of small businesses fail and about only half of them survive past 5 years. Olivia Management has made it to its 8th birthday and that is something to celebrate! Our current roster is something to be proud of, and Erin has cultivated a crew of good humans that make great music.

In the past year, multiple artists have released new albums.  Jill Andrews released her album Thirties, successfully ran a weeks worth of live streams spanning her entire catalog, and plans to go on tour in support of her new record in the fall of this year. Ruthie Collins, signed to Curb Records, just released her new album Cold Comfort to much critical acclaim, including mentions from Billboard and American Songwriter. Derek Webb released his album Targets in February, and has run several different series of online shows, as well as launched a Patreon. Smooth Hound Smith released their album Dog in a Manger in the summer of 2019 and just finished an incredibly fruitful European tour that wrapped up right before the pandemic hit. Hush Kids’ highlight of the past year was hitting the road for their first tour, which ended with an invite to perform on the Cayamo cruise this past February. It has been a very busy, but successful, year at Olivia Management.

When asking Erin about her proudest accomplishments in the past 8 years of Olivia Management, she responded:

“I would have to say having an artist nominated for a Grammy or having an artist play the Ryman and Red Rocks, or having an artist win an Americana Award (because all of those things were highlights for SURE), but honestly, it’s that I’ve gotten to be a part of so many amazing records. Especially right now, when music is so important to us all to get through this time, I am so proud of the music we’ve helped bring into the world.”

Here’s to 8 more years of success and 8 more after that! 

Rethinking Routine

by Mackenzie Fey

If you’ve been following along in the last couple of blog posts, you might’ve seen me fish out some tips for working at home and making yourself a pro at this. These tips included starting your days with intentionality, spacing things out mentally and physically, and the importance of taking breaks. All of these things emphasize keeping things as normally as possible within the confines of an abnormal time. There’s nothing wrong with this! For people like me, I need to maintain that mindset to continue being productive and get the responsibilities I have taken care of. But this came to a realization that during these abnormal times, it’s okay to have things be just that. Abnormal.

Don’t get me wrong! There is so much value in routine! Right now, however, times are evolving and changing. Nothing is how it was a year ago. I mean, not even a month ago! What’s the harm in evolving your own routine? Doing things a little differently and reminding yourself it’s okay to be imperfect and skip out on getting into normal people clothes on Tuesday morning and just staying in your pajamas. It’s actually kinda fun! This can even look like finally picking up that brush and paints you got forever ago and never actually used it. It could be listening to an artist or genre you haven’t taken the time to listen to during your work hours (see below!). Go ahead and eat cereal and a donut for dinner. Try a new tv show on a Monday night at 11pm. Now’s the time!

Having a hard time deciding what your new non-routine could look like? I can help with that:

Today, Ruthie Collins released her sophomore album Cold Comfort featuring singles like “Dang Dallas” and “Bad Woman”. It has everything you’d want in an album: truth, heartbreak, enchanting melodies, storytelling, incredible production, and a song that can relate to any one of us. Check it out at this link here and give it a listen! Try it out, you won’t regret it.

To further break up the “normal”, tune in tonight at 7pm central to hear the new album live from Ruthie’s couch in New York! Join us on her YouTube channel tonight at YouTube.com/RuthieCollinsMusic.

Work from Home like a Pro

by Mackenzie Fey

Some Tips for working in your new home office

If your kitchen table has seemingly become the hub for all things eating and working, tune in! This post is for you. These days, working from home is becoming the new norm. Your living and relaxing spaces are now coinciding as the same space as your concentration and effort. Check out a few tips on how to make all this crazy a little bit more manageable!

Photo from The Lighting Judge

Tip 1: Start your days off intentionally!

A long time ago (well, not really all that long ago), commutes to work were actually a thing. This could’ve consisted of getting up, starting the coffee, a quick workout and shower, the list could go on and on. Now that our “commute” is from our bedroom to the livingroom, we’ve seemingly gained a few more minutes to spare. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of waking up 5 minutes before you’re supposed to hop online. In experience, this can lead to lack of effort and motivation. Efficiency isn’t as high as it could be, well, because you woke up 5 minutes ago. You’re brain’s not fully awake! It’s possible that setting up your mornings a little bit earlier and setting up a slight routine will help, even if it isn’t much. For me, it’s getting up and still pretending that I’m heading into work. This includes getting dressed (yes, even jeans sometimes) and heading downstairs for a light breakfast and coffee. It starts my days off a little bit more motivated and gets things going!

Tip 2: Spacing things out

Spacing is everything for me. I tend to correlate my physical spaces to my mental spaces. If I’m relaxing, reading, and sleeping in my bedroom, that is no place for me to try and dive into work or homework. I have designated spaces for work, for hanging out, eating, and so forth. If I overlap my work spaces with any other, I find I can never really turn that work “switch” off. My brain really has a hard time differentiating what mode I’m supposed to be in at a given time. When your normal hours of work are over, turn off your computer and hide it away. Outta sight outta mind, I guess!

Tip 3: Take Breaks!

You do this at work, why would you not do this at home?! Avoid cabin fever and restlessness by taking your lunch and eating it outside, away from the screen. Walk to the corner and back with your dog for a quick 10 minute break of movement and fresh air. Do this a few times throughout your day. Maybe even call some family or friends for some outside of work social time and see how they’re doing. It helps, I swear!

---

Okay, let’s be real. None of this is purely factual or scientifically researched on our end of things, but more of what seems to help us at Olivia Management that might just help you! Take what you’d like, leave what you’d like. At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to get through this as quickly and safely as possible! Stay well, and wash your hands, y’all.

Supporting Artists During Social Distancing

I believe we all can agree that this is a really strange time in the world and people are leaning on each other now more than ever (6 feet apart though, please!). As we enter further into unprecedented events, our musicians, music industry professionals, and many other industries are getting hit pretty hard right now. There’s no time like the present to support our favorite artists and those who help make it all happen right from your own couch in quarantine! Keep reading to see how you can help.

Watch Online Concerts

Whenever I go on social media there is always an artist doing an Instagram, Facebook or YouTube live. This is such a great way to see the show you might have missed. It’s not the same experience, but it’s still a great way for us to interact with artists and enjoy live acoustic/full band concerts from your couch! Take our very own artists for example!

Jill Andrews

This week, Jill has decided to play four shows each night. She’s covering her entire catalog! It’s been so long since we’ve heard some of these and couldn’t be more thrilled. Each show is leading up to this Friday, the release day of her album “Thirties” where she’ll be performing the new trackless online! She is asking for a suggested donation of $15 for each of these shows ( PayPal & Venmo details will be up on show days), but pay only what you can give! This is a time to protect the simpler moments in life. Tune in with us via her YouTube channel!

Smooth Hound Smith

This Monday, March 30th at 5pm CST, Smooth Hound Smith is going live on their Facebook page only. They’ll be playing just as they used to: as a duo! They’ll be cranking some new songs, old, and many some covers. Check it out for a great evening in the comfort of your own home and from a safe (social) distance away. This show will be a “pay what you can’ via their Venmo and PayPal made available on the day of the show if you would like to help support them financially. Will we see you there?

Derek Webb

Join Derek online for his “End of the World Online Tour” this April 7, 10, 14, 19 & 21.⁣ 5 shows, $10 tickets, 20 tickets per show.⁣ Thank goodness, honestly. Grab the family and gather around any device for an unforgettable performance all in HD. If you can’t make any of these dates, don’t worry! They’ll be around for awhile for you to watch at your leisure. Grab your tix here!

Listen to some playlists, or make your own!

Help boost their streams by making playlists with your favorite artists’ music and share them on social media. This is a perfect time to discover new artists or revisit your old faves. Here are a few links to my personal favorites right now!

Snag some merch

Have you ever really wanted that new band t-shirt they had on tour, but didn’t want to wait in the line to get one? Well what if I told you that I know somewhere where there were no lines and it would be delivered to your front door? Well, yeah you’ll have to get up off the couch, but hey, it’s worth it. Go and head over to your favorite band’s website and order that t-shirt you’ve always wanted, or maybe gift a friend who could use a little pick-me up and order them a CD or vinyl of your favorite album! Who doesn’t love that new merch feeling? Head over to our main webpage to click on any of our artists and take a look at everything they’re selling.

Send them a message!

Let them know that you are still there for them and that you enjoy listening to their music! Artists love interacting with their fans online and connecting with them so drop a kind comment on their post.

Get Creative (we’ve got the time)

Make art out lyrics or interpretation of album covers, come up with a new dance to one of your favorite artists’ songs on TikTok, cover their songs on Instagram, the list could go on and on! Keep supporting creators and each other during this crazy time and have some fun with it! I can guarantee all your followers will appreciate it.

Healthy Ways to Spend Our Time

By Jackie Minton

 With COVID—19 on the move, suddenly we are not. Each day more schools, offices, workplaces, and venues are calling off their plans or trading face to face contact for the internet. Hand washing and social distancing are on the forefront of our community’s conscience. In this time of being tempted to despair, let’s not let loneliness be the undisputed answer. Here are a few healthy and safe ways to spend the precious day we’ve been given! Let’s not take it for granted. For official information regarding the virus, follow this link.

Call Mom

As Ben Rector wisely put it, “she’s the only mother that you have.” If calling mom isn’t an option—or you just got off the phone. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while! Catch up and listen. How often we wish we had more time for these simple things.

Get Some Exercise 

Now is the time! If going outside is a safe option, take a walk. If not, move the couch over and find a simple work out video on YouTube. Pilates and yoga are great options that do not require a lot of space. Follow along and go easy on yourself! If you’re quarantined with a roommate or family member, make this a group activity (6 feet apart :D)! 

Read That Book

Yes, that one. The one that has been sitting on your shelf, that you’ve been meaning to get around to. Balance your screen time by rewarding time spent reading with an episode of your favorite TV show. You won’t regret this one.

Listen to Something New

Ask your friends what’s tunes have lifted their spirit and what podcasts have challenged their mindset. Never taken a deep dive into jazz? Checkout the discography of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald. Ever wondered why your friend was so fired up about an artist? Ask for their top 3 tracks and give them an attentive ear.

Get Creative

Do you have an instrument in your house you’ve always wanted to play? Look up instructional videos and set aside half an hour each day to picking it up. Not the musical type? Make a work of art! Follow a long a sketch video, learn how to imitate calligraphy, write a poem. Now is not the time for perfection, but for fun!

Share Your Discoveries

Authenticity can be the hardest thing to find on social media these days. Share your thoughts, your readings, and maybe even your new artistic work! Your loved ones will be glad to hear from you and to see something breaking up their feed of unproductive worry. 

“If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”

— C.S. Lewis, "On Living in an Atomic Age" (1948)

Photo by Da Kraplak from Unsplash

From all of us at Olivia, cheers to the day at hand!

C.S. Lewis quote is from his essay, “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948)

My Favorite Lyrics from these New Releases

by Mackenzie Fey

In case you missed it, our very own Ruthie Collins and Jill Andrews released music today. There’s so much depth and so much story behind both of these pieces. Something I strongly pick apart from the music I listen to are the lyrics. I need what I listen to to have depth and story to it. A rhyme or two doesn’t hurt either. Check ‘em out!

Nashville: Community Relief Resources

by Jackie Minton

Monday, March 2nd was a typical day for middle Tennessee, but when the sun rose on Tuesday morning the destruction that happened overnight became visible. We are utterly heart broken with the victims of this incredible storm. Below we have compiled a few resources for those affected, as well as information on how to get involved with the city’s recovery efforts. The Olivia Team is proud to be apart of this community and truly believes we are #NashvilleStrong.

Image by Brett Carlsen / Getty Images / The Basement East after the storm.

MusiCares

MusiCares is an organization within the Grammy Foundation that grants personal and financial assistance to industry professionals that suffer from critical circumstances. See their website to find the Nashville office’s contact information and to learn more about their charitable work. 

Airbnb Open Homes

Airbnb has mobilized a site to help those seeking shelter find a free place to stay, available through March, 24th. Hosts willing to open their homes to those in need, have listed their spaces for free. Learn more about their Open Homes Program here. 

Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition

Tennessee’s Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition offers a list of shelter and storage options by county, in a variety of languages. 

The Donelson Fellowship

A local church is accepting donations for its Disaster Relief Fund and encourages individuals personally affected by the storm to contact them. Their email is office@donelson.org

If you would like to help in Nashville’s recovery efforts, consider giving to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund or to the Salvation Army Nashville Relief Fund.

For those who live locally and would like to serve, you can volunteer with Hands On Nashville to assist in clean up and recovery efforts.

Making Golden Designs

by Mackenzie Fey

Have you ever heard of the Golden Ratio? No?! No fret, me neither! Until quite recently, that is. The Golden Ratio, without getting into the severe math complexities of its origin, is basically a template to follow when designing any sort of visual graphic or image! It’s an easy way to organize information and images that is pleasing to the eye of viewers. Of course this doesn’t mean you have to follow this! It’s just a fun, clean, way of starting to thinking about your designs intentionally!

For those of us in the music business, sometimes you just don’t have the budget for outsourcing designs. This method can be used in tour poster design, website curation, promotional images, and much more all on your own computer.

Try it out and see what you can create with it! We even used it on our blog image template. How golden is that design?!

New Music for Your Weekend

New Music? Yes please.

Happy Friday, fellow music fanatics! Have you heard? Two great artists of ours have released some music today. Check it out!

Jill Andrews, “The Kids Are Growing Up”

This song discloses every feeling about life and the speed at which is passes that many have but don’t quite know how to put it into words. Jill has so eloquently done this for us. Take a listen!

Derek Webb, “TARGETS” full album

The long-awaited album is finally here. From songs like title track “Targets” and “Plain Sight” will open your mind to reflecting on old ideas and embracing the new. Prepare yourself for serious head bobbing.

New Spotify Feature: Songwriter Pages!

By Emma Martin

I have always been a huge fan and supporter of songwriters. They are able to put our thoughts, emotions, and experiences into a three-minute moments. If we didn’t have songwriters, where would we be? Think of your favorite song: Do you know who all wrote the song? Most people don’t know the creators behind their favorite melodies and lyrics. Well, it’s time for that to change!

After reading an article by Variety on February 12th, Variety talks about Spotify adding an expansion on their liner notes! Finally. The New Spotify feature allows users to view the songwriters on the song they are listening to. When the user looks up the credits on the song, it takes them a songwriter page (similar to an artist page) and they are able to see each song that writer as written or co-written. How exciting is that? I believe this is a great way for users to know who the creators are behind the songs they love. Songwriters are such a huge part of the music industry and they can sometimes get overlooked. This is also a great way to discover new music! 

Spotify’s efforts to recognize songwriters and creators have increased over the years and this new feature is a great way to showcase the talent that makes up the music industry. It’s important to be supportive of songwriters and give them credit where it’s due! Read the article linked below to get the whole scoop.

Recapping this Valentine's Day

In case you missed all the happening’s on this great day and holiday here at our artist management company, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve got it written all out for ya. Take a look, take a gander, it’s all right here. From music videos to new singles to show announces to free Valentine’s, we’ve got it all.

Derek Webb’s New Singles

Today, Derek released not one, but TWO singles today. “Valentine’s Day” and “The Safest Place” are sure to make any day a great one.

Ruthie Collins’ New Single and Music Video

Ruthie released an enchanting new single, “Cold Comfort” in anticipation for her upcoming record. Along with this single, we got just lucky enough to receive a music video. Haunting and warm, check out the single and music video below. Be sure to look at The Boot’s premiere of the music video for “Cold Comfort” and take a look at American Songwriter’s article on the single.

Hush Kid’s Free Downloadable Valentines

Check out Hush Kid’s free downloadable valentines to gift any valentine in your life. It’s a good way to spread some love the way we know how: through song. Check it, give it, love it. We know we do!