A Fall Playlist for You

by Kate Cosentino

Spooky season is officially upon us and it’s time to get in the spirit. From witchy folk vibes to dark pop - this playlist is your gateway into the spirit of Autumn 2020.

Nightcrawlers - Niki

Niki’s new album MOONCHILD features several uniquely produced bops, however “Nightcrawlers” takes the cake for weirdest turn. The songs starts as an innocent, lullaby-esque pop tune with no signs of changing until the third chorus section in which the music drops out and Niki’s vocal is pitched down completely. The effect is jarring and sends the song into a dark place that’s even catchier than the bubble gum beginning. Bonus points to her for using the word CADAVER in the lyric.

Halloween - Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers album Punisher has been my favorite album of 2020. Period. Every song is a magical journey lyrically and sonically thanks to Phoebe’s raw poetry and Ethan Gruska’s production. Halloween is perfect for the season.

Tell That Devil - Jill Andrews

What better for Halloween than a little Devil ditty? This song just so happen to be the theme song for Wynonna Earp which is on hiatus until 2021 for the next season. Catch up on the show and jam out to this awesome Jill Andrews tune.

Death With Benefits - Derek Webb

What. A. Lyric. Derek Webb speaks to a deep emotion and fear I can relate to in his song “Death With Benefits”. I’ll let them speak for themselves - but it absolutely deserves a listen: Nostalgia gets you just as drunk as whiskey does

“It leaves me talking to imaginary friends
Man, it’s hard not to second guess a second guess
It leaves me doubting my doubts and questioning if
The truth is I just miss the myth of death with benefits”

Maybe I’ll Go Nowhere - Ethan Gruska

Ethan Gruska’s production for himself and other artists like Phoebe Bridgers speaks to my soul. This song hits home on the idea of doing what you love even if you might go nowhere and the fears that go along with it.

Cruciflex - Blimpee

It’s time for the newest in hyper pop - Blimpee. Blimpee’s song “Cruciflex” combines satire with some of the most innovative production I’ve heard this year. Beyond the clever lyrics such as “Like my bible belt? It’s dior.” the song is catchy like a Doja Cat hit. Jam out with your friends to this witty, funny and absolutely danceable new artist.

Love Me Right - Sister

“Love Me Right” hits all the right notes. Sister’s voice is hauntingly gorgeous. The song sounds like a throwback to the 60’s with a modern twist. Catchy, stunning and perfect for your drive to a pumpkin patch or haunted house.

When Am I Gonna Lose You - Local Natives

Local Natives always boast their unique tone of harmonies in every song. “When Am I Gonna Lose You” is no exception. The song beautifully describes the feeling of fear of losing someone you love- having experienced heart break before, this song perfectly speaks to that human fear of wondering: When will this person leave? Bonus points if you listen to the Sylvan Esso or Overcoats versions-both are beautiful in their own way.

Autumn Leaves - Eva Cassidy

A classic jazz standard, “Autumn Leaves” always gets me in the spirit of fall. Eva Cassidy’s incredible breath support strings you along each phrase of the song as the acoustic guitar follows her every word. She holds you in each phrase for as long as she can - personally I wish she could hold me in this song the whole season.

What Our Artists Have Been Up To

by Cynthia Birkett

Our artist’s work so hard each and every week. Let’s take a peak at what they’re up to these days.

Jill Andrews

Jill is continuing her Outdoor Spaces and Covered Faces Tour and will be in Erwin, TN on Friday, September 18, Asheville, NC the very next night on Saturday and finishing up the weekend in Greenville, SC this Sunday the 20th. There are still some shows left in her tour, so be sure to grab your tickets. They’re going fast! 

Derek Webb

For Derek Webb, the people have spoken. Derek will be recording his third completely fan-picked covers album, named Democracy Vol. 3. Want to see if your fan-picked song made it on the album, go check out his Instagram! We’re so excited to hear how this one turns out, it’s bound to be great.

Have you ever wanted to host a Derek Webb Show? Here’s your chance! Click here to find out more information! 

Ruthie Collins

If we’re being honest, we’ve been watching Ruthie Collins new “Joshua Tree” music video on the daily since she released it back in January. Recently, the video has been getting lots of deserving love from DittyTV. If you have yet to see it, go check it out here! It’s absolute magic through and through.

Smooth Hound Smith

Smooth Hound Smith’s new single, "Little Rock N Roll Clubs" has the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO) and the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) in mind as artists and venues all over the world have been impacted these past several months. Be sure to watch the official music video, shot at local Nashville venue Dee's Country Cocktail Lounge. If you’re looking to support our independent musicians and venues even further, check out the Save Our Stages Act here. 

Exciting News!

Have you heard?! We are happy to announce that we are now managing Peter Groenwald! Peter Groenwald moved to Nashville after high school to follow his dreams! He works in the genres of Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Folk, and Americana. He has sung background vocals, played keys, and toured behind acts like John Mayer and O.A.R.. Peter Groenwald has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O’Brian and has performed at venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater, Radio City Music Hall and the famous Ryman Auditorium. Peter Groenwald found that the heart of his music was in his writing and producing so he joined forces with Jill Andrews in 2016 and formed the band Hush Kids. We are so happy to welcome Peter Groenwald to our team!

Airtable: The Spreadsheet-Database Hybrid You Should Be Using

By Devin Renspie

In times where technology is allowing more employees and companies to work from home (and a pandemic is forcing this remote form of working), it’s especially important that employers implement organized online databases so that every employee is on the same page, no matter where they are working from. This semester, I am interning with Olivia Management remotely, and I feel I owe a lot of my ability to work efficiently while away from the office to the time that my supervisors have spent creating ‘bases’ that contain all the information relevant to our artists and our processes in Airtable. Combined with Asana, another software we use, I am able to jump right into whatever task is thrown my way.

What is Airtable?

As the title suggests, Airtable is a software that combines features of spreadsheets and databases. I like to think of it as a more-intuitive version of Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. In addition to creating records with just words and numbers, Airtable allows users to implement fields with features such as file attachments, checkboxes, drop-downs, and more. Moreover, users can make it so records can be grouped by different criteria and even linked within other records. The best part is, Airtable has apps for every device and supports real-time collaboration and commenting, meaning you can keep the rest of your team or your devices organized anytime, anywhere.

A quick look at the variety of field options that Airtable supports.

How Olivia Management Uses Airtable

At Olivia Management, we have multiple bases to organize information that we need to manage our artists’ various accounts and aspects of their careers. For example, we have a base dedicated to all their (and our!) social media logins, which is by far the most helpful base we have, in my opinion. Other useful bases we have include a catalog of our artists’ releases, a database of all our artists’ upcoming tour dates, and industry contacts that we have obtained over the years.

Get Started With It!

Now that I’ve shared a bit about how Airtable has helped us stay organized, I implore you to think about what kind of bases would help you or your company stay on top of what you do. If you’re not yet totally convinced that you’d benefit from such a tool, Airtable has a free version that contains all of the essential features I covered in this article! Although subscription plans include features like greater storage space, more aesthetic options, and tiered access to bases and records, the free version is a good option if you or your company are just looking for a way to create user-friendly spreadsheets and databases that are synced in real-time.

You can sign up for an Airtable account here!

My Favorite Songs by Smooth Hound Smith

by Kaila Divak

When I was first researching Olivia Management, before I applied to intern here, I looked through all of their artists’ catalogs. I was really into everything that they put out, but I was particularly drawn towards one duo, and that was Smooth Hound Smith. I was obsessed with their harmonies, a mix of country and blues. Honestly, it was hard for me to even make that comparison because I think that they have so many different genres of music stitched into their three albums that it’s almost impossible to pin them within one.

But my all-time favorite song by them came out after I had discovered them. I would have to say that their newest single, “Little Rock N Roll Clubs”, is by far my favorite song that they’ve ever released. I had the privilege of listening to it to create social media content prior to the release, and I found myself walking around my house, doing something mundane like cooking or cleaning, and singing the song. I wanted to play it on Spotify so badly that I even looked it up a few times, remembering mid-search that the single wasn’t out until August 28th. “Little Rock N Roll Clubs” is a tribute to independent music venues across the world that have been getting hit hard due to concerts and other events being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This song was written with Save Our Stages, the National Independent Venue Association, and the National Independent Talent Organization in mind. So not only is it an amazing song, it also has some purpose behind it, which makes you feel good.

My second favorite song by Smooth Hound Smith is for sure “Steal Your Crown” off of their 2013 record, Smooth Hound Smith. This song has such a real rockabilly feel, like they were playing homage to The Black Keys and Thickfreakness. Every last detail down to the harmonica, tambourine, fuzzy guitar, and the steady drumbeat compliment Zack’s growly vocals and Caitlin’s harmonies perfectly. This song makes you want to get up and sing a karaoke song at a dive bar. I love to play this one while driving on the highway, with all of my windows down. And I’m sure you’d feel the same way.

My third and final favorite song would definitely be “Stopgap Woman Blues” off of their sophomore album, Sweet Tennessee Honey. For some reason, whenever I listen to this song, I think of “Black Country Woman” by Led Zeppelin. I don’t know if it’s the way the drums enter later on in the song, or the gritty guitar melody, but it gets me every time. The music video for this song also makes me laugh, but it’s true.

And I’ve missed so many amazing songs that Smooth Hound Smith has recorded, because if I listed all of the songs that I loved by them, this post be way too long long. They really do blend so many genres together to make an extremely unique genre of their own.

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.

Maintaining your Work/Life Balance

By Emma Martin

Being at home for the past six months has been interesting and quite an adjustment. Balancing work, personal life, and schoolwork has become harder than ever, thanks to the pandemic, because we have had to move our offices into our houses, meaning we can’t leave our work at the office since the office is now the living room. For me, it has taken some time to figure out how to balance my classes, an internship, and my personal life while stuck at home, away from campus and the office, but I have found ways to enjoy my time at home.

Take breaks:

I am sure you have heard it a million times before, but taking a break from work during the day can help you balance your work life and personal life. Consider setting aside time during the day to go on a walk, go for a drive, or call a family member or friend. After the break, you’ll feel much more refreshed and productive since you will have had a change of scenery and a chance to step a way for a minute.

Time Management/Routine:

Something that I have gotten really good at during quarantine is time management. Between summer classes and an internship, I have had to manage time differently than before. Unlike previous semesters, I did not have a set schedule for when classes met, but I was fortunate to have a set schedule for when I was interning, which helped me set aside other times when I needed to be working on my summer classes. I set my weekdays so that I worked on schoolwork and interned on Monday-Thursday which meant that I could have Friday and the weekends to relax. Having a routine has been helpful when trying to make time for myself.

Talk to friends and family:

I have always found it nice to talk to friends and family about what they are up to. In times like these, it can be hard to connect with others since we can’t physically be together, but a phone call or FaceTime call can take your mind off of work for a while. If you can’t talk on the phone, shoot them a text to let them know that you’re thinking of them!

Turn off your phone:

This is something that I need to get better at doing since I use my phone all the time. Before I go to bed, I turn it on Airplane mode so that I don’t get any notifications until my alarm goes off and I am ready to start my workday. Something I have learned while interning is to turn off notifications after you are done with the workday. Constant emails and notifications can be overwhelming when you are trying to have time for yourself. It’s easy for me to get wrapped up in what is happening after hours when I have notifications on.

#TBT

by Madeleine Kelson

Somehow, it has been around two years since Hush Kids released their debut album. If you have already listened to it at least 100 times like I have, consider this blog post a really good excuse to listen to it for the 101st time. If you haven’t heard it yet… well, what are you waiting for? It’s full of chill songs, beautiful harmonies, an occasional banjo, and lots of good vibes. I know what you’re thinking - why should you, a person with really great taste in music, trust my opinion? The good news is, you don’t have to! Billboard debuted their single, “What’s Your Hurry,” so you can take their word for it instead.

Hush Kids, an album by Hush Kids on Spotify

Don’t forget to also check out their latest single “Wake Up (Acoustic)” just released this past September!

What’s Happening with Our Artists this Week

by James Muller

From an outside perspective, most people would think that there is not a whole lot is going on with musicians right now. With live music on pause for the most part, many artists have jumped into a quarantine of creativity or simply just spend time with family. At Olivia Management, each of our artists have had a busy summer finding new ways to bring music to the world and connect with their fans. From playing live streams, launching Patreons, safe and socially distanced shows, releasing new singles, and everything in between. Every week is different, and there is always something new happening with our artists. Here’s a little rundown of what our artists have going on this week! 

If there’s one thing we know about Jill Andrews, it’s that she loves to tour. While understanding the need and importance for social distancing and safety during this time, Jill had a vision to tour the country in a safe and pandemic-friendly way. This week she continues her ‘Outdoor Spaces and Covered Faces Tour’ with a show on Thursday, August 6th in Madison, WI. So far the tour has been a socially distanced success, and Jill has been thrilled to play live for her fans in a safe manner. 

Hush Kids are beaming with their latest single release, “Wake Up (Acoustic)”, and are excited to have this song out in the world! Take a listen.

Derek Webb continues his ‘End of The World’ livestream series this Thursday with a full performance of his album, “Mockingbird”. Click here for Tickets!

Ruthie Collins has been making the most of her airstream with her livestream series, “Live from the Airstream”. Check out her next show, Monday, August 6th. She will be playing future cuts!

We are so proud of all that are artists are doing to stay creative and connected with their fans!

Chill Songs from Olivia Management

by Madeleine Kelson

Hey there friends and fans of Olivia Management! The world can be a pretty stressful place these days. With so many things to worry about, we all deserve a moment to just slow down and relax. With that in mind, I decided it was time to update my OM Chill Songs playlist from last summer. The new and improved playlist is longer and chiller than ever before. It is the perfect soundtrack to your walk around the neighborhood, the aimless drive you take to kill time, or even as a musical interlude for the time between dinner and your nightly Netflix binge. Whatever the occasion, turn on some of your favorite OM songs, and chill.

Madeleine Kelson · Playlist · 16 songs · 0 likes

Best Hush Kids Covers

by Connor Kozlecar

In the ridiculously vast platform that YouTube is, creators of all types get the opportunity to share their passions, personalities, and talents with the world. Some of the most wholesome and rewarding content is that of musicians sharing their covers, contributions, and renditions of their favorite songs or pieces from their favorite creators. Below are some of my favorite covers of songs from one of my favorites, Hush Kids.

Drum Cover - Hush Kids

Jacob McCoy feat. Langley Burton - Goodbye Rain (Hush Kids Cover)

PS22 Chorus “Wake Up” Hush Kids

Music in Visual Media: Why It Matters

By Connor Kozlecar

Think to yourself…

Have you ever watched a movie or binged a TV show without any music in it?

Odds are, you haven’t. And there’s a reason for that. 

Whether you like to think of it this way or not, music is an integral part of your everyday life. In almost every facet of life, music plays a weighty role contributing to many cognitive functions of how we process our daily activities. And now that i’ve pointed it out, you’ll surely begin to notice how prevalent music is in your life. Even down to the simplest form, commercials. 

I can almost guarantee that if you hear someone sing the first part of the jingle “like a good neighbor,” it’s likely that you will be able to finish it without skipping a beat. The beautiful thing (and easily my favorite part) about how our mind processes music and melodies, is the emotion that score composers and artists are able to evoke in a viewer as they watch a movie or a TV show. 

Because that’s the whole point, right?

Where’s the joy in watching a movie or a show if you don’t feel anything towards what your eyes are processing. Visual media and music have a shared responsibility in the experience of the viewer. 

If you think back on a favorite scene, movie, or show of yours and can remember how you felt watching, chances are if you go back and listen to the song or score associated you will be thrown into a wave of nostalgia that makes you wish you were watching it for the first time again. 

The importance of music and sound design in visual media is paramount and having an understanding of the intention behind every scene makes watching all the more worth it. As you go about your day, I challenge you to listen to everything around you and pick out where music falls into your life. Additionally, next time you watch your favorite show or a new movie, notice how the music makes you feel behind what it is that you’re seeing. I bet you’ll find that its presence is far more impactful than you were previously aware of.

To send off, here are a few examples of how music has impacted my viewing experience and some of my all-time favorites:

1. The Office Theme Song

2. Jill Andrews Cover of “We Built This City” - Greys Anatomy

3. Guardians of the Galaxy Soundtrack

4. “BellBottoms” - John Spencer Blues Explosion - Opening Scene of Baby Driver

A Day in the Life of an Intern

By James Muller

The start of this internship was a little bit different than I had expected because of COVID-19 and everything that came with it. You would think that working remotely for the first few weeks of an internship would make for a confusing and difficult landscape to navigate, but it was honestly quite the opposite. Getting started with this internship was about as smooth as a new intern could hope for, and it almost felt like we were all working in the same office despite being physically apart. Part of what made this such a smooth experience, besides how awesome, patient, and communicative our team is, are the systems that we use. I’m not sure if it would have been possible to get things done in an efficient manner if it weren’t for the instant communication that Slack offered us. Slack is basically a virtual office space where we can all come together online and talk to each other in real time as if we were communicating in person. During the first few weeks as an intern, I would start the day by signing on to Slack to let everyone know that I was online, to which I was greeted by everyone online, and it genuinely felt like I was physically there, ready to work. 

Fast forward to the present day, we have transitioned to working at our new office in East Nashville. It is a shared office space from a company called Three One Three, and it has been nothing but a great experience to come in every day to a bright, cheerful space where we can safely make things happen and work together in person. 

Now that I’ve thought a little bit about how this internship has been productive and a great learning experience despite the strange times, let's get down to the nitty gritty of what a day in the life of an Intern at an artist management firm like Olivia Management looks like! 

When I arrive at the office, I am greeted by the smiling faces of our awesome team, and then I get on my computer, log into all of our systems, and get to work! The first order of business is logging into Asana, which is an organized system for tasks that need to get done. I check to see if there is anything pressing that has been assigned to me. This would be tagged as high priority, and typically needs to get done ASAP. These tasks typically involve anything from adding artists’ shows into Artist Growth, a system that allows us to add in information about specific shows, so our artists can have an organized place where they can see all of the details for the show. Although most of the live, in-person shows have been canceled for the foreseeable future, our artists’ have been staying busy doing online shows, and finding other creative ways to interact with their fans. This has been keeping us busy, too! In order to maximize the outreach and exposure of these shows, I often find myself adding Eventbrite pages for artists’, which gives fans details about the livestreams, and a link to buy the tickets. Ruthie Collins recently added four Live Stream From the Airstream dates, so adding these shows to Eventbrite, and editing the show posters in Canva are something that I find myself doing often in my day, not just for Ruthie, but for all of our busy artists!

One of the things that I love the most about this internship is that I never know what I’m going to be doing next. It seems like everyday I am going to be introduced to a new system or process that helps our artists grow, and make money. 

If you had told me a year ago that I would be helping put together a socially distanced tour for Jill Andrews, that effectively brings live music to fans in a safe way during a pandemic, I would have been scratching my head, but it has been one of the most rewarding experiences about this internship. Never knowing what I’m going to be doing next, and then jumping into a new situation where I have to learn as I go has been a great growing experience for me, and I look forward to it every day. 

While I love having tasks thrown my way, and learning new things, one of my favorite parts of my day as an Intern is taking time to work on my semester-long projects. At the beginning of the semester, I chose to take on two semester long projects: writing the monthly Olivia Management newsletter and acting Wikipedia Master. Learning how to draft a newsletter in Mailchimp has been a very insightful experience and one that has really helped me learn about email marketing and writing in general. The Wikipedia Master task has been challenging, but I think a good challenge is important. I had no idea before this internship that creating a Wikipedia page was such an intricate process, but I have learned a lot in the process. 

It’s difficult to explain what a day in the life of an Intern is like at Olivia Management because a typical day is not typical compared to another job or internship. There is always something new and exciting happening, but one thing that stays constant is the positive and encouraging attitude of the team. Everybody works hard day in and day out and is committed to doing their very best work to promote the beautiful music that our artists make! 

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Hey, you!

Yes, you! Liking what you’ve read? We’re currently on the lookout for new interns to join the team for the Fall Semester of 2020 for school credit. Contact us at mackenzie@oliviamanagement.com with your resume and cover letter attached to begin the conversation!

A Software I Use: Asana

By Emma Martin

I often find myself overwhelmed with life since there can be days where it seems like there are a million and one things to do. I used to write down everything that I needed to get done that day, in the order that I needed to get it done, but I needed to keep track of things that were long-term projects. When I started interning at Olivia Management, there were new softwares that I had to learn to use. One of which was Asana. At first, I was intimidated by the software because there was so much to learn, but I soon realized that it was going to be the most helpful software I have ever used to date.

What is Asana? Asana is a software that allows you to create tasks for yourself and others on your team. It helps you manage your tasks and your projects all in one space that everyone can edit and see. Asana provides an easy way for team members to schedule tasks that can be planned far in advance or the day of and it’s a great way to stay organized and stay on track with your schedule and projects. 

How I use Asana. I start my day by going to the “My Tasks” bar and then looking at what I need to get done for the day and then look at what I have that is upcoming. On every task, you can see the due date. When a task is due that day, it will turn green and when it’s past due it turns red. I always make sure that I do the tasks that are due that day first, and then I start on the ones that are due later or ones that are long term. It’s so important to track our progress and make sure everything that needs to be done in a timely manner is done!

Taken from www.asana.com

Fun Features. Something that I really enjoy about asana is that you can easily edit the task and write as much information about the task in the task description. We can link other sites and sources, attach downloadable content, etc. Sometimes when a task is assigned to me and I am not entirely sure how to do yet, it there will already be detailed instructions in the task description that explains what the task is. Along with that, at the bottom of the task, you can create subtasks to check off and add comments having to do with the original task at hand. Another fun feature is that you can set up a task as repeating so it comes up on your task list every week or month. I enjoy this because you can still check it off as completed and it won’t show up until the next week. You can also add tags to tasks and create groups so you and your collaborators can find them easily and know which ones to prioritize. Some tags that Olivia Management uses include high priority, weekly task, intern task/project, touring, press, etc. These tags help us stay organized through the craziness of touring, releases, and day to day artist management.

This is a great software if you enjoy checking things off your list and need an easy way to organize your thoughts and tasks whether it is with a business or for yourself. Try it out! It’s free for personal use, too. An absolute game changer.

Click here to learn more about Asana, and happy organizing!

My Favorite Songs by Smooth Hound Smith

By James Muller

When I first began interning at Olivia Management one of the things I was most excited about; and continue to be excited by, is digging into all of our artist’s catalogs and enjoying the beautiful art that they create. I was familiar with our artists before starting, but I hadn’t yet fully committed my ears to their songs. From Jill Andrews to Derek Webb, Ruthie Collins, Hush Kids , and Smooth Hound Smith there’s a lot of great stuff to take in. Boy, am I glad I took the deep dive. It’s always difficult to pick favorites, but I am going to highlight some of the songs from Smooth Hound Smith that really spoke to me in the past month of diving into these tunes. 

I love all kinds of music, but the music that really grabs my attention and sticks with me is the kind of music that you can put on, and it immediately has an effect on your mood. Music that puts you in the space where the artist is coming from. For me, that’s what music is all about: connecting with something and letting it take you to another place. 

It wasn’t terribly difficult to find some favorites as I started listening to Smooth Hound Smith. They bring a vibe and a feeling to their music that makes you want to dance, and intently listen to the lyrics at the same time. Which is pretty awesome. Their song “Get Low”, is one of those tunes that gets your feet stomping with it’s pulsating rhythm, laid back guitar grooves, and ethereal vocal harmonies. It’s a song that could just as easily be played at a party as it could on a long drive. As a lover of blues music, “Get Low” is one of those songs that instantly scratches my itch for current blues music that is fresh and fun, while still holding on that rootsy, vintage inspiration. If I was on Spotify going through the blues and roots playlist, this would be the song I would hope to hear. 

While listening to records is something  I can’t get enough of, there is a level of energy that live music brings that takes a song to another level. 

Check out Smooth Hound Smith playing “Get Low” live on #JamInTheVan here.

My next favorite song by Smooth Hound Smith is “Three Shades of Lonely”. This is one of those songs that comes on, and you immediately perk your ears up a little bit. The song perfectly showcases what I love about the band— they undeniably catchy hooks that are melded together through beautiful harmonies by this duo. The chorus from this song gets stuck in my head in the best kind of way, the kind that you are happy to have stuck in your head. One of the other reasons that “Three Shades of Lonely” is a favorite of mine is because of the gritty and soulful guitar that sits back with the drums and then comes out to speak later in the song. As a guitar player myself, this tasteful and expressive guitar work is what I love to hear. Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars and  The Black Crowes plays slide guitar on this song, and If you're familiar with him then you know that he brings the soul to whatever group he plays with. Next time I’m in need of some music that brings the feels, this will undoubtedly be in the rotation.   

Like I said before; It’s tough for me to pick favorites, especially when you're choosing from a lot of great music. I’m glad that I sat down and spun all three of Smooth Hound Smith’s records because I found some seriously groovy, soulful, and fun songs in there that I will be keeping in the mainstay of my listening routine. “Get Low” and “Three Shades of Lonely” take me to those places that I am looking to go when I listen to music, and I hope they can do the same for you! 

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Check out the duo live next Tuesday, June 30th on their Facebook page for a free livestream of all cover songs. Be sure to mark your calendars for the show! You won’t want to miss it.

What does an artist manager’s intern do?

by Chelsea Hallman

I feel like even my friends that are in the music industry are still curious about what an artist manager does, and what I am doing for them. Here’s a look into my week, what I do in my position, what I believe is important, and what I’ve been learning.

For background, I will explain the purpose of an artist manager. An artist manager is the person behind the artist that helps manage their fast-moving career. They professionally represent and advise an artist to make the smartest business decisions. Artist managers work to get their artists to stand out enough to attract labels, music supervisors, playlisters, and others in all sectors of the music industry. They negotiate contracts, set up tours, make marketing plans, promote them, give budgets, and overall help develop the artist. Find more information here.

So if you think that’s cool, or maybe something you’d want to do, many artist management companies, like Olivia Management, have internships available to teach you just that. But what does that mean you’d be doing? 

First, before you even land an internship, make sure you are bringing your class knowledge with you. Pay attention in your major classes because it matters more than you think. I use this knowledge almost every day in this internship. I have Belmont’s Music Business program to thank for helping me get prepared for this one!

Now you are prepared professionally and start to look for an artist management internship. What does that mean day-to-day? Like I said previously, this is a fast-paced career. Every day there are different deals to be made and different things to discover in the ever-changing music industry. New ideas come up, new people reach out, new songs are written, all just depending on how people are feeling. This is a pretty unpredictable day-to-day job. But that’s also what makes it so much fun.

Because of the unpredictability, there are sometimes gaps. You never really know what you’ll be working on that day until you step into the office. Sometimes it's a crazy busy day where you can barely get time to eat. Olivia Management specifically gives interns “semester-long projects” of their choosing to discover more about the music business. My semester-long projects are diving into artists’ Youtube and working on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for the company, both things I’m interested in. Others are working on merchandising, social media, press releases, sponsorships, etc. It really depends on what interests you!

Most days, I am not working on my semester projects. Instead, on various projects and tasks that come up and the team needs help with. I could help route a tour, make a calendar, edit a music video, edit show posters, make social media posts, do some research for someone on the team, organize something physically, or in a database. There are lots of opportunities. Recently, those are a few of the things that I’ve been up to. 

Arguably, more importantly, is the stuff that will advance my interpersonal skills from this internship. I know what an office environment in my field looks like. I’m watching my co-workers find their work/life balance. I observe what meetings with professionals are like and how to act. These are all invaluable skills that can be learned from any internship. They are the reason that internships are so important before graduation. 

For all of these reasons, I am so grateful for Olivia Management. I’ve learned so much already and will continue to. If you’re a student aspiring to be in the music industry, this is the place for you!

(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.