FREE ADVICE: Music Business & Singer Songwriter Panel, TODAY

Join Sing Out Loud and the St. Augustine Songwriters Festival for this FREE event at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall on Thursday, September 23. Music Executives and Professional Singer/Songwriters will share their perspectives and answer questions about the industry.

From spotting talent to writing hits, they’re here to drop some knowledge and help you make your big break!

Artist Manager, WORKS Entertainment; Promoter 101

Luke Pierce is a music executive and General Manager of the Nashville office at WORKS Entertainment, looking after the careers of Home Free, Striking Matches, Brass Against, Brian Culbertson, and 98°, and steering the companies’ music rights and label services efforts. He is also the co-host of the Promoter101 Podcast, an anthology of the live music business as told by more than 250 music executives and artists.

Co-Owner and President, Fame Publishing and House of Fame

For over 25 years Rodney and his brother Mark have owned and run House of Fame and Fame Publishing. Some of the writers Rodney has signed and worked with include Jason Isbell, James LeBlanc, Russell Smith, Gary Nichols, Tony Colton, and Dave Gibson. Over the years Rodney has also worked in the studio on recordings with legendary artists such as Clarence Carter, Candi Staton, Jason Isbell, Steven Tyler, Demi Lovato, Keb Mo, Gregg Allman, the Revivalists, and Michael McDonald. Most recently Rodney co-produced the #1 Americana album “Muscle Shoals -Small Town Big Sound” with legendary producer Keith Stegall.

VP A&R, Downtown Music Publishing

Steve Markland has a natural gift for spotting and nurturing songwriting talent. He’s an experienced publishing executive and connector. Steve has built several successful publishing divisions in the Nashville community from the ground up. During his career, he’s been instrumental in signing and developing some of music’s most gifted writers/artists including Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osborne, and Yola. Steve also has a history of creating unique spaces where writers are inspired to flourish.

Andy Albert is a country music singer/songwriter from Roswell, Georgia. He moved to Nashville in 2011 and signed a publishing deal with Downtown/Concord Music a few years later in 2013. Shortly after, he landed singles with Blake Shelton (She’s Got A Way With Words) and Granger Smith (If The Boot Fits/Happens Like That). Since then, he has written songs for Dustin Lynch (Good Girl, Thinking ‘Bout You), Dan + Shay, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Kid Rock, Hardy, and many more.

Justin Wilson, described as “one of the hottest and most hard-working writers” in Nashville, had his first Number One hit with Kiss You in the Morning, recorded by Michael Ray in 2016. After years of struggling as a songwriter, Justin and his co-writer Michael White were celebrated at a Nashville Number 1 party — Nashville events that focus on honoring songwriters. One industry leader has said, “Justin can write music, melody, lyrics, and can crush a hook.” In addition to Kiss You in the Morning, Justin has scored with We Went with Randy Houser, Band Lovers with Luke Bryan, Straight Outta Cold Beer with Blake Shelton, Momma’s House with Dustin Lynch, and more. He frequently plays at songwriter’s nights with friends in Nashville.

Coming from the Northeast, moving to Nashville in 1987, it took Mark Irwin four years to land his first cut, which happened to be the Christmas song Meet Me Under The Mistletoe recorded by Randy Travis for his “Old Time Christmas” album. Soon after, Mark co-wrote Alan Jackson’s first number one hit Here In The Real World, a two-time CMA Song of the Year nominee, ACM Song of the nominee, and winner of the Music City News Award for Song of the Year 1990. Over the years Mark has had 5 songs recorded by Tim McGraw, 4 songs recorded by Martina McBride, 2 recorded by Blake Shelton, 2 by Lee Brice, and other cuts by George Jones, Faith Hill, Thomas Rhett, Bomshel, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jessie James, Tracey Lawrence, Sammy Kershaw, Chely Wright, Patty Loveless, Highway 101, The Whites, Chris LeDoux, Bucky Covington, Glen Campbell, Neal McCoy, The Amazing Rhythm Aces and The Dirt Drifters, among others.