Our Other Friends
Jared Conrad | Producer/Writer, Big Yellow Dog
Being a skilled engineer and multi-instrumentalist might be pre-requisite for a producer, but where Jared Conrad really separates himself is in his ability to truly listen to an artist, adapt to their vision, and execute in a manner that empowers his clients. Whether producing, mixing, tracking, or writing, Jared has a unique ability to adapt to the room and brings a wide range of experience and influences with him. Having worked with nearly every major publisher and record label in Nashville, along with a slew of independent clients, Jared continues to build on his reputation for delivering timely, consistent and competitive products.
Highlights include co-producing the Ian Munsick + Cody Johnson track “Long Live Cowgirls,” writing the Pentatonix + Meghan Trainor 2022 Holiday release “Kid on Christmas,” producing and mixing Randall King’s upcoming album including the single “When My Baby’s In Boots,” producing + mixing Dillon Carmichael’s “Beer Ain’t Gonna Drink Itself,” mixing Meghan Patrick’s current single, “My Left Hand,” and writing the placement of Reba McEntire’s “I Needed Christmas” for Lifetime’s 2021 original movie, “Christmas In Tune.”
Jared will meet with you by Zoom. The meeting should be scheduled within one year at a time convenient for him. There is no guarantee of any outcome other than 30 minutes of his time. Bidding for this meeting will end at 1:44 pm, Sun. Oct 1st.
Jerry Smith | Artist Development, Chapter Five Records & Chapter Five Publishing
1993 was a good year for Jerry Smith. Not only did he discover and sign platinum-selling country artists Terri Clark (Mercury Records), Rhett Akins (Decca Records), 2014 BMI Songwriter of the Year, and Lonestar (RCA)(John Rich)(The Apprentice, Big & Rich), Smith also landed a joint venture publishing deal with Sony ATV and created his first company Firehall Music.
In 1995 after a successful run in publishing and artist development, Firehall Music was acquired by Warner Chappell and a new venture, Smith Haven Music (BMI), was formed. From 1995 to 2002, Smith Haven discovered and signed Ashley Monroe, writer Josh Osborne (2012 – #1 Kenny Chesney), rocker Craig Gore, country group Yankee Grey (Monument), Jeff Bates (RCA), Ford Turrell and beloved indie rocker Will Hoge (Atlantic Records).
Smith discovered and co-produced with (Paul Worley) Kelleigh Bannen on EMI Nashville and signed hit songwriter Troy Johnson (Keith Urban, James Taylor, Thompson Square ) and alternative pop singer/ songwriter Hail Luna aka (Gina Nicole Barkaszi).
Jerry will meet with you by Zoom. The meeting should be scheduled within one year at a time convenient for him. There is no guarantee of any outcome other than 30 minutes of his time. Bidding for this meeting will end at 1:52 pm, Sun. Oct 1st.
Laurel Kittleson- Cobb | Owner, Rainier Entertainment
Lauren formed Rainier as a music consulting company for A&R, publishing, management, and artist development. Consulting for RECORDS Co assisting with the A&R for Matt Stell, George Birge, Nelly, Erin Kinsey, James Barker Band, Dax & Kimberly Perry. She plays a crucial role in the development of their artists, she scouts for potential artists, and screens song submissions. She also consults in publishing for the Nashville based artists for 19 Recordings.
She’s the co-owner of Dream 3 Publishing, a joint venture with Kobalt Publishing, with the signed writers Ben Caver & Jon Stark and she co-manages up and coming artist, Ian Harrison.
Kittleson-Cobb was most recently the VP of Artist Development & A&R at Curb Records where she signed up and coming artists, Hannah Ellis and Kelsey Hart. She spent her former years at Big Machine Label Group where she signed Country Music’s award winning, Brett Young. During her time in the music industry, she’s worked with artists such as Taylor Swift, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Toby Keith, Steven Tyler, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts, Midland, Ronnie Dunn, Carly Pearce, Lee Brice, Rodney Atkins, Dylan Scott.
Kittleson’s prior stops include Toby Keith’s Show Dog- Universal Records and Elevation Music Publishing. The Seattle native is a Belmont University graduate. She is a MusiCares Ambassador, a Recording Academy Member, a voting member of CMA, ACM and a SOLID and Grammy-Next alumni.
Laurel will meet with you by Zoom or in person. The meeting should be scheduled within one year at a time convenient for her. There is no guarantee of any outcome other than 30 minutes of her time. Bidding for this meeting will end at 2:32 pm, Sun. Oct 1st.
Leslie Fram | Sr. VP, Music Strategy & Talent, CMT
Leslie oversees all music integration within the CMT brand, including original programs, CMT.com and music video airplay across all screens.
Since joining CMT in 2011, Fram has worked with major and indie label acts for world premieres and exclusive digital content. She champions new avenues to showcase rising acts and 4 years ago launched the first female-powered initiative for the network, CMT’s “Next Women of Country” to give voice to emerging female artist that now includes a tour and digital performances.
Respected for both her hit intuition and hard-driving passion for music, she has received numerous awards including being a Lifetime Achievement Inductee in the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame and one of Nashville Business Journal’s ‘Women In Music’ 6 years in a row. Fram is co-founder of ‘Change the Conversation,’ a movement aimed at supporting and promoting female artists.
Leslie will meet with you by Zoom or in person. The meeting should be scheduled within one year at a time convenient for her. There is no guarantee of any outcome other than 30 minutes of her time. Bidding for this meeting will end at 12:00 pm, Sun. Oct 1st.
Marissa Turk | Creative Manager, SMACKSongs
Marissa has worked for the last six years as part of the SMACKManagement team. During her tenure with the company, she has helped transform SMACK into the powerhouse it is today, with divisions in publishing, music management, and digital marketing.
Born and raised in Dallas, TX, Turk first joined SMACK in 2016 as an intern while attending the University of Alabama. After graduating in 2017, she moved to Nashville, TN and re-joined the team full time, kicking off a career in music management as day-to-day for multi-Platinum selling superstar Walker Hayes.
While working with Hayes, Turk has helped the singer/songwriter reach the peak of his career. Currently sitting at the top of nearly every country sales and streaming chart with his smash hit “Fancy Like,” Hayes’ breakthrough moment was only a matter of time. Also under Turk’s management is UMG Nashville’s Kylie Morgan, a Vevo discover artist who has been named to CMA’s KixStart Program and to CMT’s Next Women of Country.
In addition to her role in management at SMACK, Turk has overseen the launch of “SMACKTok” – an influencer marketing service by way of TikTok. Through this new venture, Turk will work with labels, artists, and teams to capitalize on the opportunities within the social media platform and continue to get new music directly into the hands of the consumer.
With SMACKTok, Turk adds another inventive and exciting line of business to SMACK, helping the company reach beyond Music Row, and into the digital world.
Marissa will meet with you by Zoom. The meeting should be scheduled within one year at a time convenient for her. There is no guarantee of any outcome other than 30 minutes of her time. Bidding for this meeting will end at 3:08 pm, Sun. Oct 1st.
Rachel Guttman | Partner Taylor Guttman PLLC
Rachel provides a broad range of legal services to clients including copyright law, trademarks, music publishing, record labels, media, catalog sales, and general business matters. She represents producers, artists and songwriters with chart-topping success in a multitude of genres including Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, Emmy winners, and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees.
Before moving to Nashville she served as a US judicial law clerk and then as a litigator for major corporations, public bodies, and insurance companies in Louisiana. Simultaneously, she developed an entertainment and music law practice, and served as an adjunct professor at Loyola University New Orleans in the Department of Film and Music Industry Studies.
She had spent much of her free time working with organizations to support the music community including New Orleans Artists Against Hunger and Homelessness, the Music Business Summit at the Ellis Marsalis Center, and Bringing Down the House with the House of Blues Music Forward Foundation. Rachel currently spends her free time supporting the Nashville music community through SOLID, WMBA, MusiCares Ambassadors, and Volunteer Lawyers and Professionals for the Arts – Arts Immersion Committee. When she is not volunteering, Rachel enjoys spending time with her husband and numerous rescue dogs. They enjoy cheering on the New Orleans Saints and taking walks through the hills of Tennessee.
Rachel will meet with you by Zoom or in person. The meeting should be scheduled within one year at a time convenient for her. There is no guarantee of any outcome other than 30 minutes of her time. Bidding for this meeting will end at 3:22 pm, Sun. Oct 1st.
—
Jared Conrad Jerry Smith Laurel Kittleson-Cobb Marissa Turk Leslie Fram Rachel Guttmann