Women in Music Industries Seminar Program

Women in Music Industries Seminar

Women in Music Industries Koger Center Grand Tier 9 a.m.

10 a.m.

11 a.m.

12 p.m.

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

Women in Music Industries Koger Center Gallery 9:30 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

12:30 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

Jenny Mann Lead Singer of Blame Shift Meet the rockstar by day, jewelry designer by night. Jenny Mann is the lead singer of the Rock ‘n Roll band, Blameshift and the creator of the guitar string jewelry company, Strüng. After logging 500,000 miles on the road and playing over 2,000 shows, she was inspired to make a music inspired jewelry line for music lovers everywhere! After seeing partner/guitarist, Tim Barbours used guitar strings laying around the tour bus, an idea was born. Six years later, Strüng has become the leader in music inspired jewelry that not only connects you to your favorite songs but also gives back to numerous charities to help keep music in schools. She travels to Washington DC each year with the NAMM Foundation to advocate to Legislation about the importance of a well-rounded education which includes music. Jenny graduated with high honors from the SI Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a degree in Television, Radio & Film.

Tracy Leenman Musical Innovations Owner Tracy E. Leenman is the owner of Musical Innovations, a full-line school music dealer headquartered in Greenville, SC. The company was founded in 2009 (in the midst of a severe economic downturn) and has grown exponentially, having been named NAMM’s Top 100 Dealer of the Year in 2015, and named to their Top 100 Dealer List annually since 2003. Known in the music industry as “The Little Engine that Could,” the company now services schools all over SC, Western NC and Eastern GA, and partners with two affiliates (in Columbia and Charleston, SC).

Mrs. Leenman has over 45 years of teaching experience at the elementary through college levels, including instrumental music, choral music, classroom music, private teaching, church choir directing, and teaching conducting and rehearsal techniques.

She has taught in both public and private schools, including the Greenville County Schools' elite Fine Arts Center. She has been a guest clinician and lecturer at a number of colleges and universities including the University of South Carolina, Furman University, Bob Jones University, Winthrop University, North Greenville University, Coastal Carolina University, and Clearwater (FL) Christian College; as well as at two CMENC State-wide Leadership Conventions (1998 and 2008). Her articles on conducting/rehearsing techniques and score preparation are found in a number of college libraries as required reading for future music educators.

Charity Daw Songwriter for The Descendents RIAA platinum and Billboard chart-topping singer/songwriter, Charity Daw's pen has amassed over a billion streams to date with a roster of media-spanning credits from major brands, artists, tv/film, and everything in between. Some of her credits include Disney's hit Descendants franchise, Blues Clues & You, Rugrats, Polly Pocket, Shadowhunters and the Mortal Instruments, Hot Wheels, L.O.L Surprise, Dove Cameron, Paris Hilton, Jordin Sparks, Ally Brooke (Fifth Harmony), Netflix's Gentefied, Far Cry 6, and Apple+ new series Circuit Breakers.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard GrammyU, Singer/Songwriter Sometimes there are not enough hyphens to accommodate a mega talent. Tasha Cobbs Leonard is a worship singer/songwriter/actress/author/musician/entrepreneur/ GRAMMY® Award winner and an Executive Pastor at The Purpose Place where she CoPastors with her husband, Kenneth Leonard, Jr. The 39-year-old Georgia native comes by her ministry and gospel roots quite naturally – she sang and grew up with a father who launched and Pastored their family church and impressed upon her to “stay at the feet of Jesus.” At home, her mother was often found listening to worship, southern gospel, and country music. In a full-circle moment, Tasha’s latest album Royalty: Live At The Ryman from TeeLee Records/Motown Gospel is an incredible acknowledgment of both undisputedly authentic influences.

With her debut release, Tasha racked up three Dove Awards, three Stellar Awards, and a 2014 GRAMMY® Award for Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance for her crossover single, “Break Every Chain.” The song, from her debut album, Grace, was a Billboard No. 1 song for 12 weeks and has been certified Platinum by the RIAA®. In 2017, her album Heart. Passion. Pursuit. was released, featuring worship leaders from across the country, including Kierra Sheard and Anna Golden. It even included a track with pop icon Nicki Minaj. Tasha is no stranger to mixing musical styles.

Piper Payne Infrasonic Sound Mastering Engineer Piper Payne is a mastering engineer at Infrasonic East in Nashville, TN. In Spring 2019, Piper joined the Infrasonic Mastering team, merging her successful studio, Neato Mastering, with the Nashville based company, owned by Pete Lyman. She began her career with a BFA in Audio from The University of Michigan, continuing her graduate education in Audio at the University of Stavanger in Norway. She has apprenticed under some of the best-known Mastering and audio mentors in the world.

In addition to mastering, Piper owns Physical Music Products (a Vinyl Pressing Facility in Nashville, TN). Piper is a former Trustee of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs) and co-chaired P&E Wing Steering Committee. She is a former Governor of the Audio Engineering Society and Co-Founded and Co-Chaired the AES’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee. Piper is an active member of Women’s Audio Mission and serves on the Board of SoundGirls.org and We Are Moving The Needle.

Piper has a diverse background in musical styles. As a drummer, she knows that the best outcome of every project is that it has to feel good. As an engineer, Piper is focused on technical quality and correctness. But, at the end of the day, mastering is about format conversion and quality control, so the project gets just what it needs.

Raelynn Janicke Infrasonic Sound Mastering Engineer & Studio Manager Raelynn Janicke is a mastering engineer and the studio manager for Infrasonic Mastering, based in Nashville, TN. Before joining Infrasonic in 2019, Raelynn worked at Tommy’s Tracks, where she fulfilled a variety of roles alongside owner Tommy Wiggins including mastering and archival. Raelynn has mastered and assisted on projects for The Shins, Kayla Hall, PI3RCE, Nefesh Mountain, Talia Stewart, Big 50, and Bazookatooth.

Raelynn holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Arts and Sciences, with Concentrations in Audio Engineering and Computer Science, from The Rochester Institute of Technology.

Much like her career thus far, Raelynn’s path to her degree was self-made. She was initially drawn to the practicality of a job in computer programming but switched majors halfway through her program after assisting on a college a cappella record.

From there, she discovered the school’s modest audio program, created an individualized degree, and threw in minors in history and music technology, just to keep things interesting.

Raelynn brings this level of enthusiasm and exploration to every project she works on at Infrasonic Mastering, both as manager and engineer.

Grace Powlas Marketing Director at Bon Secours Wellness Arena Grace Powlas is a digital storyteller with a decade of experience within the music and entertainment industries. Prior to joining Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, SC as Director of Marketing her expertise was focused on artist development and tour marketing for music clients; ranging from up-and-coming artists to top-grossing global superstars. Upon graduation from the University of South Carolina she was selected out of 100 interns to continue as a full-time employee in the concerts department of the Madison Square Garden Company.

Subsequent to her time at MSG were roles at powerhouse agencies Creative Artists Agency, Paradigm Talent Agency (now Wasserman Music), and Artist Group International where Powlas worked her way up from the trenches of the reception & mailroom departments to assistant and later, coordinator. Her collaborative artist rosters at CAA & Paradigm have included artists such as The 1975, Lizzo, Rex Orange County, Mt. Joy, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Willie Nelson, Maren Morris, beabadoobee, girl in red, Cigarettes After Sex, Car Seat Headrest, Taking Back Sunday and more.

Jenny Reader Former Fearless Records President Jenny Reader is an inclusive and entrepreneurial leader with 15+ years of music industry experience combined with rare bl blend of brand building skills, a successful track record of managing cross-functional product teams, and a passion for connecting artists and fans via innovation and creativity.

Throughout her career, she has applied visionary and disruptive approach to execute acclaimed IRL and virtual experiential marketing campaigns for artists and label (#WEAREFEARLESS) that nurtured community for artists, fans, and industry, centered around empowerment, passion and inclusion. In addition, she earned selection to Billboard’s 2019 list of Indie Power Players in recognition for inspiring cross-functional teams to elevate developing acts to RIAA-certified Platinum and Grammy nominated artists, including Plain White T’s, Motionless In White, I Prevail and The Pretty Reckless.

She has also helped create an experimental initiative that weaved intricate storylines into a music campaign for STARSET’s 2019 album, Divisions.

Jenny has worked for Victory Records, Fearless Records, and presently is at The Compound in Nashville, Tennessee as the Music Marketing & Product Management Consultant. She is a tactical and collaborative business partner driven to solve complex strategic initiatives, identify value-based opportunities that serve creators, challenge the status quo, and foster conducive workplace environments that promote creative expression and results.

Connie Manley Concert/Festival Security for Performers Connie began her career in the concert business in Philadelphia in 1985. Unable to get a ticket to Live Aid, she instead got a job as an usher. It was such an amazing experience that she was hooked. Her first tour was with Phish in 1995. Being the first female touring security director, working in a male dominated industry, presented its own set of challenges (as if tripping hippie kids wasn’t enough). Unfortunately, many of those same challenges remain today, some twenty-five plus years later. Connie has worked many US tours, her most recent with Pearl Jam. She is currently part of the security management team for Lollapalooza in Buenos Aires, Paris, Berlin and Stockholm. She has also been the security director for several DWP Presents festivals across the US.

Payton Orlando '21 Agent at East Coast Entertainment Payton Orlando is a 2021 Magna Cum Laude graduate from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management. She is also the recipient of the 2021 Outstanding Senior Award.

Payton began her experience working with entertainment organizations with her internship for Columbia Music Festival Association where, through her hard work, she became the Director of Social Media and Promotions. She continued her work with CMFA for nearly three years until beginning her career with EastCoast Entertainment.

Payton also completed additional internships with Crust Nation (New York City), Columbia Children’s Theatre (Columbia, SC), Sound & Images (Columbia, SC) and Traklife Media Group (Los Angeles, CA). Through these working experiences, Payton has become well-rounded in different aspects of the entertainment industry. Postgraduation, Payton jumped into the industry headfirst and began her career as an Agent for EastCoast Entertainment in Charlotte, North Carolina. ECE is the largest fullservice entertainment agency in the country that specializes in booking entertainment and producing custom events from coast-to-coast and around the globe.

Payton has booked and produced numerous luxury events across the country including private social events with Joan Jett, Walker Hayes, Salt-N-Pepa as well as large corporate events with Flo Rida, and more. She is looking forward to the Voices of America Festival and many more unique events to come.

Nicole Moore The Senate General Manager Nicole is the General Manager of the Senate, a music venue in the heart of Columbia, SC. The Senate has hosted many acts such as Lake Street Dive, The Band Camino, and Manchester Orchestra over the years. Having started as an intern, she worked her way up to oversee all operations and staff at the venue. Nicole’s roots in the music industry run deep, having managed artists and worked at several festivals. Nicole has spent time working in Charleston and Nashville as well. She graduated from USC in 2019 with the first minor in Music Industry Studies and a major in Entertainment Management.

Monique Runnels Ticketmaster, Ops Project Manager Monique Runnels is the Senior Project Manager for Client Operations (Resale) at Ticketmaster. She has spent over 8 years at Ticketmaster, first starting as the Marketing Campaign Manager for Digital and Retargeting. In her current role she works on launching Resale partner white label sites for fans to resell their tickets. Monique is the subject matter expert within Resale for all things festivals by partnering with promoters and primary ticketers to foster Resale partnerships and provide optimal client solutions. Before Ticketmaster, Monique spent several years at Sears Corporate Holdings on the Kmart.com Promotions and Planning Team and Lyric Opera of Chicago as Special Events Coordinator. When she’s not behind her laptop, attending a concert with her husband, or with her 2 daughters, you can find her running, cycling, or participating in obstacle races throughout the year.

Hilary Jones MidRiff Podcast Host Hilary B. Jones is a consultant supporting companies in the music products industry and beyond to create awesome, inclusive workplaces holistically through workshops, policies, and values alignment. She is an adjunct professor of Gender Studies and Psychology and the former Executive Director of RIOT (formerly Girls Rock! Rhode Island). Hilary has played guitar and bass in bands for one million years and currently hosts the podcast Mid-Riff about gender, music, and music gear.

Jaime Bilotti Fan to Band / Mutuals Agency Jaime Bilotti is a Forbes 30 under 30 lister who continues to help destigmatize fandom within the industry. Launching her first startup in 2019, Fan To Band, Bilotti has become an overall champion for the 3500+ global members in over 35+ countries through the Fan To Band Virtual Street Team. In her newest venture, mutuals Agency, Bilotti and her team showcase authentic audience insight gathered through market research and that they are the best at implementing that through fan engagement strategies.

Lisarose Ryan Fan to Band / Mutuals Agency Lisarose Ryan is a driven and passionate professional who specializes in digital strategy, creative direction, and fan engagement. In her current role as Lead Coordinator at mutuals Agency, Lisarose leads a multitude of projects that range from artist management to executing live events. She is a recent graduate from Pace University, where her academic studies focused on Arts & Entertainment Management and Communication Studies. By being well informed amidst the world of music and entertainment, Lisarose is able to apply her best foot forward in all things fan centered and beyond.

Carmela D'Arienzo Fan to Band / Mutuals Agency Carmela D'Arienzo, M.A. is a passionate storyteller inspiring conversation around her work. In her role as Product Manager of Strategy + Client Relations at mutuals Agency, Carmela spearheads innovative campaigns through the lens of audience engagement, reaching fanbases globally. As a first-generation college graduate, Carmela recently received her Master of Arts, Integrated Marketing Communication, Summa Cum Laude from Marist College in 2022. With her experiences in entertainment, public relations, non-profit sports marketing, and as a general pop-culture enthusiast, she understands what it means to be both behind-the-scenes and a fan.

Kristina London Amplify Her Voice As a multi-instrumentalist with a drive to influence, Kristina London was set on a career in the music business at a young age and pursued various music opportunities in college. While working, the gender divide within the industry became undeniably visible. What first began as a passion project, Amplify Her Voice soon grew into a thriving initiative with over 50,000 organic followers and partnerships with major music industry players. Kristina now leads her team to creatively advocate for an equal music industry and help provide events, programs, and community for women in music.

Outside of her work with Amplify Her Voice, she is the Social Media Manager for Goldenvoice, a California-based live event promoter. In this role she manages content curation and spearheads digital strategy for Goldenvoice’s concert venues like The Roxy and Fonda Theatre, as well as regional music festivals including Coachella and Just Like Heaven.

Daphne Benford-Smith Trademark and IP Lawyer Daphne Benford-Smith is the founder and managing principle of The Benford-Smith Law Firm, PLLC and focuses her practice on counseling business owners on brand protection and ownership. Daphne began her legal journey as a family law attorney and has enjoyed ample experience and recognition in that field, one of which being named a Top Attorney by Houstonia Magazine in 2020.

During her first three years as an attorney, Daphne helped some businesses with contractual and intellectual property rights and guidance. It was during this time period that she recognized where her passion really was, and she decided to open her own firm and become an entrepreneur that helps other entrepreneurs build their legacy.

Since opening, Daphne has made quite the name for herself in the intellectual property law world. Daphne is a featured author for Alt Legal, the leading trademark docketing software company, with her article entitled "Bad Spaniels Before the Supreme Court: How the Case Could Affect the Tension Between the Lanham Act and the First Amendment." Daphne was also honored to be a speaker for Alt Legal Connect 2023 discussing the same topic as her article and leading an invigorating round table discussion.

Daphne received her Juris Doctorate in 2018 from Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Houston. Daphne is also a member of the Texas Bar College, a distinct honor for lawyers who go above and beyond in continuing legal education. She was also a member of the BRR Inns of Court in Houston, an honor society for talented attorneys who practice in Houston.

As part of her passion for educating entrepreneurs and creators, Daphne travels to various events, conferences, and conventions where she speaks to creators, entrepreneurs, and companies regarding their rights and protecting their brands!

Julie Robbins CEO of Earthquake Devices Julie Robbins (born March 1, 1979, in Akron, Ohio) is an American business woman, entrepreneur, and chief executive officer of effects pedal manufacturer EarthQuaker Devices, top-six in the U.S. and one of the top-10 in the world, which she owns with her husband EarthQuaker Devices President Jamie Stillman.

Robbins is responsible for stewardship of the production, management, marketing and international sales for the company. She is also a champion of female and LGBTQ musicians and entrepreneurs.

EarthQuaker Devices are available in over 865 retail locations in approximately 50 countries and its key retailers include Guitar Center, Sam Ash, Sweetwater and Thomann. The company has sold approximately 250,000 units.

The company’s current workforce currently reaches over 50 individuals, and has been praised for its commitment to inclusion, diversity and cooperation with other pedal manufacturers by Best Guitar Effects. The company also has an inhouse global marketing team publishing in seven languages (Japanese, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Czech, and Polish), and, in 2018, rolled out a live dealer training program, which has been completed in 31 cities. EarthQuaker Devices also has recent distribution partnerships with Yamaha Australia and Yamaha Asia.

Robbins has noted that Eleanor Roosevelt is her personal hero. She and Stillman married in November 2004, after five years of dating, and they have three children together.

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