Co-Founder & CEO, Creative Nation (in partnership with PULSE Music Group)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR: #1 album by Harry Styles (Tyler Johnson); #1 Country album by Maren Morris (Barry Dean / Natalie Hemby); #1 Country album by Little Big Town, The Breaker (Barry Dean / Natalie Hemby); #1 Country album by Miranda Lambert, The Weight of These Wings (Natalie Hemby); #1 Country radio single by Michael Ray, “Think a Little Less” (Barry Dean); #1 Country radio single by Justin Moore, “You Look Like I Need a Drink” (Natalie Hemby); Grammy Best Country Song nominee Tim McGraw, “Diamond Rings & Old Barstools” (Barry Dean); ACM & CMA “Song of the Year” nominee Cam, “Burning House” (Tyler Johnson); ACM & CMA “Album of the Year” nominee, Ripcord (Tyler Johnson)

WHAT’S ON THE RUNWAY: Tyler Johnson: co-writes and productions on Cam’s forthcoming album. Barry Dean: co-writes on Devin Dawson’s debut album and Tim McGraw & Faith Hill’s upcoming duets album. Natalie Hemby: co-writes on Jillian Jacqueline’s debut album, as well as Kassi Ashton’s debut album.

HOW HAS NASHVILLE’S EVOLUTION OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AFFECTED YOU, AND HOW HAVE YOU ADDRESSED THAT IN YOUR WORK?
It has definitely blurred genre lines and made the communication between music cities easier and more collaborative. The biggest challenge for me would be the traffic and rising cost of operating a business, but executives in L.A. and N.Y. would say we still have it good by comparison.