This Week’s Disruptors 9/6/2023
This weeks DISRUPTORS are in! Get to know them all!
- Zak Kuhn (Founder, Nashville Briefing)
Alany Rodriguez
Conference Programmer / SXSW
Austin, TX
Bio: Alany Rodriguez is a conference programmer at SXSW. She oversees the music mentor sessions, workplace track, and assists with new music conference initiatives. Her main role is to curate and showcase inspiring, creative, and forward-thinking content at SXSW by working with top industry professionals from around the globe. Alany began working in the music industry at 18 years old. She started at Bass Concert Hall on UT Austin’s campus and went on to work or intern at companies such as Warner Music Group, Live Nation, Pulse Music Group, Orienteer, and her previous role, which was at the Recording Academy working as the Texas Chapter GRAMMY U Representative. During her time at the GRAMMYs, Alany worked on local and national projects, events, and initiatives. These included GRAMMY Week festivities, launching the GU Instagram, the GU Social Media lounge at SXSW, Texas Chapter Advocacy Day, GRAMMY Career Day, Up Close and Personal events with artists like Leon Bridges and Rico Nasty, GRAMMY U’s national conference, and was a contributing writer for GRAMMY.com. Now in her role at SXSW, she continues to use her experiences in music/entertainment to curate unforgettable and valuable moments that have long lasting impact.
Proudest moment: At the GRAMMYs, I pitched an idea for our GRAMMY U team to host an event during GRAMMY Week 2022 that would illuminate the music video award category and encourage students to pursue music video directing as a career. It ended up moving forward, and we held our first GRAMMY U Masterclass live in Las Vegas with award-winning music video director, Hannah Lux Davis (known for her work with Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, and more).
Beth Keith
Booking Agent, Manager / Sound Talent Group
Nashville
Bio: Beth Keith, a Florida native, moved to Los Angeles in 2015 and started working at United Talent Agency. She eventually went on to become a founding member of Sound Talent Group (STG). Beth is the agent and manager for rising country star Alexandra Kay, who she first discovered on Facebook. Together, Beth and Alexandra Kay have built a hard ticket touring business, generated millions (and millions) of views across social platforms and have had multiple iTunes #1 and Billboard charting songs. Beth started Alexandra playing in small 150-cap clubs. Now her artist is selling out venues across the country, has toured with Tim McGraw and recently debuted at the Grand Ole Opry.
Proudest moment: Alexandra Kay selling 2,000 tickets for a hometown headline show in August of 2023.
JJ Farrell
Director, Community + Partnerships / jump.global
Nashville
Bio: JJ Farrell has spent his career cultivating community, marketing, and strategic partnerships across multiple sectors of the music industry. Currently, he’s the Director of Community + Partnerships at jump.global – an “impact agency” built for the music business. There, he partners with industry executives to manage their personal growth and professional careers. The company also works with music companies and conferences on business development, community building, and event programming. Prior to joining jump.global, the California native was the Marketing and Partnerships Manager at the global trade organization, Music Business Association. In the role, he implemented marketing campaigns for the Association’s virtual events including NY:LON Connect 2022 and the #NEXTGEN series. He also oversaw relationships with numerous industry partners such as Women In Music and The Digilogue. Furthermore, JJ has worked behind-the-scenes in numerous capacities for events combining music and television like the ACM Awards, CMA Awards, 60th GRAMMY Awards, “Brad Paisley Thinks He’s Special”, and more. JJ earned his B.B.A. degree in Music Business from Belmont University in Nashville. Outside of music, you can find him golfing, traveling, or trying to visit all of the baseball stadiums around the U.S.
Proudest moment: Playing a part in making the music business more human by helping to build the jump.global annual summit happening Nov. 12-15.
Keri Carpenter
Producer, Writer / Opry Entertainment Group
Nashville
Bio: Keri graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a Master's degree in Broadcast Journalism. She is a TV producer, storyteller and advocate. At Opry Entertainment Group, she produces the "My Opry Debut" YouTube and TV series which features artists like Colbie Caillat, BRELAND, Madeline Edwards, Fancy Hagood, Randall King, Warren Zeiders and countless others. Carpenter also helps develop new shows and TV series for both Opry Entertainment Group, and Circle TV network.
Proudest accomplishment: Writing and producing a live TV show/runway experience for New York Fashion Week! I got brought on to create, develop and write a live show for Target's 20th Anniversary celebration of Designer Partnerships in New York. There were two hosts (Tyra Banks and Isaac Mizrahi), 15 cameras, TONS of insane/incredible designers and it was at the iconic Park Avenue Armory in New York. In live TV, there are no re-dos, retakes or second chances -- it was wild, it was crazy, it was thrilling, it was so incredibly FUN: I still can't believe I did that.
Mike Deestro
Head Writer of the Bobby Bones Show + Host of Movie Mike's Movie Podcast
Nashville
Bio: Mike Deestro is currently the head writer for The Bobby Bones Show and host of Movie Mike’s Movie Podcast. In his current role on the radio show, he works alongside Bobby on the daily creative to create engaging content for their millions of weekly listeners. On his podcast, Mike shares his weekly film insights, cinematic deep dives, and movie reviews for cinema lovers of all-levels. He is also the executive producer for The BobbyCast and 25 Whistles: A Football Podcast hosted by Bobby Bones, and Head of Operations at the Nashville Podcast Network. Mike got his start with The Bobby Bones Show back in 2010. He messaged Bobby on MySpace asking for advice on starting a podcast which led to him landing an internship with the show. Mike also collaborates with Bobby in his comedy ventures and is currently writing jokes for his Comedically Inspirational Tour that continues throughout the fall.
Proudest moment: The proudest moment of my career has been performing standup at The Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas. My entire family and wife (girlfriend at the time) was in the audience. My family had never seen me perform before. They were surprised mostly that no one booed me….and actually laughed and cheered!
Tom May
Head of Partnerships / Down Home
Nashville
Bio: Tom started his career as a sports marketing agent, working for top NFL Agency Rosenhaus Sports. There, he handled business development across 150 NFL clients. After a couple years, he flipped to the music world and worked for The Agency Group as the Director of Brand Partnerships out of their NYC office. After representing clients across many verticals, he decided to move to the brand side where he led strategic vision for the Influencer Division of Shareability. During his time there, he helped launch the venture arm of Shareability. Tom also helped start businesses with talent like soccer player Cristinao Ronaldo and also worked with clients like Google, Adobe, Marsm AT&T, Nokia and more. Most recently, he is helping launch Down Home with Tim Mcgraw. Down Home is an entertainment, media, and marketing company Founded by Shareability, Tim Mcgraw, Em.co and Skydance. He heads up the partnerships division of Down Home and works on projects across all verticals of the business.
Proudest moment: While in college, I brokered enough NFL player brand deals to pay for all of my schooling and living expenses.
