This Week’s Disruptors 10/19/2023
This weeks DISRUPTORS are in! Get to know them all!
- Zak Kuhn (Founder, Nashville Briefing)
Nick Coulson
Producer - "Highway Mornings with Cody Alan & Macie Banks", SiriusXM, The Highway
Bio: Nick Coulson works as the Producer of “Highway Mornings” on SiriusXM’s premier country station, The Highway. Through his efforts both in and out of the studio, Nick has helped secure the morning show’s place as one of the most-listened to in the nation and one of the top performing channels on the platform. He’s interviewed some of the genre’s biggest names in studio and on the red carpet and also produced interviews with some of Hollywood’s most-recognized stars. Prior to SiriusXM, Nick spent nearly three years with America’s #1 most-watched morning show, “Good Morning America''. While there, he produced 700+ pieces covering nearly every major award show, groundbreaking exclusive interviews, historic political moments, and other monumental breaking news events. Recognized by Diane Sawyer as a “Seal Team 6” level producer, Nick’s work contributed to multiple Daytime Emmy nominations for the show.
Proudest moment: One of my proudest moments would be when I jumped in at a moment’s notice for us on the winner’s walk at the CMA Awards in 2021. Here I was just a couple months into living in my dream city, working at a dream job, and then I found myself standing next to some of my favorite artists talking about their big wins that night. It was an exhilarating, pressure-filled thrill to say the least!
Kyle Levinsohn
Music Agent, UTA
Bio: Kyle Levinsohn began his career in music nearly a decade ago, rising from the UTA Mailroom to being named Agent in May 2022. A New Jersey native, Levinsohn developed a love and passion for music at a very early age. With a strong emphasis on A&R and Artist Development, Levinsohn has since grown his roster to include artists such as Charlotte Sands, Graham Barham, Christian French, Spencer Sutherland, Stacey Ryan, DOUBLECAMP, Steinza & more. Levinsohn previously served as UTA’s College Agent, brokering hundreds of deals for clients across the entirety of UTA’s music division.
Proudest moment: I am most proud of the opportunities I have been able to secure my clients, including various festival performances for Charlotte Sands (Lollapalooza, ACL, Bonnaroo, Life Is Beautiful, Hangout, Boston Calling & more); growing Spencer Sutherland’s hard ticket business by obtaining a direct support slot on Big Time Rush’s Summer 22’ amphitheater tour and following it up with a mostly sold-out headline run; and the signing of my most recent client, Graham Barham, who has hit the ground running locking in dates supporting Dylan Scott, Kidd G, Chase Matthew & more.
Jeanette Porcello
Senior Manager, A&R, Downtown Artist and Label Services
Bio: During her senior year at Belmont University, Porcello ventured into the music industry as she began working with Atlantic Records. There, she rapidly immersed herself in the realm of A&R. Porcello is currently a Senior Manager of A&R at Downtown Artist and Label Services, where she is expanding the company’s presence into the vibrant Nashville market and continuing to empower artists in building lasting careers. Porcello is deeply committed to promoting the burgeoning music scene in Nashville and serves on the leadership team for The Other Nashville Society. Additionally, she manages Nashville based writers/producers Collin Pastore, Jake Finch, and Taylor Dubray.
Proudest Moment: In 2020, I signed my first artist Sara Kays to Atlantic Records. Her single “Remember That Night” went on to be RIAA Platinum certified. Sara is an incredible talent & i’m thankful to have worked with her.
Darby Leiber
Manager, Range Media Partners/Make Wake Artists
Nashville, TN
Bio: Darby Leiber is an artist manager in Nashville. Originally from Fort Worth, TX, Darby’s management roster includes Hailey Whitters, Brent Cobb, and Valley James. Her time working with Hailey Whitters has spanned the release of her critically acclaimed 2022 album Raised, her debut single at Country Radio (peaking in the top 15), her first RIAA Platinum Record, an ACM Best New Female Artist Award, and a CMA Best New Artist nomination. Darby started her career at Thirty Tigers. As project manager there, she spearheaded album campaigns for artists such as Colter Wall, Sturgill Simpson, Tennis, Joy Williams, The Mavericks, and Morgan Wade before moving to a role as digital sales & streaming manager.
Proudest moment: When Hailey Whitters won the ACM Award for Best New Female Artist, we were so shocked and thrilled. I didn’t realize how emotional I would feel until it was all happening. That week was unforgettable!
Krista Roser
Celebrity Fashion Stylist
Nashville, TN
Bio: Hailing from a small town in Tennessee, Krista Roser started her fashion career in New York, working directly in designers' offices. After a move to Nashville, she started working for a menswear company where she learned the importance of tailoring and fit. Soon after, Krista became fashion editor to the New York magazine, Love Inc Magazine. In that role, she started noticing that the Nashville entertainment community wasn't utilizing the fashion market in terms of publicity or marketing. Thus, she worked to fill this void. Now, with almost 10 years in the Nashville entertainment community under her belt, Krista has helped her clients elevate their notoriety in the high-end fashion world while building and enhancing their brand from an image standpoint. She currently works with a roster of 21 celebrity clients and continues to build and evolve her clients' brands through various events and bodies of work, garnering exposure for their art at large.
Proudest moment: There have been several proud moments. But some that just come straight to mind: Vogue covering a Dolce Gabbana event with my clients at their home, with several of Nashville's talents and finally showcasing what Nashville has to offer. Another was getting Versace to dress my artists' for CMAs, a first time for the brand to dress any country stars.
Samuel Harris
Photographer
Nashville, TN
Bio: Adopted from Russia and raised in a faith-based home in Richmond, VA, Samuel Harris is merging his passion for people with Nashville's live entertainment scene. Recognized for his "fans-first" approach to capturing crowds at Ward Guenther’s Whiskey Jam, Samuel's distinct filmic style is earning praise from his peers. Influenced by iconic photographers like David Bergman, Lou Nice, and Troy Conrads, he energetically captures epic moments in country music and is constantly on the road with the town’s dynamic touring community.
Proudest Moment: My Nashville journey began with a cold email to a manager my first month in town. That led to a gig shooting at Zanies. Fast forward, Bert Kreischer asked me to shoot a couple of his shows, all thanks to the amazing AJ Wilkerson and Lucy Sinsheimer. It was a full-circle moment backstage, realizing how a simple outreach introduced me to some of the most talented, hardworking people in the biz.
