Over the past year, we have featured interviews with some of country music and Nashville’s biggest names in the industry in our “Woman of the Month” feature. Each month we chatted with another powerful woman in the business whether they worked in radio, publicity, marketing or management. At the end of each interview, we were sure to ask if they had any advice for young girls who wanted to pursue their dreams in the music industry and the best practices to put in motion to make that dream a reality. Here are some of our favorite quotes from our Women of the Month.
“Lean in to working as hard as you can, as soon as you get out of college or in your early twenties, that first season of life as a young adult should really be about being ambitious and excited and hungry,” – Olivia Hanceri, Director of PR, SMACKSongs – January, Woman of the Month
“I think it so important to be true to yourself and remember, not everyone is going to like you which is always hard, that’s ok, it is important to figure out who you are and what you want to do and what you want to put out in the world and sometimes it’ll work and sometimes it won’t, but at the end of the day when you are rooted in who you are it’ll all be okay.” – Betsy Spina, On-Air Personality for Radio Disney Country – October, Woman of the Month
“Do it with passion, integrity, heart and be prepared for some long days (often away from home) and sleepless nights. Be resilient, work hard, have fun along the way but also recognize when you need to make time for yourself and really shut it down on off days.” – Diane Monk, Warner Music Nashville – September Woman of the Month
“Surround yourself with the people that fire you up, that lift you up, that fuel you and that build you up in every sense of the term.” – Basak Kizilisk, Vice President of Marketing for Morris Higham Management, August Woman of the Month
“Just be open to everything. Be open to any opportunity that is there, being a female in country radio and country music, there are very few spots and it is very intimidating. Find your path to get there, your story is how you become who you are.” – Elaina D. Smith, On-Air Radio Personality, Nash Nights Live – July Woman of the Month
“I encourage girls growing up in this business to be able to express themselves however they want because what really matters is how hard you work, how kind you are to people, how honest you are and not about what you are wearing or how you portray yourself.” – JoJamie Hahr, Vice President of Marketing for BBR Music Group – June Woman of the Month
“Good women on a like-minded mission are unstoppable, honestly. We have to make a statement by showing up every day and doing the best job we can do and that’s in everything, relationships, in motherhood, at work and everything. Your best one day may not be your best the next day, but keep your head up, keep your word.” – Kelly Ford, Mornings with Kelly Ford NASHFM 94.7 – May Woman of the Month
“We are so fortunate we get to do amazing things with our careers but there is the side that you have to roll up your sleeves and work, there are those days where it’s twenty-hour days, and you are up until 2 am writing a press release. I love what I am doing so much, we are so fortunate but it’s a lot of hard work and there is a lot of ups and down through that process.” – Jensen Sussman, President and Owner, Sweet Talk Publicity – April Woman of the Month
“Being a woman in today’s climate is an exciting time, it’s not an easy time but I am so lucky to work with a team of men who have been so supportive.” – Katie Neal, On-Air Radio Personality, NASHFM 94.7 – March Woman of the Month
We look forward to featuring a different woman each month in 2019 and giving amazing advice to those who want to break into the industry.
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