Shelby Kennedy Bio
In 1985 SHELBY KENNEDY graduated from Belmont University with a BBA majoring in Music Business. Eleven years later he was a co-recipient of the first Mike Curb School of Music Business Award of Excellence from Belmont University. KENNEDY’S mother, Linda, sang on The Louisiana Hayride and recorded for a couple of small labels before signing with Epic Records. His father, Jerry Kennedy was also a member of The Hayride where he also became the guitarist for Johnny Horton. His mother retired when the Kennedy’s were blessed with three sons in a matter of four years.
Jerry Kennedy’s musicianship is legendary and includes such signature work as the dobro intro on “Harper Valley PTA” and the guitar work on “Pretty Woman”. Jerry Kennedy also headed Epic Records and then Mercury Records, where he signed and produced legendary artists like Reba McEntire, Roger Miller, The Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Jerry Lee Lewis, Faron Young, and Johnny Rodriquez. As kids, the Kennedy brothers were surrounded by country music and the great artists who created it.
Steeped in music, it was no surprise when SHELBY KENNEDY got his first self-penned song recorded by the great Ray Charles while he was still in college. He has had songs recorded by other artists as well including the title hit, “I’m A Survivor” from Reba McEntire’s third Greatest Hits Album. It also became the theme song for the hit sitcom series, REBA. KENNEDY has become well known in Nashville for his vocal prowess as a studio background singer as well as his “ears” for hearing a hit and spotting talent. In fact it was KENNEDY who first presented Alan Jackson for Arista Records and found SheDaisy for Lyric Street Records which were the flagship artists that “launched” those two new record labels.
KENNEDY’S first real job in the industry was working as a song plugger for the legendary Al Gallico and Billy Sherrill at their publishing companies. For a time KENNEDY was also employed by Harold Shedd as a song plugger for Millhouse and Sheddhouse Music. In 1988 he joined ASCAP and became Director of Membership Relations. After ten years, he left ASCAP to become Director of A&R for Disney’s Lyric Street Records. In the first four years at the new Disney label, the acts SheDaisy, Rascal Flatts, and Aaron Tippin achieved multi-platinum and gold status. KENNEDY also produced Sonya Isaacs for Lyric Street Records. After the successful launch of Lyric Street, he joined the executive staff of BMI where he signed and strategically worked with many hit makers including superstar, Carrie Underwood. Cherry Heart Music and Entertainment became the next company to benefit from KENNEDY’S contributions where he built a new structure as a multi-faceted entertainment company. As the SVP/COO, he established four divisions comprised of management, music publishing, music asset management, and entertainment marketing to compete in a rapidly changing industry. KENNEDY wore many hats there evidenced by helping create a major tour sponsorship for Carrie Underwood’s “Play On Tour,” working with songwriters, developing and producing new artists, attracting copyright and product administration clients while managing MCA’s Ashton Shepherd. He later served as Senior VP for Wide Open Music Group and recently served as Vice President to launch and establish the Entertainment Relations Department for the large digital music distributor, TuneCore where he helped many emerging and established artists, labels, and songwriters reach their global audiences. Inspired to bring more creative solutions to the industry, KENNEDY served as President of Amazing Songs, which is a professional platform he helped create for songwriters, publishers, and creative music executives. Afterwards, he again served in A&R for ONErpm to continue helping independent artists and labels in the rapidly evolving marketplace.
KENNEDY has served on The Board for The Nashville Songwriters Association International and Belmont University’s Music Business Board of Advisors. He also served two terms on Nashville’s Board of Governors for The Recording Academy. Outside of the entertainment industry, KENNEDY also served on The Tennessee Board of Special Olympics.
KENNEDY’S brothers have also followed in their parents’ footsteps. Bryan has hits as a songwriter with several #1 songs to his credit including “American Honky Tonk Bar Association,” “Beaches of Cheyenne” and “Good Ride Cowboy.” Eldest brother Gordon is a studio guitarist and a hit songwriter as well with a couple Grammys including a past Grammy Song of the Year, “Change the World.”
KENNEDY’S wife, Sheri has worked in sales and marketing at Capitol Records and they added another industry generation with their son and gifted artist/musician, Gavin Kennedy who is growing up in the industry as KENNEDY has.
My Approach
I have spent a large portion of my career helping the developments of many successful careers where the navigation process truly needs to be an individual plan. Whether you are an artist, musician, producer or an executive, “unique talent” deserves “unique strategies” in planning and development. Understanding how the modern music industry works and what all the stakeholders expect will expedite an efficient and effective approach to successful careers.
THE Blueprint
Without industry insights, it is understandable why many people try to emulate the blueprint that was successful for somebody else. The first step to achieving individual success in today’s industry is understanding blueprints are not meant to be read now, they are meant to be drawn. A brain trust will help in supporting and developing that individual plan for that individual path.
PODCAST DISCUSSIONS
I love “taking shop” and sharing different perspectives.