Nashville A&R Executive Brings Expertise to Coastal Label in Progressive New Position
Kelly Bolton has joined Warner Records as VP of A&R. Working out of Nashville, she will collaborate closely with Co-Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck on signing, developing, and cultivating country artists for the Los Angeles-based label. She reports directly to EVP/Head of A&R, Karen Kwak.
Warner Records has firmly committed to building a new vanguard of country-leaning superstars. Guided by Bay-Schuck’s visionary A&R expertise in conjunction with Co-Chairman & COO Tom Corson, the label has broken some of the genre’s hottest acts, dominating the charts and generating billions of streams with marquee releases from Zach Bryan, Warren Zeiders, Dasha, and more.
Bay-Schuck said: “I’ve known Kelly for years, and her ear for talent is impeccable. She’s widely admired not only in the Nashville artist and songwriter community, but throughout the industry. Her addition to the team enables us to have boots on the ground in Music City with the advantage to actively engage, sign, and develop new artists hands-on. The potential to make a major impact is limitless.”
Bolton added: “I’m excited for this new role, and I’m honored to have the ability and latitude to take these artists to a mainstream label. It’s a unique position. Living and working in Nashville and helping artists reach a global platform is the best of both worlds. I’d like to thank Aaron, Tom, Karen, and the entire team for this incredible opportunity.”
Bolton most recently served a five-year stint at Ashley Gorley’s Tape Room Music, where she grew from VP of Creative to SVP, A&R. She built out a roster of 15 songwriters, overseeing creative and artist strategy for the company. Throughout her tenure at Tape Room Music, the roster earned 25 country No. 1s, while Gorley personally notched a staggering 40 No. 1s. Prior stops include Big Deal Music, where she signed and developed talent both in Nashville and Los Angeles, as well as Black River Entertainment where Bolton launched her career in publishing over a decade ago. She spent three years there and proved instrumental to the careers of Kelsea Ballerini and others.
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