NASHVILLE, TN (CelebrityAccess) — On Monday, Live Nation Entertainment announced the hiring of music industry veteran Sally Williams as President of Nashville Music and Business Strategy.
When Williams starts her new role in September, she will report to Bob Roux, Live Nation’s President of US Concerts and help to drive the company’s overall business and entertainment strategy in Nashville, including venue and client development.
Williams will also oversee the company’s concert business in Nashville and work with Music City artists to develop worldwide touring strategies, Live Nation said.
“Sally is a Nashville music industry icon, and the perfect executive to oversee Live Nation’s growing footprint in Nashville,” said Roux. “She’s spent decades contributing to the success of Nashville artists, venues, and events, and certainly the community itself, and we’re extremely fortunate to have someone with her industry knowledge and dedication to live music join our company.”
Williams comes to her new gig at Live Nation after almost 20 years at Ryman Hospitality Properties and Opry Entertainment Group. She most recently served as Senior Vice President of Programming and Artist Relations, as well as General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry, overseeing booking, programming, artist relations, artist collaborations and show production across the group’s venues, including: Grand Ole Opry, Grand Ole Opry House, Ryman Auditorium and Ole Red.
She’s also served as General Manager of the historic Ryman Auditorium, earning industry plaudits during her tenure that include Academy of Country Music’s Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year and Promoter of the year, the TJ Martell Frances Preston Outstanding Music Industry Achievement Award, and more.
As well, she has played a key role in the larger Nashville music community, including stints as Chairman of the Country Music Association, President of Leadership Music and President of the Opry Trust Fund.
Currently, she is serving as Co-chair of the Music City Music Council and as Marketing Chair for the Country Music Association board of directors. She also is a member of the Academy of Country Music, the Americana Music Association, the International Association of Venue Managers, and the International Entertainment Buyers Association.
Williams’s last day with Opry Entertainment will be August 9.
