Industry Infiltration #3

Welcome back to Industry Infiltration, a series of highlights on those in the music business who are helping pave the way for LGBTQ representation.

Here are this week’s LGBTQ+ music executives and writers who are killing the game right now and what they are up to:

Ashley Calhoun

Senior Vice President, Pulse Music Group

Using her “matchmaker” method, Calhoun has connected artists, songwriters and producers in sessions, placing beats and scouting talents. She most notably is responsible for signing hit songwriter Starrah, who has topped the charts with number one hits like “Havana” and “Savage.”

Murdoc Hardy

Senior Manager of Digital Marketing, Interscope Records

Having grown up on stan Twitter, Hardy now guides the social media of major acts like Ari Lennox and Mustard. Hardy works on developing artist and partner relationships, and specializes in overall fan base growth and engagement.

Shane McAnally

Songwriter and Producer, Curb Records

McAnally has written and produced songs for some of the biggest names in country including Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson, Sam Hunt, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Lady A, Keith Urban, more. He won "Best Country Album" and "Best Country Song" at the 2014 Grammy Awards for his work on Kacey Musgraves's Same Trailer Different Park. In 2019, McAnally won another Grammy Award for Best Country Song for co-writing Kacey Musgraves's "Space Cowboy." Most recently, he was named as one of Billboard's 2020 Country Power Players and chosen as the recipient of the 2020 Billboard Trailblazer Award.