ADAM EDELSTEIN Adam worked in the Royalty Department of the Warner Music Group in New York prior to joining BriBiz. Currently he handles financial management for a diverse range of clients, including record labels, songwriters, producers, and acts ranging from major label bands to independent singer-songwriters. He began his career in concert booking and promotion as an independent promoter for Assurant Productions, a concert promotion and production company based in Nashville, TN. Adam double majored in Music Business and Finance and is experienced in A&R and Copyright Administration, as well as Licensing and Royalties. Adam currently resides in Nashville, TN. ———————————————————————————– ADAM MCCANTS Adam grew up playing music in Southern Louisiana and moved to Middle Tennessee in 2003 to finish college at MTSU. He worked in record retail through school while also songwriting and doing several internships, eventually landing a job with Whizbang in 2005, where he heads the company’s licensing/publishing division. ———————————————————————————– AL ANDREWS The Founder and Director of Porter’s Call, a ministry of counsel and support to recording artists since 2001, he attended the University of North Carolina and is a lifelong Tarheel fan. Al is the co-author of The Silence of Adam with Larry Crabb, and in the process of publishing a children’s book. He lives in Franklin with his wife Nita, and their two teenage sons, Hunter and Brent. His claim to fame is that he is mentioned in a footnote in the book Wild at Heart on page 51. ———————————————————————————– ALLI ROGERS Alli launched her independent career with the release of Always Eden in 2004 and followed it up with The Day of Small Things in 2006, both to critical acclaim. She has toured with Derek Webb, Shawn MacDonald, Shane and Shane, Sandra McCracken, Bebo Norman, and Ginny Owens. Her latest album, entitled You and The Evening Sky released in early 2008 and was produced by Don Chaffer (Waterdeep). When not touring and recording her own music, Alli is busy reinforcing her credentials as an in-demand songwriter and most recently helped pen the Addison Road single “What Do I Know Of Holy,” the title track and single for Charmaine’s new album “Love Reality” as well as several other new songs slated to release later this year. ———————————————————————————– AMY STROUP Creating quite a buzz from Garrison Keilor’s Praire Home Companion in 2009 noting Amy as one of the ‘Top 20 Songwriters under 30’, to receiving the PeaceMusic award to releasing her 4th project of all original music, to ABC and CW using her songs to capture poignant television moments, Amy’s spacious melodies, and care to lyric communicate beyond places only words can reach. Stroup has had her latest songs placed on major network TV stations from ABC’s Private Practice, Brothers & Sisters, Castle, and the CW’s One Tree Hill and Life Unexpected. She is active in the local songwriting community in Nashville, writing songs for artists, tv, and film, often collaborating with Trent Dabbs, Mary Hooper and other songwriters as well as writing solo. Stroup is also active touring in the US and abroad most recently Australia. Further, she has a desire to use her music to inspire others to positive action as she partners with MOCHA CLUB, a non profit geared towards college student mobilization dedicated to bringing hope in Africa through education, clean water projects, food distribution. ———————————————————————————– AMY WOLTER Amy has performed onstage herself for over two decades. Her experience is vast and varied, running the gamut from keyboardist, soloist, lead singer, songwriter and producer. Most notably, Amy was female lead singer for the Word label Christian rock band Fighter, performing in front of thousands. Her songwriting skills earned the band several top 10 CCM hits. With this multi-layered background under her feet, Amy definitely has something to offer other performers who want to be better. Working as a Live Music Producer, she has seen amazing transformations in the artists she’s worked with. Watching bands and singers become empowered with onstage knowledge, she enjoys taking them on the journey from good artist to great performer. ———————————————————————————– ANDY TODD The songs and productions of Andy Dodd have been featured on albums that have sold over 45 million copies worldwide. Andy’s diverse list of credits includes: Kelly Clarkson, Switchfoot, Jesse McCartney, Jeremy Camp, High School Musical 1,2 and 3, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus 1-4, The Chronicles of Narnia:Prince Caspian, The Jonas Brothers and Camp Rock. Most recently, Andy has been working with Miley Cyrus for the final season of Hannah Montana, The Jonas Bothers for their new series JONAS LA, and Demi Lovato (Camp Rock) on the end title song for the film, Tinkerbell: The Lost Treasure. ———————————————————————————– APRIL HEFNER The former editor of CCM Magazine, April Hefner worked in the Christian music business for nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and finally the director of media relations for Rocketown Records. She currently works in the Office of Communications at Belmont University. ———————————————————————————– AUDREY ASSAD Originally from New Jersey and currently living in Arizona, Audrey Assad isn’t your typical newcomer to the music scene. She has toured with Tenth Avenue North, Matt Maher and Chris Tomlin. Her new CD The House You’re Building came out on July 13th and was produced by Marshall Altman (Brooke Frasier, Natasha Bettingfield, Josh Wilson). Some of her lyrical inspiration came from Assad’s love of literature and her memories of middle school; Audrey turned to favorite poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins and Francis Thompson, to the works of St. Augustine and C.S. Lewis, and to her own feelings of still not quite fitting in. Charlie Lowell from Jars of Clay commented, “A lot of new artists come and go quickly in this business. Audrey Assad will not be one of those- she’s a refreshing artist- a voice comforting and challenging together. Her melodic sensibilities are infectious, and she communicates God’s caring and creative heart in a way that cuts through the day-to-day mess of life. It will be a privilege to share the stage with Audrey, and to watch her grow as an artist over the years.” ———————————————————————————– BOB HUTCHINS Buzzplant (www.buzzplant.com), is an Internet marketing agency targeting the faith/family market. His team was an integral part of the online campaign for Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, and The Chronicles of Narnia movie. His client/partner roster includes Time-Life, General Motors, Twentieth Century Fox, INO Records, Disney, Warner Brothers, Thomas Nelson Publishers and Zondervan. He is co-founder of The Faith-Based Marketing Association and Ground Force Network, and has been featured on Fox News, MSNBC, in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and on various television/radio media. He is also the co-author of Faith Based Marketing. ———————————————————————————– BRETT MANNING Brett Manning started out like many singers–frustrated with the lack of results from the vocal lessons he found. After searching through several vocal coaches and methods, Brett came across a set of closely- guarded exercises compiled by an old gentleman who taught several well-known “star” singers. He teaches voice in his Nashville studio to singers of all genres, both the undiscovered… and “the best of the best.” He is also a Judge/Mentor for the new CMT music television reality show, “Can You Duet.” ———————————————————————————– BUBBA SMITH He is a seasoned business executive in the Contemporary Christian and Gospel music field. His album production work has earned him a Grammy® Award and nine GMA Dove Awards. He has produced and/or executive produced over ninety record projects and has worked with artists as diverse as Shirley Caesar, The Clark Sisters, Sandi Patty, The O’Jays, Point of Grace, Glen Campbell, Karen Peck & New River and Michelle Williams (of Destiny’s Child) to name a few. He has served as Executive Director of A&R for Word Entertainment and most recently served as Vice President of Daywind Music Publishing. Bubba is currently devoting his time as a freelance producer. ———————————————————————————– CARL CARTEE He’s a staff writer for Brentwood –Benson Music Publishing and Artist In Residence at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, TN. He is also the founder of Mighty Oak Records equipping other worship leaders. His goal is to encourage worship leaders and songwriters to dig deep with their art. His newest release, Here I Go, was produced by Nathan Nockels and Matt Stanfield. ———————————————————————————– CHAD CATES A Franklin TN native, Chad is an award winning songwriter who writes for Essential Music Publishing. He has had five #1 songs and five Dove Award Nominations. Chad has written songs for artists and groups such as Casting Crowns, Bebo Norman, Red, Matt Wertz, Anthony Evans, Andy Davis, Brandon Heath, Ronnie Freeman, Rebecca St James, Selah, Salvador, Sonic Flood, Mandisa, Mark Lowry, Avalon, and Phil Stacey, including the Dove award winning songs, Everything to Me(Avalon) and Lost(RED). He is married to Sarah. You can find him at www.chadcates.net. ———————————————————————————– CHRIS ERLANSON Chris is founder and president of 168 Management – a Christian management company representing artists such as Phillips Craig and Dean, No Other Name, Micah Watson and comedian Steve McGranahan. Chris’ track record in Christian music includes eight years at INO Records working with artists like MercyMe, CeCe Winans, Darlene Zschech, Chris Rice, Sara Groves, The Afters, SONICFLOOd, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and numerous others. Before moving to Nashville, Chris spent time as a buyer for a Christian bookstore, served as music director and on-air talent for various radio stations, and worked as an independent producer. To top it all off, he’s taken 8 years of piano lessons and still can’t read music.