Senior Music Industry Executive

1. NANCI M. WALKER
8320 Fountain Avenue, Apartment A w West Hollywood, CA 90069
Cell: 323-650-2444 w nancimwalker@yahoo.com w www.linkedin.com/in/nancimwalker
SENIOR MUSIC INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE
20+ year music industry career includes Columbia Records, Universal Music Publishing
Group, Island DefJam Records, and BMG Music Publishing.
Senior A&R executive credited with discovering numerous successful artists early in their careers. Strong
international network of music industry contacts including songwriters, recording artists, producers, mixers,
record company executives, managers, agents, attorneys, promoters, and performance rights agencies. Balance
passion for music with a strong focus on ROI and the bottom-line.
“Nanci has amazing contacts and great 'ears'. She knows hits and more importantly, she knows hits before
they even become hits!” Kathy Spanberger, President and Chief Operating Officer, Peermusic
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
NANCI M. WALKER MUSIC SERVICES 2010-present
Consultant (Marketing, Development, Business Strategy, A&R, Artist Management, Music Supervisor)
Founded and currently run consultancy providing strategic support, guidance and coaching to artists and
businesses. Serve as Advisory Board member connecting music industry professionals to an exciting new Silicon
Valley start-up and to a classical music organization that sponsors a series of classical music concerts. Also
provide leadership and guidance to multiple non-profit organizations (see page 3).
§ Played key role in development of alt-country group, Bros. Landreth; pitched music to hit FX series Sons of
Anarchy and arranged writing/recording session with award-winning music supervisor Bob Theile.
§ Arranged collaboration between Pete Yorn and Charles Thompson, a/k/a Frank Black, resulting critically
acclaimed album. (“Yorn emerges with his most purposeful, affecting album yet” –Spin Magazine).
§ Created 18-month strategic plan for Nashville singer/songwriter Ryan Michael leading to a successful
independent single release that reached #59 in Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
§ Helped multi-national textile manufacturer sign artists for a rock & roll branding opportunity in Target
stores; secured licensing deal with Joss Stone as initial artist.
§ Conceived of and currently serving as Artistic Director for inaugural Songwriters Colony in collaboration
with John Johnson, co-founder of Buzzfeed and The Harmony Institute.
§ Hired by Chicago-based Innovation Arts & Entertainment in Nantucket, Massachusetts to be local
producer/marketing and artist liaison for 2016 Summer Series featuring NPR’s Paula Poundstone, David
Sedaris, The Capital Steps, Celebrity Autobiography and others TBA.
UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP – Los Angeles, CA 2005-2010
Senior Director, Creative Affairs, 2006-2010
Director, Creative Affairs, 2005-2006
In charge of signing new artists, producers and songwriters and acquiring catalogs of existing songs. Developed
deal proposals and presented compelling business strategies to business affairs team and senior management.
Arranged co-writing sessions, resolved songwriting split issues and attended concerts, showcases and recording
sessions throughout the US and Europe. Managed the day-to-day publishing business and catalogs of
prominent songwriters, producers, and performers of varied musical genres, including The Beastie Boys,
Kenny G, Blink 182, Frank Black/Pixies and Diana Krall. Oversaw 60+ songwriters concurrently.
§ Won highly competitive bidding process to sign songwriters Scott Thomas & Balthazar Getty

2. NANCI M. WALKER – PAGE 2
Home: 323-650-2444 w Cell: 323-646-2247 w nancimwalker@yahoo.com w www.linkedin.com/in/nancimwalker
(Ringside); their song Tired Of Being Sorry was an international #1, is the 57th best-selling single of the 21st
century in France, and their work has been featured on multiple soundtracks and ads earning $1M+.
§ Signed Oscar and Golden Globe-winning producer/composer songwriter Atticus Ross (Nine Inch Nails,
Korn, Coheed & Cambria, Saul Williams, Jane’s Addiction, Alan Moulder).
§ Secured soul legend Betty Wright and her entire catalog for Universal; Ms. Wright was subsequently
nominated for 3 Grammys and collaborated with Joss Stone, Snoop Dog, Lil’ Wayne and Lenny Williams.
§ Signed The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus whose debut album, Don’t You Fake It earned Platinum certification
with over a million records, and over two million singles, sold worldwide.
§ Successfully promoted, pitched, and licensed smooth jazz roster’s music for value-added CDs and
promotions used by companies such as Victoria’s Secret, Target, Walmart and others.
§ Signed Slayer for new Rick Rubin-produced album World Painted Blood and extended their back catalog;
won deal over substantial competition and quickly recouped initial investment.
ISLAND/DEF JAM RECORDS – West Hollywood, CA 2002-2003
Director, A&R
Pursued new talent throughout North America and Europe. Represented the company at industry conferences.
Supervised and mentored assistant, A&R scout, and various interns; trained senior A&R employee.
§ Identified 3 major artists within 18 months: The All American Rejects (multi-platinum), Damien Rice
(platinum), and The Killers (multi-platinum).
§ Flew to Australia with Senior V.P. of A&R in pursuit of Jet (platinum) and recommended signing James
Blunt after meeting with him in London.
COLUMBIA RECORDS – Santa Monica, CA 1996-2000
Senior Director, A&R
Identified, signed, and managed new and existing talent. Recruited, trained, and supervised A&R scouts
nationwide. Directed brand strategy and identified marketable songs; hired producers, mixers, and engineers;
arranged tracking-mixing-mastering sessions for recording projects; and managed multimillion-dollar recording
budgets. Worked with artists in selecting photographers and video directors. Oversaw approval of song splits,
song credits, album credits, lyrics, and artwork.
§ Played key role in signing successful artists such as Pete Yorn, Afghan Whigs, Adam Cohen, Crazy Town,
Aware Records (Train), and American Recordings (Johnny Cash, System Of A Down, Slayer).
§ Credited as A&R on hit record by Evan & Jaron (Top 5 Billboard Single Crazy For This Girl, produced by
T.Bone Burnett), Pete Yorn’s Gold record musicforthemorningafter and the OST I Know What You Did Last
Summer.
§ Arranged for Muse to showcase for Rick Rubin, Tim Devine and Randy Jackson; credited in their biography
for giving them their start.
§ Invited every year of tenure by the President of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to
represent Columbia Records on panel tasked with categorizing rock music for the Grammy Awards.
PEERMUSIC – West Hollywood, CA 1991-1996
National Director, Talent Acquisition | National Director
Identified, signed, and developed new talent nationwide while also overseeing staff writers. Reported directly to
the president of the company. Developed annual signing budgets, approved expenses, and negotiated publishing
deals. Traveled to New York and Canada to approve creative signings.

3. NANCI M. WALKER – PAGE 3
Home: 323-650-2444 w Cell: 323-646-2247 w nancimwalker@yahoo.com w www.linkedin.com/in/nancimwalker
§ Proposed build-out of recording studio and signing of artists early in their career, with the agreement to
oversee recordings and secure major label deals in return; the studio helped increase peermusic brand
awareness within the industry and is still operating today.
§ Conceptualized and developed The Songs of Jimmy Rogers A Tribute, bringing in Bob Dylan as executive
producer. The release revitalized the catalog and featured performances by Bono, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia,
Van Morrison, Aaron Neville, Dwight Yoakam, Jerry Garcia, Willie Nelson and many others.
§ Recorded demos with Campfire Girls and helped them land $1.2 million record deal with Interscope.
§ Signed and developed artists securing major label record deals for Scott Thomas (A&M), Spent Poets
(Geffen), Jeannette Katt (A&M), Plexi (SubPop/Atlantic), and Kristen Hall (High Street Records).
BMG MUSIC – Beverly Hills, CA 1989-1990
Manager, Talent Acquisition
Discovered, signed, and developed talent, including extensive research and analysis. Listened to demos, attended
shows every night, and travelled nationwide to meet artists and local music industry figures.
§ Discovered, signed, developed, and secured record deal for groundbreaking multi-Platinum rap group
Cypress Hill.
§ Signed singer/songwriter Michael Penn (top 10 Hit No Myth and winner of the 1990 MTV Video Award
for Best New Artist) along with critically acclaimed songwriters Victoria Williams and Kristen Hall.
NON-PROFIT EXPERIENCE
VARIOUS NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS 2014-present
Artistic Director, Songwriters Colony/Almanack Arts Colony (2015-present)
Development Director – White Heron Theater (2015-present)
Advisory Board member, Development Director – Nantucket Musical Arts Society (2015-present)
Executive Director – Nantucket Community Music Center (2014-2015)
Consultant/Artist Relations – MUSACK (2014-present)
Pursued passion for non-profit work by moving to Nantucket to lead a busy music center. Quickly became
established within the community and received invitations to drive success for other organizations. As Executive
Director, managed all programs, worked closely with Board of Trustees, oversaw operations, drive fundraising,
and held accountability for strategic planning and organizational growth. As Marketing Director and
Development Director, managed all aspects of marketing (digital and traditional) and communications for start-
up Equity theater.
§ Playing key role in $7M fundraising effort for new non-profit theater; in 5 months, grew email database
17x, boosted email open rate by 158% and exceeded Playbill revenue goal by 100%.
§ Drove 75% revenue gain in just 6 months for community music center and increased student enrolment
100%.
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Bachelor of Arts Degree: BOSTON COLLEGE – Chestnut Hill, MA
Awards/Honors:
Gold records for work with Pete Yorn, Michael Penn & Ringside/Scott Thomas, Platinum record for work with
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Multi-Platinum disc for work with Cypress Hill.
Presentations:

4. NANCI M. WALKER – PAGE 4
Home: 323-650-2444 w Cell: 323-646-2247 w nancimwalker@yahoo.com w www.linkedin.com/in/nancimwalker
Invited speaker/guest teacher at UCLA (Westwood, CA), The Musicians Institute (Hollywood, CA), Vanderbilt
University (Nashville, TN), NMPA/National Music Publisher’s Association (Los Angeles, CA). Invited to speak
and sit on panels at numerous conferences in the US, UK and Canada including CMJ, In The City, The New
Music Seminar and SXSW.
Member of Grammy Nominee Panel, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences