KEVIN KAY
President, The Entertainment Sponsorship Group
After starting my career as a Legal Assistant for law firms in
Buffalo and Albany, New York, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia to further my
education in music and entertainment management. It was there while I
was going to school that I was hired as a Marketing and Promotions
Assistant at Chrysalis Records, and then at Polydor Records.I returned
to Buffalo after graduating to head up the Artist Management Division
for Entertainment Services International where I was an integral part of
the careers of such artists as The Goo Goo Dolls and the other bands
represented by Entertainment Services International.I was then hired as
the Southwest Regional Marketing and Promotion Director for Polydor
Records, based in Houston, Texas.After three and a half years in
Houston, I was promoted to Midwest Regional Marketing and Promotion
Director for Island Records, based in Detroit, Michigan, following the
merger of Polydor Records, The PolyGram Label Group and Island
Records.During this time, I was involved in the development of the
careers of such artists as U2, Elton John, Melissa Etheridge, the
Cranberries, The Moody Blues, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, PM Dawn, the
Stereo MCs and many more.Then when Richard Branson decided to start
up V2 Records, I jumped at the opportunity to work with him. The
knowledge and education I received during that start up was exciting and
invaluable. I learned that in order to be successful you need a
purpose, a vision and a desire to give back.
I was then given the
opportunity to work for Dreamworks Records as the labels first Midwest
Regional Marketing Director, responsible for developing the careers of
Nelly Furtado, Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Lifehouse, Alien Ant Farm,
Powerman 5000, Jimmy Eat World and others.Working with all of these new
artists motivated me to incorporate new ways of marketing them to the
consumer. And this is where implementing a strategic corporate
sponsorship division started. Dreamworks Records gave me that
opportunity to create and design this new division.I have also held
Marketing and Promotion Director Positions at Mercury Records and Virgin
Records, working with such artists as KISS, Def Leppard, Shania Twain,
30 Seconds to Mars, The Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, Gorillaz and many
more.
After Virgin Records, I was the first person to hold the position
of National Director of Strategic Partnerships for Sony Music Nashville.
I had the privilege of working with such artists as Kenny Chesney, Brad
Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Chris Young and Jake
Owen.To go along with all of my experience in the music industry, I have
also worked in the experiential agency world for Jack Morton Worldwide
on global digital music initiatives for General Motors and Clearwire
Communications, and at The TVX Group working with John Mayer's team on
tour sponsorships.My teaching career started when I was selected to be
the Head of the Music and Entrepreneurship Department at the Detroit
Institute of Music Education. To go along with running this department,
I was also an Adjunct Professor teaching classes in The Domestic Music
Industry, The International Music Industry, Artist Management, Music
Publishing, Artist Income Streams, Music Marketing and Promotion and
Music Business Entrepreneurship.
I am now applying all of this experience
and knowledge to consulting, coaching, teaching and as a public speaker
in the areas of strategic partnerships / sponsorships, with The
Entertainment Sponsorship Group.