Melinda Newman Presents Seth England With Executive of the Year | Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024

Billboard’s Executive West Coast / Nashville editor Melinda Newman presents Seth England with Executive of the Year at Billboard’s Country Power Players 2024.

Melinda Newman:
Before we have the next presentation, I’d like to acknowledge the winner of Billboard‘s Country Power Players Choice Award, voted on by the members of Billboard Pro. This year’s recipient is WME’s Jay Williams. Congratulations, Jay. As WME Nashville celebrates its 50th anniversary, Jay has helped turn it into the powerhouse that it is.

I’d also like to congratulate the recipient of this year’s Legend Award, Linda Martell. As many of you know, Linda Martell was the first Black woman to ever play the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. And her 1969 hit “Color Him Father” was the highest charting track on Hot Country Songs by a Black woman until Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached No. 1 in February. Linda is unable to be here with us tonight, but she sends her regards, and you can read our exclusive interview with her and more about her and Jay’s achievements in the current issue of Billboard.

Now it’s my pleasure to present Billboard‘s Country Power Players Executive of the Year to Big Loud CEO, Seth England. With such acts as Morgan Wallen, Hardy, Ernest, Hailey Whitters and many more, Seth has shown that Big Loud can make a very big noise.

Oh, hello. I’m not done talking about you. You can hang out up here. I’m just gonna say some nice things about you. Seth started as an intern at Big Loud Shirt publishing 18 years ago, and was willing to do anything including pulling up weeds outside Craig Wiseman’s office.

Keep watching to learn more!