Shelby Kennedy

VICE PRESIDENT OF ENTERTAINMENT RELATIONS , TUNECORE

As a music industry veteran, Shelby Kennedy continues to utilize his passion for developing music creators. During his tenure at Lyric Street Records, Kennedy's involvement with SheDaisy and Rascal Flatts firmly established the label. He also introduced Alan Jackson to then bourgeoning label Arista Nashville. In the recording studio, he works from both sides of the glass as a producer and a background vocalist. As a writer, Kennedy's first cut was recorded by Ray Charles, and he counts Reba McEntire's "I'm A Survivor" among his favorite triumphs. Graduating from Belmont University in 1985, he received the inaugural Mike Curb School of Music Business Award of Excellence in 1996. He is a rare executive to have served writer and publisher relations for both ASCAP and BMI. He has been an adjunct professor for the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business at Belmont University and has served on Nashville’s Board of Governors for the Recording Academy as well as the Board of Directors for NSAI. 

He hails from a musical family: his mother sang on The Louisiana Hayride; his father is legendary producer and Hall of Fame musician Jerry Kennedy; his brothers, Gordon and Bryan, are award winning songwriters; his wife, Sheri formerly served sales and marketing at Capitol Records in Nashville and their son, Gavin Kennedy is an instrumental artist/composer. 

Kennedy currently serves as Vice President, Entertainment Relations for TuneCore where he cultivates relationships to serve today’s music creators in areas of digital distribution, publishing administration, and other career-building services.