Inside the Management Team: A 360° Look at Music Management

Presented by the Music Managers Forum-US (MMF-US) Nashville Chapter, this dynamic panel highlights the wide range of professionals who play critical roles in guiding artists’ careers behind the scenes. From artist and producer/songwriter managers to business managers and tour managers, we’ll explore how each contributes to an artist’s growth, sustainability, and success.

Join us for an insightful conversation that illustrates the diverse management roles within today’s music industry and reflects the full spectrum of talent MMF-US represents. Whether you're an artist, aspiring manager, or industry professional, this panel offers a valuable look at the collaboration and expertise that drive creative careers forward.

Moderator: Tom Burger (TAB Music Management & Chair of Nashville Chapter of MMF-US)

Panelists:

Artist Manager: Trey Wilson (The Gray Slate)

Business Manager: Michelle Cope (PS Business Management)

Producer/Songwriter Manger: Dave Hopper (Violet Hill)

Tour Manager: Clint Perry

BIOGRAPHIES

Tom Burger is a music industry professional with experience handling top-line acts. Tom runs TAB Music Management, LLC, an Artist Management and A&R Consulting Firm based in Nashville, TN. TAB Music features Indie Pop star Maya Manuela (7 mil streams on Spotify alone in 1 year and estimated 21+ mil across platforms in that time, opened for artists like Angie McMahon), Indie pop star Kylie Muse (estimated 45 mil streams a year across platforms), rising Nashville folk musician and Tone Tree Artist Melanie MacLaren (1mil Apple Music streams in just under 2 years and has opened for Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke), 2024 Juno Awards Nominated Canadian artist/producer Josh Sahunta (2024 nominee for "Adult Contemporary Album of The Year, music used in Luke Paul's engagement video, Sony India, Love Island, Love is Blind, Cobra Kai, and many more), Tommy Champion (producer for many topline hip-hop artists), Factory Underground Studios (recording home of projects by many touring artists such as Jose Feliciano, Chelsea Cutler, Goose, Eliot Lewis, and comedian Justin Long), CPR Entertainment - Gina Mendello (former Tommy Emanuel, Gareth Pearson, others), Bill Haley Jr.’s Bill Haley Documentary, A&R Scouting label alternative company Run With Us (aimed at funding for artists without giving up the ownership of their rights led by the creators of Amuse Distribution), and a plethora of other music industry endeavors.

Tom is also partnered with longtime industry leader Trey Wilson, founder of Gray Slate Management and formerly of Vector Management through Live Nation and currently manager of Blackberry Smoke. Trey and Tom co-manage Nashville based touring dynamos Hippies & Cowboys.

Trey Wilson is an artist manager with a decades-long track record of success and deep industry relationships. Since 2007, he has been a driving force behind the rise of American rock band Blackberry Smoke, guiding them to commercial and critical acclaim. Under his leadership, the band became the first independent act to top the Billboard Country Albums chart in 2015—a milestone they've repeated multiple times in both the U.S. and U.K.

Wilson is the President and Founder of The Gray Slate Management, where he also manages rising country-rock band Hippies and Cowboys and acclaimed guitarist and songwriter Duane Betts. His influence spans the roots, rock, and Americana spaces, with a focus on long-term growth, fan engagement, and strategic brand development.

Beyond music, Wilson has spearheaded collaborations with companies like Gibson Guitars and New Realm Brewing, launched merchandise ventures, and helped raise over $6 million for charitable organizations including CURE Childhood Cancer, The Shepherd’s Men, and The Brit Turner Family Fund.

He is a member of both the Americana Music Association and the Recording Academy, and is based in Nashville, Tennessee.

Michelle Cope is a Senior Account Manager at PS Business Management, where she represents a diverse roster of musicians, athletes, models, business executives, and other creatives. With a background in Business Administration and Vocal Performance, she combines financial strategy with deep industry insight. Michelle is passionate about revitalizing the way financial information is delivered—making it digestible, engaging, and empowering. She is part of one of the only all-women teams in business management and is currently pursuing her CFP® certification.

Dave Hopper’s management career started at a Nashville based Artist Management firm in 2006. During his years there he handled day-to-day management responsibilities for multiple Grammy nominated + winning, Platinum + GOLD selling recording artists.Since 2010 Dave has led Violet Hill, a talent management firm focused primarily on the careers of Record Producers, Songwriters and Recording & Mix Engineers. His current clients reside in Los Angeles, Nashville and Minneapolis and have credits with top-tier talent including Taylor Swift, Shaboozey, BigXthaPlug, ENHYPEN, BTS, Sia, Niall Horan, Hayley Williams, Tate McRae, Cheat Codes, All Time Low, Paramore, David Bryne, Ashe, Andra Day, KIRBY, Raekwon, Yo Gotti, P!nk, Florence + The Machine, Judah & The Lion, The Struts, Mae Muller, NCT 127 and many others.As an extension of Violet Hill, Dave also oversees the daily business of the boutique music publishing company, pray for my haters, which he helped launch in 2017 alongside his management client, Tony Esterly. This expands on Dave’s prior publishing experience from his time as VP of Business Development & Creative at the esteemed publishing administration company, Words & Music (now part of Hipgnosis/Recognition Music).

Lastly, Dave has also exclusively represented many artists, producers, music publishers, etc. in the sale of their rights catalogs to buyers.

Clint Perry, a native of Mt. Juliet TN, grew up around the Nashville music business and seamlessly created a role for himself as Tour Manager and hospitality specialist for countless touring acts over the last 15 years.

With a passion for mental health stability amongst touring acts, Clint has a true desire to break the stigmas of touring past and invite an open conversation about resources available and how touring can continue to evolve for those battling mental health concerns.

He is currently tour managing Morgan Wade and Cameron Whitcomb with several clients taking his remote TM services as well.