Education Center

In this Weekly Workshop video, guest speaker, Robby Towns, answers questions on digital strategy for artists and songwriters. Robby Towns is a 15-year managerial and professional services veteran. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Tennessee and a Master’s degree in Music Business from New York University (NYU). He got his start in the Advisory Services practice of KPMG, one of the largest professional services companies in the world, where he managed multi-million dollar engagements for a diverse portfolio of private and publicly held clients. Towns founded NestaMusic in 2010, a consultancy focusing on strategy, research, and new media initiatives in the music industry. In this role, he has helped Columbia Records overhaul their digital resources, served as lead project manager for an upgrade of all content management for Giant Step, authored the “MetaMillions” white paper and Music Metadata Style Guide for the Music Business Association (formerly NARM), and provided insight and commentary on PRS for Music’s “A House Divided: The Economics of Discounting Tickets” white paper. He also assists artists with digital strategy and project management. In addition to his consultancy work, he serves as the Director of Digital Strategy & Community for the Music Business Association. Towns is an electronic music enthusiast who has served as a strategic advisor on EDM culture, trends and talent for a major record label. He developed EDMTCC, a research project and digital brand focused on promoting and fostering Technology, Culture and Curation in Electronic Dance Music, launched in November 2014. Towns began working for Spotify as a consultant focused on Publisher Relations in 2015 and in 2016 was hired on as Director, Songwriter Relations for Nashville. He exited Spotify in early 2017. Most recently he has been working with Republican Hair aka Luke Dick on their follow-up EP The Prince & The Duke with the breakout single "Miss Prince" featured on NPR 'Songs We Love'. In 2011, he was named one of the top 140 music industry characters you need to follow on Twitter by Billboard magazine, and served as a U.S. delegate to Eurosonic Noorderslag from 2011-14 & 2016. Towns currently resides with his wife and two daughters in Nashville, TN.