Join us for an exclusive conversation with the industry professionals supporting Belmont’s own Judah & The Lion. The band and their team – including founding manager Ben Hutto, tour manager Adam Davis and producer Drew Long – began working together as students for the band’s debut on the Showcase Series stage. More than a decade and multiple platinum records later, the rest is Belmont history!
Panelists:
Ben Hutto | Director of Brands & Partnerships | Triple 8 Management
Jeanette Porcello | Senior Manager of A&R | Downtown Artist and Label Services
Drew Long | Producer & Audio Engineer
Jordan Byrnes | Music Business Major & Digital Marketing Intern | Triple 8 Management
Occupational WELL Core
About Ben Hutto:
Ben Hutto first started working in artist management in 2013 while enrolled at Belmont University, where he signed a band of fellow students, Judah and the Lion. After playing an integral role in the band’s growth over the last 10 years, from playing coffee shops on campus to selling out Red Rocks Amphitheater, Ben Hutto rose from Artist Manager to a new position as Director of Brands and Sponsorships at Triple 8 Management in 2021. Hutto has excelled at finding and securing brand and sponsor deals, with Triple 8 clients recently landing partnerships with EA Sports, Samsung, Microsoft, Shell, Citibank, Bud Light, ESPN, Journeys, White Claw, Stanley, Chipotle, Pizza Hut, Ford, Southwest Airlines, Wild Turkey, and Chick-Fil-A among others.
About Jeanette Porcello:
During her senior year at Belmont University, Porcello ventured into the music industry as she began working with Atlantic Records, where she rapidly immersed herself in the realm of A&R. Porcello is currently a Senior Manager of A&R at Downtown Artist and Label Services, where she is expanding the company’s presence into the vibrant Nashville market and continuing to empower artists in building lasting careers. Porcello is deeply committed to promoting the burgeoning music scene in Nashville and serves on the leadership team for The Other Nashville Society. Additionally, she manages Nashville based writers/producers Collin Pastore, Jake Finch, and Taylor Dubray.
About Drew Long:
While studying in the Audio Engineering Program at Belmont University in Nashville, Long became instant friends with the band that became Judah & the Lion. He then went on to produce the band’s first EP Sweet Tennessee and caught the eye and ear of Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, John Prine), whom he worked as an assistant to the following year and a half. After working with Cobb on two Judah & the Lion albums, Drew Long went on to co-produce two full length Judah & the Lion albums – Pep Talks & Revival – as well as many key singles over the band’s career including “Take It All Back 2.0” and “Suit & Jacket.”
About Jordan Byrnes:
Jordan Byrnes is a Junior Music Business major at Belmont University, currently interning at Triple 8 Management, assisting with Judah & The Lion digital marketing and daily tasks. An avid fan of the band since 2015, Jordan has participated in several fan projects over the years.