Jeremy Holley is a co-founder of FlyteVu, a Nashville-based full-service entertainment marketing agency founded in 2015 that connects brands to consumers through storytelling, experiences and the power of pop culture.
The company’s roster of former and current clients includes the American Red Cross, Barefoot Wine, Bumble, Carter’s, Cracker Barrel, Jack Daniel’s, Enterprise, Journeys, Norwegian Cruise Line, Spotify, Tennessee Tourism, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Victoria’s Secret PINK and others.
Holley was previously svp of consumer and interactive marketing at Warner Music Nashville and played a key role in building Warner Music’s multiple rights business overseeing all aspects of creative, digital and strategic marketing.
We caught up with Jeremy for our Liner Notes series to learn more about his musical tastes and journey through the years, as well as recent work he’s proud of and admired.
Jeremy, tell us…
Your earliest musical memory.
Listening to vinyl records every Sunday with my dad.
Your first concert.
I grew up in a very religious small town, so my exposure to live shows was limited until after I graduated high school. Oddly, my first concert was White Zombie with Pantera. I guess there is no better way to dive in than that.
Your favorite band.
Led Zeppelin, in my opinion, is the greatest “rock” band of all time. For a band whose body of work spanned only 12 years, they sure made an impact. As a marketer, I also think it’s interesting that they accomplished mass stardom while limiting commercial access to their music. Following a performance on a French program in 1969, they never played a promotional TV gig again. They had no trust in their sound being manipulated for audiences by outside audio engineers. They’ve also been very selective about how their music gets distributed and licensed.
How you get your music these days.
I usually find new music through Apple, Amazon or Spotify (recommendation playlist), but word of mouth and the recommendation of friends is still my favorite.
Your favorite place to see a concert.
Pre-Covid, Ryman Auditorium. Today, I would settle for anywhere that is not online, as there are NO substitutes for live music. Digital opportunities have made it easier than ever to connect “to” people, but there is no doubt that music streaming and virtual performances fail to deliver the same emotional connection that in-person events provide to connect “with” people. Live music fulfills the desire of genuine human connection, and we could certainly use more of that right now.
Your favorite music video.
Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt.” Rick Rubin somehow managed to make the Man in Black even cooler and recorded one of the most groundbreaking songs from Cash’s career. The original song spoke of depression, but Cash’s voice, lyrics and prior reputation masterfully transformed it into a gloomy yet hopeful statement about faith and mortality. It gives me chill bumps every time I see it, and it’s a good reminder to focus on the things that matter most in life.
