Vanessa Parker-Davis/President Vanessa Parker-Davis has more than fifteen years of varied experience in the music industry. As a publicist she has strong contacts in national television, print, internet and radio syndication outlets. She has placed artists on programs such as The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kelly, among others, and in magazines such as Rolling Stone, People, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, Los Angeles Times and the list goes on.
As Associate Director of the Media department of Arista/Nashville Davis was instrumental in the press campaigns for Alan Jackson, Pam Tillis, Lee Roy Parnell, The Tractors, Brad Paisley, Phil Vassar, Sherrie Austin, Steve Wariner, Diamond Rio and BR5-49, getting each of them national television exposure at the beginning of their careers. Though BR5-49 never garnered a radio hit, Davis was able to break them in the media, securing a special feature on the group on CNN and a lengthy spot as side-kick, Biff Henderson’s, guides to Nashville on The Late Show with David Letterman. She also booked them to play at the 1998 Grammy Awards after-party, as the industry representative for country music and secured a feature on them in the New York Times Magazine complete with a photo spread, as well as a favorable sought after “Spotlight Review” in Rolling Stone.
In late 1999 she was tapped to head the Publicity department of Atlantic Records, where she worked to revitalize the career standing of Tracy Lawrence after a number of public relations setbacks. She also garnered national attention for newcomer Craig Morgan on CNN and FOX News and other national media when he performed at New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s Fourth of July Celebration in Times Square in New York City, with artists such as Brandy,The Go Go’s and Eddie Money. She coordinated publicity around the come back of John Michael Montgomery’s career when he released the controversial hit song “The Little Girl,” and helped shape the new image of Tim Rushlow as a debut solo artist and contributed to a media campaign based on the artist’s hit song “She Misses Him.” That particular media plan led Davis and Rushlow to Washington, DC where he performed for the Alzheimer’s Association’s National Coalition and also at a special fundraiser for important research in Alzheimer’s disease at one of the nation’s premiere research facilities. The publicity around this particular event had national impact and was even acknowledged by former first lady, Nancy Reagan.
When Atlantic Records shut down, Davis was immediately hired by Capitol Records Nashville, where she was named Senior Director of Media and Public Relations and headed that department. Her first duty in that role was the publicity coordination of a new studio album by Garth Brooks which included a national broadcast of a live press conference held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, for which she was instrumental in coordinating. She also worked closely with his independent publicists and management team during the three consecutive live CBS television specials. She oversaw media activity for artists such as Keith Urban, Chris Cagle, Dierks Bentley, Jennifer Hanson and Trace Adkins, and launched a major press campaign with Commotion PR in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band seminal album, Will The Circle Be Unbroken. The campaign ultimately led to a third album in the Circle series for which Davis landed the entire hour of the Grand Ole Opry’s television segment on CMT the week of the album’s release. She was also involved in a PBS concert special and DVD for which Davis assisted Sr. VP, Fletcher Foster, who was Executive Producer of the special. She was instrumental in assisting Foster with production aspects and bookings as well as overseeing the media coverage.
Davis’s knowledge and passion for music has always run deep. She studied voice and piano at East Carolina University, graduating in 1984 with two Bachelor degrees, one in Music Education and one in Music Therapy. A year later, she released an album on an independent label, charting several singles in such trade publications as Billboard and Cashbox.
She moved to the business side of the music industry in 1988, working for guitar great Scotty Moore at his tape duplicating company. When Arista/Nashville opened its Nashville office, Davis was hired to work in administration. Within a year she was named Manager of Media, initially overseeing media relations and publicity for the label. Her reputation and successes led to spots at Atlantic Records and Capitol Records.
In 2003, Davis decided to open her own company, Splash! Public Relations. Though specializing in music, Davis uses her experience, contacts and business knowledge to serve a variety of clients.
Misty Hurt / Senior Publicist
Misty oversees day to day tour press, social media and
marketing for our clients and much more! She has 8 years of experience at
Splash! Public Relations, handling and now supervising tour
press to secure local, regional and national coverage for our clients in print,
radio and television. She has handled tour press for artists including
Blake Shelton, Emerson
Drive, Pam Tillis, Chuck
Mead, Restless Heart, Little Texas, The Road Hammers, Jamestown Revival, Chely Wright, Ryan Shupe &
The Rubberband, Bleu Edmondson, Jeremy McComb, and more. She has booked our
clients on regional daytime television shows such as Great Day Houston, Good Day Sacramento and more! She has also
booked our artists on the nationally syndicated WGN America.
She brings new media
expertise to both Splash! Public Relations' publicity
and artist development processes. Her unique knack for writing ad copy and
creating unforgettable "catch phrases," make her Splash! Public Relations' go-to advertising girl.
Misty also
serves as office manager and is often referred to as "radar" because of her
ability to tackle a task well in advance of it needing to be done. One step into
our office or a moment on the phone with Misty and you'll also see she is our
resident comedian.
This Southern-twanged Glasgow, KY native is a
2004 graduate of Belmont University where she was President of
Press Corps and served as the Publicity Chair of Service Corps, the music
business program’s hands-on music industry volunteer organization. She was also
the publicity chair for the 2004 Vince Gill Celebrity Basketball Game &
Concert at Belmont
University.
She
interned with Parker-Davis at Capitol Records Nashville while enrolled at
Belmont and has
been with Splash! Public Relations since August of 2003.
Misty resides in
Nashville with
her four-legged daughter, Sophie. (A cat who fetches and plays
tag!)