Episode 10 Lesly Simon: General Manager Pearl/Gwendolyn Records for Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood

Lesly Simon is the General Manager of Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's record labels, Pearl Records and Gwendolyn Records, respectively. Listen as she shares her rise through the ranks in the music industry and why it’s so important to treat your team with kindness and respect. Lesly has loved music her entire life. Never just one genre either, but all of them. They all had an emotion or message to share. After going to college to become an accountant, she realized that she had bigger dreams. She started off being a nanny to a prominent drag racer and started to see the inner workings of sports marketing and management. Fast-forward about a year and she made the decision to move to Nashville and pursue a career in music. Lesly started on the ground floor as an assistant to an exec at a famed record label and her career took off from there. Listen as she shares stories of her work with the greats of 90’s country and how she found herself in a position to now be the General Manager of Pearl and Gwendolyn records. She has persevered through immense personal obstacles and is truly living the life of her dreams.  In a time that seems so bleak, you won’t want to miss this story of self-discovery and triumph. Lesly is raw and real in this interview. She doesn’t hold anything back, which is how we should all strive to live. Show Highlights: [01:00] Lesly grew up loving music but studied to go into accounting.  [04:02] Where did Lesly find the courage to not only pursue her career but also move to a whole new city?  [05:48] How did she break into the music industry in Nashville?  [08:26] Learn everything you can in the position that you’re in and dig into your work ethic and you’ll find your place. [10:08] Where did she go after being an assistant at RCA?  [12:21] What was it like to work on tour with the greats of 90’s country music?  [13:55] Lesly shares what it means to be a Regional Promotions Manager. [15:28] How she came up with fun promotions for radio. [17:21] The positions she took between Capitol and becoming the General Manager of two record labels. [19:41] What was it like to work with Carrie Underwood?  [21:38] How did she find her way to Pearl and Gwendolyn records? [24:37] Why did Garth feel he was no longer a part of the record label world?  [27:03] Learn more about working with Trisha Yearwood and whether there are plans to sign other artists. [29:17] How are Garth and Trisha dealing with the pandemic?  [31:18] Lesly shares her battle with cancer and how she’s dealt professionally as well. [34:47] Her experience has helped her to become a better friend and coworker and the pandemic is doing the same thing. [36:55] What are her plans moving forward with the labels when we come out of this time? LINKS & RESOURCES Follow The Music Makers:  Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment    Lesly Simon: Lesly's Social Media: instagram.com/leslysimon72/ Tune in to Garth Brooks every Monday at 7pm ET for Inside Studio G facebook.com/GarthBrooks   Mentioned during the interview:Brett Culp on The Wedding Biz SoundConnection   The Music Makers podcast theme song was written and produced by Andy Kushner with help from the rhythm section and horn players of the band, SoundConnection: Elliot Jefferson, Lamonte Silver, Keith Hammond, Roy Lambert, Joe Herrera, and Craig Alston. Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment    Check out Andy's Other Podcast: The Wedding Biz