The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, alongside industry partner ASCAP, honored alumna Carla Wallace as the fifth recipient of the Music City Milestone Award (MCMA). The MCMA celebrates Belmont’s connection with Music Row while also recognizing a Belmont graduate who has achieved truly superlative success in the entertainment and music industries early in their career.
Co-owner and general manager of Big Yellow Dog Music, an independent music publishing company based in Nashville, Wallace graduated from Belmont with a B.B.A. in Music Business. Throughout her time at Belmont, Wallace interned at many Music Row publishing companies. She also worked for the public relations department at The Nashville Network (TNN), delivering flyers across Nashville for upcoming concerts and shows, clipping articles that referenced TNN shows and seating the stars for the Viewer’s Choice Awards.
Wallace continued her career at Little Big Town Music, where she met Kerry O’Neil in 1998. That same year, O’Neil and Wallace opened the doors to Big Yellow Dog Music, publishing home to such country hits as Luke Bryan’s “Drunk on You,” Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” and George Strait’s “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright.” The company has had several nominations and wins from the American Country Music awards, ASCAP Country Music Awards, CMA Awards and many more.
O’Neil said, “Carla’s success is a great example of what can happen when you put songs and songwriters first, are willing to follow your instincts, and mix in a healthy dose of tenacity and passion.”
CEMB Dean Wes Bulla said, “Celebrating with alumni is always an honor. We are proud of Carla’s significant accomplishments and look forward to more great things as she continues to be a leading force in our industry.”
LeAnn Phelan, co-head of ASCAP Nashville and a past MCMA recipient, added, “Carla Wallace is passionate and committed to songwriters, fearless as a music publisher, a master at creating opportunities for her writers, and open to all kinds of great music. ASCAP is honored to be a part of her special night.”
Other past recipients of the Music City Milestone Award include Beka (Calloway) Tischker who runs the publishing company of Dr. Luke, Ashley Gorley who was named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year in 2009, and Rusty Gaston, co-owner and General Manager of This Music.
About the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business
The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business strives to combine academic experience with real world applications and seeks to achieve its mission by implementing innovative courses of study in the entertainment and music industries. A quiet world leader that has been featured in Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Business Week, CEMB offers three degrees and four majors—a BBA in Music Business and a BA or BS in Audio Engineering Technology, Entertainment Industry Studies, and Songwriting—and provides invaluable experiential learning opportunities like the Belmont East (New York City) and Belmont West (Los Angeles) programs, through which students expand their cultural experiences and career opportunities as they reside, learn, work, and network in NYC or LA. Coupled with entertainment internship opportunities available on and around Music Row, these programs augment students’ chances for entrepreneurial endeavors and career advancement.
