WME’s Jay Williams Wins Billboard Country Power Players’ Choice Award
"Our team in Nashville is unparalleled," he says. "I'm proud every day to be surrounded by their knowledge, expertise, passion and teamwork."
Billboard Pro members have selected Jay Williams, partner and co-head of WME’s Nashville office, as the recipient of this year’s Billboard Country Power Players’ Choice Award. The peer-voted accolade honors the country music executive who Billboard Pro members believe made the most impact across the industry in the past year.
Williams helps guide the careers of artists ranging from stadium and arena headliners to rising acts, with a roster including Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, Chris Stapleton, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Ashley McBryde, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Marty Stuart and Zach Top. In 2023, WME expanded in music beyond mainstream country, acquiring Red 11 Music and True Grit, which brought artists such as Charles Wesley Godwin and Cody Jinks into the fold.
Williams began his agency career over two decades ago in the William Morris mailroom, ascending the ranks and transitioning to WME in the 2009 merger. Earlier this year, he was featured in Billboard’s 2024 Power 100 list and won his third talent agent of the year honor at the CMA’s Touring Awards.
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“I’m incredibly grateful and humbled by this honor,” Williams says. “Our WME team in Nashville is unparalleled, and I’m proud every day to be surrounded by their knowledge, expertise, passion and teamwork. We help and learn from each other constantly. This leads to having the strongest presence on festival lineups and dozens of successful stadium, arena, amphitheater and theater tours. It has been a great year, especially with the additions with Red 11 and True Grit and seeing huge growth in areas outside of mainstream country.”
This story originally appeared in the May 11, 2024, issue of Billboard.
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