Rising Stars: Meet Kelly White of Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly White

Kelly, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a musical family, doing musical theatre, piano, voice lessons, acting, and dance. At first, I wanted to be on Broadway and be a full time actress, but my roots in Atlanta’s hip-hop scene pulled me in a different direction. Before graduating high school in 2019, I decided to pursue a career in music business and ended up at Belmont University in Nashville.

While I was at Belmont, I got hands-on experience interning at places like Patchwerk Recording Studios in Atlanta, Nashville Tour Stop, and PEER Entertainment in Los Angeles. It was in Nashville where I discovered a whole new side of the music scene, beyond just country, and I knew it was the perfect spot to help grow the hip-hop community and blend genres.

My love for music and creativity led me to Prescription Songs, a music publishing and licensing company that works across all genres. Their values really clicked with me, so I joined the A&R team in June 2023, just a month after graduating. Now, I get to work behind the scenes, helping creatives and giving fresh talent in the hip-hop world (and beyond) a chance to shine.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I moved to Nashville, I had some doubts about the city’s hip-hop scene and whether it would give me the opportunities I was looking for. Coming from Atlanta, where hip-hop culture is such a big part of the city, I wasn’t sure if I could make an impact in a place known for country music.

Outside of that, I’ve had to learn to balance my creative side with the business side of music. Growing up in the arts, I had to figure out how to shift from being a performer to working in the industry, learning how to mix my creative instincts with the more strategic and logistical parts of the music business.

I’m very grateful for the ups and downs I’ve experienced so far as I’m learning every day!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an A&R (Artist & Repertoire) professional in music publishing, I find and support talented songwriters, producers, and artists. Working at Prescription Songs, I look after our songwriters, listen to demos, and find unique voices that will vibe with our roster. My ear for music and my understanding of different genres, especially hip-hop, help me discover up-and-coming talent.

I also work closely with songwriters, helping them fine-tune their songs and supporting them through the creative process. I team up with producers, engineers, and other industry pros to make sure the songs have the best shot at success in this competitive industry.

One of the things I’m most proud of is connecting the dots for creatives in Nashville. Being part of the growth of a diverse music community, especially for non-country artists, has been super rewarding for me. Anay Richardson (also on Rx team) and I got to set up a songwriting camp in November in collaboration with Drumatized. It was really amazing to see talent coming together to create hip-hop music in Nashville without having to travel to LA or Atlanta.

I’m also proud of the relationships I’ve built in the industry. From interning at Patchwerk Studios to working with producers and songwriters, I’ve learned a lot from some of the best and created meaningful connections that have helped me grow professionally.

At the end of the day, being able to support and lift up creatives is everything to me.

Any big plans?
Looking ahead, I’m focused on continuing to grow and make waves in Nashville. I’m really passionate about shaping the city’s music scene to include all kinds of genres, and I want to support projects that cross those boundaries.

In my role at Prescription Songs, I definitely am going to be planning more camps and bringing local talent into the mix with our roster. I want to push the boundaries and continue setting up sessions with unlikely combos of writers and producers.

I’m also excited to mentor Belmont students and other college students around Middle Tennessee, giving them guidance, opportunities, and real-world advice to help them navigate the music business.

Overall, I want to strengthen the connection between Nashville and other Southern cities like Atlanta, Memphis, St. Louis, and Mobile. By linking up these music scenes, I’m hoping to create more opportunities for artists all over the South to collaborate and grow and make Nashville a central hub for more talent and industry professionals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/rxsongs/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlkellywhite/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-kellywhite/