Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Steele.
Hi Taylor, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born and raised in wild and wonderful West Virginia, coming from a very small town where everybody knew each other. I was extremely timid, but began taking voice lessons at age five, falling in love with performing onstage and letting it become a haven for me to escape whatever I was going through at the time. I grew up dancing, acting, and singing throughout my time in school, and my love for the arts has never faded.
I attended West Virginia University, and knew that I wanted to study journalism and stay away from as much math and science as possible, very confident in wanting to combine my passion for music with writing. I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Journalism from WVU in 2021, with minors in the music industry and event planning, knowing that I had to leave my small town for a chance at the ultimate dream.
I never saw myself living in New York or Los Angeles, and had visited Nashville a few times prior to graduation, immediately feeling a sense of community when I drove around the city. The shy girl took a major chance and moved to Nashville following my graduation, and started working for Amazon to get my foot in the door in the state.
Since that experience, I’ve received unbelievable opportunities that I never would have thought were possible. I’ve worked for Go West Creative, Broadcast Music, Inc., and Music Corporation of America (formerly Universal Music Group Nashville), serving today’s top artists and legendary hitmakers.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey from graduating college to now has not been a smooth road in the slightest! I have learned more about myself in the last five years than I ever have in my life. No one talks about how drastic the shift is from living with your best friends everyday to being in an office from 9-5 with strangers, especially in a new city. There is no roadmap to having your first job or jobs, and I’ve learned the hard way that trusting yourself and your skillset is essential. Not everyone is going to like you, not everyone is going to root for you, and that can be very difficult in any setting. The music industry is very competitive and I’m still learning how to navigate the business, and always will be. There will be instances that are out of your control, no matter how frustrating or heartbreaking the circumstance, but the power you have is how you get back up stronger. I have had a lot of unexpected bumps along my journey, but they’ve led me to even more blessings that I am forever grateful for.
Most importantly if you show up everyday and give your best effort, no one can take that away from you. No one is perfect, but showing up to work everyday with passion, determination, and kindness is half the battle.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a music publicist, and have been training in my previous jobs to be in media marketing for several years. The goal of my job is to get to the heart of my clients’ stories and share their narratives with the world. Specifically, I have had the pleasure of working with musical artists and have gotten the opportunity to help brand stories around a song launch or album release, speaking with media outlets about why an artist matters and why their art matters.
I represent my artist, so I am tasked with prepping my clients with talking points and tips on how to speak with the media in an interview on camera. The ultimate goal of a publicist is to show your artist in the best light possible, to empower them to feel comfortable being their authentic selves on and offstage.
There have been many moments that I’ve been proud in my career so far, as I’ve been warmly embraced by several Nashville leaders over the last five years. A highlight for me was working the Toby Keith: American Icon special at Bridgestone Arena. I was asked to help onsite the day of the live show and was so nervous to mess up with a stacked lineup of top talent. I worked 14 hours that day and will never forget the emotions felt by the entire arena. The pureness of that show, and the hearts of the musicians, staff, and audiences who came together, were magical. I will never forget the sense of love I felt in the room from people from all different walks of life, honoring the legendary Toby Keith with his beloved classics. It was an honor to be there, and is something I will never forget.
One other highlight was getting a front seat to seeing artists sign their record deal and the cycle of developing their brand, through first projects, shows, and interviews. It is a heartwarming experience to be part of an artist’s first year of their professional music journey. There is such a huge transformation from the first moment you meet a new artist to a year into their career and it is one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever been through. I found myself memorizing my artists’ upbringings and struggles down to the exact word, and realized how much I wanted them to “win” at whatever goal they had. Whether it was getting a song on the radio, a number one album, or giving an interview that I knew would touch people – I gained a love for my artists and wanted to see them succeed every time.
What does success mean to you?
I believe the more you can learn and absorb from others, the more successful you will be in any aspect of life. There are several people who have made me a better person and professional because of the way they’ve helped me see multiple perspectives in any given situation. I truly feel that success comes from being willing to grow in the discomfort, and making the most of every experience you have. Showing resilience in every situation regardless of the outcome is guaranteed to make you feel successful. It will make you stronger and more confident in yourself and your abilities in life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @taylorsteele18
- Facebook: @taylor.steele.733
- LinkedIn: @taylor-ellen-steele
