Inspiring Conversations with Jacquelyn Marushka of MARUSHKA MEDIA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacquelyn Marushka.

Hi Jacquelyn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m a creative entrepreneur with nearly 30 years of experience in story development, public relations, brand building, and growing successful businesses. I founded Marushka Media, a boutique PR, and Branding agency, in 2016, and my team and I create and execute career-enhancing PR and marketing campaigns for clients in the entertainment and non-profit arenas.

Before I stepped out on my own to launch the first and only Hispanic/*Latine woman-owned PR company across the country music and Americana genres, I started and led Shore Fire Media’s Nashville office (known for Bruce Springsteen, Lana Del Rey, and others) as GM (2013-2016). Prior to that, I led a division of Sony Music Entertainment as one of its youngest Vice Presidents and its first divisional VP of Public Relations. I handled PR for the division’s distribution company with more than 40 recording artists across five record labels, a publishing company, a film company, and corporate communications.

Deadlines loomed, album release dates shifted and artists’ schedules changed — constantly. What that taught me was the value of balance, and how much I enjoyed mentoring up-and-coming talent and helping others refine their stories. It also taught me the importance of giving back to the people and organizations that make my home states (Tennessee and New Mexico) healthy, beautiful and interesting.

Now, I make time to serve as a board member for the Americana Music Association, MADD Tennessee, and the Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce (TLACC). I mentor women and college students in TLACC affiliated organizations, Ella and Futuro, and in May 2021, I was nominated by Nashville’s Mayor, John Cooper, for appointment to the city’s Auditorium Commission.

One of my proudest moments to date has been the curating and hosting of the first-ever Latine Panel at the Americana Music Association’s Festival and Conference (Sept. 2021) with the moderator, Felix Contreras of NPR, Raul Malo of the Mavericks, folk artist Phoebe Hunt, and iconic recording and touring artist, Tish Hinojosa.

This was the first time in the 20+ year history of the organization that Spanish language music and culture were a focal point. We explored what it means to be a Latine artist through the eyes and journeys of this esteemed panel of new and established artists.

I am a founding board member of Small World Yoga and helped start the Music City Yoga Festival. As a certified Yoga and Pilates instructor, I invest in the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned youth through yoga programs I founded at Monroe Harding and Rocketown, non-profit organizations that serve at-risk youth in Tennessee.

I’m a Leadership Music alum (2004), a member of The Recording Academy, Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, the American Association of Independent Music, and I proudly serve on the Academy Awards (Oscars) Public Relations team.

I grew up in the small farming community of Velarde, NM. The star-filled skies taught me to dream big. The snake-filled mountains taught me to be present and alert. The flavor and color of our green chile and apple orchard harvest fed my love of light and story. As a student at Saint Catherine’s Indian School, and a graduate of Espanola Valley High School and the University of New Mexico, I learned the richness of cultural diversity, and how adversity can strengthen you — if you let it.

Helping others become the best versions of themselves is not just a calling for me, but a blessing, and I live each day rooted in gratitude and possibility.

For more about what our clients are up to, please visit marushkamedia.com

Also… Marushka Media has chosen to use “e” in place of the Spanish-language masculine “o” to recognize the fluidity of gender that exists beyond this gender binary. We are committed to inclusion and recognize the contributions of all persons.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m a “glass overflowing” type person. I see every day, every breath, and every intersection as an opportunity and I only ever expect great things to happen – every single day. To answer your question though, the biggest challenge I remember from early in my career was thinking a project or client was “family” so to speak.

I’d worked with an artist that I’d poured hours of creativity, research, writing work, and relationship “favors” into. This yielded national TV, radio, print, and talk radio that led to a milestone album launch and a record deal. As soon as that deal was signed, the artist’s manager called to say they weren’t renewing my contract. Why? The artist rep said they were just taking a break to record another album and didn’t need the support for at least another year. This made no sense to me because we were on a roll of interviews generated by my initial campaign launch.

Later I found out what really happened. A competitor offered to work for free for a few months, then undercut my fee (by more than half) every month after that. Was I upset? No, but I was disappointed in the artist and their team for lying to me. I’d thought more highly of them.

Here’s the GREAT news though — my campaign spoke for itself and I ended up getting more work because of it. So, anything can be a “glass overflowing” situation if you choose to see it that way!

As you know, we’re big fans of MARUSHKA MEDIA. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
What should we know? My business is rooted in the personal mission statement I developed during a six-month Yoga Teacher Training program in 2012: Help others become the best versions of themselves.

What sets Marushka Media apart from other Public Relations and/or Branding agencies is I focus uniquely on story and client/project differentiation. Each campaign is custom to each client or project. That’s how you build a brand.

There’s a lot of buzz on social media and online about “branding.” There are even courses you can take from “branding experts” who claim to have turnkey strategies you can use to build your social media following. The thing is, branding isn’t turnkey and it isn’t something you can really know after taking one online course. It’s personal and requires listening, breaking apart old thought processes, and vision casting… all before you can start thinking of what your “brand ” is.

What I’m most proud of is being the first Hispanic, woman-owned Entertainment PR/Branding agency in the Middle Tennessee area. My hope is I won’t be the only one for long.

My grandpa Mike, my hero, encouraged me to work hard and stay focused. I know he’d be proud.

What matters most to you?
Integrity. If you don’t have integrity, you don’t have anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marushkamedia.com