Life & Work with Katie Joy Allen of Nashville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Joy Allen

Hi Katie Joy, 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?
My journey in the music industry has been fueled by a lifelong love for music and a fascination with how it connects people. It began with singing, something I have been passionate about from a young age. I first found myself drawn to the world of classical music and opera, which led me to the Eastman School of Music to study opera performance. Eastman offered the intensive classical training I was looking for and a community of like-minded artists. Studying there deepened my vocal technique and gave me an appreciation for the discipline and emotional depth required in classical performance.

As much as I loved singing, I became curious about the broader music industry. I wanted to learn more about how music reaches listeners, how artists build careers, and how audiences engage with their favorite songs and performers. I realized that while my heart was in performing, I was equally interested in understanding the business side of music. I wanted to know how artists could make a lasting impact and how I could contribute to that. This realization led me to leave Eastman and shift my focus, looking for a path where I could balance performance with a deeper dive into the music business.

This curiosity brought me to Belmont University, where I am currently majoring in Music Business with a minor in Music Production and Social Media Management. Belmont offered the perfect mix: a chance to study the business side of the industry in one of the music capitals of the world, Nashville, while also keeping up with my performance interests on the side. Through Belmont’s hands-on courses like Digital Audio Workstation Production, Music Publishing, Record Label Operations, Digital Music Marketing, Music Supervision and Sync, and Audio Engineering, I’ve gained invaluable insights into both the creative and commercial aspects of the industry. These classes taught me the ins and outs of music production and gave me a strong technical foundation for understanding how music is crafted, distributed, and monetized.

Alongside my studies, I’ve built experience in social media and marketing, which has become a focus of my work in the industry. I currently manage social media for several brands and artists such as Minor Jewelry, Nancy Gent, Belmont Ambassadors, Sodexo-Belmont Dining, and Candy Fernaux. Working with brands like a local jewelry store on 12 South and a local country artist’s online presence, I learned how to develop content that resonates, building authentic connections between artists, businesses, and their followers. Creating engaging visuals and posts that people connect with has been incredibly rewarding, as it combines my creativity with the strategic side of marketing.

I also run my own business, Katie Joy Media, where I offer freelance services in music production, social media management, graphic design, and consulting. Through Katie Joy Media, I also teach voice, music theory, and music production lessons. This venture has allowed me to share my skills, work one-on-one with artists and clients, and help others reach their creative goals. It has also given me hands-on experience in running a business, from client relations to project management, which has been invaluable as I explore my career path.

In addition, I serve as VP of Marketing and Communication for the Belmont Ambassadors, an organization that works to support Belmont’s mission and connect with the student, alumni, and donor community. In this role, I’ve led initiatives to expand our social media presence and engage more students with Belmont’s mission, honing my skills in both leadership and community engagement. I’m also a member of industry groups like GrammyU, CMA, Music Row Promo, Women in Entertainment, and Women in Audio, where I’ve had the chance to learn from industry professionals and grow my network. Each of these experiences has taught me new ways to approach the business side of music and shown me how marketing and social media can help artists succeed.

Even as I pursue the business side of music, I continue to perform, write, and release my own music. I’ve also shared fully produced covers on my YouTube channel, allowing me to stay connected to my roots and to keep expressing myself creatively. My journey has been a blend of classical training and modern music experience, each step building on the last. I’m driven by a commitment to artistry, creativity, and finding new ways to connect artists with their audiences. Moving forward, I’m excited to keep supporting artists through digital marketing, artist management, or music publishing, bringing my blend of creativity, strategy, and industry knowledge to help them reach their fullest potential.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey to where I am today has been anything but smooth, requiring considerable resilience and dedication. One of the greatest challenges I encountered occurred during my time at the Eastman School of Music. Unbeknownst to me, my dormitory—and the conservatory overall—had a severe mold and dust issue, resulting in my diagnosis with acute mold toxicity poisoning. This illness affected me for 17 weeks, during which time I was unable to speak, let alone sing, due to its impact on my vocal and respiratory health. This period was particularly difficult, as it forced me to withdraw from my coursework and prevented me from completing the semester.

This experience was deeply distressing, both physically and emotionally. Music has always been a fundamental part of my identity, and suddenly, I found myself unable to perform or even communicate vocally. Following this semester, I took additional time away to focus on recovery. Though a challenging journey, this time allowed me to reassess my aspirations and ultimately solidified my interest in exploring the music industry beyond performance.

Once I regained my health, I chose to transfer to Belmont University to pursue a curriculum that would allow me to engage with both music performance and the music business. This experience has taught me the importance of perseverance, and although the journey has been challenging, it has strengthened my resolve to succeed in the music industry and to share my story with others facing unexpected adversities.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As an artist and creative professional, my work centers on music and media production, with a specialization in social media marketing and artist development within the music industry. I’m currently majoring in Music Business with a minor in Music Production and Social Media Management at Belmont University. My work spans from creating original music and fully produced covers to designing impactful marketing content for various brands and artists.

Through my business, Katie Joy Media, I provide freelance music production, social media management, consulting, and teach voice, music theory, and music production lessons. This venture has allowed me to collaborate closely with artists and clients, helping them to develop their unique sound, create compelling visuals, and strategize to engage audiences effectively. I’m most proud of the growth I’ve seen in both my clients and myself as I’ve built this business and contributed to a wide range of creative projects.

What sets me apart is my ability to bridge the gap between the artistic and business sides of the industry. My background in classical music and opera has given me a strong technical foundation and discipline in performance, which I carry into my modern marketing and production work. Additionally, I have firsthand experience overcoming significant personal and professional challenges, such as recovering from mold toxicity poisoning, which taught me resilience and reinforced my commitment to the industry.

My focus on immersive audio, visual aesthetics, and personalized artist development sets my approach apart, as I strive to not only produce high-quality music and content but also to create meaningful connections with audiences. I am dedicated to helping artists find their voice in a competitive industry, and I’m excited to continue evolving my career with a blend of creativity, technical expertise, and a passion for empowering others.

Any big plans?
In the future, I envision myself working in the music industry in a dynamic role, ideally at a record label, publishing company, or sync company. While I’m open to various paths within the industry, I am especially drawn to roles in digital music marketing, where I can combine my interests in marketing strategy, music production, and artist development. However, with my diverse skill set and genuine excitement for the industry, I’m open to exploring other roles as well. What’s most important to me is to be part of the music world in a meaningful way, contributing to the industry’s growth and supporting artists in reaching their potential.

Alongside a full-time position, I plan to continue my work in social media management, music production, and performance as additional income streams. Running Katie Joy Media has shown me the value of diversifying my skills, and I’m excited to maintain these creative outlets as I grow professionally. Each of these aspects—whether working on social media campaigns, producing music, or performing—has been instrumental in building my expertise, and I plan to continue nurturing them as they bring balance and variety to my career.

In the near future, I am especially looking forward to studying abroad in London this upcoming May. I’ll be participating in a specialized immersive audio program where I will learn dolby atmos and have the opportunity to write, record, mix, and master my own projects in famous studios such as Abbey Road. This experience will allow me to deepen my understanding of immersive audio technology, a field I am very passionate about, and it’s one that I hope to bring back into my work in Nashville.

With so many avenues to explore, I am eager to see where life takes me and to find my place in the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry. The combination of my academic, professional, and personal experiences has prepared me for a wide range of roles, and I’m excited about the journey ahead.

Pricing:

• $50 an hour for vocal, music production, theory, or music industry lessons
• $60 an hour for social media consulting
• $25 per Social Media Post Graphic Design
• $ Varies Music Production

Contact Info:

• Website: https://katiejoyallen.wixsite.com/page/About
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiejoyallen_/ and https://www.instagram.com/katiejoymedia/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@katiejoyallen_