Mark Montgomery (entrepreneur)

Mark Anthony Montgomery

Mark Anthony Montgomery (born June 16, 1967) is an American entrepreneur best known for co-founding echomusic, which was sold to Ticketmaster/IAC in March 2007 for $25MM.

After selling echomusic, Montgomery went on to serve as Entrepreneur in Residence at Claritas Capital, sat on the Founding Board of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, founded flo{thinkery}, launched Blue Chair Bay Rum.

Currently Montgomery resides just outside Nashville with his daughter and fiancé.[1][2][3]

Career

In 1999, Montgomery and Neil Einstman, one of his partners in ChelseaMusic, formed echomusic, LLC, a digital marketing and distribution company which aimed to facilitate direct communication between artists and fans. Clients included Kelly Clarkson, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Casting Crowns, the Academy of Country Music, and the Gospel Music Channel.[4]

In 2007, echo attracted the attention of IAC/Ticketmaster, which purchased a majority interest in echo.[4][5] Montgomery left echo in 2009 to pursue other ventures.[6]

In 2007 Mongtomery was awarded the Nashville Business Journal's Entrepreneur of the Year.[7]

In the fall of 2013, Montgomery partnered up with Middle Tennessee State University's Music Business Department to teach a class revolving around the "New Music Business" and the marriage of music and technology.[8] Montgomery arranged for the students to receive mentorship through The Nashville Entrepreneurship Center, where Montgomery is a current member on the board of directors.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Nashville Entrepreneur Center announces leadership". www.bizjournals.com. January 13, 2010.
  2. ^ "Ticketmaster Announces Majority Investment in echomusic | IAC". www.iac.com. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  3. ^ McCarthy, Caroline. "Ticketmaster buys stake in Echomusic". CNET. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Waddell, Ray (March 27, 2007). "Ticketmaster ups presence in direct-to-fan arena". Reuters.
  5. ^ "Claritas Capital: Montgomery is now resident entrepreneur". March 2010.
  6. ^ "Montgomery To Exit Echo". January 29, 2009.
  7. ^ "Top 30 Influential Nashville Entrepreneurs".
  8. ^ "Entrepreneur creates new course for MTSU recording industry students".
  9. ^ "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on February 14, 2014.