DreamMaker Terry Hudson sits down with Mark Hollingsworth, a Nashville-based music industry veteran whose career spans artist management, publishing, label leadership, writing, and consulting. Over the years, Mark has guided the careers of well-known artists including Petra, Steve Taylor, and Sixpence None The Richer, while also mentoring countless emerging musicians navigating the industry. In this conversation, Mark shares his journey through the highs and challenges of the business, the evolution of Nashville as a global music hub, and how faith and creativity intersect in sustaining artists for the long haul. From stories of artist development to predictions on where the industry is headed with streaming, social media, and AI, this episode is packed with wisdom for musicians, entrepreneurs, and dreamers alike. Whether you’re an indie artist trying to find your way, or simply curious about the engine that drives Nashville’s music culture, you’ll find inspiration and practical takeaways here.
Mark Hollingsworth: Nashville’s Evolution, Artist Management & Creative Faith
About Me – Mark Hollingsworth
Mark Hollingsworth has a varied background in the music industry that started during his college years in Chicago in the mid-70s. He promoted dozens of concerts on campus and at area venues, ran a booking agency representing 19 artists nationally from his dorm room, and his Radio Broadcasting degree led to him to working after graduation as a DJ/music director at four different rock stations around the Windy City. By his early twenties he also started work as a rock journalist, doing artist interviews, album reviews, and features for local publications along with dozens of national magazines like Billboard, Radio & Records, Cashbox, Walrus, Harmony, and was even a regular contributor to National Lampoon. In the early 80s he became Marketing Director for a 7 store chain called Dog Ear Records in northern Illinois, and that led to him being hired by a label out of Nashville to become their Midwest Marketing Manager.
He eventually was promoted to Music City, which evolved into him becoming manager for the Christian rock band, Petra. That group grew from selling 80,000 albums in their first decade of existence, to selling 2 million in the 3 years that Mark was at the helm, while packing out 450 shows (including arenas) all over the globe. He has also promoted over 800 concerts, booked another thousand, and his travels have taken him to 54 countries, and all 50 states. He self-published a memoir, “Embracing the Gray,” that ended up on several of Amazon’s best seller lists. Mark has managed other artists along the way, including Sixpence None the Richer, Steve Taylor, Joe English, Smalltown Poets, and Neal Morse who have combined for millions more in album sales, 8 Grammy nominations, 27 Dove Award nominations, (winning 3 and 14, respectively), numerous #1 singles and albums, as well as more sold-out international tours. Mark has just agreed to become manager of The River Cryers, much of it due to long- standing friendship and trust (some going back 4 decades) with the members of the band.
Mark Hollingsworth: Building Art That Lasts
An inspiring conversation on music, work ethic, and fan engagement
On this episode of Local Music Somewhere, host Terry Hudson sat down with legendary manager and entrepreneur Mark Hollingsworth to talk about the art of balancing creativity, business, and purpose in the music industry.
Neil Morse, Work Ethic & Fan Engagement
Mark shared insights from his work with Neil Morse, whose commitment to excellence has led to the creation of MorseFest, an annual three-night festival near Nashville. Fans come from across the globe, paying premium ticket prices to enjoy album performances, Q&A sessions, and shared meals with the band. The success of events like MorseFest shows that fans want to spend money on artists — just not always in the traditional album-buying way.
Takeaway: Fan engagement done well can replace traditional gatekeepers and create thriving revenue streams for artists.
Creativity Meets Business
Mark stressed that the artists who succeed long-term are those who combine strong creative vision with serious work ethic. He encourages musicians to refine their craft, rehearse extensively, and take audience experience seriously. This level of preparation leads to stronger recordings, better live shows, and loyal fans.
Charlotte’s Growing Music Scene
Mark and Terry discussed how Charlotte is emerging as a music city, citing events that now bring in major industry voices like the President of the Recording Academy and John Huey. Mark sees parallels to Nashville’s evolution into a multi-genre hub for music production.
Spotlight: The River Cryers
Mark is currently managing The River Cryers, a supergroup formed during the pandemic by Billy Smiley (Whiteheart), Dan Hasseltine (Jars of Clay), Ron Hemby (The Imperials), Steve Hindalong (The Choir), and Matt Nelson (composer for The Chosen).
The band collaborated remotely during lockdowns, writing and recording songs that capture a relaxed Americana sound. Their debut album is currently being shopped to labels, with live shows and a full digital rollout in the works.
Fun Fact: A River Criers song was recently featured in Lionsgate’s The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, opening new doors for sync opportunities.
Building a Career Beyond Viral Moments
Mark emphasized that sustainable careers come from authenticity rather than chasing trends. Artists like River Criers, Neil Morse, and Steve Taylor have created music true to themselves — and found an audience that resonates with it.
Quote from Mark:
“When you build the art right, you can always find a tribe. Create something meaningful first, then get great at marketing — or find someone who is.”
Purpose, Faith & Music
As someone who has managed Christian and mainstream artists, Mark spoke about the tension between commerce, art, and faith — and how difficult it can be to balance them. He prefers to work on projects with universal themes that can reach the widest possible audience, while still reflecting the artists’ life experiences and values.
Social Media & Direct-to-Fan Connection
Looking back on his days managing Petra, Mark recalled how they built a 400,000-person mailing list by collecting fan info at shows — the “social media” of its day. His advice for today’s musicians:
- Collect fan data everywhere you can. Emails and contact lists are priceless.
- Super-serve your superfans. They’ll support you financially when you make them feel part of the journey.
- Show up for your audience. Stay after shows, sign autographs, and create memorable moments.
Key Lessons for Artists
- Focus on quality first. Unique, well-crafted music draws attention.
- Engage directly with fans. Build community and make them feel valued.
- Don’t chase trends. Create authentic work that stands the test of time.
- Leverage new tools. Social media and streaming let you bypass old gatekeepers.
- Balance art, business, and purpose. Your career will be stronger for it.
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