Trailblazers Archives
    Sheroes Archives
    Rocks Archives

Richard Nash
Sr. Vice President R&B Promotion - Elektra Entertainment

If you are in the radio promotions game or claim to know anything about it, then you are aware that Richard Nash is one of the most respected individuals in the promotions business period. With 20 years of experience, Nash knows radio promotions like a historian knows history. Hailing from Ithaca, New York, the promotions veteran graduated from Syracuse University with a BS in Telecommunications and Marketing in 1980, and has been rolling hard ever since.

 

Nash began his label career in Cleveland as the Midwest Local Promotions Manager for Atlantic Records. Over the course of 15 years, he continued to move up within the ranks of Atlantic. From Local Manager to Regional Manager, in 1986 Sylvia Rhone (then VP of Promotions) brought Nash to the New York office as the National Director of Promotions. Working with such artists as Brandy, Dr. Dre, Snoop (Doggy Dogg), Intro, The System, EnVogue and Gerald Levert, Nash was elevated to Vice President and finally to Senior Vice-President of Promotions before joining Elektra Entertainment Group in 1995.

 

As the Senior Vice-President of Black Music Promotion for EEG, Nash is the glue that holds everything together. Whether it is charting a record on established artists like Missy Elliott, Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat, garnering BDS spins on developing artists like Lil Mo, Rell and Fabolous, or providing opportunities for his staff to advance and develop, Nash is affectionately known at the company as the go-to man for any marketing strategy or plan that needs to be effectively executed. Nash jests that his philosophy is “work til you drop dead,” but in reality, his work ethic is incomparable.

 

"With the promotions staff, it’s not just about going in and getting the record played. It is about marketing yourself, the company and marketing the artist outside of the company marketing plan," notes Nash. “Overall, if you have everyone informed who’s out there fighting in the trenches, and communicating what is going on, that is only going to motivate them to work that much harder…The promotions staff has to be in alignment with how the company is focused and rolling” declares the natural born leader.

 

Nash is inspired by and encouraging toward his staff members. Co Vice-Presidents, Michelle Madison and Mike Kelly are his right and left hands that help him keep the staff motivated and inspired. “It is incumbent upon me to give them the best opportunity” states the teacher who practices what he preaches. In addition to his senior level staff, Nash also acknowledges Monique Davis, Colleen Wilson, Brian St. John and Courtney Powell as executives on the rise, "it is important for me to be able to extend knowledge and the resources so that they will have the opportunity to go out there and be their own men and women in the business," declares Nash.

 

Not only is Nash a great promotions executive, outside of the office he is a doting husband and father. Married for eleven years and father for six, Nash cites wife Vida and son Ryan as his greatest sources of strength. "Having my family life in proper perspective helps me in my business…Without them, it’s like you’re Superman and you have to deal with the kryptonite everyday."

 

As the record business continues to evolve, Nash’s perspective remains optimistic, “I try to maintain a positive outlook and frame of mind. As long as you keep that positive frame of mind, you’re going to be able to go in and do the job that’s necessary. I do have dreams so does help me continue to go on.” With his wisdom and experience, Richard remains elektrafying Nash.



About Us | Features | Membership | Programs & Services | Events | Contact