Andrew Kautz launched Kautz & Associates in Nashville. The bespoke consulting firm serves a small group of hand-selected private clients.
What We Know Kautz built a three-decade career at the music industry’s operational heart. He worked his way up from college intern to Chief Operating Officer at Emerald Sound Studios. Later, Scott Borchetta brought him on as Big Machine’s first hire in 2005. For the next 20 years, Kautz served as General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, and President of Label Operations. The pair scaled Big Machine into the world’s most successful independent record label. Most recently, he led Strategy & Operations at HYBE Label Service. His new firm advises labels, founders, investors, artists, and their management teams. He offers counsel on operations, publishing, distribution, royalties, catalog, rights, finance, M&A, and business development. Prospective clients can reach him at andrew@kautz.llc.
What’s at Stake The music industry faces unprecedented complexity alongside genuine opportunity. Technology now shapes the business as much as talent does. Industry leaders currently face critical decisions about their strategies and operations. Kautz’s deep operational expertise directly addresses these pressing challenges for executives.
What Remains Unclear The firm hasn’t disclosed its specific client roster publicly yet. Pricing models and engagement structures remain unannounced at launch. It’s unclear how his positioning compares to existing advisory practices in music.
What It Means Veteran executives increasingly build boutique consulting practices in music. This trend reflects how technology reshapes industry structures and demands. As the landscape shifts, specialized advisors help organizations navigate transitions effectively. Kautz’s “depth over volume” positioning represents a broader movement toward high-touch consulting in music.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.