NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 25, 2023) – 117 Entertainment owner Zach Farnum has announced the addition of Dave Felipe as Director of Publicity. Felipe will oversee all publicity initiatives for the company’s eclectic roster of clients, from Hall of Fame artists to award-winning brands and from highly-lauded No. 1 singer/songwriters to an exciting new crop of rising stars. Felipe joins the growing team which includes Publicity Manager, Jessica Vandergriff and Publicity and Tour Marketing Coordinator, Mae Dowda. He can be reached at dave@117group.com.
Dave Felipe brings with him more than two decades of high-level experience in public relations, media strategy and corporate communications along with a lifelong passion for music. Dave began his professional career in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where, among other things, he helped develop and lead expansive business policy and political PR initiatives – both “inside the Beltway” and nationwide – for one of the country’s most influential lobbying organizations. He then lived in New York City for nearly seven years, working as the Director of Communications for an emerging e-commerce company while simultaneously pursuing his own musical endeavors as an independent singer/songwriter and recording artist.
Since moving to Nashville in 2013, Dave has channeled his love of music into meaningful and impactful work in the music industry. He spent more than six years as the Publicist for the GRAMMY®-winning Nashville Symphony, where he worked with Miranda Lambert, Roger Waters, Yo-Yo Ma and scores of other acclaimed artists across numerous musical genres and spearheaded the communications efforts for several special projects and programs, notably the historic Violins of Hope Nashville initiative in 2018. And prior to coming to 117 Entertainment, Dave was the Public Relations Manager for the Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC), the nonprofit established by Congress to ensure songwriters, composers, lyricists, music publishers and other rights holders receive all of the royalties they’re owed for streams and downloads of their music in the U.S.
“I am beyond excited about joining the talented team at 117 Entertainment and the opportunity to serve and advocate for such an incredible array of artists and groups. Zach has created something really special here that I’m proud to be a part of, and I see tremendous promise in each and every one of 117’s clients. I look forward to working alongside Zach, Jess and Mae to deliver on that promise and build on 117 Entertainment’s outstanding reputation,” said Felipe.
“Dave is the prime person to grow our rockstar team with! I am pumped to welcome him and continue to build the powerhouse that is 117 Entertainment – a team of incredibly passionate and talented individuals working together to bring the most impact to our clients,” said Zach Farnum, adding, “his experience and wealth of knowledge, along with his authentic media relationships in Nashville and around the country are already elevating us to a whole new level.”
117 Entertainment manages the careers of David Nail, Bobby Bare, Scooter Brown Band and Karissa Ella. 117 Publicity represents those artists along with Randy Travis, Jo Dee Messina, Adam Hood, Lee Roy Parnell, War Hippies, Emily Ann Roberts, Chuck Negron from Three Dog Night, the estates of Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, David Tucker, Hobbs Sisters and Timmy Brown along with Icon Entertainment Group’s portfolio including House of Cards, the Johnny Cash Museum, Johnny Cash Bar & BBQ, Nudie’s Honky Tonk, the Patsy Cline Museum, Skull’s Rainbow Room, Sinatra Bar and Lounge and more on the way in 2023.
About 117 Entertainment
117 Entertainment Group is a multi-faceted entertainment firm specializing in publicity and marketing campaigns for musicians, events and brands as well as artist management and development. The team’s unique approach centers around the artist as a brand, utilizing new and traditional outreach methods, taking full advantage of broad opportunities to influence and stretch results beyond expectations. 117 boasts an impressive and eclectic roster of clients, from Hall of Fame artists to award-winning brands and from highly-lauded No. 1 singer/songwriters to an exciting new crop of rising stars. Founded by Zach Farnum, the group is one of the fastest-rising companies in Nashville and recognized by industry professionals across the country with a major presence in New York and Los Angeles.
