Billboard: 2020 Country Power Players

Jennie Smythe
CEO, Girlilla Marketing

With the pandemic forcing promotion to go online, Smythe, 43, says her 12-year-old digital marketing agency — with clients including Jason Aldean, Hootie & The Blowfish, Chrissy Metz and Maddie & Tae — “has never been busier.” She notes that artists forced off the road have more availability for digital events. “On certain days, we can have seven-plus hours of livestreams or fan activations,” says Smythe. “It’s a case of lemons [and] lemonade.”

Change That Will Last: “Now that our clients are more comfortable [with online events] and see the results, we are optimistic they will continue being proactive.”