We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kortney Toney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kortney, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from knowing what my purpose and passion are in life. Knowing that is my “North Star” because it always comes back to that. Through prayer and faith, I know that God put me in this time and space to make an impact in many ways in entertainment. He has and continues to lead me in the right direction to do what I have been called to do in this lifetime, and with that and my ever-ceasing courage to never give up on my dreams and knowing the vision that I have set out for myself, my resilience can never be broken, it only gets stronger as the years go on.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Kortney Toney, and I am originally from Huntsville, Alabama. I was involved in the performing arts at a young age by attending magnet schools throughout my childhood. Having the foundation of performing through musical theatre and choral programs inspired something inside of me that set me on my path today. Additionally, I was a student of all kinds of music. After school and during the summers, I watched MTV, BET, and VH1, as well as hours of documentaries, while reading different stories of artists of all genres and executives in the industry. As I furthered my studies at Lambuth University, I garnered more knowledge of the industry’s business side, which helped set me on the path of music.
Since graduating, I have relentlessly pursued excellence in the music and film industries. Over the past decade, I have immersed myself in various roles in marketing, including traditional/digital/events marketing and branding, sponsorships, publicity, and project management. Today, in my current role at the Academy of Country Music, I am privileged to oversee programming and community engagement for the organization. This includes working with the Lifting Voices Council, LEVel Up Program, and the OnRamp program, a groundbreaking initiative that aims to create more inclusive opportunities for marginalized communities. Additionally, I have an incredible responsibility to help further the brand of the ACMs to the Nashville music and general community, as well as domestically and internationally.
Aside from my day job, I am always seeking to learn more creatively through writing and working on visual content. I also love watching documentaries and reading about them to sharpen my skills in the entertainment world. Equally important is being devoted to causes that give back to “be the change that I wish to see in the world.” I must create and spread positive change, especially in today’s world; having a seat at the table to speak up is incredibly important, especially for those coming behind you who are not at the table. We are more alike than we are different. Still, our differences are what not only can make us incredible human beings but also unique and powerful to one another, which can help enrich our skills and knowledge.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I had a dream, and I have been relentless in achieving it. I knew what I wanted to do early in life, and I have let nothing and no one stop me from going after it. Nothing will come to you without hard work, determination, and dedication to your craft.
In addition to reading, watching documentaries, and studying albums to know who the power players/executives were so that I could learn anything and everything from them, I still, to this day, seek out the veterans in the industry just to be able to soak up their wisdom and knowledge. A humble heart and spirit vs. arrogance will take you further than you can imagine. When you are willing to admit you don’t know everything and like listening to learn new things, it can be a fulfilling feeling. I want to be one of the best in the business, and I can do that while still being a kind and respectful human being.
Prayer. I must believe in the good moments and when I face adversity, knowing everything will work itself out.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
Several books have nurtured and guided me in ways I never thought a book could do. The first three that come to mind are “Q – The Autobiography of Quincy Jones.” I always tell people in and out of the music industry about this book’s power and magnificence. It is so good that it could be a class. Quincy is one of the first music industry executives I learned about and one of the biggest influences on my life. The respect and admiration I have for him is unparalleled.
The next one is “WILL” by Will Smith. Much like Quincy’s, this book is OUTSTANDING and has become a favorite of mine. It is written so incredibly well that, in my opinion, it should be required to be read in schools worldwide. It is a powerful read that gave me so much wisdom and inspired me to know that my dreams are possible, and I am not crazy about being unrelenting in going after them. The sacrifices I make will pay off in ways I will never imagine.
Lastly, my favorite entertainer, Janet Jackson, is why I work in the industry in many ways. Seeing her concert “The Velvet Rope” on television as a kid and seeing the marvelous theatrical production elements in her show transcended my mind to levels I still hold onto. “True You” by Janet Jackson was a spiritual read because it showed me how much we are alike as humans. I went through some personal things in my adolescence, like bullying, and through reading her book, I saw that even someone like Janet also went through things that mentally impacted her. It showed me that it is okay to put myself first, believe in yourself, and know that it is OK to feel the need to be special, but that must start within yourself.
A few extra books to check out would be “The Meaning of Mariah Carey by Mariah Carey,” “The Soundtrack of My Life” by Clive Davis, and “Hit Man” by David Foster.
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