ABOUT

Heather Vassar is the Senior Vice President, Nashville at EMPIRE, with over a decade of expertise in the music industry. She holds a Master's degree in Business. Heather began her career at Universal Music Group Nashville, where she excelled in digital marketing, advancing to lead strategic initiatives and research. During her six-year tenure, she focused on optimizing artist plans and leveraging competitive advantages. Heather contributed to digital strategies for top artists like George Strait, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, and Keith Urban.

In 2019, Heather joined EMPIRE to lead the establishment and growth of their Nashville division. She plays a pivotal role in operations, a&r, marketing, and promotion, overseeing a diverse roster including Shaboozey, Dolly Parton, CeCe, Niko Moon, Sophia Scott, Don Louis, JORDY, and Randy Houser. Under her leadership, EMPIRE Nashville has made history every single year. 

Heather's achievements include delivering the first-ever #1 record with an all-female team of producers, writers, and artists, and the first back-to-back #1 Billboard Hot Country songs by a Black artist from Beyonce and Shaboozey. She led a crossover hit "A Bar Song" to be top 10 on four major charts: Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay, and Rhythmic Airplay—an unprecedented accomplishment. EMPIRE also celebrated its first Billboard Hot 100 #1 and longest running in #1 history at 19 weeks under her guidance of the Nashville division. Celebrating over 1 Billion streams globally, "A Bar Song" celebrates 23 weeks at. #1 Billboard Hot Country Songs and #1 Billboard Hot 100 Canada for 25 weeks. Earning 6 Grammy nominations and winning People’s Choice Country Music Awards for Best New Artist. "A Bar Song," a record she worked on, simultaneously top sales, streams, and radio, a feat matched only by Adele's "Easy On Me" this decade and is now the #1 biggest country chart hit of the 2020s decade globally. It surpasses Morgan Wallen's “Last Night”. Vassar is a Leadership Nashville inductee and recent alumni into the Country Music Association's Leadership Academy. This year alone she's been featured in Billboard's Top 25 Movers & Shakers and Hits Noisemakers. To date, Vassar is an active member in many organizations including Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music Association, Recording Academy, and a 3x Billboard honoree (Women In Music, Indie Power Players, Country Power Players). 

Outside of her professional work, Heather is passionate about fitness, international travel, and spending time with family and friends. Her leadership approach is collaborative and rooted in empowerment, fostering innovation and inclusivity. As an executive, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Heather is driven to make a meaningful impact through her work and leadership. Beyond music, she is a community member or volunteer for organizations such as National Museum of African American Music, Broadway Dreams, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Corner to Corner Educational Reading.

Executive Summary

As an executive, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and former professional musician, I approach business with a unique blend of intellectual curiosity, passion, and personal experience. Motivated and experienced, I have a proven track record of success and thrive on leading teams and organizations to achieve their highest potential.

My leadership style is collaborative, empowering team members to excel in their roles while setting clear goals, establishing priorities, and monitoring progress to ensure objectives are met. Drawing from my extensive background in the entertainment industry, I bring valuable insights and strategic acumen to every project.

Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, I operate with an infinite mindset, always at the forefront of innovation and progress. Cultivating cultures of transparency, innovation, and inclusivity is a cornerstone of my leadership philosophy.

I am never complacent and consistently challenge others to infuse their passions into their work, emphasizing the intrinsic value they add beyond monetary compensation. My work is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of others and the world at large.