MEET THE TEAM

Leigh Shockey is the founder and owner of Melody Place, the independent music company she launched in 2018 to build a platform rooted in long-term artist development, creative collaboration, and catalog stewardship. Headquartered in Nashville, Melody Place has grown under Shockey’s ownership into a multifaceted company spanning recorded music, publishing, and theatrical production, with a roster that bridges legacy artists, emerging talent, and Broadway talent. Shockey’s approach to Melody Place is shaped by both unique creative and disciplined business leadership. Before founding the company, she studied live show production and studio engineering, by working closely with her friend and mentor David Gest on productions featuring Motown icons including The Stylistics, Dennis Edwards and The Temptations, Peabo Bryson, and Lamont Dozier, as well as assisting on Cliff Richard’s Memphis-recorded album Soulicious. Those formative experiences established her artist-first philosophy and hands-on creative sensibility. In 2023, Shockey initiated a strategic rebrand and expansion of Melody Place, appointing Sanborn “Sandy” McGraw as President and General Manager to steward the company’s next phase of growth. Under her ownership, Melody Place made its first major signing of the new era with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, developing multiple new recorded-music projects for the Opry star. Shockey also led the company into a high-profile partnership with David Foster and the creative team behind Boop! The Musical, co-producing the Broadway production and releasing its cast album. After a critically acclaimed Chicago run, Boop! opened on Broadway, earning three Tony Award nominations along with multiple Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, and launching Jasmine Amy Rogers, named a New York Times Breakout Star of the Year, who signed with Melody Place in late 2024 to develop her solo recording career. Shockey continues to broaden Melody Place’s creative reach with the signing of Katharine McPhee, rising country artist Braden Hull who debuted in the Top 50 on the MusicRow radio chart and the launch of the company’s publishing division with acclaimed songwriter Melody Federer as its first independent signing. She is also overseeing the release of Dan Seals & Friends: The Last Duet, an upcoming duets album slated for release in August 2026. The project pairs the late Dan Seals’ original vocals with newly recorded performances from an all-star lineup including Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Marie Osmond, Tanya Tucker, Jamey Johnson, Alabama, and others, The project underscores Melody Place’s growing influence in legacy and crossover country music at the highest level.

Sanborn “Sandy” McGraw is President and General Manager of Melody Place, where he is leading the label’s evolution into a modern, artist-development-driven company operating across recorded music, publishing, and theatrical production. After early career roles in artist management, touring, and catalog development - including executive roles at Woodward Avenue Records and managing global touring operations for Michael Feinstein and Liza Minnelli. McGraw relocated to Nashville and co-founded Upper M.G.T. with business partner, Tony Gottlieb, where they oversee the management and music administration for the estates of “England” Dan Seals, Lou Busch, and Richard and Margaret Whiting amongst others. In 2023, Melody Place founder Leigh Shockey appointed McGraw to helm the newly rebranded label, where his first major signing was multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans. In partnership with Evans’ Born to Fly Records, Melody Place is developing multiple new recorded-music projects that mark a renewed creative chapter for the artist. McGraw has since expanded the roster to include Katharine McPhee, who is recording new original material in Nashville, and emerging country artist Braden Hull, who launched his solo career with a Top 50 debut on the MusicRow radio chart and the launch of the company’s publishing division with acclaimed songwriter Melody Federer as its first independent signing. Under McGraw’s leadership, Melody Place entered a landmark partnership with David Foster and the creative team behind Boop! The Musical, co-producing the Broadway production and releasing its cast album. Following a critically acclaimed Chicago engagement, Boop! opened on Broadway, earning three Tony Award nominations along with multiple Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards and is now anticipating the launch of US National Tour. The show’s original lead, Jasmine Amy Rogers, was named a New York Times Breakout Star of the Year for her Tony-nominated performance and signed with Melody Place in late 2024, where she is now developing a major solo music career. McGraw is also spearheading Melody Place’s expansion into large-scale legacy projects with one of the label’s most ambitious projects to date, Dan Seals & Friends: The Last Duet, a major album release slated for August 2026 featuring Dan Seals’ original vocals alongside new collaborations with Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Marie Osmond, Tanya Tucker, Jamey Johnson, Alabama, and others, positioning Melody Place as a significant force in legacy and crossover country music.

Tony Gottlieb is a lifelong veteran of the entertainment industry, specializing in artist management and music publishing. While still a teenager living in Los Angeles, Tony worked for Henry Mancini’s Northridge Music Group, the international publishing operation for Henry Mancini, Marvin Hamlisch, Livingston & Evans, Bobby Gentry, and more. After leaving Mancini’s office, Tony worked as a studio engineer and assistant on a wide range of artists' album projects, including Iggy Pop, Chuck Berry, Waylon Jennings, and Bobby Caldwell.   In 1979, Tony relocated to Nashville and set up Morningstar Management's operations with business partner Kyle Lehning. The partnership comprised independent publishing administration, record production, artist management, music direct marketing, and in-house data systems development. Tony and Kyle were integral in the careers of “England” Dan Seals, Randy Travis, Kathy Baillie, Cheryl Wheeler, Walter Hyatt, and numerous independent songwriters over the course of their 13-year partnership.   Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, Tony continued to operate Morningstar, working as personal manager for Dan Seals and Cheryl Wheeler. After Dan Seals’ death in 2009, Tony began devoting more time to advocating for the protection of intellectual property rights and copyright reform, regularly serving as an expert witness and litigation consultant in royalty and copyright infringement matters.   In 2019, Tony joined forces with Sandy McGraw, forming Upper M.G.T., an Artist Management and Music Administration firm handling the estates of “England” Dan Seals, Lou Busch, Richard and Margaret Whiting, and active clients Cheryl Wheeler and Garrett Clayton.   As of 2023, Tony and Sanborn have expanded their partnership, operating the boutique record label Melody Place LLC alongside Chairman/founder Leigh Shockey.

Kacey Flory is a digital marketing strategist specializing in music, entertainment, and fan community development. With nearly a decade of experience, Flory began her career running fan accounts in high school before turning her passion for music fandom and online culture into a profession – a foundation that continues to shape every campaign she builds today. Flory spent more than seven years at Crowd Surf, rising from Digital Marketing Assistant to Director of Marketing & Management, where she developed and executed campaigns for some of the entertainment industry's most recognized names. At Melody Place, she leads digital marketing and social promotion across the company's growing roster of artists and entertainment ventures. Her client work has spanned major label rosters including Interscope Records, MCA, and BBR Music Group, across a wide range of genres. Her experience includes working with global pop artists including Camila Cabello and other artists at the forefront of pop music, country and Nashville-rooted acts, K-pop idols, iconic legacy acts including New Kids on the Block, Broadway and stage talent Joshua Henry, chart-topping Christian artists including Anne Wilson, and comedians Atsuko Okatsuka and Jim Gaffigan.  Known for her instinctive understanding of fan communities and digital culture, Flory has helped launch and manage more than ten official HQ fan communities, several of which have grown to audiences in the millions. Her expertise spans digital rollouts, social growth strategy, artist-to-fan engagement, short-form content, email and SMS marketing, merchandise launches, and audience development across platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Discord, and Meta. A proud member of the Academy of Country Music Class of 2025, Flory continues to deepen her roots in the Nashville music community while raising the bar for what fan-centered digital marketing can achieve.

John Butler is a highly respected music executive with deep expertise in artist development, promotion, sync, curation, and strategic services. Over more than two decades at major record labels, including TVT Records, Jive Records, Arista Records, and Curb Records, he served in senior promotion leadership roles and contributed to more than 50 No. 1 songs across multiple genres. His work helped shape both the commercial growth and creative identity of several influential artist-development eras. John played a key role in the early airplay, marketing, and commercial breakthrough of artists including Nine Inch Nails, Jars of Clay, Aaliyah, MercyMe, LeAnn Rimes, Switchfoot, Chevelle, Sixpence None the Richer, Lee Brice, Wynonna Judd, Hank Williams III, and Tim McGraw, among many others. He later transitioned to Spotify, where he held a global editorial and curation role across Pop and Christian/Gospel genres. In addition to helping shape user-facing music experiences and ecosystem strategy, he developed and guided more than 100 public playlists. His editorial work included influential playlists such as Chill Hits, Top Christian, Rhythm & Praise, Weekend Hangouts, and Soft Pop Hits. He also created Just Good Music, Spotify’s first adult pop-focused playlist, which became an influential crossover platform for emerging and established artists alike. Following Spotify, John founded PATH, an artist-services and advisory company focused on catalog management, curation, artist development, promotion, and strategic partnerships. Through PATH and subsequent advisory work, he has collaborated with management companies, independent labels, and music-tech partners, while also serving in advisory capacities with Songtradr and Blackground Records.

A seasoned entertainment executive with roots in both television and radio, she has built a career at the intersection of programming, marketing, operations, and artist‑driven storytelling. Her path spans major media brands — from serving as Vice President of Programming for Universal Music Group’s Global Streaming Marketing team to leading broadcast and radio affiliations for MTV tr3́s and MTV2 at Viacom. Her broadcast journey includes key roles at The Box Music Network, Evergreen Media Corporation, and 92.3 The Beat in Los Angeles, along with celebrated on‑air and programming positions at KOST 103 Los Angeles, WABC New York, WPGC Washington, D.C., and WIFI 92 Philadelphia. She was WABC’s first and only female on‑air personality during its Top 40 era and has earned numerous industry honors. A Leadership Music alumna, she has contributed her expertise to the boards of Leadership Music and The Arc of Davidson County.