Gina Waters Miller, Vice President & General Manager of Entertainment One Nashville, Music
Gina Waters Miller has been passionate about music and writing for as long as she can remember. "Poetry and music were an escape turned form of communication for me. Instead of running away and getting lost in words and music, I began running with them and I found my strength and voice. My words said what my mind was thinking, and music expressed what my heart felt!"
Born into a family of classically trained musicians who also played music for their church, Gina grew up around music all of her life. Her maternal grandmother played piano with a style reminiscent of Scott Joplin's ragtime and taught all 10 of her children to play piano. Gina's Mississippi-born paternal grandmother played the piano with a bluesy style straight from a Delta juke joint. Her mother was the church pianist for many years at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Memphis, TN, as well as a career school teacher and head of a home with a living room that held two pianos. Then there was Gina’s father who enjoyed his 8-tracks and vinyl records and had a love of everything from the London Philharmonic, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Al Green, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Miles Davis, Mahalia to Lou Rawls, Kenny Rogers and so much more.
Music was a present force around Gina. With parents who shared a love of music, including being college choirmates and other immediate family who are also musicians, the stage was set. She inevitably became someone who loved music, becoming a classically trained musician, singing and playing for churches and events since her childhood, earning a Bachelor's degree in music, being licensed to teach music and ultimately having a celebrated career in the music industry. A lifelong musician, educator, entrepreneur and music industry veteran, her love for music and the arts forged the way and proved to be a significant part of her life’s purpose and work.
Gina’s career in music began in 2004, after working for free an entire year at Light Records in Nashville, when she accepted a position as a part time radio and retail promotions coordinator in 2004. Miller’s roles throughout her career have included marketing manager, director of national sales and label relations, vice president of promotions and marketing, vice president of promotions and label relations, and her current role as senior vice president and general manager of Entertainment One (eOne) in Nashville, TN. In her current position, Gina oversees the day to day operations for eOne, , Light Records & IndieBlu Music. Her role includes the management of every aspect of the business, including budgets, signing talent, scouting writers, new business, artist relationships, strategy, partnerships and more.
Now a part of global play and entertainment company Hasbro, eOne continues to dominate the music space across a variety of genres, track sales, albums and airplay charts while consistently remaining one of the world’s top independent record labels. Gina is currently a member of Women in Film, the Americana Music Association, Women in Music, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Recording Academy, where she was recently appointed a chapter advisor and diversity and inclusion ambassador. She also leads the Nashville network of the National Association of Black Female Executives in Media & Entertainment™ (NABFEME) and is the Founder of the “Beautiful Girl, You Are Already Enough” campaign, amongst other initiatives.
Gina believes in service and is committed to reaching back, pulling up and pushing forward. Also an advocate for equality and equity, she is a mentor, sought-after speaker, clinician, writer, contributor, and philanthropist. An active champion of numerous eOne/Hasbro diversity and inclusion initiatives and committees, she is also a member of several boards and advisory councils. She is the co-founder of the newly formed NASHVILLE MUSIC EQUALITY, an organization which educates and challenges non-minority colleagues to consider action around equality, tolerance and opportunities for all minorities in the music industry. Gina uses her voice, influence and time to work, empower, illuminate, amplify, drive change and bring action to the organizations she faithfully serves and community in which she lives. Among many honors and awards, Gina and her work have been recognized by Billboard, being named to their Women in Music Executive Class in 2018 and 2020. More recently, she was chosen by the Nashville Business Journal for its Women of Influence 2021 class as an inspiration and mentor.
Gina was proudly born and raised in Memphis, TN. She has two sons and, after 25 years, loves her life in Nashville and also calls it home.