From Montana to Music City: UMEM Grad Austin Mullins

Austin Mullins grew up in a ranching family, but music was always at the heart of his childhood. From a mom who played piano to a dad who introduced him to some of country music’s greatest songwriters to a grandmother who brought him to musicals at the Bigfork Playhouse each summer, Mullins experienced the full spectrum of musical diversity.

“All of those things combined and created this world where I loved all kinds of music,” Mullins said. 

The University of Montana recruited Mullins to play football, but the alumnus knew his passion for music would be a part of his education.

“It made it a much easier choice going to UM,” he explained. “I knew I wanted to get a business degree, but I wanted to supplement that with a music minor or just as much music as possible. And the music school is right across the street from the business school.”

Mullins played football, studied business and kept his music education going, earning a minor in music with bass as his principal instrument. He was looking for a way to put all the pieces together for a potential career. That’s when he discovered UM’s Entertainment Management (UMEM) program. The student group gave him the opportunity to try out the business side of the music industry with hands-on experience.

“I worked at merch booths, I was a runner for bands, I got to do load-in and load-out, I did lighting,” Mullins said. “The more I learned, the more I realized that’s where my skills and my passions lie.”

Mullins stayed involved with the UMEM program and used his fifth year of football eligibility to earn a master’s in business in administration. Once he graduated, it was time to dive into a career in the music industry.

“I had to just take a leap and decide where I needed to move,” Mullins said.

The three main options for young professionals looking to break into the business are New York City, Los Angeles and Nashville. Being a Montanan, he hoped to find a spot where he could maintain some of his love for outdoor recreation. Mullins decided on Tennessee and made the move to Music City.

“I came here, and I just had to knock on doors and rely on professors and alumni of UM to introduce me to people,” he said of his first few months in Nashville. 

Mullins eventually landed a job at WME, one of the major talent and media companies in the entertainment industry. Over the years, he’s helped clients realize their dreams of making it big in the music industry.

“There’s a lot of pride when you break through those glass ceilings with them and they go to the next stage,” he said.

One of those clients, Lainey Wilson, is a breakout star in country music, taking home the Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year in 2023. This year, she’ll bring her talents to the Adams Center in Missoula with supporting acts Jackson Dean and Zach Top.

For Mullins, having artists that he represents perform in his home state is a rewarding moment.

“It’s going to be really fun to be able to come back and have two of my artists on the same bill for a show that’s basically sold out almost a year in advance,” he said. 

As an alumnus of the UMEM program, Mullins hopes to give students the same chance he had during his time at UM: hands-on experience with a professional tour. He knows the music industry isn’t an easy career path, but determination and hard work go a long way.

“If this is something you want, you can have it,” said Mullins. “You have to work for it, but there are a lot of Montana alumni in the profession who want to see you succeed.”