Meet the second batch of speakers announced for the Fayetteville, AR, Music Cities Convention 2025
- Music Cities Events
- Jun 12
- 5 min read
Get ready to mark a major milestone in music policy and urban innovation! The 10th anniversary of the Music Cities Convention is heading to Fayetteville, Arkansas, from September 16–18, 2025—and it's shaping up to be the most meaningful edition yet.
Hosted in this vibrant college town—celebrated for its rich musical heritage and the legendary George’s Majestic Lounge (est. 1927)—the convention will gather global visionaries and local change agents alike. From pioneering CEOs and cultural planners to accessibility champions and AI trailblazers, this year’s speaker lineup shares one common goal: leveraging the power of music to build stronger, more inclusive cities.
As we count down to the event, we’re excited to unveil the second wave of confirmed speakers for the Fayetteville, AR edition. This newly announced group features a dynamic mix of North American leaders working at the intersection of music, urban development, and cultural policy—representing voices from both sides of the Atlantic.
Join us in Fayetteville, AR, for an inspiring three days of connection, collaboration, and fresh ideas on what it means to be a Music City in 2025 and beyond.
Anthony Ball (USA) (@anthonyballnwa) — Program Director & Co-Founder of Music Moves @musicmovesar
Anthony Ball is a full-time musician & entrepreneur. Anthony has toured nationwide, and has also curated shows working with artists like The Platters, Montell Jordan, Morris Day, Blind Boys of Alabama, Bobby Rush, and more. His booking agency, Smoothman Music Productions, provides luxury entertainment for corporate events, weddings, and many special events. Music Moves, his newest venture, is an arts & culture nonprofit that promotes Black arts & culture through education and performance.
Joanna Bell (USA) (@josheebell) — Arts and Culture Director of City of Fayetteville Arkansas—Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural Affairs
Joanna Sheehan Bell is Fayetteville, Arkansas’s Arts and Culture Director, where the city adopted its first Arts and Culture Plan in 2025. She previously directed programs at the American Theatre Wing and led audience development at TheatreSquared. She holds degrees from Columbia and James Madison University and is passionate about creating opportunities for artists and the arts to thrive.
Jimmy Cunningham (USA) (ExplorePineBluff.com) — Director and Tourism Development of Pine Bluff Advertising and Promotion Commission
Jimmy Cunningham, Jr. is the Executive Director of the Delta Rhythm & Bayous Alliance (DRBA), a non-profit organization dedicated to building a national travel corridor between Pine Bluff, AR, and Indianola, MS. He is the Director of Tourism Development for the Pine Bluff Advertising & Promotion Commission and a board member for the Mid America Arts Alliance. Cunningham has worked extensively in promoting new ways to frame the Delta's story of the blues, resilience, and resistance.
Katie Cornell (USA) (artsavl.org) — Executive Director of ArtsAVL @artsasheville
Katie Cornell has over 20 years of experience in Asheville’s arts sector and holds a Master’s in Arts Leadership & Cultural Management from Colorado State University. She chairs Arts NC and the Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina and serves on the board of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Katie has served as a key point person for regional arts recovery, helping lead efforts to support and rebuild the creative sector.
Greg Spradlin (USA) (@revgregspradlin) — Creator of Arkansas Explorer
Greg has been a professional musician since before he could legally drive. He played honky-tonks with legendary Sun Records rockabilly artists and blues clubs and juke joints with the likes of Frank Frost and Sam Carr. Greg is a writer, musician, singer, and producer, and puts out his own records—most recently as Rev. Gregory Joe Spradlin and the Band of Imperials, featuring members of Los Lobos and Elvis Costello’s band, The Imposters. Greg’s songs have been recorded by Arkansas natives and nationally recognized artists, further cementing his role as a key figure in the Southern music landscape.
Noa Gimelli (USA) — Board Chair of Fund for Greater Lexington @fundforgreaterlex
Noa has held policy & project management roles at the World Bank, ExxonMobil, and the Council on Foreign Relations; and holds an M.A. from HKS and a B.A. from Barnard College. Since relocating to Lexington, KY, in addition to serving on several nonprofit boards, Noa chairs the Fund for Greater Lexington—an endowment housed at the Bluegrass Community Foundation. The Fund’s Advisory Board is driving forward high-impact initiatives, including the development of a performing and visual arts center.
Orson Weems (USA) — Co-Founder & Executive Director of The Music Education Initiative @_themusiced_
A music industry professional that (via his nonprofit organization) utilizes his experience, expertise and relationships, to offer skill training, artist development and bring awareness to career opportunities in various parts of the music, entertainment and live event industries.
Nur Asri (USA) — CEO/Principal of Think Place Agency @thinkplaceagency
Nur is the CEO/Principal at Think Place Agency, a minority- and woman-owned place strategy group in NYC committed to building equitable destinations and downtowns. With over a decade of experience in real estate and tourism strategy, Nur has advised cross sector clients in major markets and diverse communities across North America, including the Houston Theater District where she developed placemaking strategies to reinvigorate public life post-pandemic.
Peter Lane (USA) — President & CEO of Walton Arts Center @waltonartscenter
Peter Lane, President/CEO of Walton Arts Center & Walmart AMP. Peter joined Walton Arts Center in May 2009. Before that he was President of the Mann Center in Philadelphia and Executive Director of the New York Pops. Under Peter, Walton Arts Center purchased and built the permanent Walmart AMP, in Rogers, AR in 2014 and completed an additional $17 million expansion there in 2020. He also oversaw a $23 million expansion and renovation to the Walton Arts Center Fayetteville campus in 2016.
Rachel Reynolds (USA) (@fiddlestxrr) — Founder/Principal of Cultural Continuum Consulting
Rachel Reynolds is a folklorist, fiddler, and cultural organizer from Stone County, Arkansas. As Founder of Cultural Continuum Consulting and a 2025 Emerson Collective Fellow, she leads community-rooted projects that blend art, culture, and civic engagement. A 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival co-curator, her work—featured by NPR and Mother Earth News—reimagines how rural and micropolitan communities access art, conserve tradition, and shape equitable futures.
Robert Locke (USA) — Chief Director of Operations of Arkansas Music Experience @arkansasmusicexperience
Robert Locke is a music industry veteran with over 20 years of experience as vocalist for Farmikos and Joe Holmes. He is the founder of Shindigmusic, Arkansas’s first vertically integrated media outlet focused on local music. Currently serving as Chief Director of Operations for the Arkansas Music Experience, Robert is dedicated to honoring Arkansas’s musical legacy and building its future as a cultural powerhouse.
Susie Cowan (USA) — Industry Relations Manager of Arkansas Tourism @arkansas
Susie Cowan serves as the Industry Relations Manager for Arkansas Tourism, where she plays a key role in building connections that drive visitation and celebrate the unique cultural assets of the state—including its rich musical heritage. With over a decade of experience in marketing, event promotion, and community engagement, Susie has been a tireless advocate for showcasing the creativity and talent that define Arkansas.
Tina Archer (USA) — Vice President of Sales of Experience Fayetteville @fayettevillear
Tina Archer serves as Vice President of Sales at Experience Fayetteville, where she leads efforts to attract sports, meetings, and cultural events that generate economic impact and celebrate the city’s vibrant identity. A champion for music tourism, Tina plays a key role in positioning Fayetteville as a rising destination for live music, regional talent, and immersive visitor experiences. She’s passionate about connecting people to place through storytelling, sound, and Southern hospitality.
Connect with global changemakers in music, culture, and urban development at the 10th anniversary of the Music Cities Convention. Don’t miss your chance to help shape the future of vibrant, music-powered cities—get your ticket today!
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