Michael “Mike” Brian Martinovichmusic industry veteran best known for his work at CBS Records/Sony Music in Nashville and later as a consultant, died Monday (Nov. 18) in Nashville at age 81.
Martinovich joined CBS/Sony in 1969 as a sales representative for its St. Louis branch. Louis. He later became Epic Records' promotion manager in the same market before moving to Atlanta to work as a sales manager and, later, to Cincinnati to serve as a branch manager. He was later promoted to vice president of merchandising and spent the next decade at CBS Records headquarters in New York, working with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Journey and James Taylor. He then assumed the role of marketing representative when he moved to CBS Records Nashville in December 1988. In this role, he directed marketing strategy for artists such as Tammy Wynette, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rosanne Cash, Charlie Daniels, Joe Diffie and Rodney Crowell.
In 1994, Martinovich teamed up with Garth Brooks' marketing leader Joe Mansfield to form Mansfield-Martinovich Associates. While working as strategic advisors to Wal-Mart's music marketer Anderson Merchandisers, the duo created Wal-Mart's Country Music Across America's Parking Lot Tour, which showcased more than 50 up-and-coming country artists in 60 markets over three tour dates.
In 2003, Martinovich and a trio of partners formed The Consortium, which provided strategic advice for Broken Bow Records (BBR) and oversaw branding and licensing for The Weather Channel.
A 1992 graduate of Leadership Music, Martinovich served on the organization's board of directors. He also served as general vice president on the ACM board of directors, on the marketing committee of the Recording Industry Association of America, and assumed the role of chairman of the CMA's marketing development committee. He was also a member of the Recording Academy.
Martinovich's sons followed him into the music business, with Bo Martinovich to become an executive at Sony Music Nashville and Mikhail Dimitri Martinovich working in artist management with bands such as My Morning Jacket and Good Charlotte.
Visitation and viewing will be held on Friday (November 22nd) from 3:30-6:00 p.m. at Eastland Funeral Home, located at 904 Gallatin Avenue in Nashville. The funeral will be held on Saturday (November 23) at 12 p.m. at Svetka Petka Serbian Orthodox Church, located at 1712 5th Avenue North in Nashville. Contributions may be made in Michael's name to Svetka Petka Serbian Orthodox Church.
