Erik Justin (“EJ”) Gaines is a music executive and entertainment lawyer with nearly 25 years of experience in the music business. He currently serves as the Chief Strategy Officer of Insignia Assets, LLC, a collaborative media and entertainment company offering integrated partnership across multiple divisions, from music, publishing and touring, to television, film and media. Originally from Chicago’s diverse Hyde Park neighborhood, EJ earned his Bachelors of Music in Music Business from New York University before receiving a full scholarship to St. John’s University School of Law. He began his legal career as an intellectual property attorney at Carter Ledyard & Milburn on Wall Street, representing companies such as Ferrari and Playtex in I.P. matters. In 2009, he relocated to Nashville, TN, where he began managing artists and representing clients in various matters, ranging from contract negotiation and intellectual property protection, to entity formation and asset protection. Since then, EJ has guided the careers of countless chart-topping and award-winning recording artists, producers and songwriters, as well as on-screen talent and executives working behind the scenes. Prior to becoming a partner at Insignia, EJ worked as the head of both Motown Gospel and Tamla Records, and as Senior Vice President of Marketing at Capitol CMG, a division of Universal Music Group, where he supported the careers of GRAMMY-winning artists Tori Kelly, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Harry Connick, Jr., Tye Tribbett, Jeremy Camp, and many more. EJ Gaines currently resides in Franklin, TN with his wife, recording artist and speaker Janice Gaines, and their two sons. Together, they host a podcast called "Only Gaines," where they share stories of the lessons they have gained over the course of their lives and their marriage.