About Back Blocks

Back Blocks Music is a Nashville-based artist development and publishing company founded in 2020 by Billboard Power Player Rakiyah Marshall. Following her tenure at Republic Records and BMG Publishing, Marshall launched Back Blocks Music to bring a new approach to artist development. Inspired by a family saying to ‘take the back blocks,’ Marshall named the company after the idea that there is always more than one way to get where you need to go. In less than one year, the company has already seen notable success with groundbreaking artist Lily Rose’s debut release “Villain,” which earned Rose a label joint venture with Big Loud Records, Back Blocks Music and Republic Records.

Back Blocks Music is also home to singer/songwriter and entrepreneur Ashley Cooke. Founder of the TikTok creator studio, The 615 House, Cooke released her debut album Already Drank That Beer in Aug. 2021 produced by award-winner Jimmy Robbins. The roster is rounded out with writer Blake Pendergrass, who earned his first major cut with Morgan Wallen’s “865.” An early fan-favorite from Wallen’s recent double album Dangerous: The Double Album, “865” marks Pendergrass as the only unsigned writer on the 30 song project. Pendergrass has also celebrated cuts with Chris Lane and Ashley Cooke in 2021.

  • Rakiyah Marshall

    CEO/FOUNDER

    Long Island, NY native and Founder/CEO Rakiyah Marshall is a graduate of Seton Hall University where she studied broadcasting and interactive media and business administration. After earning an internship with Republic Records in New York City, the gig later turned into a full time job. Following five years with the company, Marshall made the move to Nashville to pursue a career working with songwriters, first at Cornman Music, followed by BMG where she worked for three years before founding her own company with Back Blocks Music. Also a member of the Recording Academy and a 2020 and 2021 Billboard Power Player, Marshall founded Back Blocks Music in 2020 with the intent of helping independent entrepreneurs succeed in the music publishing and artist development space.

    “Throughout my time in Nashville, I have been continuously inspired by independent entrepreneurs, especially in the independent music publishing and artist development space. Having the time that 2020 has afforded us all to be home has allowed me to realize that now is the time to chase my dream of owning my own business.”

  • Autumn Ledgin

    Sr. Director, A&R

    Ledgin brings with her significant entertainment industry experience. In her new role, she will oversee all publishing and artist development efforts for Back Blocks Music, working closely with the entire roster and scouting new talent. A former NCAA Division 1 student-athlete and civil engineering major, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign graduate’s journey began in 2018 at Good Company Entertainment (GCE) as their first employee. During her tenure at GCE, the Boca Raton native played a vital role as day-to-day manager for the company’s roster including Jake Owen and Larry Fleet. Her passion led her to thrive as an internal A&R creative, while serving as a Board member and Planning Coordinator for the Jake Owen Foundation.

  • Elizabeth Cook

    Creative Coordinator

    Cook joins the company as a senior at Belmont University. The songwriting major has previously spent time at Creative Nation and King Pen as an intern, and will now support the Back Blocks Music team as Creative Coordinator. The Nashville native will be responsible for catalog management, calendars and office management, while acting as an executive assistant to Marshall.