David M. Ross
Chairman, Music Row Publications, Inc.

Born and raised in Boston, MA., David Ross graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School with a B.S. in Economics and later attended the Berklee College of Music, majoring in arranging.

After spending ten years on the road as a professional musician, Ross traveled to Nashville and in April 1981 founded Music Row magazine, Nashville’s Music Industry Publication. The company publishes the annual In Charge directory which gives detailed information about Nashville’s top 400 entertainment industry decision-makers; the weekly song-plugger pitch list, RowFax; and the weekly Country Breakout™ small-market radio charts. The Internet has become a cornerstone of the publication’s strategy offering daily updates and a full range of online subsriber services. 

Ross currently serves on the Board of Directors of The Country Music Foundation, the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. He received the CMA President’s Award for Outstanding Service in 1998 and the Canadian Country Music Association’s prestigious Leonard T. Rambeau Award for International Achievement in 2003. One of country music’s most-read industry analysts, Ross’ weekly Face The Music column covers all aspects of Nashville’s entertainment business.

David and wife Susana have been married for 32 years and have two children, Michelle (24) and Isabel (18). His current interests outside of family and work include, physical fitness, bicyling and technology.