Essential Broadcast Media

EB Media PR

Essential Broadcast Media, LLC (EB Media PR) is a full-service public relations firm located in Nashville, Tenn. The EB Media PR team creates and executes campaigns across multiple entertainment fields and formats.

Please contact carrie@ebmediapr.com for internship opportunities, to be added to our distribution list, or for general inquiries.

Meet the Team


  • Founder/Owner

    Raised just 90 miles outside of Nashville in the small town of Waverly, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University grad Ebie McFarland founded award-winning PR company Essential Broadcast Media, LLC in 2007. Since, she has helped launch the careers of critically acclaimed artists such as Ashley McBryde, Ian Munsick and Whiskey Myers while earning the trust of discerning artists such as George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Eric Church and retaining longtime clients such as Ryman Hospitality, Darius Rucker and Hootie & the Blowfish, further reinforcing that McFarland and her team understand and execute the growing importance of telling one’s story with passion, grit and perseverance.

    Currently, McFarland serves as Chair of the Academy of Country Music Board of Directors as well as on the Academy of Country Music’s Lifting Lives Board of Directors.


  • Senior Director

    Before joining the team at Essential Broadcast Media, Joseph served as senior communications manager at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. During his three-year tenure he oversaw media efforts for countless exhibit openings including Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Loretta Lynn and more; concert series such as Deck the Hall and Artist in Residence; as well as the museum's annual Medallion Ceremony for Hall of Fame induction. Joseph is a graduate of The University of Tennessee Martin with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. After receiving his MBA from Belmont University, Conner worked for over five years in entertainment handling PR efforts for events such as Bonnaroo; artists including Suzy Bogguss, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Steep Canyon Rangers; and a number of restaurants including Nashville institution, the Loveless Cafe.


  • Public Relations Director

    Janet Buck joined Essential Broadcast Media in 2018 following six years with the Academy of Country Music, where she served as Manager, Operations & Events. She has also helped produce several other events, including multiple Super Bowl pregame & halftime shows, the Rose Bowl & BCS National Championship games and the KaaBoo Del Mar music festival. Buck holds a degree in Public Relations from the University of Southern California, with a minor in Sports Media Studies. While at USC, she completed several publicity internships, including with ESPN, the UConn and USC athletic departments, the Brooklyn Nets’ D-League affiliate and the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland. She is an alumna of SOLID Nashville, was named a MusicRow "Next Big Thing" honoree in both 2020 and 2021 and was nominated for CMA Publicist of the Year in 2022. A proud military spouse, she serves on the scholarship committee for the EOD Warrior Foundation and is also a passionate supporter of Grace International Haiti.


  • EBM/Press On Contractor

    With more than 30 years of experience in the country music industry, Wes Vause brings a vast knowledge of publicity experience to the community, as both an independent and record label publicist. Earlier this year, Vause founded Press On Publicity, a boutique PR company that manages the public relations for artists including Blake Shelton and Elle King. Vause also collaborates with PR entrepreneur and executive, Ebie McFarland.

    Prior to Press On Publicity, Vause spent more than years 20 years leading the publicity campaigns for artists and corporations at record labels. In 2000 he was hired by Country Music Hall of Fame member Joe Galante to join the staff at RCA Label Group, now known as Sony Music Nashville. Vause was instrumental in the success of artists including Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Chris Young, Miranda Lambert and many others.

    In 2014, Warner Music Nashville Chairman and CEO John Esposito hired Vause as Senior Vice President, where he lead the public relations campaigns for all of their artists and corporate communications. The WMN roster ranges from superstar to breakout, and in addition to Chesney and Shelton, includes Dan + Shay, Gabby Barrett, Cole Swindell, Ingrid Andress, Brett Eldredge, Cody Johnson, Ashley McBryde and more. Vause left WMN In June 2022 to open his publicity firm.

    From cassette and CD to the rise of streaming and social media, Vause has helped artists and labels navigate the ever-changing landscape of the music industry. As a member and committee member for the CMA, ACM’s and Grammy Awards, he has been passionately involved with fostering country music – our artists and careers.

    Born and raised in Tallahassee and Sopchoppy Florida, Vause is a graduate of Belmont University.


  • Publicist

    Ashley received her degree in 2018 from Middle Tennessee State University in Public Relations with a concentration in Recording Industry, with minors in both Marketing and Organizational Communication. Having spent many years in the hospitality industry, she has cultivated her interpersonal and multi-tasking skills to bring a personal and timely touch to all tasks and efforts.

    During her time at MTSU, Ashley volunteered alongside event coordination staff at local venue Rocketown, at Pilgrimage Festival in an artist relations capacity and interned at EB Media PR where she now holds a position as publicist.


  • Publicist

    Carrie received her degree in 2021 from Millersville University of Pennsylvania in Speech Communication with a track in Public Relations. She joined Essential Broadcast Media after nearly three years with the Academy of Country Music where she served first as an intern and then as Assistant, Marketing & Communications.

    While at Millersville, Carrie worked as a street team member at local country radio stations,, completed a communication internship with the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention in Maryland and served as the Communication Coordinator for the school’s PRSSA chapter.


  • Publicist

    Melissa Mathews began her career in the ’90s at Nashville’s premiere firm, Evelyn Shriver Public Relations. In the heyday of country music, she found herself working with some of the industry’s biggest names such as Randy Travis, Ricky Van Shelton, Alan Jackson, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Exile, Hal Ketchum, Emmylou Harris and many more. Seven years later, Mathews went in-house with a Texas-based multi-platinum artist for over 15 years where she had day-to-day involvement with the act’s major record label activities, helping develop and implement album launches, national media campaigns, video and photo shoots, and too many red carpets to count! Mathews has worked closely with numerous sponsorship deals, including Mossy Oak, The Nashville Network, Wrangler, Justin Boots, Ranger Boats, Kroger and Dr. Pepper. Today, Mathews freelances for Essential Broadcast Media, LLC as well as representing her own independent clients.


  • Coordinator

    Meghan received her degree in 2024 from Auburn University in Public Relations with a minor in Leadership Studies. Upon graduation, Meghan moved to Nashville to complete a management and public relations internship at Make Wake Artists in Nashville, Tennessee. 


    While at Auburn University, Meghan served as the internal operations chair for Auburn University’s student-run public relations agency and as an on-campus student athletic recruiter for Auburn University football. She previously interned at Byrdhouse Public Relations in Charleston, South Carolina. Meghan also received an Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Council of Alabama in 2024.