After a thorough search and vetting many fine candidates, O&AN has hired Mike Moore to head up print design. Moore moved to Nashville because of the music industry. Upon graduating from Belmont in 2009 during the worst parts of the recession and when the music industry was rapidly changing, Mike decided to teach himself how to use graphic design software while actively trying to find a career in the music business.

“I’ve always been an artsy guy,” Moore said “with a driven interest toward graphic design, and I wanted to take advantage of my time off while job hunting.”

With only four years of self-taught graphic design under his belt, Mike has made an impressive name for himself within the music, advertising and marketing industries here in Nashville.

After a few years working for a small digital music marketing agency and freelancing as a production assistant for a video production company in town, Mike landed a job in the creative services department at Big Machine Label Group. “While I was there, I finally figured out that I need to be doing graphic design within the music business. I wasn’t always sure what I wanted to do in the music industry and I fell in love with designing content for artists.”

After leaving Big Machine upon department restructuring, Mike started working for G/O Digital Marketing at the Tennessean designing websites and email marketing campaigns for business around the country. Most recently, Mike left G/O Digital for a full time graphic design position at Warner Music Nashville. “It was kind of nice to take a break from the music industry for awhile. I learned a lot more about design and picked up my freelance business. The past two years have definitely been a great learning experience, but I am 100% ready to get back into the music business and I’m super excited.”

Moore’s determination fills all areas of his life. During college, he set his mind to getting in better shape and lost 100 pounds. In Mike’s free time, he still loves working out and running, especially at Barry’s Bootcamp.

Moore was also featured as one of Nashville Lifestyles’ Most Beautiful in 2012, as his partner Levi, a doctor in Williamson County, was in 2013. Mike and Levi have been together for over four years and have just settled down in their first house together in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood with their crazy Boxer/Lab mix, Boone.

“I feel like everything is falling into place right now. My partner and I just bought a house together, I landed a new dream job back in the music business, and I picked up this amazing opportunity to graphic design/layout the monthly Out & About Nashville print issues. I am probably the happiest I have ever been in my life!”

O&AN Publisher Jerry Jones said, “We’ve had a lot of change at O&AN this year, but each of our new hires has brought new strength and skill to the paper. Our staff feels very strong right now, and I think Moore has the creativity to help us get to the next level.”