During over 40 years in the music industry, Pat McMakin has worked successfully as a recording engineer, record producer, songwriter, GM of Sony Tree Studios, and GM Tree Productions (Sony/ATV’s music production/ artist development company) and Director of Operations Ocean Way Nashville.  He has worked with a wide variety of artists including Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Brooks and Dunn, Lonestar, Brenda Lee, N’Sync, Steve Martin, Willie Nelson and countless other artists, producers and songwriters. McMakin has produced and engineered in a wide variety of musical genres including country, rock, pop, jazz and classical music. He was employed at Sony/ATV for over 25 years.

In March of 2008 McMakin assumed the leadership of Belmont University’s Ocean Way Nashville Recording Studios where he currently serves as Director of Operations. The studios are considered among the very best in Nashville and compete globally for all styles of recording.

McMakin was instrumental in building the music scoring business in Nashville starting in 2009. By 2017, due to the hard work of McMakin and many colleagues, Tennessee passed  a State law offering incentives for Media music scoring across the state. He continues to build relationships in the scoring sector and look for ways to grow media composition opportunities in Tennessee and beyond.

Awards and Accomplishments
Graduated Cum Laude 1978 Belmont University ,BBA Music Business
Recorded and mixed 20 number one country singles before age 30
Successfully managed Sony Tree Studios for 25 years
Signed seven artists to major record labels while GM of Tree Productions including Kix Brooks (Brooks and Dunn), LeeAnn Womack, and David Kersh
Produced two successful albums on David Kersh for Curb Records, yielding 4 top 5 singles
Produced country artist Aaron Tippin’s debut LP on Disney’s Nashville label Lyric Street.
Redesigned Soundshop Studios (Nashville) where countless hits were recorded in the 1990’s
Responsible for building $1 million Sony Tree Studios in 1993
Coproduced Canadian Country Music Association 1993 album of the year (Patricia Conroy’s “Bad Day For Trains” Warner Canada)
Graduated Leadership Music 1993
Produced 5 Billboard Magazine top 5 country singles 1996-1998
Chaired the Nashville Entertainment Association’s “Music City Music” Country showcase event in 1997. First event of it’s kind to take place in Nashville’s lower Broadway district. Numerous acts were signed to labels.
Founding Chair (5 year Term) of Belmont University’s Music Business Advisory Board.
Was awarded the first Belmont University Mike Curb Award of Excellence
Member of The Recording Academy’s P&E Wing initiative that developed Delivery Recommendations for master recordings.
Served 2 terms as a board member of the Recoding Academy, Nashville Chapter
Recorded Willie Nelson’s Tribute to Ray Price featuring a 20 piece string section live with a 10 piece rhythm section.

Professional Organizations/Memberships
Audio Engineering Society (former local chapter VP) Charter Member
Americana Music Association founding member
The Recording Academy P&E Wing
The Recording Academy Board 2 terms, 4 years. Chair of Advocacy Committee
Country Music Association
Leadership Music Alumni Association
Belmont Music Business Advisory Board (founding chair plus five annual terms)
Nashville Entertainment Association (closed) 2 terms Board Member
Former Elder of Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN
BMI writer affiliate
Music Row Neighborhood Association Founding Board