Amy Smith

Biography

Amy Bryson Smith, an alumna of Belmont University, is an Assistant Professor of Music Business in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business where she has taught Copyright Law, Music Industry Contract Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Survey of Music Business.  In the Jack C. Massey College of Business, she has taught Business Law I and Business Law II.

Professor Smith has practiced law in Nashville since 1996. For many years, she was a partner of Chaffin, Burnsed, and Smith, PLLC (formerly Chernau, Chaffin & Burnsed) where she practiced corporate law and represented a variety of individuals and companies in the music and entertainment business. She served as a litigator and transactional attorney, as well as a Rule 31 Mediator. Additionally, she was General Counsel of a national Christian non-profit corporation. Dr. Smith has also taught and served as Director of the Paralegal Studies Program at a local college.

During Dr. Smith’s professional career, she has written and filed numerous court filings in state and federal courts. Academically, she has been published in a variety of journals, including the Journal of Critical Incidents, Journal of the Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association, Midwest Law Journal, Southern Journal of Business & Ethics, and Southern Law Journal. She has also worked with PBS creating educational resources to support Country Music: A Film by Ken Burns.

Dr. Smith often provides legal consultations with individuals and businesses, including non-profits. And, she serves on several boards, including secretary of the board of trustees of Donelson Christian Academy and Jeffrey Dean Ministries. Dr. Smith is also a member of the Nashville Entertainment and IP Law Inn of Court, a part of the American Inns of Court.

Dr. Smith was born and raised in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Her husband, Jeffrey Smith, also a graduate of Belmont, is an author and pastor at Donelson First Baptist Church. They have two (2) wonderful girls, one of whom currently attends Belmont. Amy loved being at Belmont as a student, and she absolutely loves being back at Belmont as an assistant professor!