JT Woodruff- Hawthorne Heights

JT Woodruff is one of the most intentional and efficient leaders and operators in the history of the scene. His band Hawthorne Heights has had absolutely huge ups and downs. Ups like their first 2 records going gold and creating one of the most iconic emo songs ever, Ohio Is For Lovers, which has almost 100 million Spotify plays. The downs include a lengthy, costly lawsuit with their label as well as the death of a best friend and bandmate, Casey Calvert, in 2007.

Hawthorne Heights has handled their career incredibly well, racking up over 20 years of successful continuous activity while continuing to innovate, adapt, and grow as people and as a band. JT is one of the most principled people i know, and his values and principles have guided him well across the spectrum from the smallest details of being punk and DIY to large scale business moves like creating the ...Is For Lovers Festival which is becoming wildly successful.