About Us

Jim Van Hook, one of Nashville 's most successful industry executives, began his career ascent in 1981 when he founded Brentwood Music with an investment of only $500. Now, nearly 20 years later, the company – renamed Provident Music Group and under the current ownership of BMG – is a multi-million dollar corporation and one of the top three companies in Christian music. It includes labels such as Benson Records, Verity Records, Reunion Records, Essential Label Group, Brentwood Records and Diadem Music, plus the largest publishing catalog of Christian songs in the world with Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.

In the early 1960's, Van Hook embarked on his climb to the top of the music industry. With a music degree from Vanderbilt University 's Peabody College , Van Hook honed his music expertise with a six-year post as a music professor at Trevecca Nazarene University , where he was later promoted to assistant director of public relations. In 1971, he became the minister of music at the Bethany First Church of the Nazarene in Bethany , Oklahoma , coordinating an extensive music program with 19 ensembles and choirs.

Van Hook returned to Nashville in 1979 to accept a position as senior vice president of the Benson Company, heading up their creative product development and music publishing. His dynamic creativity and leadership came to fruition in 1981 with the formation of Brentwood Music, originally specializing in unique inspirational music and church choral product. Unafraid of hard work, Van Hook developed potential retail customers by checking phone books in the hotels where he traveled. His diligence paid off, and within 10 years, the company was the recipient of the Nashville Business Journal's prestigious Small Business of the Year Award in 1991.

With a thriving business underway, Van Hook became a key contributor to Nashville 's business and music community. He has served as president of the Exhibitors Association for the Christian Booksellers Association, a member of the CEO Roundtable of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, president of the Church Music Publishers Association, and Executive Board member of the Christian Booksellers Association. He has sat on the advisory boards of Belmont University , Trevecca Nazarene University and the former Kraft Brothers Accounting Firm, also serving as a board member of the Gospel Music Association and the Christian Music Trade.

In 1994, Van Hook sold Brentwood Music to Zomba Music Group, the world's largest independent music company, but remained at the helm as Chairman and CEO of the newly christened Provident Music Group and Zomba's entire Christian music group of companies. During this time, Van Hook oversaw labels boasting an artist roster including Bob Carlisle, Caedmon's Call, Fred Hammond & RFC, Jars of Clay, Larnelle Harris, NewSong, Michael W. Smith, Third Day, Kathy Troccoli, Hezekiah Walker, the Smoky Mountain Hymn series and Cedarmont Kids. In 2002, Zomba sold Provident to BMG, and after the corporate restructuring was complete, Van Hook moved into full retirement at the age of 62.

The retirement proved to be short lived as just four months later, Van Hook was named the inaugural dean of Belmont University's new Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, the nation's first college dedicated to offering comprehensive education for careers in the entertainment industry. Building on the accomplishments of Belmont 's esteemed music business program, Van Hook leads the college in a new era of growth, developing innovative programs to serve other facets of the entertainment industry and preparing students to face emerging global trends and the ever-changing nature of the industry.

Van Hook resides in Brentwood , Tenn. , with his wife Susie. They have two children, Brent, who is married and pastors a church in Oklahoma ; and Susan, who along with husband Rod Riley, owns and operates Spirit-Led and Fervent Records in Franklin , Tenn.