An Elkview native and WVU law student is making her mark on the music industry.
LIVE MUSIC IS KNOWN FOR ITS MAGICAL MOMENTS. Elkview native Lauren Elizabeth Campbell, sitting in the audience of the Mountain Stage radio show in Charleston, experienced one such moment. Enchanted by the sweet sounds of West Virginia artistry, Campbell knew her calling was in the music industry.
Since those childhood days at Mountain Stage, Campbell’s passion for music has reached a crescendo. After receiving her bachelor’s in media arts and studies from the University of Kentucky and her master’s in music industry from the University of Southern California, country roads called her home. A doctorate in law from West Virginia University might not seem all that musical, but Campbell says law is the foundation of everything—especially music.
“There are contracts for everything—employment, songwriters, when a song is used in a movie. There’s so much that goes into the legalities of music,” she explains. That’s the basis of her next project: a book exploring the intersection of constitutional law and the music industry.
While living in California, New York, and D.C., she founded a music and travel magazine called Rock & Roamer, worked at Warner Music Group, and joined the Recording Academy, the organization behind the GRAMMY Awards.
But big city ventures can’t erase your roots—Campbell’s hometown artists motivated her to pursue this career path, and she strives to represent her state in every step she takes. “It feels so meaningful to have West Virginians represented in music, both creatively and on the business end,” she says. “I really hope that being part of spaces like the Recording Academy helps show others that there’s room for their voices in every part of the industry.”
Returning home for law school has been a reminder of opportunities afforded by the Mountain State—like the live performances that started her musical journey. “West Virginians don’t have to seek out music,” Campbell reflects. “That’s something I took for granted as a kid—how easy it is to access live performances all over the state. There are so many opportunities here.” rockandroamer.com
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S WINTER 2025 ISSUE
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