Dualtone Music Group President Paul Roper Dies Following Cancer battle

Dualtone Music Group president and partner Paul Roper died on Tuesday (Dec. 17) following a battle with cancer. Roper was 45.

A statement from Nashville-based Dualtone Music Group noted, “Paul’s vision and unwavering commitment continues to define the heart and soul of Dualtone. He led Dualtone and his team with dedication, authenticity, humor, and kindness and he will be terribly missed by all of us…Paul Roper’s legacy of kindness, integrity, and deep love for music will continue to inspire us all.”

Roper, a graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, joined Dualtone Music Group in 2002 as an intern and rose through the ranks to become president and partner. He also played an essential role in signing artists and overseeing the release of more than 200 albums, championing projects by The Lumineers, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mt. Joy, Shakey Graves, Shovels & Rope, Brett Dennen, Wilder Woods, Guy Clark, June Carter Cash and others. Many of those albums and artists would earn Americana Music Awards wins as well as Grammy Awards nominations and trophies.

In 2022, Roper was included in Billboard’s annual Indie Power Players executive list.

Jeremiah Fraites of The Lumineers said in a statement, “When we started touring in our 15-passenger van, we used to park at the venue and bide our time until it was time to load in. We didn’t have money for hotels and we’d usually be splitting Subway sandwiches or Clif Bars between us. I’ll never forget when Paul Roper showed up to the parking lot behind the venue in Nashville and met us with beer and pizza. It was a small gesture on his side, but a massive one to us. I’ll never forget that.”

Roper is survived by his wife and their four children. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Corner to Corner in Roper’s memory.