CMT Celebrates 4th of July

07/03/2008

CMT Top 20 Countdown host Lance Smith showed his patriotism by dressing up as Uncle Sam for this week's episode of the show, premiering Saturday at 12:30 PM/CT. Comedian Tom Mabe will be this week’s guest, discussing his upcoming CMT show Mabe In America, which premieres tomorrow (7/4) at 9:30 PM/CT. Photo: Kristi Boyd

Lawrence Adds To Rocky Comfort Roster

Sarah Skates – 07/03/2008

Tracy Lawrence continues to add to the roster of his Rocky Comfort Records (RCR), which is now home to four artists. He most recently signed Zona Jones, an established country singer who has spent several years on the Texas/Louisiana club circuit. Jones, who just completed a new album, is starting a radio promotion tour and plans to release his first single by the end of July. As reported this morning, RCR also recently signed Michael Scott. His debut single “Ray Ray’s Juke Joint” will be released later this month.

Lawrence launched the Nashville based Rocky Comfort Records on July 25, 2006, as a partnership with his manager Laney Lawrence. The label has had much success from both radio and retail with the hit "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" and "Til I Was A Daddy Too," both off Tracy's current CD, For The Love.

(L-R) Back: Attorney Wayne Halper and Manager Laney Lawrence. Front: Zona Jones and Tracy Lawrence.

Industry News Thursday (7/3/08)

Music Row will not publish tomorrow due to the 4th of July holiday, but will be back on schedule Mon., July 7. Have a safe and happy 4th!

E.W. Scripps’s spinoff of its cable network...

Jim Catino Promoted to VP, A&R, Sony BMG Nashville

Sarah Skates – 07/02/2008

Jim Catino

Jim Catino has been promoted to Vice President, A&R at Sony BMG Nashville. Most recently Senior Director, A&R, Catino is a 13-year industry veteran who first joined the label group in October of 2001. Since then, he has been instrumental in the signing and development of such artists as Jason Michael Carroll and Chuck Wicks, and is responsible for day-to-day A&R for Carroll and Wicks, as well as Blaine Larsen and Brad Paisley. He is based in Nashville, and reports directly to Exec. Vice President, A&R Renee Bell.

Catino arrived at the label group following seven years in publishing and A&R working with DreamWorks Nashville and Giant Publishing. A native of Cleveland, OH, he is a graduate of Belmont University, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing and Music Business.

Clay Bradley Named Asst. VP At BMI

Sarah Skates – 07/02/2008

Clay Bradley

Clay Owen Bradley has joined BMI as Assistant Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations. He spent the past five years at Sony BMG Nashville, most recently as Sr. Dir. of A&R. The new position at BMI will be a homecoming for Bradley, who began his career at BMI in 1991 immediately after graduating from the University of Alabama.

His past work experience includes three years at Acuff Rose Music Publishing and two years as Vice President of A&R for MCA/Nashville. Bradley has had heavy involvement in music selection for such artists as Gretchen Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Montgomery Gentry, George Strait and Gary Allan. He nurtured dozens of songwriters, including Casey Beathard, Dean Dillon, Tia Sillers and Chesney, and, for more than 18 years, has been a primary liaison among artists, managers, producers, songwriters and publishers.

Leadership Music Elects Board, Officers

J. Fred Knobloch has been elected president of the board of directors of Leadership Music. Since joining the board in 2003, the well-known songwriter has served as an Event Co-Chair (Leadership Music Digital...

Medallion Ceremony Draws Local, National Celebrities

07/02/2008

Two groundbreaking country music stars from the 1960s were welcomed into the Country Music Hall of Fame® on June 29 in a three-hour ceremony filled with classic music and fond memories, as well as a few tears and loads of laughter. Considered country music’s most prestigious night, the Country Music Hall® of Fame and Museum’s Medallion Ceremony marked the official induction of Tom T. Hall and the Statler Brothers. They accepted their honors in the intimate setting of the Museum’s Ford Theater, in front of family members, close associates and fellow Hall of Fame members.

(L-R): The Mayor’s wife Anne Davis, Vince Gill & Amy Grant, Kelly Clarkson and Mayor Karl Dean.

Columbia Nashville Celebrates Montgomery Gentry's No. 1 Single

07/02/2008

The Big Red Columbia Nashville promotion team, led by cake-bearing VP Jimmy Rector and National Director David Friedman, and the whole Sony BMG Nashville family decked out in Columbia red to celebrate Montgomery Gentry’s fourth No. 1 single “Back When I Knew It All.” The song is the title track from the duo’s new album, in stores now.

Photo: Ben Strain

New Class Coming to Musicians Hall

Booker T. and the MGs, The Memphis Horns, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and Friends, The Crickets, and Al Kooper will be inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame during an Oct. 28 Awards Show...

Industry News Tuesday (7/1/08)

Sugarland will kick-off its 25-city nationwide Love On The Inside tour on Sept. 13 in Asheville, NC. The Mercury Nashville duo is touring in support of its July 22 album release by the...