Industry Ink: Shock Ink Adds Online Marketing

Shock Ink expands • Craig Morgan/BNA split • Bluewater signs NeedToBreathe • CMA debuts “Member of the Month” • Jay Frank web feature • Duncan/Spinville work The New Relics • Class Act signs The Hillbenders • Verge Network launches

>>Entertainment publicity company Shock Ink has expanded its offerings to include online and social media campaigns. Founder Elaine Schock has hired Chip Schutzman to spearhead the new division. As founder of Miles High Productions, Schutzman directed music programming for House Of Blues Entertainment. For over a decade he has consulted for and directed more than 150 campaigns. Shock Ink represents clients including Toby Keith, Willie Nelson, Jeff Dunham, Ben E King and David Lee Roth.

Craig Morgan

>>Radio-info.com reports that Craig Morgan and BNA Records have amicably parted ways.

>>Bluewater Music has signed a foreign administration agreement with NeedToBreathe. The band is busy prepping the release of its fourth album and a run on Taylor Swift’s tour. In 2010, NeedToBreathe took home three Dove Awards. Their music has been played in countless films and television programs, including P.S. I Love You, When In Rome and Desperate Housewives.

>>CMA is launching a “Member of the Month” feature on CMAworld.com in April, spotlighting an organization member and their achievements. The editorial team of CMA’s award-winning publication CMA Close Up will select the member, with help from suggestions sent to [email protected] (put “Member of the Month” in the subject line). “We look forward to celebrating those members whose positive spirit exemplifies the best of Country Music,” said Wendy Pearl, CMA Vice President of Corporate Communications and CMA Close Up Executive Editor. “I want to give special credit to CMA Close Up Editor Bob Doerschuk, who created this idea.”

>>Jay Frank, CMT’s Sr VP of Music Strategy, is featured in a new online video series launched by branded entertainment and music marketing agency BlinkerActive. See it here.

>>Blues Alley Records has once again teamed with Jerry Duncan at Duncan Promotions and Spinville Records’ Jack Pride for radio promotion of The New Relics’ single “Dixie Queen.” This is the band’s third single that the Blues Alley/Duncan/Spinville team has worked at radio, with the first two hitting the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart. “Dixie Queen” will be released Feb. 14 and goes for adds March 7.

>>Mike Drudge’s Class Act Entertainment has signed The Hillbenders for booking. The company also represents J.D. Crowe & The New South, Michael Martin Murphey, The Whites, and others. Drudge can be reached at 615-262-6886.

>>Verge Network, Inc. a syndicator of radio station content for online and mobile devices, has launched in Nashville, Kansas City, and Little Rock. The company has named three senior
executives: Steven Ludwig, President; Grant Merrill, VP/Sales; and Dan Holiday, VP/Operations. They can be reached at [email protected] A recruiting search is under way for a National Sales Manager.