Industry Ink: Chesney Goes Platinum
Kenny Chesney’s latest album, Hemingway’s Whiskey, is now his tenth Platinum project. The release has yielded hits “Boys Of Fall,” “Somewhere With You,” “Live A Little,” “You And Tequila” and “Reality.” Pictured (L-R): Clint Higham (Pres. Morris Management Group), Chesney, Gary Overton (Chairman & CEO Sony Music Nashville), Dale Morris (CEO Morris Management Group).
• Anthony Allen is taking on APD, MD and afternoon drive duties at WSIX/Nashville. He fills the afternoon vacancy left by the departure of Big D & Bubba last month. Allen makes the move from KZSN/Wichita. At WSIX, Jon Anthony continues as PD.
• Sony/ATV CEO Marty Bandier gives some insight into his plans for EMI Music Publishing in a new interview with UK publication Music Week. He says EMI will keep its name and will operate mostly as a separate entity. He explains Sony/ATV will control 38% of EMI Publishing as “a separate company owned by a group of investors that Sony Corp is a minority shareholder in.” Bandier spent 17 years at EMI before joining Sony/ATV in 2007. More here.
• MusicRow Founder David Ross has launched a blog at SecretsOfTheList.com to chronicle the progress of his upcoming book by the same name. The site is also a platform for the exchange of ideas, including a new hot-button editorial by Jaron Lowenstein (aka Jaron And The Long Road To Love) titled “Nashville’s Beautiful Prison Makes Artists Expendable.”
• The new installment of “CMA Industry InSite” is entitled “Country Goes Global.” It includes interviews with artist/songwriter Jace Everett; Mark Hagen, Executive Director, BBC Radio; Rob Potts, CEO Managing Director, Rob Potts Entertainment Edge; Brad Turcotte, International Director of Marketing, Big Machine Label Group; and Jeff Walker, CEO, The AristoMedia Group.
• The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is celebrating the holiday season with a special spotlight exhibit of festive dresses from Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Taylor Swift.
• Tickets to the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards go on sale to the public Sat., Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. Members can purchase tickets through tomorrow (12/10) at 10 p.m. CST with a special pre-sale code. Tickets here. The 30th annual CCMA Awards will take place in Saskatoon, SK on Sept. 9. Nominees will be announced July 18, 2012. Details at www.ccma.org.
• Former Little Texas frontman Tim Rushlow has released a solo Christian EP, Unfinished Symphony, on Liquid Spins Records. The project was produced by award winner Ian Eskelin and includes single “Rain Down on Me.” It is available for digital download with a full length CD to follow in 2012.
• Publicist Joseph Conner has left his gig at Lotos Nile and joined the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation as Marketing & PR Coordinator. His previous stops include Kaleidoscope Media. Contact him at (615) 467-1936, x114 or JConner@minniepearl.org.
• Songwriter Dennis Morgan’s “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” is included in a European T-Mobile ad which recently won TV Commercial of the Year in the UK. The song was originally a hit duet for Aretha Franklin & George Michael.
• MD Records is open under the direction of President Kelli McGarraugh. The label is working a single from flagship artist Jason Thomas titled “I’m Your Radio.” The video has been added to GACTV.com. MD Records can be reached at (615) 283-7479 and info@mdrecordsofficial.com.
• KCA Artists has signed Boston-based bluegrass girl band Della Mae.
