Industry Ink Monday

Mercury Records singer/songwriter Canaan Smith recently performed a packed industry showcase at famed L.A. venue The Mint. Among those in attendance were executives from Creative Artists Agency, Disney Music Publishing and ASCAP. (L-R): Julie Enzer (Disney Music Group), Rob Light (CAA), Rod Essig (CAA), Canaan Smith, and Erin Culley (CAA). Photo: Arlene Muller

• Condolences to Warner Music Nashville VP of Brand Management Kelli Cashiola and fiance Dave Haywood on the passing of her father, Ned Joseph Cashiola, Jr. Services will be held at Woodcreek Church, 3400 E. Renner Rd., Richardson, TX 75082 on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Richardson Area Young Life, 1131 Rockingham Dr., Ste 104, Richardson, TX 75080-4300.

• The Tennessean’s Peter Cooper explains in-depth how this year’s restructured Grammy categories impacted Nashville nominees.

• Michael Puryear’s Final Four Music has partnered with Ken Harding’s New Haven Records/Harding Music Group to develop new writers and catalog, as well as facilitate exploitation of existing catalog. Harding’s catalog includes cuts by Glen Campbell and Point of Grace. Final Four Music boasts cuts by Amy Grant, The Oak Ridge Boys, Michael W. Smith, and Vince Gill. Puryear is a Dove Awards winner with three decades of experience as a writer and publisher.

• Congrats to Flying Island recording artist Levi Riggs and his wife Brittany on the birth of baby girl Stella LaRue Riggs. She was born Feb. 4 in Indianapolis, where her dad was playing the NFL Tailgate Party before the Super Bowl. She weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz.

• Pete Dodge has been appointed to General Manager/VP of Kobalt Artist and Label Services. He was previously Managing Director of IODA UK and VP IODA International. Dodge, a well-known executive in the distribution and marketing space, will be based in London reporting to Paul Hitchman, who joined Kobalt this month as Managing Director of Kobalt Artist and Label Services.

Hit songwriter Neil Thrasher celebrated his first No. 1 since signing with peermusic, Jason Aldean’s “Tattoos on This Town." (L-R): Michael Knox (Aldean's producer and peermusic Sr. Creative Director), Kim Wiggins (peermusic Creative Manager), Neil Thrasher, Jason Aldean, Kevin Lamb (VP, peermusic Nashville) and Shalacy Griffin (Sr. Creative Director of Music Knox). Photo: ASCAP/Erika Goldring