Industry Updates (5/31/12)

Hard Rock International has launched its own record label, Hard Rock Records, and its first signing is Gulfport, Mississippi band Rosco Bandana. The company will celebrate the band and the new company with a launch party at Hard Rock Cafe Nashville on June 19. Doors will open at 6 pm, and the premiere of Rosco Bandana’s video for “Time To Begin” followed by a performance from the band will take place at 7 pm.

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Avenue Bank has announced the promotions of Jim McCann and Pete Wooten as Executive Vice Presidents, it was announced by Avenue Chairman/CEO Ronald L. Samuels. McCann has been with the bank since 2007 and will serve as Executive VP and Director of Mortgage Lending. Wooten will serve as Executive VP and Director of Commercial Banking. He started with Avenue in 2007 prior to the bank’s official opening.

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The 10th Annual Nashville Songwriters Festival gets underway tomorrow (June 1) and runs through the weekend in and around Music Row. Registration slots are still available here.

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The 2012 Bill Anderson Scholarship was awarded to Summer Ducket, a graduate of Commerce High School in Commerce, GA—which Anderson claims as his “adopted” hometown. The presentation took place in the newly-built Bill Anderson Performing Arts Theater, and Ducket plans to attend Georgia State University to major in performing arts.

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Vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams will host a one-day MiniClinic on Friday, June 22, an all-day intensive workshop with helpful training. Registration information here.

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The Belcourt Theater will host a pre-release screening of the comedy film Halloween Party on June 14 to benefit the National Coalition for the Homeless and the Songs of Love Foundation. Prior to the screening at 7 pm, there will be a soundtrack signing reception for the local musicians and businesses involved. Nashville’s CJ Watson penned six songs on the soundtrack, and Donna Britton (of Shadow Mountain Publishing) co-wrote the movie’s theme song and served as music supervisor. Tickets here.

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Nashville-based advertising agency and web development firm The Horton Group has relocated its offices as of this week. Going forward, the company can be found at 136 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. in downtown Nashville. Launched in 1996, the Horton Group provides a full range of advertising and marketing services to a diverse group of clients.

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BlueHighways TV (BHTV) will begin producing a video version of WSM Radio’s “The Music Row Show,” which will premiere on the network in June. “The Music Row Show” is hosted by Scott Southworth and Heino Moeller and heard across the country online and on WSM-AM 650.