Industry Ink (9/7/12)

Condolences to Dixie Weathersby Owen, Sr. Director, Artist & Media Relations, UMG Nashville, whose father, Jerry Darwin Weathersby, passed away suddenly on September 5. The visitation is today (9/7) from 5-7 pm and the funeral is scheduled for Saturday (9/8) at 10 am. Both will be held at Galloway & Sons, 506 San Marcos Street in George West, Texas.

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Rock legends KISS and Mötley Crüe announced at their concert in Nashville (9/4) that they will donate $50,000 to Operation Homefront, an organization that provides emergency financial and other assistance to families of service members and wounded warriors coping with deployment and injury recovery by providing funds for immediate needs such as food, housing, childcare, moving costs and vehicle expenses.

Tim McGraw, who partnered with Operation Homefront, Chase Bank and ACM Lifting Lives to donate a mortgage-free home in each city during his summer tour, accepted the check on behalf of the organization.

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The Roys signed an exclusive global booking agreement with Moonstruck Management. “Peter and I have been fans of The Roys’ since the beginning,” notes Josh Trivett, Moonstruck Management partner. “We have watched them closely, both as they burst on to the Bluegrass scene with their signature sound and gave performances that are their own and truly unique. It is with great pride that we join The Roys’ team, and we look forward to growing with them for years to come,” Trivett adds. The Roys’ new album New Day Dawning (released Aug. 28) recently debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums Chart. Moonstruck’s roster includes Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out, Sal Gonzalez, Lonesome River Band, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press and The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys.

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KCA Artists is now representing Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys and is booking dates for fall 2012 and beyond. Mead landed on Nashville’s Lower Broadway in the ’90s where he co-founded famed Alternative Country quintet BR549, which earned three Grammy nominations and a CMA Award for Best Overseas Touring Act. Mead’s latest project, Back At The Quonset Hut, was released in 2012. He has continued to tour with his Grassy Knoll Boys across the nation and across the world, recently sharing the stage with Old Crow Medicine Show, The Avett Brothers and Loretta Lynn, among others.