The Recording Academy‘s Nashville chapter, in partnership with the Producers and Engineers Wing, will feature a presentation by engineer Andrew Scheps, along with a panel discussion with producer Chuck Ainlay, singer-songwriter-studio owner Ben Folds, producer and publisher Frank Liddell and mastering engineer Bob Ludwig on April 25. The panel will discuss current listening formats, sound quality, and how to capture authentic performances from artists. The event, which has limited seating and is open only to Recording Academy members, will be held at The Listening Room (217 2nd Ave. S.) beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT. Doors will open at 5 p.m. To attend RSVP here by Monday, April 22.

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Australian singer-songwriter Kane Harrison has joined SESAC‘s roster of writers. Harrison has released two singles, “Crazy” and “Slow Burn.” Harrison recently stopped by SESAC’s Nashville headquarters to celebrate the new partnership.

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Shannan Hatch and Harrison. Photo: Peyton Hoge

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Joanna Smith performed an acoustic set for the WDKN Open House last week.

Pictured (L-R): RG Jones, Sony Music Secondary Promotion Manager Robert Freeman, WDKN Music
Director Kenneth Forte, President/WDKN Joanna Smith, RCA artist Dale Turner,
WDKN Mornings Rusty Sherrill, Sony Music Secondary Promotion

Faith Hill will no longer be performing the opening theme for Sunday Night Football. The singer revealed the news to fans via her Facebook page today:
“Amazing 2 [sic] have been part of SNF- an honor. I’ve just let everyone there know it’s time 2 [sic] let someone else rock the open. Difficult decision. Kinda Emotional. Love all you guys at SNF – I’ll b [sic] watching!!”
Hill began performing the opening theme in 2007.

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Sugarland’s Kristian Bush has launched a new web series, Music Monday. Each Monday, the singer-songwriter will stream a different song and discuss the story behind it. The song could be a new demo or an old favorite. His first installment begins today (April 15), with “Call It Even,” from Billy Pilgrim’s 2001 project In The Time Machine. For more information, visit kristianbush.com.

Amanda Watkins and Kasey Buckley of Miss Willie Brown have parted ways. Watkins will continue to pursue a solo career. “I support Kasey as she decides to take a break from the world of music. I’m sure as you have seen over the past few years, there is nothing that will ever come between us,” Watkins said via her Facebook page. “The songs that you have been loving and playing will be ever present on my solo journey. It’s going to be a great year with lots to come! And I promise to keep you updated every step of the way through touring, videos, posts and most of all music.”
Miss Willie Brown debuted in 2011 and toured with Dierks Bentley and Josh Thompson.

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Bigger Picture Group’s Chris Janson recently participated in the ACM & Cabela’s Great Outdoors Archery Event on April 6. Also competing was Willie Robertson, star of the A&E hit show Duck Dynasty.

Pictured (L-R): Chris Janson, Willie and Korie Robertson

Matt Galvin

RCA Nashville has promoted Matt Galvin and Elizabeth Sledge to Directors, Regional Promotion, effective immediately. Both Galvin and Sledge will continue to be responsible for the development, implementation and supervision of radio promotional plans for the RCA Nashville roster in their respective regions, including the radio airplay of Bush Hawg, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Love and Theft, Jake Owen, Pistol Annies, Joanna Smith, Tate Stevens and Chris Young. They continue to report to Keith Gale, Sr. VP, National Promotion, RCA Nashville in their new roles.

“Matt and Liz have both been important members of our team for a long time, and their contributions to our successes are too numerous to count,” said Gale. “They’ve seamlessly executed and excelled at every new challenge and additional responsibility presented to them, and this well-deserved recognition formalizes their incredible momentum as members of the RCA Promotion leadership team. I’m lucky and proud to have them in the RCA family.”

Elizabeth Sledge

Galvin, a native of Nashville, has a long tenure with the company, most recently serving as Manager, Regional Promotion, RCA Nashville. He first joined then Arista Records in 1995 in the mailroom before being promoted to A&R Coordinator in 1996 and Tickets and Itineraries Coordinator for RCA Label Group in 1999. In 2001, Galvin was promoted to Promotions Coordinator, Arista Nashville and later relocated to Pheonix with the company in 2004 as National Promotions Director for RCA Nashville, where he worked with radio stations on the West Coast to promote and market artists on the RCA roster before relocating back to Nashville as Regional Promotion Manager in 2008. Galvin is a native of Nashville, TN and graduated from Belmont University in 1995.

A 14-year veteran in the industry, Sledge has served as Manager, Regional Promotion in the Southeast region for the RCA Promotion team since 2009. Sledge rejoined the company after working as part of the founding team of Montage Music Group, where she held several positions of increasing responsibility culminating in her role as Midwest/Northeast regional in 2009. Prior to Montage, she worked on the Columbia /Epic Promotions team from 2002-2006, where she worked with the label’s artists including Gretchen Wilson and Montgomery Gentry. Sledge first joined the Columbia Nashville team as a Coordinator in 2002 before being promoted to Northeast Regional Promotion Manager for Epic in 2005. Liz graduated from the University of North Alabama in 1998. She currently resides in Nashville.