Big Machine Records has become a title sponsor with the historic Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville for the 2014 race season. The Hunter Sand and Gravel Pro Late Model division will now compete in The Big Machine Challenge Series. As an added element for Pro Late Model drivers throughout the southeast, The Big Machine Challenge Series will pay $5000 to win.
Former three-time Super Truck Fairgrounds Champion & Big Machine Label Group President & CEO Scott Borchetta said, “The Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville is one of the most revered, competitive and trickiest tracks in all of racing. Some of the greatest stock car racers of all time called this speedway home, including Daytona 500 Winners Darrell Waltrip and Sterling Marlin. All at the Big Machine Label Group are thrilled to be able to turn up the volume for Nashville area drivers, as well as drivers throughout the southeast, to make this season one of the most competitive and most talked about anywhere in racing.”
The new series will debut Nashville’s opening race on April 5. This will mark the Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville’s 56th season of racing.
Tony Formosa, the Promoter of Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville said, “This is the greatest thing to happen at the Speedway in my three years as the Promoter. The word is already spreading like wildfire. The only issue that I have with it is that I can’t race in the series! This will definitely make the pie a lot sweeter. I can’t wait to get it started.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will present two programs this month in support of its exhibition The Bakersfield Sound: Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, and California Country. On March 22 The Hall will offer a program and performance by musician and producer Pete Anderson, and on March 30 it will present a Merle Haggard film screening.
On March 22, at 2:30 p.m., Anderson will sit for an interview in the Ford Theater with the museum’s curatorial director, Mick Buck. Pete Anderson: California Country’s Second Generation will feature a discussion of his career as a guitarist and producer. Anderson gained prominence in the 1980s for his guitar and production work with Dwight Yoakam. The pair generated over a dozen Top Ten singles and led a renewal of interest in the Bakersfield Sound. Anderson also produced records for Mark Chesnutt, Sara Evans, Roy Orbison and others. In addition to the interview, Anderson will perform songs from the Bakersfield repertoire and from his latest release, Bird Above Guitarland. The program will be streamed live at countrymusichalloffame.org/streaming.
On March 30, at 2:00 p.m. in the Ford Theater, the museum will screen Merle Haggard: Learning to Live with Myself (2010). This 90-minute installment of American Masters (PBS) by filmmaker Gandulf Hennig includes concert footage and interviews with Haggard, his family, friends and fellow artists. The film tracks Haggard’s life and career through growing up in Oildale, California, his incarceration at San Quentin and his successful career as a songwriter and singer. John Fogerty, Kris Kristofferson, Keith Richards and Don Was also appear in the film.
The film screening is free, and the Anderson program is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Visit countrymusichalloffame.org/ for complete admission details.

JD May

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EJ Bernas

He has spent time as VP of Music and Entertainment for the Tin Roof Corporation. Prior to that he spent eight years at Universal Music Group as Senior Director of Southwest Promotion for MCA.

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 The Copyright Society of the South recently held a standing room only meeting at ASCAP, hosting a panel titled, “Lawyers In The Round.” The distinguished panel discussed the possibility of eliminating the controlled composition clause, music streaming overseas, terminations, and other topics.

Pictured (L-R): Front row: Mike Milom, Orville Almon, and Matthew Beckett with Rush Hicks (moderator). Back row: Denise Stevens (CSOS, Treasurer), Ted Goldtrhope (board member), Jill Napier (CSOS, Vice Chairman), Kele Currier (CSOS, Secretary), Wendi Crosby (board member) and Misha Hunke (board member). Photo credit: Chelsea Jones

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BMI is seeking to fill the role of Director of Public Relations. The position requires a minimum of five years experience in the music/entertainment industry within public relations, promotions, and event management; experience within the southeast area is preferred. The position is based in Nashville. For more information, visit bmi.com.