Reviver Records Launches Nashville Operation

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Pictured: (L-R, back row) Sony Red's Dewayne Brown, Webster PR's Kirt Webster, Paradigm's Brian Hill, Butch Waugh, Star Farm's Matt Corbin, Conway Ent. Group's Tony Conway, Paradigm's Bob Kinkead and Star Farm's Michael Powers. (L-R, front row): Chris Lucas, Reviver President/CEO David Ross, Preston Brust.

Pictured: (L-R, back row) Sony Red’s Dewayne Brown, Webster PR’s Kirt Webster, Paradigm’s Brian Hill, Butch Waugh, Star Farm’s Matt Corbin, Conway Ent. Group’s Tony Conway, Paradigm’s Bob Kinkead and Star Farm’s Michael Powers. (L-R, front row): Chris Lucas, Reviver President/CEO David Ross, Preston Brust.


New Jersey-based Reviver Records opens its Nashville operation today (Dec. 1), with LOCASH as its first signing.
David Ross will serve as President/CEO. Ross’ career includes time at Alpha Distributors, S* Management, College Music Journal, and Vertis. Butch Waugh will serve as strategic adviser to Reviver, while promotion veterans Michael Powers and Matt Corbin will oversee radio promotions. Kirt Webster (of Webster PR) handles publicity for LOCASH.
LOCASH are managed by Tony Conway, while Paradigm Talent Agency’s Bob Kinkead will handle booking. Distribution for the label will be handled through Dewayne Brown at Sony RED.
“I feel that we have put together a group of people that have the experience and the success stories to lead this team all the way into the stratosphere,” Ross says. “And, I think that the industry is going to be blown away by what Chris and Preston have coming down the line. We’re ready to take this town by storm.”
Reviver Records, LLC includes the record label, Reviver Music, and a Production and Management Company. The Nashville office location will be announced soon.
Other artists represented by Reviver Records include Samantha Landrum, Little Anthony, Lucas Hoge, Paulette McWilliams, and Flux Forteana.

Ronnie Dunn Announces Signing With Nash Icon

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ronnie dunn111

Photo courtesy Ronnie Dunn.


Ronnie Dunn says he has signed a new recording contract with Nash Icon. In a Nov. 27 Facebook post, Dunn told fans that he has inked with Nash Icon, a co-venture between Big Machine Label Group and Cumulus Media.

“Got my new company cap yesterday…..NASHIcon / NASHChetta / Big Machine. Thanks Narvel, Jim Weatherston, Scott Borchetta,” Dunn wrote on Facebook, thanking Nash Icon GM Jim Weatherson, and BMLG’s Scott Borchetta, and (presumably) manager Narvel Blackstock. In the comments below the post, Dunn states, “Record deal with Big Machine / NASH Icon.” The status update included this photo of Dunn wearing a cap emblazoned with the words “NashChetta.”
The signing would put Dunn on the same label with Reba (wife to Blackstock), who became the first signee with Nash Icon in October 2014.

The signing also puts Dunn under the same corporate umbrella (Cumulus Media) as his longtime Brooks & Dunn partner Kix Brooks, who hosts the Cumulus syndicated radio show American Country Countdown. The duo parted ways in 2010, performing their final concert at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. After releasing a self-titled solo album on Arista Nashville, Dunn split with his longtime label home, and later started Little Will-E Records.
In a different post on Nov. 26, Dunn stated, “…talkin’ to Kix, Kix is talkin’ back,” which spurred fans to inquire about a possible reunion of the famed country duo. Dunn quickly added, “not sayin’ reunion.”
The label has not officially announced a deal with Dunn.

Mark Your Calendar – December 2014

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2561469_20141104175557_1334444301Single Add Dates

December 1
Steven Lee Olsen/Raised By A Good Time/Columbia Nashville
Colt Ford/Crank it Up/Average Joe’s
December 15
Josh Dorr/Save Your Breath/RCA Nashville

carrieAlbum Releases

December 2
Sundy Best/Salvation City/eONe
December 9
Carrie Underwood/Greatest Hits: Decade #1/Arista Nashville-19 Recordings

CMT-Artists-of-the-YearIndustry Events

December 2
5th Annual CMT Artists Of The Year ceremony, airing live from Nashville
December 10
ACM Nomination Round Ballot Closes
December 13
30th anniversary edition of the Symphony Ball at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center
December 15

  • American Country Countdown Awards live on FOX from the Music City Center
  • New York Songwriters Hall of Fame nominations due

December 31
Jack Daniel’s New Year’s Eve Bash on Broadway; Lady Antebellum and Gavin DeGraw’s performances to be aired on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015 on ABC

Reba To Be Honored As First Nash Icon Award Recipient

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Reba McEntire Photo credit: Russ Harrington


Multi-media entertainment mogul Reba McEntire will receive the first-ever NASH Icon Award during the inaugural American Country Countdown Awards, airing Monday, Dec. 15 (8 p.m.-10 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.
McEntire has gained success in music, television, film, theatre, and retail as well. Her music career has boasted 35 No. 1 Singles and more than 56 million albums sold worldwide.
Kelly Clarkson and Miranda Lambert will honor Reba by performing some of her classic hits and best-known songs, and Kix Brooks will present Reba with the award during the awards show being held at Nashville’s Music City Center.
“Besides being one of the classiest people to ever grace Nashville, Tennessee, Reba has not just done it her way, but she’s gotten all of her recognition the old fashioned way,” said Brooks. “She’s earned it and I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to tour with her dragging 21 trucks and 19 busses around, and to hear her sing by the campfire. Besides being a talented actor and host, she is seriously one of the best singers I’ve ever heard. Reba sings with her head, her heart and that amazing voice. She’s a treasure Nashville should forever be grateful for…Congratulations Red!”

LifeNotes: Tony Harley

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Tony Harley

Tony Harley

Anthony “Tony” Ray Harley, a longtime member of the Nashville music community, passed away at home on Nov. 21, 2014. He was 66.

According to his obituary, Harley met songwriters Danny Morrison and Johnny Slate in 1987 and soon after launched Affiliated Publishers, Inc. and Image Management. Harley worked as a Principal and CFO at the company, and handled management and publicity for artists Joe Diffie, Tim McGraw and Ty Herndon. In 1992, Harley and McGraw started a management company, TMR2, focusing on McGraw’s career.

In 1999, Harley was instrumental in forming Tanasi Music Group and became CEO, working alongside Ed Arnold and artist Chalee Tennison. Since 2003, Harley worked as an independent business consultant.

Harley was born and raised in Cookeville, Tenn. He served in the U.S. Army in Nuremberg, Germany and went on to graduate from Tennessee Tech University.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Nashville Funeral and Cremation Service.