Admission to The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will be free on Sunday (Dec. 13), due to a partnership with Ford Motor Company Fund for the seventh Ford Community Day. Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“As one of the leading arts organizations in the world, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has a long-standing commitment of service to our local community,” says Steve Turner, chairman of the museum’s board of officers and trustees. “We are grateful to Ford Motor Company Fund for giving everyone access to the museum on what will be a truly memorable day.”

In addition to touring the exhibit galleries, visitors will be offered a variety of programs and events that offer fun for all ages.

As part of the day’s events, Cassadee Pope will perform live in the CMA Theater at 12:30 p.m. The concert is free to all guests. Following her performance, she will sign copies of her CD, Frame by Frame.

In addition, Don Schlitz (“The Gambler”) will take part in a Songwriter Session from 11:30 to 12:45 p.m. Laura Veltz (“Drunk Last Night”) will also participate in a Songwriter Session from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Museum memberships will be discounted by 20 percent with code FORD20 through Sunday.

Southern Ground’s radio promotion staff will discontinue in early 2016, MusicRow has confirmed. The staff will work Zac Brown Band’s current single, “Beautiful Drug,” to radio through the end of January 2016.

At that time, Big Machine Label Group’s Dot Records imprint will immediately join in on all promotional efforts so as to not lose any momentum on the current single.

Among those reported as exiting as part of the Southern Ground promotional staff are Clay Henderson, Mara Sidweber, Chuck Swaney, Neda Tobin, and Paul Williams.

 

BMI Songwriters Bring Country Sounds to Maui Shore

The BMI Maui Songwriters Festival is in full swing, featuring shows every day from top country songwriters including Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Rodney Clawson, Nicolle Galyon and more. Held December 8 to 13 on the sunny shores of Maui, the festival highlights country music from well-established hit-makers, as well as the next wave of up-and-comers. The group paused for a photo as the sun set on the first night of the event. Ticket proceeds benefit the Dorvin and Betty Leis Charities, Inc. and the BMI Foundation.

 

ole Promotes Chris Giansante

Chris Giansante has been promoted to Vice President of Administration of ole, an independent rights management company.

Giansante previously was named General Manager of Administration in January 2015, where he was charged with improving ole’s client service and data analytics, refining ole’s online portal, managing ole’s digital collections and services, and maximizing royalty collections from the ole catalog and those the company administers. Under his leadership, ole’s global admin team has made significant strides in these areas and more, earning Giansante increased responsibility as Vice President.

He first joined ole in 2010, when he was hired as a Financial Analyst in the company’s Acquisitions department, earning a promotion to Senior Analyst in 2013. Prior to joining ole, Giansante served in an analyst capacity at RBC Capital Markets, and with firms in the automotive and environmental technologies sectors. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2008 and his MBA in 2010, both from the University of Windsor. He is also a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario as a CPA, CMA.

 

Amazon Selects Nashville Band Moon Taxi For Holiday Sampler

Nashville rock band Moon Taxi is part of Indie For the Holidays, a new collection of holiday music exclusively available to stream on Amazon Prime Music and purchase on Amazon.

Other artists on the mix include YACHT, Rogue Wave, Lisa Loeb, Langhorne Slim, Tuxedo, Ivan & Alyosha, The LeeVees & Matisyahu, A Silent Film and Sondre Lerche.

“We always want to deliver something special to our customers and Indie for the Holidays is the next great way we’re connecting customers with not only new, original holiday music but with amazing artists and bands that they may not have discovered yet,” stated Steve Boom, VP of Digital Music for Amazon. “We’re excited to follow last year’s popular All Is Bright holiday collection with songs from some of today’s best indie artists for customers to enjoy throughout the season.”