Industry Ink: Watershed Festival, TNT Artist Development, MusicStartsHere

Photo: FlyHi Films

The fifth annual Watershed Festival near George, Washington, made history over the weekend (Aug. 5-7) as the first-ever country music festival to host two consecutive weekends. Headliners Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Keith Urban performed both weekends.

“I’m still processing these past two weeks,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring. “To expand to two weekends was a huge undertaking for all, including the artists and fans, and we’re not taking that for granted. Everyone involved helped us make history and we couldn’t be more humbled. We were able to provide unique experiences for both sets of shedders and more people were able to experience the magic of the festival.”

Kimberly Kelly Signs With TNT Artist Development

Kimberly Kelly

Texas singer-songwriter Kimberly Kelly has signed with TNT Artist Development for management services.

Now based in Nashville, Kelly recently earned her first cut, “WTF,” which was included on Tara Thompson’s Valory Music Co. project and was co-written with Thompson, Alex Kline, and Erin Enderlin. Kelly has also collaborated with Radney Foster, Larry McCoy and Monty Holmes. Kelly released her self-titled debut album in 2007, followed by 2010’s Sweet Time Dreamin’. Currently in the studio finishing her latest single, Kelly is expected to release new music this fall.

TNT Artist Development launched in 2016 as a full-service artist development company offering management and marketing services. The company is owned by Tammy Ragusa, a former Arista/Nashville, RCA and Capitol Nashville artist development manager and Nash Country Weekly staff writer.

MusicStartsHere, The Sessions To Welcome Jim Peterik, Liberty DeVitto For Nashville Panel

MusicStartsHere will host its next session on Thursday, Aug. 18 from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Nashville’s W.O. Smith Music School.

Among those on the panel are “Eye of the Tiger” co-writer Jim Peterik, freelancer Dom Famularo, Saturday Night Live vocalist Christine Ohlman, drummer Liberty DeVitto, entertainment lawyer Paul Quin, music business coach Rick Drumm, artist relations manager Rick Dejonge.

In addition to the panel, the event will include dinner and an all-star jam session.

To register for this free event, visit thesessions.org.