Bid Loud Records’ Jillian Jacqueline Visits Academy Of Country Music

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Big Loud Records recording artist Jillian Jacqueline to the office while she was in Los Angeles recently. While at the Academy, Jacqueline performed new songs, “Hate Me” and “Reasons,” that she co-wrote and will be featured on her forthcoming debut project produced by Tofer Brown.

 

Parker Willingham Celebrates Album Release In Nashville

Apple Row Music Group artist Parker Willingham hosted a listening party for his new album, You Get Me Every Time, atop The Westin in Nashville. Willingham highlighted tracks from the album, including “Raining Down,” “Flipside,” and “All Over You,” with an acoustic performance in front of friends, family and industry executives. The album releases Friday, July 7.

 

Jackie Lee Celebrates 40th Grand Ole Opry Performance

Singer-songwriter Jackie Lee celebrated his 40th Grand Ole Opry performance on Friday, June 30.

The inaugural “MEMPHO” music festival, slated for Oct. 6-7 in Memphis, Tennessee, will include a performance lineup led by Cage The Elephant and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, as well as Cold War Kids, Bishop Briggs, Robert Randolph and The Family Band, Hard Working Americans, Southern Avenue among other featured performers. A special tribute to the music of Memphis will feature Steve Cropper & Friends and Booker T Presents: A Stax Revue and a Journey thru Soul, Blues, and R&B.

MEMPHO will be held at Memphis, Tennessee’s 4,500-acre Shelby Farms Park, and will feature two stages of music, as well as culinary options including Memphis’ legendary barbecue, in addition to an array of beer, wine, and cocktails.

“The roots of American music can be clearly traced directly to Memphis. The first annual MEMPHO Music Festival is being launched with a distinct purpose to pay homage to our community’s unique role in shaping and influencing global music culture,” said Memphis native Diego Winegardner, Founder and CEO of Big River Presents, the promoter behind MEMPHO.

Limited “Early bird” pre-sale tickets will be available beginning July 13 at 10 a.m. CT, with VIP Packages also available. General admission tickets go on sale July 14 at 10 a.m. CT.

 For more information and tickets for MEMPHO Fest, visit memphofest.com.

 

 

Scotty McCreery Visits With Ty, Kelly And Chuck

Scotty McCreery joined Ty, Kelly and Chuck at NASH studios in Nashville Thursday morning (July 6) and revealed the story behind his emotional new single “Five More Minutes.” He also discussed American Idol, his hero Randy Travis, his favorite Kid Again Summer memory, and more.

View videos of McCreery’s visit here.

 

Whiskey Wolves Of The West Set For Nashville Shows

Nashville-based Americana group Whiskey Wolves of the West are set to bring their raw, authentic music to Nashville for three shows this summer. The band will take the stage at The Family Wash on July 25 and Aug. 1, and at The Basement East on Sept. 5.

The brainchild of singer-songwriters Leroy Powell and Tim Jones, Whiskey Wolves of the West has had an ongoing residency at The Sutler in Nashville almost every Saturday night since April 2016. Currently on break for several weeks, the residency resumes on July 29.

Powell can be heard on many records with Sturgill Simpson, Shooter Jennings, Waylon Jennings, Whiskey Myers, and tracks with producer Dave Cobb. Jones has shone on his notable collaborations with Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes), Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), and Truth & Salvage.

 

Spin Doctors Hire Dr. Dave Young As Sr. Director Of Promotion

KDKD/Clinton, Missouri’s Dr. Dave Young joins Spin Doctors Music Group as Sr.Director of Promotion, effective Monday, July 17.

Young replaces JessiLynn Kidd who resigned to focus full time on her music career.

Spin Doctors Nashville President/CEO Al Brock says, “Dr. Dave will bring a new vision to our company, with his radio career and his intense passion for new music, not to mention he has Doctor in front of his name, so he can help us write more prescriptions for success for our clients. We’re excited to be working with him and look forward to the future.”

 

CMA Foundation Receives Stand For Music Award

The CMA Foundation received the 2017 Stand for Music Award from the National Association for Music Education last Thursday (June 29) during the Association’s annual Hill Day in Washington, D.C.

CMA Director of Community Outreach Tiffany Kerns accepted the Award on behalf of the CMA Foundation.

 

Devin Dawson At CRB Board Dinner

Atlantic/WEA artist Devin Dawson spent time with Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) board members and Warner Music Nashville (WMN) staff at the recent CRB board dinner hosted by WMN.

The National Music Publishers’ Association has hired two new staffers. Jonathan Cohen has joined NMPA as its new Vice President & Senior Counsel. Jonathan comes to NMPA from the Covington & Burling LLP Manhattan office where for over six years he worked in the antitrust and litigation practice groups and represented clients in many industries, including the music industry. Prior to his work at Covington, Jonathan clerked for the Honorable Janet C. Hall at the United States District Court, District of Connecticut and interned at the U.S. Department of Justice in the Civil Division. A Yale graduate, he received his Juris Doctorate from New York University School of Law.

“Jonathan’s experience couldn’t be better suited for navigating the complex legal landscape that songwriters face in their fight for fair rates,” said NMPA President/CEO David Israelite. “Having specialized in the areas that most affect creators makes him uniquely positioned to work on songwriters’ behalf.”

Shannon Sorensen has also joined the organization as Vice President of Government Affairs & Counsel. Sorensen was most recently a counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives and prior to that was an attorney at Pia Anderson Dorius Reynard and Moss in Salt Lake City. A graduate of Brigham Young University, she received her Juris Doctorate from the Brigham Young J. Reuben Clark Law School. She will focus on government relations and finding solutions to the many legislative and regulatory problems that plague songwriters.

“Shannon has already achieved so much in a short time, and we greatly look forward to what she will accomplish at NMPA,” said Israelite. “As songwriters face a steep climb on Capitol Hill, her experience and legal acumen will be invaluable as we represent the needs of creators to the legislators who can help them.”

Moving up at NMPA is Katharine McClenny, who is now Director of Communications and the NMPA Gold & Platinum Program. McClenny will focus on expanding NMPA’s reach and making the struggles of songwriters understood, as well as building out the NMPA Gold & Platinum honors, beginning with the first-annual Gold & Platinum Gala in Nashville in October.

 

RCA Inspiration and Provident Music Group are reviving Verity Records, a label that has been a modern standard-bearer in gospel music for almost two decades. Verity is home to a vast catalog that shaped a signature legacy in the Gospel landscape and features releases from acts such as Marvin Sapp, Fred Hammond, Yolanda Adams, John P. Kee, Vickie Winans, Richard Smallwood, Kirk Franklin and others from the 1990’s to 2013.

The label’s first single is the just-released “Close” from Marvin Sapp. The song is already becoming a hit, ranking in the Top 5 among Gospel Indicator charts of Most Added and Most Increased Plays for the song, and is the lead single from Sapp’s upcoming 11^th solo album of the same name which will be released on September 29^th.

“There is so much incredible music to experience, and amazing new Gospel and inspirational music to come from Verity,” adds Phil Thornton, Verity and RCA Inspiration SVP & General Manager. Every record has a story to tell. Whether you’re introduced to ‘Close’ for the first time or re-discovering past works, these records weave distinctive tales serving as a continual source of hope and love, to discover strength and hold faith through tough times, celebrate joyful times, and be a constant companion for all the complexities of our daily lives.”

Verity Records will be operated under Provident Music Group.

“We are pleased to relaunch Verity, a brand that has been an integral part of forging the sounds of Gospel Music today,” said Terry Hemmings, Provident Music Group CEO. “The Verity Label represents a rich history of cherished albums encompassing contemporary and classic hits that can be enjoyed time and again. Uplifting entertainment is more important now than ever, inspiring all of us-no matter what path we may be on. We look forward to sharing this new chapter of Verity with all of you!”