A benefit concert, “A 90’s Country Night: Unplugged,” has been organized for artist Anita Cochran who was diagnosed with triple positive, invasive carcinoma breast cancer back in August 2017.

“A 90’s Country Night: Unplugged” will take place Tuesday, March 13 at 3rd and Lindsley, and will include performances by Clay Walker, Steve Wariner, Terri Clark, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis, Lorrie Morgan, Ty Herndon, Wade Hayes, The Lynns, Bryan White, Mandy Barnett, and a special guest who is one of Anita’s biggest influences, Crystal Gayle.

Cochran has been undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatments and has had to stop touring. Although the prognosis is positive, she will continue chemotherapy through the fall. She’s chronicled her treatment since the beginning of her diagnosis in her blog Journey to Healing  anitacochran.com/blog. 

Cochran signed with Warner Bros. Records and released her first project Back To You in 1998, which produced the No. 1  song, “What If I Said,” which featured Steve Wariner. She gained the respect of her peers for her work in producing, singing, writing, and playing multiple instruments including lead guitar on her debut album.

Tickets for the special evening can be purchased here.

Blue Sky Group Adds Director Of Royalties

Steven McMillan

Entertainment business and financial management firm Blue Sky Group (BSG) has added Steven McMillan as Director of Royalties. He joins the BSG team from Round Hill Music where he served as the Director of Tracking.

Steven began his career at Big Loud Bucks Administration and Information before joining Round Hill Music and is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. In addition to his work with Blue Sky Group, he is also a member of AIMP, CMA, Copyright Society of the South, and is an alumnus of SOLID Nashville.

Blue Sky Group is located at 54 Music Sq. E. in Nashville.

Buddy Lee Attractions Signs Michelle Wright

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Jon Sayles (BLA), Tayler Bock (BLA), Chuck Thompson (Thompson Entertainment Group President), Jimmy Dasher (BLA), Steve Peck (BLA), Aura Guadagno (BLA), Amy Aylward (BLA). Pictured (Front row, L-R): Donna Lee (BLA CEO), Mike Meade (BLA President) Not pictured: David Kiswiney (BLA Sr. VP), Anthony Wozniak (BLA)

Canadian-born artist Michelle Wright, known for hits such as “Take It Like A Man” and “Guitar Talk,” has signed with Buddy Lee Attractions for live concert bookings. Wright, who was signed to Arista Nashville, earned the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Female Artist honor in 1993. She earned 25 Top Ten radio hits and in 2011, was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame.

PLA Media Signs The Young Fables

PLA Media has signed on to represent Americana/country duo The Young Fables for publicity representation. The duo, managed by Hope Tree Entertainment, will release their sophomore project Old Songs this spring. The album is produced by Mitch Dane, known for work with Jars of Clay, Brandon Heath and Caedmon’s Call.

Shore Fire Media Opens Los Angeles Office

Ally Norton

Shore Fire Media has announced the opening of a Los Angeles office this week on the ninth floor of The Desmond Building in the city’s Miracle Mile District. The new location will be helmed by Ally Norton, a graduate of Boston College who has worked with Shore Fire since 2015, handling campaigns for Melissa Etheridge, Margaret Glaspy, Grizzly Bear, Tash Sultana, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Lee Ann Womack, Pussy Riot’s Nadya and others. The Los Angeles outpost joins Shore Fire’s New York headquarters and Nashville outpost, which opened in 2013 and expanded into a new Music Row location last year.

“Los Angeles has been a second home to many of our staff of late as our West Coast work and roster have grown,” says president Marilyn Laverty. “We’re thrilled that our outstanding publicist and executive Ally Norton will be in charge of our new LA operation.”

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to represent Shore Fire Media on the West Coast,” Norton says. “I’m so excited to be here, and I look forward to expanding Shore Fire’s presence in LA’s amazing music community.”

Los Angeles Lawyer Michael Rexford Elevated To Partner at Manatt Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Michael Rexford

Music lawyer Michael Rexford has been promoted to partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, in the firm’s Los Angeles entertainment and media practice. Rexford had previously held the position of counsel since he joined the firm in 2012 from Universal Music Publishing Group, where he had served as vice president of business affairs. In December, Rexford’s representation of Kobalt Music Group—alongside Jeff Biederman, co-chair of Manatt’s music practice—made headlines when Kobalt finalized a $150 million acquisition of Songs Music Publishing.

Warner Bros. Records Names Laura Swanson To Senior Management Team

Laura Swanson

Veteran music executive Laura Swanson will join Warner Bros. Records (WBR) as Executive Vice President, Media & Strategic Development, effective Jan. 22. This marks the first major appointment by WBR Co-Chairman & COO Tom Corson, who started at the label Jan. 2. Swanson will report to Corson and will oversee media strategy for Warner Bros.’ genre-spanning roster of artists.

Swanson was most recently EVP, Media & Strategic Development at Epic Records, working with artists such as Meghan Trainor. Her previous stops include Island Def Jam, Interscope/Geffen/A&M and Arista Records.

“I am thrilled to join Tom Corson and the amazing Warner Bros. Records’ team in this new adventure,” said Swanson. “With Tom’s leadership, expertise, creative genius and proven track record combined with the label’s new artistic vision and all the amazing artists who call Warner Bros. home, I predict magic is on the horizon. I truly appreciate Tom for bringing me on board and look forward to next week’s electrifying Grammy celebration and many successful years at Warner Bros. Records.”

“Laura is one of the most admired and experienced communications execs in our business, with outstanding relationships throughout the artistic and media communities,” said Corson. “As our industry continues its rapid evolution, the media landscape is constantly shifting, and Laura has always taken the lead in placing her artists and her labels at the forefront of the most innovative avenues of exposure and development. Our working paths have crossed twice during our careers, at A&M and later at Arista, so I am especially happy to welcome her to the Warner Bros. team at this exciting time in the label’s history.”

Grammy-nominated writer/producer Tyler Johnson is prepping a new album with the release of the single, “Give Up On Me,” out Jan. 19. Johnson is jointly signed to a publishing deal with Creative Nation and Pulse Music Group.

Most notably, Johnson teamed with Grammy-winning Producer of the Year Jeff Bhasker to produce the debut album for country music artist Cam. In addition to co-writing Cam’s smash single “Burning House” Johnson co-wrote and produced her current single “Diane.”

Johnson’s work also extends to Keith Urban, Miley Cyrus, John Legend, OneRepublic, Ed Sheeran and producing Harry Styles‘ self-titled 2017 debut album–which he penned nine of the 10 tracks—as well as writing and producing “One Last Song” and “Palace” from Sam Smith’s album, The Thrill Of It All.