Industry Ink: CMA, Big Loud/Maverick, Russ And Tori Taff
CMA To Host Neon Nashville Showcase At German Festival
The CMA is hosting a showcase, “Neon Nashville,” on Sept. 18 at Hamburg, Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival to help further country music’s international expansion. CMA will host a panel and networking reception during the festival as well. The showcase will feature performances by Ingrid Andress, Blanco Brown, Ilse DeLange (from the Netherlands) and Rachel Wammack. In addition to the festival, attendees can take part in the Reeperbahn Festival Conference and attend a panel titled “It Sounds Like Country,” which will explore the growing popularity of country in the European market and the diversity of the genre. The panel includes industry professionals Milly Olykan (CMA Vice President of International Relations & Development, USA), Sarah Casey (United Talent Agency Agent, U.K.), Fred Casimir (BMG Executive Vice President, Global Repertoire & Marketing, Germany) and Oliver Hoppe (Wizard Promotions Managing Director, Germany).
Ryan Kroon Joins Big Loud/Maverick Management Team
Photo Credit: Nick Swift
Ryan Kroon has joined BigLoud/Maverick as a day-to-day manager. An Oregon native and graduate of the University of Oregon, Kroon moved to Nashville in 2015 and got his start at Triple 8 Management, followed by four years at Red Light Management, where he handled day-to-day duties for Sam Hunt plus new talents Everette and Conner Smith.
“When someone of Ryan’s caliber shows interest in joining our company, we jump at the opportunity to bring him in,” shares Big Loud partner/manager Chief Zaruk. “He is a true professional in every way and we cannot wait to see what he brings to our rapidly-growing team!”
Russ And Tori Taff To Receive ASCAP Golden Note Award
Russ and Tori Taff will be honored by ASCAP with its prestigious Golden Note Award at the 41st annual ASCAP Christian Music Awards Sept. 16 at The Franklin Theatre in downtown Franklin, Tennessee.
Taff has earned six Grammy Awards and 18 Dove Awards during his 40-year career. He was barely out of his teens when he was asked to join the gospel group The Imperials as their lead singer, and a few years later pursued his own solo career. Taff’s lyrics, often co-written with his wife Tori, chronicled his personal spiritual path. To date, he has recorded 11 solo albums, including industry benchmarks Medals, Russ Taff and Under Their Influence. His classic singles include “We Will Stand,” “I’m Not Alone,” “Not Gonna Bow” and “Eagle Song.” Grammy-nominated songwriter and author Tori Taff co-wrote I Still Believe: A Memoir of Wreckage, Recovery, and Relentless Love, a book and documentary film that chronicles her husband’s life from childhood to stardom and from his hidden struggle with alcohol to his path to recovery. The book and film were released earlier this year.
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