Industry Ink: Cody Jinks, FlyteVu, Dave Alvin, Big Timber Entertainment

Cody Jinks Earns New RIAA Certifications

Cody Jinks has earned new RIAA certifications for his songs “Loud and Heavy” (double Platinum), “Hippies & Cowboys” (Platinum), “Must Be The Whiskey” (Platinum), “Mamma Song” (Gold), “I’m Not The Devil” (Gold) and “Cast No Stones” (Gold) as well as for his album, Adobe Sessions (Gold).

Jinks was named MusicRow‘s 2023 CountryBreakout Awards Independent Artist of the Year. For a second time, he received the most radio spins for an independent artist in a year on MusicRow‘s CountryBreakout Radio chart. Jinks is scheduled to continue his headlining tour through the summer and join Eric Church as support for select dates in August.

He also launched his label, Late August Records, in a deal with The Orchard at the end of 2022. The label is helmed by Jinks and his longtime manager, Arthur Penhallow, Jr., with Stephanie Hudacek leading the label’s new Nashville office.

FlyteVu Welcomes Beth Gebhard As Account Director

Beth Gebhard joins FlyteVu this week as Account Director, bringing with her over two decades of communications and marketing experience. Her previous career stops include Random House Inc., The Walt Disney Company, ABC-TV, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network and Marriott Int.

Gebhard’s specific expertise is in developing multi-platform marketing, branding, media and communication strategies as well as working with thought leaders and personalities including Caroline Kennedy, Steve Martin, George Carlin, Julie Andrews, Candace Bushnell, Stephen Colbert, Lisa Ling and the late Pulitzer Prize-winner David Halberstam.

CMHOF Hosts Dave Alvin Performance & Interview

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hosted an interview and performance with Grammy-winning artist, songwriter and producer Dave Alvin, in support of the exhibition “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock,” presented by City National Bank.

Alvin, who is featured in the exhibit and contributed an essay to the exhibit’s companion book, performed several songs and shared stories from his career during the nearly two-hour long program, which was led by museum writer-editor Michael McCall. Alvin also signed copies of his book, New Highway, a collection of poems, essays and lyrics, published in 2022.

He was a founding member and lead guitarist of L.A. roots-rock bands The Blasters and The Knitters. His songs have been recorded by the Blasters, Los Lobos, Little Milton, Kelly Willis, X, Dwight Yoakam and more. Alvin has also produced music for Sonny Burgess, The Derailers, Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys, Chris Gaffney and Tom Russell.

Big Timber Entertainment Launches Full-Service Entertainment Group

Troy Brown and Mark Oliverius have announced the grand opening of their new entertainment group,Big Timber Entertainment (BTE). BTE is a full-service, multi-genre entertainment company encompassing a record label, artist management, radio promotion, record distribution and publishing company, along with live show production all under one roof.

Big Timber Entertainment came to life when music business veteran and executive Brown joined forces with music producer, director, and hit songwriter Oliverius as they realized their extraordinary working synergy and their shared vision to develop and nurture emerging young artists to succeed.

Brown has a background in accounting and quality management. He is the head of a prominent global hardwood lumber company in Wisconsin and it was his passion for the timber industry and love of music that sparked the name Big Timber Entertainment.

Oliverius has had over 40 songs recorded by major label artists including Joe Diffie’s hit “Whole Lotta Gone.” His production company OMGNashville is currently producing recording projects, music videos, social media content and commercials for his extensive roster of clients.

Brown and Oliverius also have to their credit the live production. That’s 70s Music!, under the BTE roof, where spectators can relive the best of times with multi-genre vocalist Mia Brown and The Nashville Hitmen. Under the musical direction of Oliverius, the cast performs some of the most iconic songs of the 60s and 70s from Linda Ronstadt, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, The Doobie Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Dionne Warwick, to B.W. Stevenson, Jackie DeShannon, Journey, Hall & Oates, Paul Simon, The Spinners and Jackson Browne.