Industry Ink: ACM LEVel Up, Black CMA & Black Opry Event, More

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ACM LEVel Up Hosts 2023 Cohort Session With Cris Lacy

Pictured (L-R): ACM’s Kortney Toney, Smoking Section Podcast’s Markus Koger, CAA’s Sabrina Butera, Warner Music Nashville’s Cris Lacy, CMHOF’s Aimee Graham, UMPG Nashville’s Roxy King and ACM’s Jade T. Sampson.

The Academy of Country Music hosted a session for their LEVel Up 2023 cohort with Co-Chair/Co-President of Warner Music Nashville Cris Lacy.

ACM LEVel Up is a professional development program for rising leaders in country music. It consists of a two-year curriculum designed to empower participants to expand the horizons of the country genre into new audiences that transcend demographics and geography.

 

CMHOF To Host Black CMA & Black Opry Conversation & Performance

 

Pictured (L-R): Holly G, Frankie Staton and Dr. Cleve Francis

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will host a special event spotlighting the Black Country Music Association and the Black Opry on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 2:30 p.m. in the Ford Theater, in support of the museum’s exhibition American Currents: State of the Music.

The Black Country Music Association was founded by performer Cleve Francis in 1995, and has been led by songwriter and performer Frankie Staton since 1996. The association has built community, hosted showcases in Nashville and educated fans about country music’s Black performers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Black Opry continues that work, spotlighting Black Americana, blues, country and folk artists and connecting Black fans. Founded in April 2021 by Virginia native and country music fan Holly G, the organization has grown into a national performance series, the Black Opry Revue, which is helmed by the Founder and her Co-Director Tanner Davenport.

During the program, hosted by museum writer-editor Angela Stefano Zimmer, the organizations will unite to share their histories as well as their impact within the music industry and their future goals. The event will also feature performances from Denitia, Valierie Ellis Hawkins, Staton and Joe West.

The program is free to museum members, and tickets are included with museum admission. A ticket required for entry into the event. For more information, click here.

 

Morgan Myles Signs With KZZ Music & Blue Élan Records

Morgan Myles signs with KZZ Music and Blue Élan Records

Nashville singer-songwriter Morgan Myles has signed with KZZ Music and Blue Élan Records.

Myles competed on season 22 of NBC’s The Voice as a member of Camila Cabello‘s team, finishing as a finalist. She has opened for artists including Luke Bryan, Jake Owen, Hank Williams Jr. and Kane Brown. Myles received a standing ovation during her Grand Ole Opry debut in January.

“What’s amazing about KZZ Music/Blue Élan Records is that they truly want to help through music. That’s their legacy, and the thing I’m most excited about is just knowing I have a team that truly sees me as an artist, and would do anything to bring my vision to life,” Myles shares.

 

Pinecastle Records Signs The Edgar Loudermilk Band

The Edgar Loudermilk Band

Pinecastle Records has signed Edgar Loudermilk and his band to a record deal.

Loudermilk is a Georgia-based singer-songwriter who got his start in the early 2000s as a member of Rhonda Vincent & The Rage and Marty Raybon’s inaugural bluegrass band. He also spent seven years performing with IIIrd Tyme Out.

The Edgar Loudermilk Band also consists of Zack Autry, Jamey Pittman and current IBMA Momentum Instrumentalist of the Year nominee Anthony Howell. The group is set to simultaneously release one secular album and an all-Gospel project.

“Pinecastle was with us for the successful release of Georgia Maple,” says Loudermilk. “It’s like coming back home. We’re looking forward to and are excited about having Pinecastle with us on the release of our upcoming secular and gospel projects.”

Liza Anderson
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