Industry Ink: Corey Kent, Chase Rice, CMHOFM, ATC Management, Gibson Gives

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Corey Kent Surprised By Sony With Billion Streams, Triple Platinum Plaques

Pictured (L-R): Caryl Atwood (SMN, SVP, Commercial Partnerships), Chris Fox (Triple 8 Management), Ken Robold (SMN, President/COO), Corey Kent, Taylor Lindsey (SMN, Chair and CEO), George Couri (Triple 8 Management), Paige Altone (SMN, VP, Digital Marketing & Artist Development) and Jason McColl (SMN, Sr. Director, A&R). Photo: Adam Davis

Corey Kent was surprised by his label Sony Music Nashville this week with plaques to commemorate amassing one billion career streams as well as having his No. 1 song “Wild As Her” be certified three-times Platinum by the RIAA.

“I know it takes a lot of people to make all of this happen and it has completely changed my life,” said Kent at the event. “It has changed the way that I’m able to provide for my wife and kids and I don’t take it lightly so thank you.”

 

Chase Rice Honors Home State During TV Appearances

Chase Rice performed “Carolina Can” during a special “Asheville Rising” edition of ABC’s Good Morning America live From Asheville, North Carolina. Photo: Michael LeBrecht II for ABC

Chase Rice performed on ABC’s Good Morning America and GMA3: What You Need to Know on March 27, paying tribute to his home state’s enduring spirit in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. On Good Morning America, Rice performed “Carolina Can,” which paints a vivid picture of his time growing up in the Tar Heel State, as part of the network’s “Asheville Rising” broadcast highlighting Western North Carolina’s recovery six months after Hurricane Helene.

Rice also discussed his involvement in the “Concert for Carolina” benefit in October. On GMA3 he discussed his deep-rooted connection to the state before performing “Haw River,” a haunting ballad set along the North Carolina waterway from his recent independent album, Go Down Singin’.

 

New Student & Community Art Quilt Exhibit Opens In CMHOFM’s Taylor Swift Education Center

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum recently unveiled a new student and community art exhibit in the Taylor Swift Education Center titled “A Community of Artists.” The exhibit features quilts inspired by Gee’s Bend quilters, made by local high school students in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools and individuals from Smart Art + Craft Supplies — an organization that serves adults with intellectual disabilities.

In 2024, both groups were invited to the museum’s Haley Gallery to see an exhibition that included new works by Gee’s Bend quilters. During the MNPS schools’ visit, the students met several Gee’s Bend quilters, who discussed their creative processes and worked with students as they constructed their own quilt squares. Later, with teacher guidance at school, students assembled their squares into a larger community quilt to represent their local communities and the artistic influence of Gee’s Bend quilters.

 

ATC Management Adds Jay Saunders To Team

Jay Saunders

ATC Management has expanded its team with two new managers, including Nashville-based Jay Saunders.

Saunders previously worked under Marty Diamond (former President of Music at Paradigm Talent Agency) and more recently with Mark Williams (Co-President of Concord Records) where he contributed to artist development and A&R at Concord Records. Early in his career, he played a key role in discovering and managing band The Marías and now represents a roster that includes John Vincent III, Kacy Hill, Alex Amen and poet-songwriter Kara Jackson.

 

Gibson Gives Donates Pianos To Music City Chopin’s Metro Nashville Piano Program For Youth & Music Education

Students at Margaret Allen Middle School in Nashville receive a piano from Gibson Gives. Photo: Music City Chopin

Gibson Gives, the philanthropic division of Gibson Guitars, has generously expanded the Music City Chopin program by gifting three Baldwin Grand Pianos to Metro Nashville area schools. These instruments have now found new forever homes at Park Avenue Elementary, Margaret Allen Middle, and Antioch High School in Nashville.

“We are deeply grateful to Gibson Global Executive Director Erica Krusen for seeing the impact of our initiative and stepping in to amplify it,” says Graciella Kowalczyk, Artistic Director of Music City Chopin. “Our mission is to spark creativity and hope in our communities, and these pianos have the power to do just that.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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