Entries by LB Cantrell

EMI Digital Chief Merrill To Exit

EMI Music announced today (3/23), that its President of Digital Music, Douglas Merrill will leave the company as its digital unit is integrated into its main operations. Formerly with Google, Inc., Merrill has been with EMI less than a year. EMI has promoted Cory Ondrejka to the newly created title of Executive Vice President of […]

Dolly Unveils Sha-Kon-O-Hey!

East Tennessee native Dolly Parton, official ambassador of the 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, has released a new eight-song CD entitled Sha-Kon-O-Hey! to benefit Friends of the Smokies. The CD retails for $10, $8 of which Parton will donate to the nonprofit organization that is devoted to protecting the Smokies. The Sha-Kon-O-Hey! […]

Sony ATV Signs Stegall

Sony/ATV Nashville has signed hit songwriter/producer Keith Stegall to a multi-year publishing deal. The co-writer of the pop standard, “We’re in This Love Together,” Stegall is also the writer of nine No. 1 country singles, including “I Hate Everything” by George Strait and “Don’t Rock The Jukebox” by Alan Jackson. As Jackson’s longtime producer, Stegall […]

Pedal Steel Guitarist Bill Johnson Dies

William Donald “Bill” Johnson, acclaimed pedal steel guitarist for artists including Red Sovine, George Jones and Marty Robbins, died March 17 in Tallassee, Alabama. In addition to his steel playing, Johnson made his mark as a songwriter, most notably with “A Wound Time Can’t Erase,” which was recorded by over 150 artists, including Jack Greene, […]

SOURCE Names 2009 Honorees

SOURCE, the nonprofit organization of executive women in the Nashville music industry will honor Joyce Jackson, Peggy Lamb, Pat McCoy, Sandy Neese, Margaret Parker, and the late Marion Keisker MacInnes with its 2009 Foundation Awards. The 7th annual awards dinner will be held Thursday, July 30 at the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum. Jackson’s […]

Cox Radio Going Private

Cox Enterprises Inc. announced today (3/23) that it is beginning a $3.80 per share cash tender offer for the remainder of Cox Radio Inc.’s publicly held shares, for a total payment of about $69.1 million. Cox Enterprises owns a roughly 78 percent equity stake in Cox Radio with a voting interest of about 97 percent. […]

615 Unveils New Site and Search Engine

Nashville production music company 615 Music has redesigned its website and launched a comprehensive new music search engine called “615 Music Search.” The company will unveil its new website and Music Search features at the NAB convention in Las Vegas April 20-23.  According to 615 Music President and CEO Randy Wachtler, the newly launched “615 […]

Jennings Meets Johnson at Crossroads

Country outlaws Shooter Jennings and Jamey Johnson came together at Nashville’s Rocketown recently to shoot an episode of CMT Crossroads. The duo’s rowdy performance, which was taped before a live audience, will premier Monday, March 23 at 9:00 PM/CT on CMT. The episode features Jennings and Johnson collaborating on Johnson’s “High Cost of Living,” “Between […]

Americana Assoc. Offers Health Coverage

The Americana Music Association is now offering members the opportunity to obtain affordable health insurance coverage. The program, known as Americana Sound Healthcare, is designed for members who are self-employed, involved with small businesses that cannot easily offer coverage, or otherwise not in a position to afford coverage. True Group plans are also available to […]

Industry Veteran Joe Boyland Dies

Nashville music industry veteran Joe Boyland passed away earlier this week at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Medical Center after suffering a heart attack. He was 61. Boyland moved to Nashville in 1980 and worked with Judds manager Woody Bowles before founding Hit List Music in 1986. He subsequently worked with a host of artists including Celine Dion, […]