Entries by Sarah Skates

ole Acquires Blacktop Music Catalog

ole, one of the world’s largest independent music publishers, has acquired the approximately 4000-song strong music publishing catalog of Blacktop Music Group, Inc. along with its names, brands and trademarks. Founded in 2001 by multi-platinum recording artist Clint Black, noted business manager Charles Sussman and veteran music publisher Mike Sebastian, Blacktop has been home to […]

ASCAP Names LeAnn Phelan Sr. Creative Dir.

LeAnn Phelan, a music industry veteran with a background in writer relations and A&R, has been tapped as Senior Creative Director for ASCAP’s Nashville office. She will report to Tim DuBois, who recently took the top local post, working as VP and Managing Executive of Operations. ASCAP has been restructuring its Nashville branch, re-focusing it […]

Artist Lifenotes: Love And Theft, Terri Clark, Allison Moorer/Steve Earle

Congrats to Love and Theft’s Eric Gunderson who married longtime girlfriend Emily Hagar at Hazel Path Mansion in Hendersonville, Tennessee on Saturday, April 3. The outdoor wedding was held at sunset with 150 guests in attendance. After returning from their honeymoon, Gunderson and Love And Theft band mates Brian Bandas and Stephen Barker Liles will […]

McMurry Records Signs Savannah Jack

McMurry Records, the label started in late 2009 by Howard Fields, Everett Zinn, and Doris McMurry, has signed Savannah Jack as its flagship artist. The trio, comprised of Don Gatlin, Mike Ulvila, and Jay Darby, celebrated the release of its debut single recently with a launch party at 12th & Porter. “I Know,” written by […]

ACM Off-Camera Winners Revealed

Today the Academy of Country Music is announcing the winners of awards that will not be televised during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on April 18. Instead, these Special Awards, Industry Awards and MBI Awards are presented to recipients at the ACM Honors, a special event set for Tuesday, September 21, 2010 […]

Worley Fundraiser Taps Songwriters; Tennis Invitational Recruiting

On Friday, May 14 Darryl Worley will host the annual “Hitmakers on the Harbor” event at Pier 57 boat dealership in Pickwick, TN. The songwriter show featuring Worley, Jim “Moose” Brown and Walt Aldridge is the first of five events leading up to Worley’s annual Tennessee River Run (Sept. 16-18). Proceeds from all events go […]

Lambert Debuts Video; Yearwood’s New Cooking Column

Fresh off of her first No. 1 single, “White Liar,” Miranda Lambert’s new single, “House That Built Me,” is off to a quick start. In fact, it’s the fastest rising single in her career, already at No. 25 on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart in 6 weeks. The video for the song about returning to a […]

Hall of Fame Revamps Exhibit, Plans Ray Stevens Salute

Staffers at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum have been busy preparing for big events this month featuring Ray Stevens and songwriters Kent Blazy and Cory Batten—all in the midst of an exciting revamp of its permanent exhibit. The Hall will salute Ray Stevens on Saturday, April 24, as part of its Nashville […]

Tour News: Swift’s Millionth Ticket; Reba’s Surprise Guests

Taylor Swift and Reba excited fans with big surprises at their respective tour stops last week. Swift welcomed the 1 millionth fan to her Fearless Tour Thursday (4/1) at the Intrust Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. College student Rachel was attending her third Swift show when she was surprised at her seat and notified she […]

Photos: Tin Pan South Wrap Up [Updated 4/6]

A few highlights from Tin Pan South’s Thursday (4/1), Friday (4/2) and Saturday night shows. Thursday: BMI offered a stout lineup of storytelling guitar-slingers as part of the annual Tin Pan South songwriters’ festival. A deep crowd filled the Rutledge as Big Al Anderson, Shawn Camp and Pat McLaughlin delivered an acoustic set of originals […]