Entries by Sarah Skates

Strait Adds Shelton To Tour

Blake Shelton will join George Strait on the road this summer, along with previously announced opener Julianne Hough. Shelton’s latest Warner Bros. single “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” recently spent two weeks at No. 1 on MusicRow’s CountryBreakout chart. The Strait tour opens May 9 in Hidalgo, TX, and hits numerous amphitheaters and festivals across the […]

Country Thunder Adds Markovchick

Kim Markovchick has joined Country Thunder as VP Sales and Marketing. Her more than 20 years of experience most recently included three years as Sr. Director of Marketing at Sony Nashville/Sony BMG. Previously Markovchick spent 17 years at Mercury Nashville, ending as VP/Marketing. Country Thunder General Manager Craig Morris says Markovchick will work to “utilize […]

Jo Dee Welcomes Baby Boy

Jo Dee Messina and her husband Chris Deffenbaugh were thrilled to welcome their first child, a boy, on Mon., Jan. 19 in a Nashville-area hospital. Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born at 1:01 PM, and weighed in at 6 lbs., 15 oz. Noah, mom and dad are all doing very well. The couple was married in […]

Nashville Goes International

Numerous Nashville artists and songwriters are planning trips overseas in the coming months. Representing Music City to the international community will be a wide mix of artists and songwriters from a variety of genres. For the fifth year, Nashville songwriters will share their talents at Ireland’s Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival & Song Writing Convention. Going […]

BMI Honors Gospel In Nashville

BMI recognized the substantial contributions of gospel pacesetters Twinkie Clark, Donald Lawrence, and CeCe Winans at the 10th Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards Luncheon Fri., Jan. 16 in Nashville. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only celebration attracted gospel music’s premier songwriters, recording artists and music industry executives, as well […]

Bread Founder Launches NashFilms Records

Robb Royer, founding member of ‘70s rock band Bread, has opened NashFilms Records on Music Row. With a background also including work as a producer and director, Royer originally planned to start a motion picture production company, but it evolved into a record label

Top Artists Support Worthy Causes

Many big name artists are set for benefit concerts in Nashville over the next few weeks. On Feb. 2 Dolly Parton, Ronnie Dunn, Kellie Pickler, Keith Anderson, Jennifer Hanson, Mark Nesler, and Matt Gary will turn out for the Gift of Music benefit at the Wildhorse Saloon. The 7 PM fundraiser for the W.O. Smith […]

Lady A Making National TV Rounds

Lady Antebellum has scheduled several upcoming national television performances, including NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Jan. 22, and a two-song performance on The Early Show’s “GRAMMY Concert Series” on CBS, Sat., Feb. 7. Additionally, in anticipation of the Grammy nominated band’s opening slot on Kenny Chesney’s Sun City Carnival tour of arenas […]

Publishers Snap Up Rights To Hall of Famers’ Songs

Primary Wave Music Publishing, with offices in New York and Los Angeles, has purchased the late Tennessee Ernie Ford’s catalog from his estate, Billboard reports. The transaction includes about 170 songs by the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. Also a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Ford released nearly 50 albums during […]

Clear Channel Hires Lindy, Despite Looming Layoffs

Clear Channel Communications will begin restructuring across the board next week, making changes expected to save the company $400 million, according to The NY Post. With 30,000 employees worldwide, CCC’s plan includes laying off workers in its radio, outdoor advertising and international divisions. In an attempt to consolidate duties and cut programming costs, CCC might […]