Fontanel, co-owned by manager Marc Oswald, has launched Fontanel Records. The label is the brainchild of Oswald’s wife and member of music trio The Farm, Krista Marie Oswald. The label’s first release is Fontanel Family Christmas, a holiday record that showcases the musical talent of Fontanel employees. They encouraged 20 employees to record their favorite Christmas songs for the label’s debut album.
“I spend a tremendous amount of time at Fontanel,” stated Krista, “and continue to be amazed by all the incredible talent that so many of the Fontanel employees have. Whether it be a tour guide in the mansion serenading guests with one of their tunes or a Mandrell classic, a singing waiter at Cafe’ Fontanella, a staff member featured on the Studio Gallery stage, someone finger picking on Prichard’s Distillery’s front porch, or even another tickling the ivories on one of the pianos all over the property, music is everywhere at Fontanel.”
“We purchased the .com immediately,” she added, “and set up a website and began recording our debut album! What had begun as a simple “thank you” to the staff, turned into a magical project, filled with heart & soul, pride & love. Listening to each track on the Fontanel Family Christmas album, you feel each individual’s passion and dedication – and this is only the beginning. There is no telling what will come out of this employee driven label; the creativity and drive is unparalleled, and there are no boundaries.”
The Fontanel Family Christmas album can be purchased at The Fontanel Gift Shop at 4125 Whites Creek Pike, Nashville, TN 37189.

Following the removal of Big Machine Label Group artist Taylor Swift‘s entire catalog of music from streaming music service Spotify, other artists are following that lead. As previously reported, Broken Bow artist Jason Aldean‘s latest album Old Boots, New Dirt was recently pulled from the service, though the rest of his catalog is still available.
Two additional BMLG artists have now had albums pulled from Spotify. Valory Music Co. artist Justin Moore‘ s 2013 album Off The Beaten Path is no longer available on the service, though his past catalog is still available. A note on Spotify states, “The artist or their representatives have decided not to release this album on Spotify. We are working on it and hope they will change their mind soon.”
A similar note is posted for Valory Music Co. artist Brantley Gilbert‘s 2014 album Just As I Am, though his 2010 album Halfway To Heaven (Deluxe Album) and 2009’s A Modern Day Prodigal Son are still available on Spotify. Initially, Just As I Am was kept from Spotify for 60 days after its release; the project has gone on to be certified gold.

ACM Lifting Lives is announcing its board of directors for the 2014 – 2015 term, including newly elected Vice-President Ed Warm.
The ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors is made up of an equal number of ACM Board Members, referred to as representative directors, as well as leaders in non-profit and corporate affairs that aren’t ACM Board Members, referred to as public directors.
This year, the Lifting Lives Board elected two representative director positions and one public director position. In addition to those elected, director at large positions were appointed by Chairman Bill Mayne, President Lori Badgett and Vice-President Ed Warm.
Newly elected directors include:
Ricky Kelley (public director)
Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media (representative director)
Doc McGhee, McGhee Entertainment (representative director)
Newly appointed directors at large include:
Paul Barnabee, Sony Music Nashville (representative director)
Lorie Lytle (public director)
Jerrod Niemann (public director)
Tree Paine, Premium PR (public director)
Kimberly Schlapman (representative director)
Butch Waugh (representative director)
*complete board is listed below
“We’ve got a great team of individuals passionate about the work of ACM Lifting Lives and we’re looking forward to celebrating the Academy’s 50th anniversary by continuing to better lives through the power of music,” said ACM Lifting Lives Chairman Bill Mayne.
ACM Chairman Darin Murphy serves as voting director per the bylaws of ACM Lifting Lives.
2014-2015 ACM Lifting Lives Board Of Directors
Officers
Chairman Bill Mayne, CRB
President Lori Badgett, City National Bank
Vice-President Ed Warm, Joe’s Bar
Treasurer Dwight Wiles, Smith, Wiles & Co.
Secretary Hannah Martin, ACM Lifting Lives
Representative Directors
Rod Essig, CAA
Pete Fisher, Grand Ole Opry
Ebie Mcfarland, Essential Broadcast Media
Doc Mcghee, McGhee Entertainment
Bill Mayne, CRB
Darin Murphy, CAA
Ken Robold
Ed Warm, Joe’s Bar
Representative Directors At Large
Paul Barnabee, Sony Music Nashville
Kimberly Schlapman
Butch Waugh
Public Directors
Lori Badgett, City National Bank
Mark Bloom, UBS Financial Services, Inc
Debbie Carroll, MusiCares
Ann Edelblute, The H.Q.
Ricky Kelley
Ellen Lehman, Community Foundation Of Middle Tennessee
Beth Moore, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Dwight Wiles, Smith, Wiles & Co.
Public Directors At Large
Lorie Lytle
Jerrod Niemann
Tree Paine, Premium Pr
Past Chairs
Bruce Bowman, Kaboom!
Mark Hartley, Fitzgerald Hartley
Gayle Holcomb, WME

Country Now, a country music-dedicated YouTube channel, will feature music from two “Front and Center” episodes, set to air this Fall on public television. The Country Now offerings will include songs from Dierks Bentley, Lady Antebellum, and Keith Urban. The music is available now on YouTube.
The new season of ‘Front and Center’ includes performances from Counting Crows, John Hiatt, Bentley, Joe Satriani, Lady Antebellum, Urban, Paul Rodgers, The Fray, Richard Thompson and Richie Sambora.
• • •

Tim McGraw

Garth Brooks

Chris Tomlin