[Updated]: Country Singer Wayne Mills Dies After Nashville Shooting

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wayne mills

Wayne Mills


[Update]: The memorial service for singer-songwriter Wayne Mills will take place at Arab High School auditorium in Mills’ hometown of Arab, Ala., on Sunday, Dec. 8. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the auditorium of Arab High School (511 Arabian Dr., Arab, Ala., 35016). The memorial service will take place at 1:30 p.m., followed by a private burial. Photography and video cameras will not be allowed, and cell phones must be turned off and kept out of view.
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A Nashville Country singer is dead after an apparent altercation outside a Nashville bar. Chris Ferrell, owner of Pit and Barrel bar, told police that he fatally shot Country singer Wayne Mills, 44, in self defense, after the two engaged in an argument as Mills attempted to smoke in a non-smoking area.
Ferrell shot Mills at approximately 5 a.m. on Saturday morning (Nov. 23). Mills later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
No arrests have been made, and Ferrell possessed a valid gun permit.
Mills, a native of Arab, Ala., performed with the Wayne Mills Band for 15 years. Country entertainers Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton opened for the band early in their careers, according to the group’s website.
Mills graduated with an education degree from the University of Alabama, where he also played football during his college years.

CRS Announces 'New Faces' Performers

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CRS2014-LogoCountry Radio Seminar has announced the 2014 New Faces of Country Music Show performers will include Brett Eldredge (Atlantic/WMN), Tyler Farr (Columbia),Cassadee Pope (Republic Nashville), Thomas Rhett (Valory) and Charlie Worsham (Warner Bros./WAR).
New Faces will take place on Feb. 21, 2014 at Nashville’s Convention Center, rounding out CRS 2014. Although dinner tickets for the New Faces show have sold out, seating-only admission is still available on a first-serve basis. Interested parties can register for $499 at CountryRadioSeminar.com, prior to the pending on-site registration rate.

CMA Announces Hirings

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Jay Jones

Jay Jones. Photo Credit: Christian Bottorff / CMA


The Country Music Association has added Jay Jones as Director of Media Relations, Tiffany Kerns as Community Outreach Manager, and Carrie Tekautz as Assistant in the Membership and Balloting department.
Jones previously worked at Jay Jones Music, a public relations and marketing company he owned and operated for nine years. There his clients included The Beach Boys, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, 12th and Porter, Capitol Records, and others.
As Director, Jones will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s media initiatives and digital public relations campaigns as well as the continued development of relationships with media, publicists, and CMA partners. Jones holds a degree in Music Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Belmont University.
Tiffany Kerns

Tiffany Kerns. Photo Credit: Amanda Eckard / CMA


Kerns comes to CMA from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where she worked since 2007 in both Knoxville, Tenn. and San Francisco. She relocated to Nashville in 2012 where she was Development Director working with corporate community partners and large community groups to help achieve the development goals of the CFF Board of Directors. As Community Outreach Manager, Kerns will be responsible for developing relationships throughout the community for CMA. She is a 2007 Graduate of the University of Tennessee.
Carrie Tekautz

Carrie Tekautz. Photo Credit: Sarah Abell / CMA


Tekautz is a 2013 graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University with a degree in Music Business. She interned previously for CMA in the Membership and Balloting Department before being hired as Assistant. Tekautz will be assisting in the general responsibilities of the department, handling day-to-day duties, as well as coordinating volunteers for events including CMA Music Festival.

MusicRowLife: Stephen Barker Liles Welcomes Son

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stephen barker liles11

Love and Theft’s Stephen Barker Liles


Love and Theft‘s Stephen Barker Liles and fiancée Jenna Kennedy welcomed a baby boy today (Dec. 2) in Nashville at 8:40 a.m. CT. Jett Barker Liles weighed 7 lbs, 7 oz, and was 20 and 1/2 inches.
“Jett Barker Liles is here! It was the greatest rush I have ever experienced! Jenna and I are so thrilled to be parents. It’s the best thing that has happened to us,” the singer-songwriter said. “Jenna was awesome, calm and collected the entire time. We checked in, stayed up all night and watched ‘Sports Center’ and ‘Friends,’ and listened to Mozart during the delivery.”

Harris, Crowell, Miller Team For 4th Annual 'Miracle on Music Row'

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miracle on music row111Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and Buddy Miller will team up for the fourth annual Miracle on Music Row holiday concert. All proceeds will go to benefit Bonaparte’s Retreat and Crossroad’s Campus.  The event will take place Dec. 14 at O.liv Body Bar in Edgehill Village, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
The evening will include live music, a pet parade, a silent auction, photos with Santa and holiday shopping.
The event is free, though a $20 donation is suggested. O.liv Body Bar is located at 1200 Villa Place, Ste. 404, in Nashville.

Mark Your Calendar – December 2013

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days of gold jake owen111Album Releases

December 3
Jake Owen/Days of Gold/RCA Nashville
Various/The Music of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 2, Vol. 1/Big Machine Records-ABC Studios-Lionsgate
Various/The Sound of Music — Music From the NBC Television Event/Sony Masterworks
Deana Carter/Southern Way Of Life/Little Nugget
December 10
Krystal Keith/Whiskey & Lace/Show Dog-Universal
Parmalee/Feels Like Carolina/Stoney Creek Records
Zac Brown Band/The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1/Southern Ground Artists

CraigCampbellSingle Add Dates

December 2
Craig Campbell/Keep Them Kisses Comin’/Acoustic Peach-Bigger Picture
December 9
Brad Paisley/The Mona Lisa/Arista Nashville
Charlie Worsham/Want Me Too/Warner Bros.-WAR
Court Yard Hounds/Sunshine/Columbia
Greg Sterling/That Better Be Santa Claus/Greg Sterling Music
December 16
Lindsay Ell/Trippin’ On Us/Stoney Creek

280x210Industry Events

December 2
CMA Country Christmas will air 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET on ABC
December 3

  • CMT Artists of the Year airs live on the network
  • Last day to donate to MusicRow/Leadership Music’s food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee

December 5
Sound of Music airs live on NBC with Carrie Underwood
December 5-9
BMI’s inaugural Combustion Music Hope Town Music Festival on the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas
December 6
Grammy Nominations Concert Live has been set to air live on CBS-TV at 10 p.m. ET from the Nokia Theater in LA
December 10
American Country Awards air live from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas at 8:00-10:00 PM ET (PT tape-delayed) on FOX
December 14
29th annual Symphony Ball at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center
December 31
Fifth annual Music City New Year’s Eve “Bash On Broadway” with headliner Hank Williams, Jr.

'CMA Country Christmas' Airs Tonight On ABC

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Jennifer Nettles

Jennifer Nettles


The CMA is helping fans get into the Christmas spirit again this year with their favorite country artists with its CMA Country Christmas special airing on ABC at 9 p.m. ET tonight (Dec. 2). Jennifer Nettles is back for a fourth year of hosting the holiday star-fest that this year is filled with Christmas performances by everyone from the Duck Dynasty crew to Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Mary J. Blige, and Rascal Flatts.
“It’s really a joy for me to get to host ‘CMA Country Christmas,’” Nettles said. “I have so much fun doing it! I love the holiday season, and for me to get to be a part of this show for the fourth year in a row is a really big honor. What I love about doing this gig is that it’s the closest I’ve gotten to the old classic television variety shows. It is entertainment that everybody in the family can find fun, and I hope it’s something that keeps happening for years and years and years.”

Taylor Swift, Keith Urban Booked For Grammy Nominations Concert

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Photo by Jeff Lipsky

Photo by Jeff Lipsky


Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are among the artists slated to take part in “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!–Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night.” Swift, who is currently taking her Red Tour overseas, will participate in the event from Sydney, Australia. The 23-year-old entertainer was a co-host at last year’s event, which announces the Grammy nominees for all major categories. According to the preview video of the event, Urban will perform with Miguel.
Other artists confirmed for the event include Katy Perry, Robin Thicke, Drake and Macklemore & Lewis. LL Cool J returns to host the event.
“The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!–Countdown to Music’s Biggest Night!” will air live Friday, Dec. 6 from Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater, beginning at 10 p.m. ET.
To see a video preview of the nominations concert, watch below. The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will be held on Jan. 26, 2014, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show will broadcast on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/P.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awrz-eTSQDM

Artist Updates (12/2/13)

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soundFloridaGeorgiaLine

Florida Georgia Line


Florida Georgia Line is jumping on the Night Train to Canada with Jason Aldean for four dates on Aldean’s Night Train tour in February. The duo will play Oshawa, Hamilton, London and Ottawa on the Ontario dates. Florida Georgia Line has been newly crowned the #1 Most Played Country Artist at radio in Canada for 2013, having launched three consecutive, multi-week #1 smashes including the gold-certified “Round Here,” platinum-selling “Get Your Shine On” and  six-times platinum “Cruise.” They released a deluxe edition of their debut album Here’s To The Good Times…This Is How We Roll Nov. 25. 

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Naomi Judd

The American Humane Association will honor Naomi Judd with its Humane Legacy Award Dec. 7 at its Lady In Red Gala at the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. Judd will be recognized for her tireless dedication to helping the infirmed and society’s most vulnerable at the event, which will be hosted by the Tonight Show‘s Jay Leno. Proceeds from the “Night In Rio”-themed event will benefit the American Humane Association.

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Stephen Curtis Chapman


Steven Curtis Chapman will play the Ryman Feb. 22 with the Afters and Josh Wilson. Tickets for the Nashville show go on sale Dec. 6. Chapman will be performing songs from his latest CD, The Glorious Unfolding. The CD is his 18th, and his first studio album of all originals in seven years. Highlights from the new project include the song “Together,”  which Chapman wrote for his wife Mary Beth.
“In October, we celebrate our 29th anniversary,” he says, acknowledging the past five years since their youngest daughter (Maria Sue) was killed in a tragic accident. “Statistics show that 90% of marriages don’t survive the loss of a child. The fact that we are together celebrating 29 years of marriage is a testimony to God’s faithfulness and God’s grace.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                              • • •

1463036_10152091507786189_1730150462_nCongratulations to Keith Anderson and his wife, who welcomed a precious new addition to the family on Nov. 13  — a baby boy. Jaxon Creed weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces and both Mom and baby are reportedly doing fine.

McGrady Joins BMLG as Sr. Manager, Partnership Marketing

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Sarah McGrady

Sarah McGrady. Photo Credit: Steven C. Knapp


Sarah McGrady has joined Big Machine Label Group as Sr. Manager, Partnership Marketing. In her new role, McGrady will assist in managing and soliciting strategic partnerships for the label group’s Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co. and Republic Nashville imprints. McGrady will also also manage artist affinity data to better position BMLG’s artist roster with a broad spectrum of brands.
McGrady previously worked at the Country Music Association. After joining the CMA in February 2009, McGrady was involved with major events such as CMA Music Festival, CMA Awards, CMA Country Christmas and CMA Marketing Summit. McGrady was also involved with developing the CMA EDU initiative across college and university campuses. McGrady is the current President of SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development), and has previously contributed to the PR Task Force with the WMBA (Women in Music Business Association) and volunteers with St. Jude, Habitat for Humanity and Cross Point Community Church.
“We are thrilled to welcome Sarah to the team. Her passion for the format and drive made her the perfect addition to our Partnerships division,” said John Zarling, SVP, Partnership Marketing & Promotion Strategy. “In a short time, Sarah’s been involved with an impressive list of brand deals, and we look forward to applying her creative thinking with promotions across our roster of artists.”
“I am thrilled to be joining the phenomenal team that is the Big Machine Label Group. Their strategic planning and innovation are unmatched and I am excited for the opportunity to combine two of my passions, brands and Country Music, to further the reach of their exceptional artist roster,” said McGrady.
McGrady can be reached at [email protected].