Official: Deborah Dugan Named Recording Academy President/CEO

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Deborah Dugan. Photo: Courtesy The Recording Academy

The Recording Academy Board of Trustees has appointed Deborah Dugan as the next President/CEO of the Recording Academy, the leading society of performers, musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals, and the organization behind the annual GRAMMY Awards®. The appointment was announced today by John Poppo, Chair of the Board. Dugan is the first woman appointed as President/CEO of the Recording Academy and will assume the role on Aug. 1, 2019.

“I’m honored, humbled, and ready,” said incoming Recording Academy President/CEO Dugan. “The goal of the Recording Academy is to support, encourage, and advocate for those within the music community. I will listen to and champion all of those individuals, and lead this iconic organization into the future. I’m excited to get started.”

“Deborah is a highly accomplished business executive and a visionary leader who also brings to this role a great passion for the mission of the Academy,” said Poppo. “The Board of Trustees is very eager to work with her as we embark on this next chapter in the Recording Academy’s story.”

Dugan brings three decades of high-level private sector and nonprofit executive experience to the role. Dugan most recently served as CEO of (RED), the AIDS nonprofit co-founded in 2006 by U2 singer Bono and activist Bobby Shriver. During her tenure, she worked with the creative community on many groundbreaking campaigns, tripling (RED)’s contributions to the Global Fund and positively impacting millions of lives.

A former Wall Street mergers and acquisitions attorney, Dugan was also president of Disney Publishing Worldwide, and executive vice president of EMI Records Group/Angel Records. She currently serves as co-chair of the award-winning storytelling nonprofit The Moth.

In her role, Dugan will oversee all Recording Academy affairs, working closely with the Academy’s Board of Trustees and senior management team to advance the Academy’s goals and mission. She will drive the creative and strategic vision of the organization and lead the operations of the Academy. Dugan will also serve as President/CEO of MusiCares® and on the boards of the GRAMMY Museum Foundation® and The Latin Recording Academy®.

Music City Hit-Makers Announce Debut EP

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Music City Hit-Makers (MCHM) will release their debut EP, Songs & Symphony, on June 4. The EP features some of Nashville’s most successful songwriters including Brett James, Jessi Alexander, Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Marcus Hummon and Rivers Rutherford. MCHM features Nashville’s biggest songwriters performing their hits as arranged for a symphony by musician and arranger, Charlie Judge.

“Nashville is the epicenter of great songwriting, so the top songwriters in Nashville really are the best in the business,” says Judge. “It is my incredibly good fortune to have the opportunity to work with these talented writers, both as a keyboardist in the studio recording their hits, and as an arranger re-casting their songs for orchestra.”

The group of writers featured on this project has a combined 75 No. 1 hits from today’s superstars, country music legends and new artists.

“Most of the hit songs we incorporate in our Music City Hit-Makers shows can be heard on country radio,” continues Judge. “But great songs transcend genre, and they work equally well whether they’re dressed in a cowboy hat or a tuxedo. I find great joy in stripping the songs down to their essence, finding the emotional core, and then rebuilding them with the endlessly inspiring orchestral palette.”

Pre-order for the EP will be available on May 10. To celebrate the release of Songs & Symphony, MCHM’s Chris DeStefano, Rivers Rutherford and Marcus Hummon will be performing on June 4 at City Winery in Nashville. Tickets for the City Winery show are available here.

Music City Hit-Makers Announce Debut EP

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Music City Hit-Makers (MCHM) will release their debut EP, Songs & Symphony, on June 4. The EP features some of Nashville’s most successful songwriters including Brett James, Jessi Alexander, Chris DeStefano, Hillary Lindsey, Marcus Hummon and Rivers Rutherford. MCHM features Nashville’s biggest songwriters performing their hits as arranged for a symphony by musician and arranger, Charlie Judge.

“Nashville is the epicenter of great songwriting, so the top songwriters in Nashville really are the best in the business,” says Judge. “It is my incredibly good fortune to have the opportunity to work with these talented writers, both as a keyboardist in the studio recording their hits, and as an arranger re-casting their songs for orchestra.”

The group of writers featured on this project has a combined 75 No. 1 hits from today’s superstars, country music legends and new artists.

“Most of the hit songs we incorporate in our Music City Hit-Makers shows can be heard on country radio,” continues Judge. “But great songs transcend genre, and they work equally well whether they’re dressed in a cowboy hat or a tuxedo. I find great joy in stripping the songs down to their essence, finding the emotional core, and then rebuilding them with the endlessly inspiring orchestral palette.”

Pre-order for the EP will be available on May 10. To celebrate the release of Songs & Symphony, MCHM’s Chris DeStefano, Rivers Rutherford and Marcus Hummon will be performing on June 4 at City Winery in Nashville. Tickets for the City Winery show are available here.

Artist Development, Publishing Company King Song Signs Andy Austin

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Pictured (L-R): Jim Zumwalt (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP), Andy Austin, Ryan O’Nan (ROAR), Bradley Collins (FrontMan Entertainment/ ROAR), Ward Guenther (Whiskey Jam/ ROAR)

Andy Austin has entered into an exclusive artist development and publishing agreement with King Song. A native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Austin moved to Nashville in March of 2018. Outside of music, Andy is a professional hunting guide in North Dakota for the renowned outfitter Rolling Plains Adventures.
Austin is the first signing to King Song, an artist development and publishing company founded by FrontMan Entertainment, ROAR and Whiskey Jam.

Artist Development, Publishing Company King Song Signs Andy Austin

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Pictured (L-R): Jim Zumwalt (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP), Andy Austin, Ryan O’Nan (ROAR), Bradley Collins (FrontMan Entertainment/ ROAR), Ward Guenther (Whiskey Jam/ ROAR)

Andy Austin has entered into an exclusive artist development and publishing agreement with King Song. A native of Kannapolis, North Carolina, Austin moved to Nashville in March of 2018. Outside of music, Andy is a professional hunting guide in North Dakota for the renowned outfitter Rolling Plains Adventures.
Austin is the first signing to King Song, an artist development and publishing company founded by FrontMan Entertainment, ROAR and Whiskey Jam.

Alabama Extends 50th Anniversary Tour

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Alabama. Photo: Courtesy Absolute Publicity

Alabama has added almost 30 new concert dates to their 50th Anniversary Tour.

Newly-announced stops on the tour include Grand Rapids, Michigan; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Bangor, Maine; Charlotte, North Carolina; Tallahassee, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; Madison, Wisconsin; Birmingham, Alabama; and Columbia, South Carolina. The band will also travel north to Canada for concerts in Ottawa, Ontario and Oro-Medonte, Ontario.

“One of the most humbling things about this tour is that we are going all over North America playing some of our favorite arenas, cities and festivals with huge crowds showing up at our shows,” notes lead singer/rhythm guitarist Randy Owen.

Alabama has recruited The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Beach Boys, John Anderson, Restless Heart, Exile, John Michael Montgomery, Scotty McCreery and Charlie Major to join them on select dates.

Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour Dates (asterisk denotes newly-added date):

May 9 – The Wharf Amphitheater – Orange Beach, AL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
May 10 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Greenville, SC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
May 24 – Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center – Cherokee, NC*
May 31 – U.S. Cellular Center – Cedar Rapids, IA
June 1 – Tumbleweed – La Cygne, KS
June 6 – Carolina Country Music Festival – Myrtle Beach, SC
June 7 – Macon Centreplex Coliseum – Macon, GA (w/ The Marshall Tucker Band)
June 15 – Maverik Center – Salt Lake City, UT (w/ Exile)
June 16 – Country Jam – Grand Junction, CO
June 26 – Target Center – Minneapolis, MN (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
June 27 – Country USA – Oshkosh, WI
July 11 – CenturyLink Center – Bossier City, LA (w/ Exile)*
July 12 – Walmart AMP – Rogers, AR (w/ John Anderson)*
July 19 – The Arena at TD Place – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (w/ Charlie Major)*
July 20 – Big Sky Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada*
July 26 – Columbus Civic Center – Columbus, GA (w/ John Michael Montgomery)*
July 27 – Thunder Valley Amphitheatre – Bristol, TN (w/ John Michael Montgomery)*
Aug. 16 – State Fair of West Virginia – Lewisburg, WV*
Aug. 17 – PNG Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ (w/ Scotty McCreery)*
Aug. 23 – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI (w/ Restless Heart)*
Aug. 24 – The Country Fest’s Neon Nights – North Lawrence, OH*
Aug. 29 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Wilkes-Barre, PA (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Aug. 31 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Sept. 1 – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion – Bangor, ME (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Sept. 13 – Fox Theatre – Detroit, MI (w/ Exile)*
Sept. 14 – Tailgates N’ Tallboys – Peoria, IL
Sept. 27 – Martin Luther King Jr. Arena – Savannah, GA*
Sept. 28 – Hertz Arena – Estero, FL*
Oct. 3 – Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, SC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Oct. 4 – Legacy Arena at the BJCC – Birmingham, AL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Oct. 10 – Donald L. Tucker Civic Center – Tallahassee, FL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Oct. 11 – Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Nov. 1 – WinStar World Casino & Resort – Thackerville, OK*
Nov. 8 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center – Madison, WI (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Nov. 9 – Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN (w/ Restless Heart)*
Nov. 22 – Royal Farms Arena – Baltimore, MD*
Nov. 23 – Wicimico Civic Center – Salisbury, MD (w/ Exile)*

Note: Beach Boys performance date TBA

Alabama Extends 50th Anniversary Tour

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Alabama. Photo: Courtesy Absolute Publicity

Alabama has added almost 30 new concert dates to their 50th Anniversary Tour.

Newly-announced stops on the tour include Grand Rapids, Michigan; Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Bangor, Maine; Charlotte, North Carolina; Tallahassee, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; Madison, Wisconsin; Birmingham, Alabama; and Columbia, South Carolina. The band will also travel north to Canada for concerts in Ottawa, Ontario and Oro-Medonte, Ontario.

“One of the most humbling things about this tour is that we are going all over North America playing some of our favorite arenas, cities and festivals with huge crowds showing up at our shows,” notes lead singer/rhythm guitarist Randy Owen.

Alabama has recruited The Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Beach Boys, John Anderson, Restless Heart, Exile, John Michael Montgomery, Scotty McCreery and Charlie Major to join them on select dates.

Alabama 50th Anniversary Tour Dates (asterisk denotes newly-added date):

May 9 – The Wharf Amphitheater – Orange Beach, AL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
May 10 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Greenville, SC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
May 24 – Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center – Cherokee, NC*
May 31 – U.S. Cellular Center – Cedar Rapids, IA
June 1 – Tumbleweed – La Cygne, KS
June 6 – Carolina Country Music Festival – Myrtle Beach, SC
June 7 – Macon Centreplex Coliseum – Macon, GA (w/ The Marshall Tucker Band)
June 15 – Maverik Center – Salt Lake City, UT (w/ Exile)
June 16 – Country Jam – Grand Junction, CO
June 26 – Target Center – Minneapolis, MN (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)
June 27 – Country USA – Oshkosh, WI
July 11 – CenturyLink Center – Bossier City, LA (w/ Exile)*
July 12 – Walmart AMP – Rogers, AR (w/ John Anderson)*
July 19 – The Arena at TD Place – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (w/ Charlie Major)*
July 20 – Big Sky Music Festival – Oro-Medonte, Ontario, Canada*
July 26 – Columbus Civic Center – Columbus, GA (w/ John Michael Montgomery)*
July 27 – Thunder Valley Amphitheatre – Bristol, TN (w/ John Michael Montgomery)*
Aug. 16 – State Fair of West Virginia – Lewisburg, WV*
Aug. 17 – PNG Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ (w/ Scotty McCreery)*
Aug. 23 – Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI (w/ Restless Heart)*
Aug. 24 – The Country Fest’s Neon Nights – North Lawrence, OH*
Aug. 29 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Wilkes-Barre, PA (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Aug. 31 – Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion – Gilford, NH (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Sept. 1 – Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion – Bangor, ME (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Sept. 13 – Fox Theatre – Detroit, MI (w/ Exile)*
Sept. 14 – Tailgates N’ Tallboys – Peoria, IL
Sept. 27 – Martin Luther King Jr. Arena – Savannah, GA*
Sept. 28 – Hertz Arena – Estero, FL*
Oct. 3 – Colonial Life Arena – Columbia, SC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Oct. 4 – Legacy Arena at the BJCC – Birmingham, AL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Oct. 10 – Donald L. Tucker Civic Center – Tallahassee, FL (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Oct. 11 – Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Nov. 1 – WinStar World Casino & Resort – Thackerville, OK*
Nov. 8 – Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Alliant Energy Center – Madison, WI (w/ The Charlie Daniels Band)*
Nov. 9 – Bankers Life Fieldhouse – Indianapolis, IN (w/ Restless Heart)*
Nov. 22 – Royal Farms Arena – Baltimore, MD*
Nov. 23 – Wicimico Civic Center – Salisbury, MD (w/ Exile)*

Note: Beach Boys performance date TBA

TobyMac Scores RIAA Gold, Plots Theatre Tour For Fall

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TobyMac’s “I just need U.” just received Gold certification from the RIAA, aligning with the wrap of his popular “HITS DEEP Tour” which drew hundreds of thousands. “I just need U.” is housed on TobyMac’s latest album The Elements and became the multi-platinum selling artist’s fastest song to be certified Gold, reigning at radio for 12 weeks.

“I have been fortunate to have been a part of a lot of great songs, “shares TobyMac. “For ‘I just need U.’ to be setting new benchmarks is crazy!”

He returns to the road in Fall of 2019 on his “TobyMac The Theatre Tour.” Last year marked the inaugural year for the trek, which offers fans an intimate experience. The unique offering will visit a dozen markets in November with special guest Cochren & Co. “TobyMac The Theatre Tour” is in partnership with Awakening Events, Awakening Foundation and Food for the Hungry. Tickets will be available at awakeningevents.com/events/tobymac-the-theatre-tour.

 “TobyMac The Theatre Tour” Dates:
* all dates subject to change.
11/7 Springfield, MO
11/8 Rockford, IL
11/9 Fort Wayne, IN
11/10 Evansville, IN
11/14 Peoria, IL
11/15 Knoxville, TN
11/16 Chattanooga, TN
11/17 Montgomery, AL
11/21 Columbia, SC
11/22 Savannah, GA
11/23 Asheville, NC
11/23 Cincinnati, OH

Provident Label Group Signs Elle Limebear To Roster

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Elle Limebear

Sony’s Provident Label Group has signed Elle Limebear to its roster. The Brighton, UK, native has released five songs digitally, garnering more than three million streams. Last year, she was featured on one sonic society‘s track “Love Song.”
Limebear, the daughter of Delirious? front man Martin Smith, has long held a role of worship leader and youth pastor in the UK. She began 2019 touring with Matt Maher on the Roadshow and just finished opening for Francesca Battistelli. In August she will be on the road with her dad, Martin Smith and then finish out 2019 on tour with I AM THEY.
“My first solo touring experience singing my own songs has been wild,” Limebear said. “It’s felt familiar, yet very unfamiliar all at the same time as I’ve grown up touring with my dad’s bands. I’ve loved getting to sing and meet people from all over. I feel like I’m getting stretched – in a good way – and taking it all in, learning something new every day. I can’t wait to keep touring and singing these songs over people.”

TobyMac Scores RIAA Gold, Plots Theatre Tour For Fall

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TobyMac’s “I just need U.” just received Gold certification from the RIAA, aligning with the wrap of his popular “HITS DEEP Tour” which drew hundreds of thousands. “I just need U.” is housed on TobyMac’s latest album The Elements and became the multi-platinum selling artist’s fastest song to be certified Gold, reigning at radio for 12 weeks.

“I have been fortunate to have been a part of a lot of great songs, “shares TobyMac. “For ‘I just need U.’ to be setting new benchmarks is crazy!”

He returns to the road in Fall of 2019 on his “TobyMac The Theatre Tour.” Last year marked the inaugural year for the trek, which offers fans an intimate experience. The unique offering will visit a dozen markets in November with special guest Cochren & Co. “TobyMac The Theatre Tour” is in partnership with Awakening Events, Awakening Foundation and Food for the Hungry. Tickets will be available at awakeningevents.com/events/tobymac-the-theatre-tour.

 “TobyMac The Theatre Tour” Dates:
* all dates subject to change.
11/7 Springfield, MO
11/8 Rockford, IL
11/9 Fort Wayne, IN
11/10 Evansville, IN
11/14 Peoria, IL
11/15 Knoxville, TN
11/16 Chattanooga, TN
11/17 Montgomery, AL
11/21 Columbia, SC
11/22 Savannah, GA
11/23 Asheville, NC
11/23 Cincinnati, OH