Dierks Bentley Reveals Seven Peaks Festival’s Hot Country Night Lineup

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Dierks Bentley has announced the lineup for his Seven Peaks Music Festival’s Hot Country Night Friday show today. The Buena Vista, Colorado festival will kick off on Friday night (Aug. 31) with performances by Clint Black, Sawyer Brown, Terri Clark, David Lee Murphy and special guest Bentley’s own Hot Country Knights.

Recent additions to the festival main stage including Dan + Shay and just revealed acts Lucie Silvas and Kiefer Sutherland. 

“I couldn’t imagine getting to help plan my own festival and not having my favorite country music from the ’90s represented in a big way,” said Bentley.  “These guys are the constant soundtrack for me and the band backstage on the road, and I’m beyond excited they agreed to kick this thing off on Friday night with us. I’m counting the days…I hope they let me jump up and sing with them!”

A weekend-long Somewhere On A Beach Party was also revealed, taking full advantage of the scenic festival’s setting with a daytime party on the water.  Campers will be able to bask in the Colorado sunshine while floating with their friends, as well as enjoying daily drink specials and beach games with DJ AYDAMN keeping the festivities going all day long. Passes for the Labor Day weekend (8/31-9/2) destination experience are available now and due to demand more Summit VIP passes have also been made available at sevenpeaksfestival.com.

Dolly Parton Partners With Netflix For New Series

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Dolly Parton‘s Dixie Pixie Productions is partnering with Warner Bros. Television to produce a series of television films to premiere on Netflix in 2019. Each installment will be based on a different Parton classic song, with the singer-songwriter appearing in select episodes.

“As a songwriter, I have always enjoyed telling stories through my music. I am thrilled to be bringing some of my favorite songs to life with Netflix. We hope our show will inspire and entertain families and folks of all generations, and I want to thank the good folks at Netflix and Warner Bros. TV for their incredible support,” says Parton, who is currently wrapping production on the music for the upcoming film Dumplin’, to be released as a soundtrack album via Dolly Records/Sony Music Nashville.

Parton, who teamed with Warner Bros. Television to produce her 2016 NBC-TV film Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love (drawing more than 11 million first-run viewers) as well as its precursor, 2015’s Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors (drawing more than 13 million first-run viewers), is executive producing this Netflix series for her own Dixie Pixie Productions.

O’Neil Hagaman Promotes Williams, Chaudoin To Partners

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Pictured (L-R): Lillian Williams, Legina Chaudoin

O’Neil Hagaman, LLC, has promoted Lillian Williams and Legina Chaudoin to Partner positions. With these new promotions, the business management and consulting firm now has a total of five Partners.

“Lillian and Legina have dedicated their careers to excellence, client service and stewardship of their clients’ financial well-being. The addition of these two talented ladies to our Partner group is an exciting time in our history,” says O’Neil Hagaman Co-founder and Partner Cheryl Harris.

Williams began at O’Neil Hagaman as a Staff Accountant and has been with the company for over 28 years. She provides overall support for her roster of 28 clients, which includes multi-Platinum Grammy Award-winning artists who have sold over 27.5 million records combined and have had a combined total of 63 #1 radio singles. In addition to artists her roster includes publishers, songwriters, social media influencers, managers and record company execs, and she oversees a staff of seven. A Nashville native, Williams holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Tennessee State University, and an Associate of Science degree from Nashville State Community College. She is a Certified Financial Planner and also a Leadership Music graduate.

Chaudoin has been with O’Neil Hagaman for 23 years, joining the company in 1995 as a Staff Accountant. Her focus is the overall financial management of her clients’ business including financial and tax accounting, contractual review, negotiation, and monitoring risk management. Chaudoin’s clients include some of Nashville’s top recording artists who have collectively won eleven CMA awards, fifteen ACM awards, six Grammy Awards and many other notable honors. She oversees a staff of eight. A Nashville native, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Tennessee Tech and is a Leadership Music graduate and a recipient of the Nashville Business Journal’s Women in Music City Award.

Lauren Alaina, Ashley McBryde Join Darius And Friends St. Jude Benefit Lineup

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Darius Rucker returns to the Ryman Auditorium for the ninth year for his fan favorite “Darius and Friends” benefit for St. Jude Children’s Hospital featuring an all-star lineup of friends on Monday, June 4. 

The benefit has raised more than $1 million over the years for the hospital and this year will include Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Ashley McBryde and Rachel Wammack.

“St. Jude is doing incredible work for patients and families every single day, so whatever we can do to help them is a no-brainer for me,” said Rucker. “We’re so appreciative of these artists coming out to help us kick off CMA Fest week for such a good cause.”

Rucker recently achieved his ninth career chart-topper with “For The First Time” and will co-headline the Summer Plays On Tour this summer with Lady Antebellum before heading overseas to the UK for a string of shows this Fall.

Florida Georgia Line Announce Limited Las Vegas Residency

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Florida Georgia Line are the latest act to set up shop in Sin City for a limited residency on the Las Vegas Strip. The duo will perform LIVE FROM LAS VEGAS inside Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino beginning Dec. 1, with shows on Dec. 5, 7, 8, and 11 to round out the run.

Big Loud Records and Atlantic Records artist Mason Ramsey will open the string of dates, and tickets will go on sale to the public Saturday, June 9, with many shows coinciding with the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. General ticket prices begin at $49, plus applicable tax and fees, and may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or in person at the Planet Hollywood box office.

The duo is gearing up for a performance on this week’s CMT Music Awards, where they are nominated for Video of the Year (“Meant to Be” – Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line); Duo Video of the Year (“Smooth”); Collaborative Video of the Year (“Meant to Be” – Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line) and CMT Performance of the Year (Backstreet Boys and Florida Georgia Line, “Everybody” from CMT Crossroads).

Exclusive: Aaron Watson’s BIG Label Records Partners With ADA Worldwide

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Pictured (L-R): Brandon Squar (ADA EVP, Global Digital Sales & Strategy), Dave Pak (ADA Director, Sales & Marketing), Scott Bergman (ADA VP, National Sales & Marketing), Robert Turner (ADA Sr. Director Label Management & Sales), Gino Genaro (BIG Label Records/CDA Entertainment), Kenny Weagly (ADA President, A&R and Label Services), Tony Morreale (BIG Label Records), Tina Warwick (ADA VP, Global Digital Sales & Strategy), Greg McCarn (BIG Label Records), David Orleans (ADA President, Sales & Label Management), Dan Anderson (BIG Label Records), Matt Slifkin (ADA VP, Label Management).

ADA Worldwide has entered an exclusive partnership BIG Label Records, home to independent artist Aaron Watson. ADA Worldwide will support the  label across sales, distribution, promotion, and retail marketing, and will position BIG Label Records as a full service independent record label.

BIG Label Records, established in 2006 by Watson and longtime manager Gino Genaro, is led by Tony Morreale.

“We are very proud to partner with Aaron [Watson], who is such an extraordinary artist, and the brilliant team that he and Gino [Genaro] have assembled,” says ADA Worldwide President Eliah Seton. “We share their ambitious vision for Aaron’s future and all that BIG Label Records can achieve.”

“Today is a milestone day and giant step towards the future of this business,” says Genaro, co-founder of BIG Label Records. “ADA Worldwide is the perfect partner for what we are wanting to accomplish. It has been so rewarding to see these teams now come together with the same passion, excitement, and optimism and already get to work! The sky is the limit!”

“We are thrilled to work with Aaron [Watson], Gino [Genaro], Tony [Morreale], and the BIG Label team to amplify efforts across marketing, promotion, digital, sales and distribution,” adds ADA President of A&R/Label Services, Kenny Weagly. “ADA is an ideal home for Aaron and we look forward to helping establish BIG Label Records as a leading label destination for other future independent country artists.”

Watson wrapped 2017 with a Top 10 on the national radio charts with his self-penned “Outta Style.” His latest album, Vaquero, debuted in the Top 20 on Billboard‘s country albums chart, following his No. 1 Billboard debut of The Underdog.

 

 

Industry Ink: Maverick, Sony Music Nashville, Banner Music

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Maverick Managers Meet In Nashville

Pictured: Cortez Bryant, Mike Weiss, Chief Zaruk, Sara Zambreno, Scott Rodger, Jess Keeley, Meredith Gardner, Guy Oseary, Alisann Blood, Greg Thompson, Lee Anne Callahan-Longo, Molly DeWolf Swenson, Adriana Arce, Clarence Spalding, Dan Dymtrow, Shawn Gee, Seth England and Brian Wolf.

Maverick Managers from across the country gathered in Nashville last week for team meetings with some of Nashville’s leading industry members.

 

Sony Music Nashville Appoints Regional Promotion Roles

Sony Music Nashville has appointed Mallory Opheim and David “Bubba” Berry to regional posts for two of Sony Music Nashville’s label promotion teams. Opheim becomes Southwest Regional for RCA Nashville. Concurrently, David “Bubba” Berry takes on the new role of Northeast Regional for Arista Nashville, leaving his previous position at RCA Nashville which is filled now by Opheim. Both begin their new jobs effective today.

A 2010 Belmont University graduate, Opheim’s first radio promotion position was with Red Bow from 2012 to 2014. Most recently, she was with Warner Bros. promotion for the past four years. Opheim will be based at Sony Music Nashville’s headquarters in Nashville, and can be reached at mallory.opheim@sonymusic.com.

A twenty-six-year promotion veteran, David “Bubba” Berry began his career at Giant Records in 1992 as Promotion Manager of the Gavin Chart. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Berry later worked as Manager of Regional Promotion for BNA Records from 2006 to early 2012. In his new job, he will continue to live in the Dallas area for the short-term, eventually relocating to the Baltimore area. Berry’s contact info is david.berry@sonymusic.com.

 

Banner Music Promotes One

Victoria Powell

Banner Music has promoted Victoria Powell to Creative Services Manager. Powell graduated summa cum laude from Belmont University in May, with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Music Business. She can be reached at victoria@bannermusic.com.

“We’re so excited that Victoria will be furthering her career within our company,” says Banner Music President/CEO Camilla Kleindienst. “Having her with us the past two years has been incredible, and we’re looking forward to seeing where she can take our company, and her career, in her new full time position.”

Music Writers Honored During Belmont’s International Country Music Conference

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Pictured (L-R): Dr. James Akenson, Marissa Moss, Holly Gleason, Dr. Don Cusic.

The 34th Annual International Country Music Conference was held May 30-June 1 at Belmont University in Nashville. The academic conference featured top scholars of country music who presented papers on a variety of topics. Countries represented included Australia, Japan, Austria, Canada and England.

Leading off the conference was a talk by Sarah Trahern, Executive Director of the Country Music Association on “The State of Country Music.” She was joined by Karen Stump, head of research at the CMA and Milly Olyksan, head of the International department at the CMA.

During the Conference, the Belmont Book Award for the “best book on country music” was awarded to Holly Gleason for her book, Woman Walk the Line: How the Women in Country Music Changed Our Lives, published by the University of Texas Press.

The Chet Flippo Award for Journalism was awarded to Marissa Moss for her article on Eric Church’s career and development.

Special features of the Conference included panels on “Aussie Country: The Big Picture, History and Today,” “The Vietnam War, Nashville and Country Music” and “The Voice With a Heart: Mac Wiseman in Conversation.”

The International Country Music Conference began in 1984 in Meridian, Mississippi; since 1998 it has been held at Belmont University, hosted by Dr. Don Cusic and Dr. James Akenson. The International Country Music Journal is published in conjunction with the Conference.

The dates for the 2019 conference are May 30-June 1.

Cole Swindell’s Third Studio Album Coming In August

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Cole Swindell will release his third album, titled All Of It, on Aug. 17. That same morning, Swindell will step onto the Plaza at Rockefeller Center in New York City to officially launch the album with a performance as part of NBC’s Citi Concert Series on TODAY.

“I have seen so many of my all-time favorite artists and bands perform on the TODAY Summer Concert series. It fires me up to see my name in that lineup,” said Swindell. “To get to release my new album and perform in the Plaza on TODAY is pretty amazing. To literally perform outside in the Plaza right in the heart of New York City will be an unbelievable feeling. I cannot wait.”

In celebration of his album announcement, Swindell launched three exclusive pre-order bundles, one for each of his newly-released tracks; Break Up In The End Bundle, Somebody’s Been Drinkin’ Bundle and The Ones Who Got Me Here Bundle. Each package includes digital and CD versions of All of It to be released in August as well as limited edition merchandise. The Ones Who Got Me Here Bundle includes access to his annual Fan Club Party that takes places during CMA Fest in Nashville on Friday, June 8. The party includes an acoustic performance by Cole as well as meet & greet, photo opportunity and exclusive merchandise. All bundles can be purchased in his official store.

“I have been so excited about releasing the music for my third album and my fans have been so patient with me while I took the time needed to make it right that I had to give them something,” laughs Cole Swindell. “They are the ones who got me here to this important third album, and I felt they deserve to be the first ones to get a taste of the new music so we have been quietly releasing a few of the songs every few weeks for them. It has been great to hear what they think of the songs because they are the reason I am still here getting to do this.”

The Georgia native’s ninth career single “Break Up In The End,” was written by Jon Nite, Chase McGill and Jessie Jo Dillon, and is the debut single from the upcoming album.

K-LOVE, Air1 Radio Networks Leader Mike Novak To Retire

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Mike Novak

Mike Novak, the chief executive of the largest non-commercial contemporary Christian radio organization in the U.S., announced today he will retire as CEO of the organization that operates the popular K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks.

Novak and Educational Media Foundation’s (EMF’s) Board of Directors have been working closely the past couple of years on the timing of his retirement. Novak will continue to serve as CEO, while working with the Board of Directors in their search for his successor.

Mr. Novak, 68, joined EMF in 1998 and became CEO in 2007. He led growth of the networks, now heard on more than 800 stations in all 50 states and streamed around the world online. When he began as CEO, K-LOVE and Air1 were heard on more than 600 stations in 45 states.

“Mike Novak has provided outstanding leadership to our organization for these last 11 years as CEO,” said Dan Antonelli, Chairman of the Board of EMF. “Mike has used his deep knowledge of the broadcasting industry and his passion and commitment to our ministry to create an organization that today reaches more than 20 million people each week.”

Novak’s involvement with K-LOVE goes back to 1982 when he served as the voice of the station and then joined EMF full time in 1998 as an air talent and later program director, network program director, vice president of programming, and senior vice president, before being tapped to be President/CEO in 2007. Prior to joining EMF, he held a number of positions at for-profit radio stations in major markets in California for many years.

Novak, who grew up in the Central Valley of California, has not only been President and CEO but also a familiar voice to K-LOVE and Air1 listeners for years. He has overseen a staff of more than 400 team members, including everyone from on-air staff to an extensive pastoral team for listeners.