Brett Eldredge Receives Surprise Platinum Plaque At Tulsa Show

Brett Eldredge had plenty to celebrate last Thursday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he kicked off the Country Music Freaks Tour alongside labelmate Blake Shelton. After treating the packed house to a hit-filled set, Eldredge was surprised with a plaque commemorating the RIAA Platinum certification of his hit single “Wanna Be That Song.”

Ole Red Nashville Hosting Job Fair In March

Blake Shelton and Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. are preparing to open the doors of Ole Red Nashville, the 26,000 square foot entertainment venue, in May. The company will be hosting a job fair March 8-16, 2018 at 114 2^nd Ave North to fill its 250 open positions. Applicants are being asked to apply online prior to the job fair at olered.com/jobs. Prescreening for qualified candidates is set to begin immediately. Ole Red is hiring for a full range of restaurant, bar and retail positions, including server, host/hostess, bartender, prep cook and security.

AIMP New York Presenting Speaker Series On Washington Publishing Issues

The New York chapter of the Association of Independent Music Publishers is presenting a special roundtable speaker series for all Premier members featuring veteran industry attorney Jay Rosenthal. Starting Tuesday, Feb. 27, Rosenthal will provide regular updates on the many issues being discussed in Washington, D.C. that affect the publishing community. Hosted at the HFA/Rumblefish offices in New York City, this event will also be available as a video conference to Premier members across the country.

Jacob Bryant Inks With so much Moore Media

so much MOORE media had added Georgia-based Southern country rocker Jacob Bryant to its roster for representation. Bryant’s new video for his single, “Pour Whiskey On My Grave,” which was released Feb. 2, has already surpassed three million views on his Facebook fan page, and generated 93,000 shares to date.

Jeff Coffey Signs With 117 Publicity For Representation

Former lead vocalist and bassist for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Chicago, Jeff Coffey, has joined the 117 Publicity roster for exclusive PR representation. Coffey is fresh off a two-year tour with Chicago and has two solo CD projects under his belt and is currently working on a third to be released in the Summer of 2018.

Bobby Bones Show leader Bobby Bones is set to join the American Idol team this season, working with the Top 24 contestants and sharing advice on areas of artistry including stage presence, working with media, and developing their brand. He will work alongside this season’s judges, which include country superstar Luke Bryan along with Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

“It’s very exciting for me,” he said on his radio show this morning (Wednesday, Feb. 21). “I’m nervous that I’m not going to give good advice. I can’t say a lot about what I’m doing but I’ll be working with the Top 24 contestants.”

Bones recently became the youngest inductee to the National Radio Hall of Fame.

American Idol premieres Sunday, March 11 8/7c on ABC.

Dirk Hemsath, Rich Egan

In November of last year, music industry entrepreneurs Rich Egan and Dirk Hemsath joined forces with their respective management companies, Hard 8 and Working Group, and created Hard 8/Working Group. While the rosters of each company remain under their group with Egan and Hemsath heading up their respective rosters at the time of merging, all new clients and new managers coming in will sit under the new company as will the combined support services.

As part of the new venture the pair purchased a historically significant building in downtown Nashville’s exploding SoBro neighborhood. Just two blocks from Music City Center, the building is known as the Workmen’s Circle Hall. It was constructed in 1859 and at one time served as home to a Jewish Community Center. The building was designated as one of Nashville’s most endangered historical properties in 2010 and by 2015 had been fully restored by the previous owners and won a preservation award from the local historical commission.

The building will house the combined management group as well as their respective record labels, Folsom and Doghouse as well as an eventual recording studio and multi-media rooms.

Joining the management group in the new Nashville office as of the beginning of this year is Kyle Griner, a recent transplant from Orlando, Florida, with 20 years of experience in the industry. He started as a concert promoter in central Florida right out of high school and quickly realized he had a passion and skillset for being an advocate for artists and bringing their visions to life. He has been serving artists ever since.

Griner says, “I feel like I’m cut from a similar cloth as both Dirk and Rich, the three of us are life-long independents in the industry and have very similar backgrounds in that regard so this felt like a natural fit for me when considering my next move. I’m excited to bring my current management roster with me here as well as seeking out and breaking new artists together.” Griner brings clients Copeland, Anberlin, Run River North, Mona Haydar, Jerrod Bettis, and From Indian Lakes, among others.

Also joining the team in Nashville is Dave Hopper. Hopper has an extensive background in management, publishing and live events. He has most recently been managing the careers of record producers, songwriters and recording & mix engineers as well as offering publishing / A&R consulting services. His current clients include Tony Esterly and John Rausch and have credits with artists including: Taylor Swift, Sia, Niall Horan, P!nk, BTS, Florence + The Machine, Andra Day, Raekwon, Yo Gotti, Moon Taxi, Dierks Bentley, Daughtry, Gavin Degraw and others.

Prior to that he held the position of VP Business Development & Creative for publishing company Words & Music until it was sold to Big Deal Music Publishing.

Says Hopper, “I’ve been a huge fan of Dirk, Rich and their companies for years. Over the past few we’ve realized we have many common goals and I’m very excited for myself and clients to be part of the new joint team at Hard 8 Working Group!”

Says partner Dirk Hemsath, “Rich and I are beyond excited to be moving into such a unique and historically significant building as this one. The minute we walked through it in October we both just looked at each other and knew this was the place that we would build something special in this great music city. We have also been looking for the right partners to help build that something and both Kyle and Dave fit the bill perfectly and I’m proud to have such a high caliber of people wanting to come work with us. These are people that have been able to succeed in their individual endeavors yet want to be part of something special that we will all participate in building here in Music City and beyond.”

Caitlyn Smith is set to launch her headlining Starfire Tour this spring. The new tour will kick off April 5 at Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, Massachusetts and will wrap May 10 at Nashville, Tennessee’s Mercy Lounge. Special guest Andrea Davidson will join Smith on select dates. Smith will also make her “Live from Here with Chris Thile” premiere on March 3 in her home state of Minnesota at the Fitzgerald Theater.

Tickets for the Starfire Tour will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Feb. 23.

“This year has been a such a whirlwind for us – my family, the band, our touring gypsy family—in the most incredible way,” said Smith.” “I keep reminding myself to live in the moment and really take all these firsts in… the fact that the fans have responded the way they have that we can visit this many cities and states is just incredible. I can’t wait to bring the music to them!”

Starfire Tour Dates:
Saturday, March 3 – Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul, Minnesota*
Thursday, April 5 – Iron Horse Music Hall, Northampton, Massachusetts
Friday, April 6 – Café 939 at Berklee, Boston, Massachusetts
Saturday, April 7 – Port City Music Hall, Portland, Maine
Sunday, April 8 – Higher Ground – Showcase Room, South Burlington, Vermont
Tuesday, April 10 – The Southern, Charlottesville, Virginia
Thursday, April 12 – The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, New Jersey
Friday, April 13 – Mercury Lounge, New York, New York
Saturday, April 14 – World Café – Upstairs Live, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sunday, April 15 – Rock and Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
Tuesday, April 17 – A&R Music Bar, Columbus, Ohio
Wednesday, April 18 – Madison Live, Covington, Kentucky
Friday, April 20 — Cannon Falls Auditorium, Cannon Falls, Minnesota
Saturday, April 21 – The Rave Bar, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sunday, April 22 – Canopy Club, Urbana, Illinois
Thursday, April 26 – Eddie’s Attic, Decatur, Georgia
Friday, April 27 – The Spinning Jenny, Greer, South Carolina
Saturday, April 28 – The Evening Muse, Charlotte, North Carolina
Wednesday, May 2 – SPACE, Evanston, Illinois
Thursday, May 3 –Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Friday, May 4 – Musica, Akron, Ohio
Saturday, May 5 – The Club at Stage AE, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Wednesday, May 9 – Georgia Theatre, Athens, Georgia
Thursday, May 10 – Mercy Lounge, Nashville, Tennessee
Friday, May 25 – BottleRock Festival, Napa, California*
Friday, August 24 – Lockn’ Festival, Arrington, Virginia*

*Denotes previously announced dates that are not on Smith’s Starfire Tour