BBR Music Group Names Jay Jones As VP, Publicity

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Jay Jones

Nashville label BBR Music Group has appointed Jay Jones as its new VP Publicity, responsible for strategizing and leading national publicity campaigns for BBR Music Group’s roster of artists across imprints Broken Bow Records, Stoney Creek Records, Red Bow Records, and Wheelhouse Records. He will report directly to Jon Loba, EVP BBR Music Group. BBR Music Group’s former VP, Publicity Natalie Kilgore has exited to pursue other opportunities.

“Jay brings a wealth of experience with an impressive track record,” Loba said. “He’s been a valuable resource in the Nashville music community and we’re excited for him to help lead and contribute to our artist’s career growth and development. Welcome to the BBR family.”

Jones formerly served as Director of Media Relations at CMA. As Director, Jones was responsible for overseeing the organization’s media initiatives and public relations campaigns for CMA, including its television specials, events and the CMA Foundation.

Prior to joining CMA, Jones owned and operated Jay Jones Music, a public relations and marketing company for nine years. There his clients included The Beach Boys, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, 12th and Porter, Capitol Records, and others.

Founded in 1997, BBR Music Group’s original imprint Broken Bow Records features a roster of talented artists including Jason Aldean and Dustin Lynch. Stoney Creek Records boasts a roster which includes Thompson Square, Randy Houser and Parmalee, Lindsay Ell and Adam Craig. Red Bow Records’ artist roster includes Joe Nichols, Craig Campbell, Chase Bryant and Brooke Eden. Wheelhouse Records is BBR Music Group’s newest imprint, anchored by Trace Adkins, Granger Smith and Kristian Bush, as well as Runaway June and Walker McGuire.

 

AEG To Develop New Entertainment District In Nashville

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Nashville Yards Rendering. Photo: Gresham Smith & Partners

AEG and Southwest Value Partners have entered into an agreement that will allow AEG to purchase a four-acre parcel of land to develop a new mixed-use entertainment district, including a 4,000-capacity music venue, in downtown Nashville. The new development, dubbed Nashville Yards, will be located at 10th Avenue between Commerce Street and Church Street, and the SWVP and AEG agreement also provides an option for AEG to acquire an additional, adjacent 1.5-acre parcel for further mixed-used development, including creative office, residential, hotel and retail.

The community will feature a 15-acre modern urban retail, hospitality, office, residential and entertainment offering, anchored by the music venue, a flagship Regal Cinemas luxury theatre complex, an approximately 700-capacity live entertainment club, a 240-room boutique hotel, and a variety of other entertainment offerings. It will also be within walking distance to the Music City Center, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Bridgestone Arena, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, The Johnny Cash Museum, and Nashville’s honky tonks.

“For several years, AEG has been looking for the right venue development opportunity in Nashville, one of the fastest growing cities in the country,” said Jay Marciano, Chief Operating Officer, AEG and Chairman and CEO, AEG Presents. “A development offering like this has to not just be special, but be remarkable. AEG is very pleased to be partnering with Southwest Value Partners and the City of Nashville in this exciting entertainment venture.”

The agreement further expands AEG’s portfolio of mixed-use entertainment districts which includes destinations like L.A. LIVE, The O2 in London and Mercedes-Benz Platz which is currently under construction in Berlin.

Nashville Songwriter Keith Getty Receives Honor From Queen Elizabeth II

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photo by Kristin Barlowe; courtesy Getty Music

Songwriter Keith Getty was honored last Friday (June 16) as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The award, which commemorates Getty’s contribution to Music and Modern Hymn Writing, marks the first time the award has been given to an individual in the world of contemporary church music.

Getty, along with collaborators including his wife, Kristyn, as well as Stuart Townend, has penned over 60 of the most popular 2,000 hymns sung in the U.S. and United Kingdom, according to Christian Copyright Licensing International. The Getty-Townend hymn, “In Christ Alone,” is the No. 1 most popular hymn sung in the UK for the past nine years and is also among the top 10 in the USA. According to their publishers, it is estimated that over 100 million people sang this one hymn in the last 12 months.

“When I first received the call, I was shocked,” said Getty about the honor. “As a Brit living in America it is an incredible gift to receive from home, especially given the long history of the award and the legacy of individuals who have received it. It is also wonderful to see hymnody and the great hymn-writing heritage I am from in the U.K. be recognized in this way. I am very grateful to her Majesty the Queen for this honor.”

On June 25, the Gettys will lead their second Global Hymn Sing. The Gettys’ 2016 hymn sing resulted in more than 1.1 million congregants in 5,400-plus churches in 100 countries around the world joining together in song. Later this year, they will also launch their Sing! campaign with their first book, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family, and Church, which will be published internationally by B&H (Lifeway), and their first Sing! conference in Nashville.

 

Industry Ink: APA Nashville, Taste Of Country Music Festival, ‘The Today Show’

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APA Nashville Signs Hudson Moore

Pictured (L-R): Steve Lassiter, Matt McGuire, Hudson Moore, Shawn Pennington

Hudson Moore has signed with APA Nashville.

“As a listener, I’ve always been equally drawn to the music, hooks and melodies as I have the lyrics,” says Moore. “Growing up listening to guys like Keith Urban and Vince Gill, I noticed the guitar was always at the forefront of their songs. That really stuck with me, and I think a lot of that sound has made its way into my music.”

“Hudson Moore is the perfect addition to the APA Nashville family,” commented Steve Lassiter, Partner and Head of Concerts, APA Nashville. “His instrumental dexterity and passion for creating music set him apart in this industry, and we’re very excited to have him join our growing roster.”

Moore is also managed by Shawn Pennington of Pennington Entertainment.

 

Taste Of Country Music Festival Announces First Headliners For 2018

Sam Hunt

Sam Hunt will join Eric Church as a headliner for the 6th annual Taste of Country Music Festival, set for June 8-10, 2018 at Hunter Mountain Resort in Hunter, New York. Hunt was scheduled to perform at the just completed 2017 festival, but was forced to cancel his June 11 performance due to illness.

 

Indie Artist Jessie Chris To Appear On The Today Show

Independent artist Jessie Chris will appear on The Today Show on June 21 at 10 a.m. She released her new single “Burn” to radio in March. Her first album Wildfire was recorded at the Dark Horse Studios in Nashville and her last single, “In The Meantime” received airplay on Radio Disney.

Alison Krauss And David Gray Team For Co-Headlining Tour

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Alison Krauss and David Gray are heading out together for a U.S. tour this Fall that will hit 21 cities through mid-October. The co-headlining tour kicks off on Sept. 18 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and will hit iconic venues like Radio City Music Hall, Red Rocks, the Greek Theater, and two shows at the Ryman Auditorium Oct. 1-2.

More information on tickets can be found at alisonkrauss.com and davidgray.com. Gray is currently in the studio recording a new album which is set for release in 2018, and Krauss recently released the critically acclaimed Windy City, a collection of classic country songs produced by Buddy Cannon that debuted at No. 1 on both the Billboard Country and Bluegrass charts.

An Evening With Alison Krauss And David Gray DATES:
Sept. 18 – Hershey Theatre – Hershey, PA
Sept. 19 – Radio City Music Hall – New York, NY
Sept. 20 – The Mann Center for the Performing Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Sept. 22 – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion – Boston, MA
Sept. 23 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
Sept. 24 – Cary’s Booth Amphitheatre – Cary, NC
Sept. 28 – St. Augustine Amphitheatre – St. Augustine, FL
Sept. 29 – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC
Sept. 30 – Chastain Park Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA
Oct. 1 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Oct. 2 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Oct. 4 – Fox Theatre – Detroit, MI
Oct. 5 – Rosemont Theatre – Rosemont, IL
Oct. 6 – Peabody Opera House – St. Louis, MO
Oct. 8 – Starlight Theatre – Kansas City, MO
Oct. 12 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO
Oct. 13 – Pikes Peak Center – Colorado Springs, CO
Oct. 14 – USANA Amphitheatre – Salt Lake City, UT
Oct. 15 – Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Gardens – Boise, ID
Oct. 17 – Greek Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Oct. 18 – Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
Oct. 19 – The Greek Theatre – Berkeley, CA

Jason Aldean Sets Second Hometown ‘Concert For The Kids’ For August

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Jason Aldean is returning to his hometown of Macon, Georgia, to help out area kids in need with a second Concert For The Kids on Friday, Au. 11. Last year’s stripped-down concert performance raised more than half a million dollars for local children, and Aldean is expanding the show this year to the Macon Coliseum.

Proceeds from the special concert will once again benefit the Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health, which serves as Bibb County’s only dedicated pediatric facility in central Georgia.

“Supporting these kids in Macon and their families is something that I’m really proud to be a part of,” said Aldean. “We’re looking forward to getting back to town, kicking things up a couple notches and hopefully raise a huge amount of money for the hospital so that they can continue to grow and serve my hometown community.”

“We are thrilled and so very appreciative that Jason made the time to take a detour from his They Don’t Know Tour to visit Macon for the benefit of our patients at Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health,” added Ellen Terrell, Chief Development Officer for Navicent Health Foundation. “Our young patients and their families are grateful for Jason’s continued commitment to their healing and care. Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health has always relied on philanthropic support, and we are grateful to each of our donors for their commitment to Georgia’s most fragile children.”

Tickets go on sale to the public beginning this Friday (6/23) on JasonAldean.com, Ticketmaster.com and at the venue box office.

Donovan Woods Releases New Single “All Mine”

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Donovan Woods

Award-winning singer-songwriter Donovan Woods has released his new single, “All Mine.” Woods is an acclaimed songwriter who has written songs for artists such as Tim McGraw, Charlie Worsham, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, and Billy Currington while amassing a catalog of rousing and well-received music of his own. Woods’ “All Mine” is currently a standalone single and available worldwide through all digital platforms.

“‘All Mine’ is about the feeling of suddenly emerging from something that’s been weighing you down,” Woods explained. “Sometimes it’s that first day of good health after an illness, sometimes it’s after a breakup, sometimes it’s just the first day of spring. I think one of the only purely good human feelings is relief – When something difficult ends or when something bad could have happened but didn’t. That feeling is what I’m trying to capture here, that moment of realization that time is on your side again. You dodged a bullet and for a moment you feel free, clear-eyed, and ready to turn that passing hardship into something beautiful.”

Woods’ “Leaving Nashville,” co-written with Abe Stoklasa and recorded by Charles Kelley, is nominated for Song of the Year as part of the 29th annual MusicRow Awards.

 

Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Lori McKenna Set For Ryman Auditorium Sam’s Place Series

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Steven Curtis Chapman returns to host the Ryman Auditorium’s 2017 Sam’s Place: Music For The Spirit series, which will feature performances from Lori McKenna, Brandon Heath, Amy Grant, Jonny Diaz, The SteelDrivers, Rodney Atkins and more.

Vocal supporters of adoption, Chapman and his wife Mary Beth founded Show Hope in 2003, a nonprofit organization which helps restore the hope of a family to orphans in distress. A portion of the proceeds from all Sam’s Place ticket sales will go to support Show Hope.

Upcoming shows and performers include:

July 16: Zach Williams & The McCrary Sisters

Aug. 6: Sierra Hull & The Issacs

Aug. 27: Rodney Atkins, Brandon Heath, Lori McKenna, Shenandoah

Sept. 17: Amy Grant, Scotty McCreery, Jonny Diaz, The SteelDrivers, Ryan Stevenson

For more, visit ryman.com.

The Cadillac Three Taking ‘Long Hair’ Back To Europe In November

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The Cadillac Three. Photo: Joseph Llanes

The Cadillac Three are heading to Europe on their Long Hair Don’t Care Tour, beginning Nov. 1 in Berlin. Joining the raucous trio on the 16-date tour will be Brothers Osborne and Broken Witt Rebels. This is the fourth European tour for the three, who will play nine dates in the UK, including a highly-anticipated show in the capital at O2 Kentish Town Forum.

“It’s really cool to see European crowds embrace The Cadillac Three’s sound and hear our influences fuel each show. We cut our teeth on everything from the greats at The Opry to Widespread Panic because we love lyrics with depth just as much as shredding guitars, epic anthems and those for your lady,” shared TC3 frontman Jaren Johnston. “We keep coming back and they keep showing up for us … it’s a really special thing for us to sing along together with our pals across the pond!”

Before they head overseas, the Cadillac Three will headline their first show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium August 31. TC3 is taking “Dang If We Didn’t” and “American Slang” to radio as official singles for the US (July 10) and UK (impacting now) respectively. The songs lead the arrival of their new album Legacy, due Aug. 25 on Big Machine Records.

LONG HAIR DON’T CARE TOUR: Europe Dates
Nov. 1 – Berlin, Germany | Columbia Theater*
Nov. 2 – Hamburg, Germany | Uebel & Gefaehrlich*
Nov. 3 – Cologne, Germany | Luxor*
Nov. 4 – Munich, Germany | Technikum*
Nov. 6 – Amsterdam, Netherlands | Melkweg Sugarfactory*
Nov. 7 – Paris, France | Les Etoiles*
Nov. 9 – Belfast, United Kingdom | Mandela Hall*
Nov. 10 – Dublin, Ireland | Whelans*
Nov. 12 – Cardiff, United Kingdom | Y Plas
Nov. 13 – Nottingham, United Kingdom | Rock City**
Nov. 14 – London, United Kingdom | O2 Kentish Town Forum**
Nov. 15 – Norwich, United Kingdom | UEA**
Nov. 17 – Birmingham, United Kingdom | O2 Academy**
Nov. 18 – Manchester, United Kingdom | O2 Academy**
Nov. 19 – Newcastle, United Kingdom | O2 Academy**
Nov. 20 – Glasgow, United Kingdom | O2 ABC**

*With Broken Witt Rebels
** With Brothers Osborne

Connor James Thuotte Signs With Big Yellow Dog Music

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Pictured (L-R): Kerry O’Neil, co-owner; Devon Devries, VP of Film & TV; Alex Stefano, Film & TV Music Manager; Connor James Thuotte; Jamie Martin, Creative Coordinator of Film & TV Music; Matt Lindsey, VP Creative; Lauren Funk, Creative Manager; Carla Wallace, co-owner

Big Yellow Dog Music has signed Connor James Thuotte to its roster. A singer-songwriter/producer originally from upstate New York, Thuotte has had recent Toyota and CMT sync placements and writing and production credits across multiple genres, including indie, country, rock and pop.

“The BYD Sync team is excited to have Connor Thuotte on our roster,” says Big Yellow Dog Music VP of Film & TV, Devon Devries. “His sense of edgy, alternative frontline pop, unique sounds and story arc are the tools we work with best! We are excited for great things ahead.”