Weekly Chart Report (5/13/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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Weekly Chart Report (5/6/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

Industry Ink: City of Hope, SOLID, Don Cusic, 95.3 The Bull

Celebrity Players Named For City of Hope Game

Citiy of Hope logo

Confirmed artists for this year’s City of Hope Celebrity Baseball Game are Charles Esten, Vince Gill, Chris Lane, Scotty McCreeryBret Michaels, David Nail, RaeLynn and Jamie Lynn Spears. Artists will compete on teams sponsored by the Grand Ole Opry and iHeartCountry. The game will take place on June 7 at 3 p.m. at First Tennessee Park in downtown Nashville. Support from the Nashville community and its country music artists directly benefit City of Hope’s mission to find cures for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases.

 

SOLID Renames Annual Auction

SOLID Nashville Music MarketSOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) announced this week that the Music Row Yard Sale & Auction has officially changed its name to the Nashville Music Market. The annual event hosts a sale and auction of music items, memorabilia, meet & greets, autographed guitars and more during the week of CMA Music Festival. This year’s 14th annual event will take place Saturday, June 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (location TBD).

 

Don Cusic Releases Hank Williams Book

hankw_570Author, country music historian and Belmont University professor Don Cusic has released Hank Williams: The Singer and the Songs, which recounts Williams’ legendary recording career. The lyrics to all of Williams’ songs are featured, well as the stories behind some of those songs.

During his career, Cusic has served as Country and Gospel Editor for Record World and Cashbox, a columnist for Music City News, album reviewer and special correspondent for Billboard and book reviewer for MusicRow Magazine. He has worked for the Country Music Association, Monument Records, and more.

 

95.3 The Bull Hires Steve Summers

Steve Summers with Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks

Steve Summers with Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks

MusicRow reporting station 95.3 The Bull in Rockford, Illinois, has hired radio personality Steve Summers to join their staff as morning show host, effective Aug. 23. The delayed start dates is due to a non-compete clause with his previous employer.

Summers has more than 30 years experience at Rockford stations WZOK and WXXQ with roles as Program Director, Operations Manager, and Morning Show Talent.

“When I returned from vacation in February, I was informed I was no longer employed. I considered other opportunities outside of the stateline, but my passion for the Rockford area and helping out charities mirrored the attitude of 95.3 The Bull,” said Summers. “This is home. I couldn’t be more excited to join a locally-owned and operated company in Mid-West Family Broadcasting. Over the last two years, they have shown a commitment to making a difference with local businesses, local residents, and country music fans. To say I’m thrilled is an understatement.”

Becca Walls Resigns From WKDF After 16 Years

Becca Walls

Becca Walls

Nash FM 103.3 (WKDF) on-air personality Becca Walls has resigned after 16 years with the station, she announced today (May 3). Her last day will be May 11.

“Please know this was 1000% my decision and Cumulus Nashville couldn’t have been kinder or more supportive when I delivered the news. It’s something I have thought about, prayed about, struggled with, sought advice from wiser friends about, and ultimately decided it was time,” Walls stated on social media. “My passion and love for country radio and my love affair with country music and the artists is for life. I am not leaving Nashville. It is my home and a city I have grown to love intensely.”

She will do freelance work as the Nashville correspondent for Envision Networks’ AmeriCountry daily radio prep. She is also the Nashville correspondent for the Bud and Broadway morning show on 92.3 (WIL) in St. Louis, and is exploring other options ranging from freelance work to full-time opportunities.

“I owe a big debt of gratitude to Wes Gardipe who took a chance on me 16 years ago when I had little to no experience as a solo DJ on a radio station. He believed in me because of my work with Blair Garner on After MidNite. His belief in me changed my life and since then, anyone who has believed in me, supported me, encouraged me, loved me or listened to me in the last 16 years has also changed my life in the most positive and amazing ways.”

Weekly Chart Report (4/29/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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Tyler Waugh Joins Big Loud Records

Tyler Waugh

Tyler Waugh

Tyler Waugh has joined Big Loud Records as the label’s Southeast Region Director of Promotion.

“Tyler has an incredibly versatile background with success in multiple genres and promotion roles. He will be an invaluable asset to our BLR team,” said label president Clay Hunnicutt. “He will hit the ground running immediately to continue our success with Chris Lane, ‘Fix,’ and all the other projects we have coming out soon.”

Waugh joins the label’s promotion team of Nikki Jimenez, Northeast Region; Dave Kirth, West Coast Region; Roger Fregoso, Midwest Region led by National Director of Promotion Stacy Blythe and Hunnicutt.

Waugh began his music industry career in 2000, and most recently was Southeast Regional Director of Promotion at 1608 Promotion, a division of Reviver Records. His prior career entries include time at Blaster Records, Streamsound Records, Arista Records, RCA Music Group, Roadrunner Records, and BMG Distribution.

“Joining the Big Loud Records team is a huge opportunity, allowing me to be a part of a group of people that are extremely creative and forward thinking,” says Waugh. “I’m excited to work with Chris Lane, who I’ve been a fan of since I first heard his music, and I can’t wait to talk to my friends at radio about ‘Fix’ and all the great new music releasing soon. Big thanks to Clay, Craig, Chief, Seth, and Joey for bringing me on board!”

Big Loud Records label launched in 2015 and was founded by manager Seth England, Joey Moi, Craig Wiseman, Kevin “Chief” Zaruk and Hunnicutt.

Waugh can be reached at tyler@bigloudrecords.com or 615-870-2040.

Bobby Bones Added To Musicians On Call Board Of Directors

Bobby Bones Musicians On Call

Pictured (L-R): Tom Poleman, Lindsay Ell and Bobby Bones visit with a patient as part of Musicians On Call.

On-air personality Bobby Bones has been added to the Board of Directors for Musicians On Call, a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.

Bones, who is host of iHeartMedia’s The Bobby Bones Show and Country Top 30 with Bobby Bones, reaches 4.8 million weekly listeners on more than 100 stations nationwide.

“The work that Musicians On Call does is amazing and I’m such a big supporter of theirs,” said Bones. “I’m thankful that I’m able to play a bigger part in a truly great organization like this and help continue to bring music to those who need it most.”

“I’m so excited to have Bobby join Musicians On Call’s Board of Directors,” said Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President. “If you listen to his show or spend any time with Bobby, it’s easy to see how sincere and passionate he is about helping others. We look forward to working with him to bring the healing power of music to even more patients nationwide.”

As a Musicians On Call Volunteer Musician, Bones played at the bedsides of patients at the Nashville VA and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with the help of some of his friends like Lindsay Ell and Tom Poleman, President of iHeartMedia’s National Programming Group and Musicians On Call Board Member. Bones released his The Critics Give It 5 Stars comedy/country album with Black River Entertainment, with portions of the proceeds donated for charity. His live shows have raised over $2 million for charity.

Bones’ most recent “Pimpin Joy” merchandise campaign raised $20,000 for Musicians On Call and he continues to raise funds for MOC through his current “Bobby For President” campaign.

Weekly Chart Report (4/22/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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Weekly Chart Report (4/15/16)

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Click here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.

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iHeartMedia Names Zack Massey Country Content Bureau Chief

Zack Massey

Zack Massey

iHeartMedia has named Zack Massey as Country Content Bureau Chief for its Nashville-based iHeartCountry team, effective immediately. He will report to Dan Shelley, Senior Vice President of Digital Content Strategy for iHeartMedia.

In his newly-created position, Massey will oversee the new Digital Content Bureau for iHeartMedia’s country stations, which will produce content for iHeartCountry.com and iHeartMedia’s more than 140 country radio station websites.

iHeartCountry heavily and uniquely supports country music through major events like the record-setting annual iHeartCountry Festival and original programs like Artists On The Verge, artist integration programs, iHeartCountry album release parties, its Country Music Summit and more.

“Zack has a tremendous passion for country music,” said Rod Phillips, Senior Vice President of Programming and Brand Manager of iHeartCountry. “The iHeartCountry team couldn’t be more excited to have him join us in Nashville to lead our digital and social platforms.”

“Having the opportunity to return to Nashville and help generate country content for our entire iHeartRadio network is my dream job,” said Massey. “iHeartMedia has the best assets of any media and entertainment company in the game, and I look forward to working with the entire iHeartCountry team.”

Massey has 10 years of experience with iHeartMedia, most recently serving as a digital content director in the Phoenix market. He joined the company in 2006 as an online director and sales manager in their Asheville, North Carolina, office. Massey has also served as a general sales manager and digital sales manager for iHeartMedia’s Nashville market.