BMLG Records Elevates Three In Radio Promotion Department

BMLG Records has promoted Liz Santana to Sr. Director East Promotion, Stella Prado to Sr. Director West Promotion, and Kylie Dembek to Manager of Strategic Planning.

“We are so incredibly excited to promote Liz, Stella and Kylie,” says BMLG Records SVP, Promotion and Marketing, Matthew Hargis. “Since joining the Ape Den, Liz and Stella have been a key part of the label’s success in their respective regions. With their newly expanded roles it’s very exciting to see them continue to grow as executives. Additionally, it gives us great pleasure to create a new role inside the department and promote Kylie.”

Santana has been with BMLG Records for over six years, formerly serving as Director of Southeast Promotion. Santana will continue to promote all BMLG Records singles including Lady A’s “Like A Lady” and Laci Kaye Booth’s “Shuffle.”

Prado joined the imprint in February 2016 after 21 years at KOST 103.5 FM in Los Angeles, rising from intern to Program Director. After working at WKLB/Boston in college, Dembek moved to Nashville and gained experience with internships at the Grand Ole Opry and CMA. She formerly served as Promotions Coordinator for the imprint.

BMLG Records also announced the upcoming departure of Michelle Tigard Kammerer on Oct. 1. A 7-year veteran of the label group, Kammerer has accepted a yet to be announced opportunity. “While we will miss Michelle, we are very excited for her new opportunity and wish her the absolute best,” says Hargis.

BMLG Records is now looking to hire a Promotions Coordinator. If interested, please send a resume to hr@bmlg.net.

 

 

Katelyn Lester Upped To Director, Regional Promotion At Monument Records

Monument Records promoted Katelyn Lester to Director, Regional Promotion. She will continue to manage Monument’s Southeast region, where she’s been since the label added their own radio promotion team last year.

Lester joined Monument last year from Universal Music Group’s marketing team where she had worked since graduating from Belmont University. She has been integral in introducing Caitlyn Smith to country radio with her first single, “I Can’t (feat. Old Dominion),” as well as getting Walker Hayes’ smash hit “Fancy Like” up the charts.

“From my first days at Monument I knew Katelyn was a top notch promotion person,” says Monument’s VP, Radio Promotion, Luke Jensen. “Seeing her in action firsthand, and hearing from our radio partners left no doubts that she was ready for the next step.”

“It’s been a huge privilege to learn and grow alongside this team at Monument,” says Lester. “I’m so proud of what we have been able to accomplish and am lucky to be smilin’ and dialin’ all over the Southeast on behalf of these incredible artists.”

Lester can be reached at katelyn.lester@sonymusic.com.

 

 

Show Dog Adds JC Coffey As Northeast/Midwest Promotion Manager

Show Dog Nashville has added JC Coffey as Northeast/Midwest Promotion Manager.

Coffey previously served as Director/Midwest Promotion at Big Machine Records, and has had stops as the program director at WOKQ/Portsmouth, New Hampshire, WTHT/Portland, Maine, WPGI/Elmira, New York and WMLL/Manchester, New Hampshire. Coffey also served three years as a part-time on-air talent at WAAF/Boston.

“JC has been an all-star performer at every level of our industry. He’s radio savvy, promo savvy, and his enthusiasm is second to none,” comments Show Dog Nashville’s Senior VP/Promotion Rick Moxley.

“I could not be more thrilled to join a staff filled with such wonderful promo pros,” Coffey states. “A huge thanks to TK Kimbrell, Rick Moxley, and Teddi Bonadies for offering me such an outstanding opportunity. I’m truly humbled to join this team.”

Bonadies, Show Dog Nashville’s VP/Promotion, adds: “JC brings a contagious passion and knowledge that is so valuable. He truly will be an asset to our Show Dog Nashville Promo team.”

Coffey can be reached at JC.Coffey@showdogmail.com.

Grammy-nominated vocalist Yola has been chosen as the Opry NextStage featured artist for October.

Developed by Opry Entertainment Group and the Grand Ole Opry, Opry NextStage invests in the discovery and development of new artists and highlights one up-and-coming artist per month. Moon joins the Class of 2021 artists Hailey Whitters, Parker McCollum, Lainey Wilson, and Niko Moon.

Yola recently released her anthemic Dan Auerbach-produced sophomore album, Stand For Myself, on Easy Eye Sound. She has also made national television appearances on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and performed at both Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals in the same year. She is currently touring with Chris Stapleton with upcoming stops at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 8 and two nights at Bridgestone Arena on Oct. 22-23.

The burgeoning artist is set to return to the Grand Ole Opry stage on Oct. 2.

Opportunities for Opry NextStage artists include feature performances on the Grand Ole Opry and Circle’s Opry Live broadcast and livestream; a performance at a special Opry NextStage concert in 2021; content produced by Opry Entertainment’s award-winning content team that utilizes all Opry Entertainment venues including Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium and Ole Red locations nationwide; exclusive content to be distributed via Circle broadcast, streaming, and video-on demand channels; customized marketing and promotion activations utilizing Opry web and social assets; and other opportunities such as outdoor advertising, 650 WSM-AM radio specials, and more.

Tourmates Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson Celebrate Special No. 1s

2021 MusicRow Discovery Artist of the Year Lainey Wilson recently earned her first No. 1 with breakout single “Things A Man Oughta Know.”

Wilson is currently on tour with BBR/BMG Nashville labelmate Jason Aldean on his “Back In The Saddle 2021 Tour.”

Aldean also celebrated his 25th No. 1 earlier this summer with his single, “Blame It On You.”

The pair were presented with commemorative plaques backstage at their Irvine, California show on Sept. 25. The pair, along with supporting act Hardy, will continue on to stops in Phoenix, Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, Cleveland, Lexington, West Palm Beach, and more before wrapping in Tampa on Oct. 30 at Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheater.

 

Sea Gayle Music Adds Kendra Smith As Catalog Manager

Sea Gayle Music has added Kendra Smith as Catalog Manager.

Smith, who received her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, moved to Nashville in 2019 when she was offered an internship with Sea Gayle Music.

“We have had some great interns at Sea Gayle Music through the years and Kendra was one of the best. We are thrilled to give her this opportunity and bring her aboard as part of the Sea Gayle family,” says Chris DuBois.

“After spending a semester interning at Sea Gayle, I fell in love with music publishing and realized my passion for working with songwriters,” Smith shares. “This incredible team felt like a perfect fit during that time and it became my goal to work here one day. I am beyond excited to be able to work with and learn from some of the best in the industry.”

 

Bryan Martin Signs With Dirtified Records/Average Joes Entertainment

Bryan Martin has signed with Dirtified Records/Average Joes Entertainment.

The Louisiana native has released his first single and video for the label, “Long As Daddy’s Working,” written by Martin and produced by Bill McDermott.

Martin independently released “Beauty In The Struggle,” which went viral on TikTok in January 2021 and has now surpassed more than 20 Million streams across all digital platforms. He has also joined Colt Ford on his 17-date fall tour.

“Bryan is a self-taught musician/songwriter and an immense talent, and everyone at the label is excited about working with him,” comments Lenny Cooper, President/CEO, Dirtified Records. “We are an artist-driven company, and Bryan is a great addition to the family.”

“Songwriting has always just been a hobby—a passion. I started this for fun, but now I’m doing what I love for a living,” says Martin.

[Updated, 2:30 p.m.] Nashville’s Mercy Lounge is ending its nearly 20 year residency on Cannery Row, it was announced today (Sept. 30).

MusicRow has also confirmed that all three of the Cannery venues–Mercy Lounge, The High Watt, and Cannery Ballroom–will not be renewing their leases with the current business owner. At the end of May 2022, Mercy Lounge’s lease within the complex will have ended, though management has expressed plans of relocating the beloved venue to a new location that has yet to be determined.

More information about relocating and other future plans for all three venues has not yet been announced.

Mercy Lounge shared the news on social media, saying: “The Mercy Lounge complex will end its near 20 year run on Cannery Row at the end of May 2022. Our lease is ending and we will be relocating the venues to a new location, TBD. We hope to be back better than ever. Let’s make these last 8 months on Cannery Row the best ever!”

First opening its doors in January of 2003, Mercy Lounge has a standing room capacity of right at 500 people. During its nearly two-decades long tenure in downtown Nashville, the independently-owned venue has hosted hundreds of acts from a variety of genres, especially those outside of country music.

Undoubtedly housing some of Music City’s more alternative artists, past performers have included Adele, Bon Jovi, Cage The Elephant, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Charli XCX, Halsey, HAIM, Imagine Dragons, Katy Perry, Meghan Trainor, Snoop Dogg, The Neighbourhood, Tori Kelly, and hundreds of others.