Donna Duarte Retires From Sony Music Nashville

Donna Duarte.

Music industry veteran Donna Duarte has retired from Sony Music Nashville after 31 years in the business.

Duarte’s career began at Capitol Records Nashville before taking her to Virgin Music Group. In 2001, Joe Galante hired her as an Executive Assistant to the Chairman. Duarte went on to serve the following Chairmen through her recent retirement.

She is looking forward to traveling and spending more time with her family and friends going forward.

Duarte can be reached at [email protected].

Hailey Whitters’ ‘Everything She Ain’t’ Goes Platinum

Pictured (L-R): Shay Mooney, Hailey Whitters and Dan Smyers. Photo: Aubrey Wise.

On Friday (Aug. 11), the rising country star Hailey Whitters was surprised on stage by Dan + Shay with her first-ever platinum plaque for her hit single “Everything She Ain’t.” The RIAA certification follows her rapid ascent after winning New Female Artist of the Year at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards in May, where she performed the song during broadcast.

Last month, Whitters released her I’m In Love EP. Billboard named her their July 2023 all-genre Chartbreaker as “Everything She Ain’t” spent 66 weeks on their Country Airplay chart, and she marked her first appearance on the Hot 100 chart in May.

This September, Whitters will hit the road with Eric Church on his “Outsiders Revival Tour,” followed by a run of dates supporting Luke Bryan‘s “Country On Tour.”

CMHOF Hosts Black CMA, Black Opry Program & Performance

Pictured (L-R): Valierie Ellis Hawkins, Frankie Staton, Denitia, Joe West, Holly G, Tanner Davenport and Angela Stefano Zimmer. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

This weekend, the Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum hosted a conversation and performance with Frankie Staton from the Black Country Music Association, Black Opry Revue Founder Holly G and Black Opry Revue Co-Director Tanner Davenport. The museum’s writer-editor Angela Stefano Zimmer led the conversation about the organizations’ histories, their impact within the music industry and their future goals.

The Black Country Music Association was founded by performer Cleve Francis in 1995, and has been led by songwriter and performer Staton since 1996. They built community by hosting showcases in Nashville and educated fans about country music’s Black performers in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The Black Opry continues that work, spotlighting Black Americana, blues, country and folk artists and connecting Black fans. Founded in April 2021 by Holly G, a country music fan from Virginia, the organization that as has grown into a national performance series, the Black Opry Revue.

The museum’s program featured performances fromStaton, Denitia, Valierie Ellis Hawkins and Joe West as support for the museum’s “American Currents: State of the Music” exhibit. It was filmed and will premiere at a later date as part of the museum’s Live at the Hall digital program series.

Grayscale Marketing Expands Team With New Talent

Geoffrey Nisol & Connor Zinn

Grayscale Marketing has added two new members to their growing team.

Geoffery Nisol has come aboard as the firm’s new Operations Coordinator. Bringing an MBA from EMD School of Business in Marseille, France, Nisol possesses bilingual proficiency and a wealth of project management expertise gained through global endeavors with Revenue River and AXA.

“Joining Grayscale provides me with the chance to be part of a team I’ve long admired. I am eager to contribute to our organization’s expansion and ensure optimal satisfaction for our valued clients,” Nisol expresses.

Connor Zinn joins the ranks of Grayscale Marketing as a Social Media Strategist. Zinn is in the final stages of completing his MBA at Lipscomb University and is a distinguished Veteran of the U.S. Army, having held leadership responsibilities throughout his military career.

“I am thrilled to step into a new industry, collaborating with a dynamic and motivated team led by exceptional leadership. I look forward to pioneering AI and automation solutions for our team and clients as well as sharing in the experiences they enjoy,” says Zinn.

Grayscale Marketing’s CEO, Tim Gray states, “It’s a pleasure to witness our team continuously expand and evolve. Over the past two years, we’ve witnessed a remarkable 300% surge in our staff, and this growth is yielding positive outcomes across our new family of enterprises. These valuable additions to our team will enable us to surpass client expectations and enhance our standing as the premier event marketing agency in the country.”

Lightning 100 Wins Eighth Station Of The Year Award

Pictured (L-R): Lightning 100’s Rev. Keith Coes, Lt. Dan Buckley, Tom Hansen and Gary Kraen

Nashville’s independent radio station, WRLT Lightning 100 won the Station of the Year award for their eighth consecutive year at the 2023 JBE Triple A SummitFest Awards. Lightning 100’s Lt. Dan Buckley was also named Program Director of the Year and Rev. Keith Coes took home Music Director of the Year.

The winner of the annual awards is chosen by peers in the music industry. This year, awards were presented during a special SummitFest ceremony in Boulder, Colorado.

As the independent voice of Nashville radio for over 30 years, Lightning 100 has remained local, sustainable and community-oriented. The station does many things that are contrary to the norms in the radio programming business starting with how they select the music we hear on air. It’s a collaborative process and everyone on staff gets a vote, playing only their favorite songs with a spotlight on local, independent artists.

“We have the best staff, in the best city in America. We couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else or with anyone else. You are such an important part of what we do. Please keep listening and we’ll all keep winning,” stated Buckley, Lightning 100 Program Director. “Special thanks as well to our fearless President, Lester Turner Jr., who’s sole ownership and support of WRLT lets us work our dream job and make the community we live in a better place.”

“While I’m always thrilled to congratulate the award winners, I wish we could just give awards to everyone who works in Triple A for their dedication to local radio and artist development,” said Jack Barton, Founder  of Jack Barton Entertainment and the JBE Triple A SummitFest. “In an era that emphasizes centralization and chasing quick results, it’s an honor to work with a group of professionals so dedicated to authenticity and hard work, who are driven by passion above all else.”

Jet Harvey. Photo: Tanya Macks

Warner Chappell Music and The Warren Brothers’ Brad and Brett Warren have teamed up to sign Jet Harvey to a worldwide publishing agreement.

The Memphis, Tennessee native co-wrote Bailey Zimmerman’s hit “Rock and A Hard Place,” which topped Billboard’s Country Airplay chart for six weeks. The smash single was also among the top 10 of Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 chart, and currently has over 750 million streams across platforms.

The songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has been performing since he was 19 years old. Five years ago, Harvey started playing at festivals and in bars with his band, Jet Black and the Cadillacs, while simultaneously running his own insurance agency out of Franklin, Tennessee, where he lives with his wife and kids. He is nominated for MusicRow‘s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year at the 2023 MusicRow Awards.

After landing his first cut with Zimmerman, Harvey decided to pivot his career and write for others, and has been sharpening his skills as a songwriter ever since.

“It just dawned on me that songwriting was a ‘standalone’ opportunity. Songwriting was always a ‘part’ of what I did as a performer. Not ‘THE’ thing I do,” he shares.

Following the announcement of this year’s nominees for the 35th annual MusicRow Awards, we take a closer look at the Discovery Artist of the Year category. The award will honor a Nashville developing artist who demonstrates significant talent and potential to rise.

This year’s winners will be announced online on all MusicRow platforms on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Presenting Sponsor of the 2023 MusicRow Awards is City National Bank.

Click here to see the full list of MusicRow Awards nominees.

Winners are determined solely by MusicRow Magazine subscribers. Voting is now open and closes on Aug. 18 at 5:00 p.m.

To receive a ballot to vote in the MusicRow Awards, become a MusicRow subscriber here.

Since arriving on the scene, Ashley Cooke has garnered over 200 million global streams with chart-climbing hits like “Never Til Now” with Brett Young, Ryman and Grand Ole Opry debuts, and national TV appearances on ABC’s The Bachelorette. Cooke has recently been out on the road with Cole Swindell, Luke Bryan and more. In July, Cooke released her 24-track debut album, Shot In The Dark, that infuses heartfelt lyrics, captivating melodies and raw relatability as she invites listeners to come along for the ride. Among the album’s highlights are collaborations with some of Nashville’s most sought after names including Young, Jackson Dean, Colbie Caillat and Nate Smith. Shot In The Dark has already been making its mark, securing the No. 6 position in the Top 10 of Spotify’s Top Debut Albums USA.

Made up of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart along with first cousin Trea Swindle, Chapel Hart took 2022 by storm. Their meteoric rise came shortly after appearing on America’s Got Talent and receiving the second ever “Group Golden Buzzer” which prompted America and the rest of the world to pay attention. Shortly after the show, the ladies made their Grand Ole Opry debut and received four standing ovations. Chapel Hart released their album Glory Days in May of 2023. Their first-ever headlining tour, “The Glory Days Tour,” kicked off its initial run in January and spans coast to coast. With high praise from industry members, Chapel Hart collaborated with Darius Rucker on the redemptive ballad “Ol’ Church Hymn.” They also impressed with their single “You Can Have Him Jolene.”

Kameron Marlowe impressed the industry and fans alike with his 16-track debut album We Were Cowboys, released in August 2022. Featuring his Gold-certified songs “Giving You Up” and “Burn ‘Em All” as well as the buzzy “Girl On Fire,” the project has earned more than 378 million ondemand streams. Throughout 2022, Marlowe entertained on his celebrated “We Were Cowboys Tour,” for which he sold more than 22,000 tickets across numerous full-house venues. Following his headlining trek, Marlowe will be on the road the rest of this summer and fall with Dierks Bentley, Parker McCollum and Jordan Davis, and is set to open for Luke Bryan on his fall “Farm Tour” 2023. Marlowe is a member of the CMT Listen Up and Opry NextStage classes of 2023.

Kylie Morgan is currently turning heads with her clever and relatable songs. Pairing articulate, coming-of-age revelations with fun, up-tempo anthems, her recently EP, P.S., features seven tracks each co-written by Morgan, including her debut single to country radio, “If He Wanted To He Would.” P.S. is the anticipated follow-up to her breakout EP, Love, Kylie – a bold introduction that scored the Oklahoma native a place as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country, VEVO’s 2021 DSCVR Artists to Watch and CMA’s coveted KixStart program. Already surpassing 250 million global streams, Morgan has been praised for her powerful voice and smart songwriting. Currently on her first-ever headlining “Independent With You Tour,” she has previously opened for artists including Dan + Shay, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kip Moore, Jason Derulo, Gavin DeGraw, Brett Eldredge and Billy Currington.

Rising singer-songwriter Conner Smith’s authentic storytelling and rich, soulful voice has resonated with audiences nationwide, earning him a dedicated and passionate following. His Top-30-bound single “Creek Will Rise” has quickly become an anthem among his loyal fanbase and amassed over 16 million streams to date. The tune follows his first Top 40 hit “Learn From It,” viral smash “I Hate Alabama” and Gold-certified “Take It Slow.” Smith earned 2022 Artist to Watch status from Spotify, Amazon Music and Opry NextStage, while also making him the only country artist on Pandora’s Ten List 2022 and securing 2023 recognition from MusicRow, CMT and more. Smith will support Jordan Davis and Cole Swindell on select dates through the fall.

Warren Zeiders is one of Nashville’s fastest-rising stars, with more than 6 million followers, 1 billion audio streams globally and 1.4 billion views on TikTok. His breakout single “Ride The Lightning” recently earned RIAA Platinum certification and was most-added when it impacted country radio in July. This summer, he played CMA Fest’s Chevy Riverfront Stage, the Spotify House and his first-ever stadium show at Ohio Stadium with Little Big Town, Chris Stapleton and George Strait. As part of his recently extended “Pretty Little Poison” headlining tour (following his sold-out spring run), he’ll play his first headlining show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Oct. 4. He will release his debut Pretty Little Poison album on Aug. 18.

Morgan Wallen Foundation Contributes $500K For Baseball & Softball Restoration Project 

Morgan Wallen with Parkwood baseball players. Photo: Leila Grossman/Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville

Morgan Wallen has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Nashville, the Major League Baseball & MLB Players Association Youth Development Foundation (MLB-MLBPA YDF) and other local funders, through his foundation, to lead the community revitalization of the historic Black baseball and softball complex, Parkwood Community Club, in Nashville. The entities joined forces to donate $500K each, totaling one million dollars invested in the project.

“I started the Morgan Wallen Foundation to support youth in two areas – sports and music. When I heard about Parkwood, right here in Nashville, I knew I wanted to help. Every child deserves a chance to play ball and be part of a team, and I truly appreciate this opportunity to be part of Parkwood’s next inning,” says Wallen. “I can’t wait to come back out here and see the park once it has been renovated.”

Billy Ray Cyrus & Firerose Ink With Scott Adkins & Nick Meinema

Pictured (L-R): Scott Adkins, Firerose, Billy Ray Cyrus and Nick Meinema. Photo: Derrek Kupish

Billy Ray Cyrus and Firerose, who recently released their new power ballad “Plans,” have signed with Scott Adkins for exclusive management representation and Nick Meinema of Action Entertainment Collaborative for global agency representation.

“Like our song says, ‘It’s a new day.’ ‘New Day’ was Firerose and my first top 20 radio hit together. It sowed the seeds for a lot of change still yet to come. A new beginning. This moment in time marks not only a new chapter, but to be honest, it’s a brand new book” says Cyrus.

“I am honored and thrilled to be represented by Scott Adkins and Nick Meinema. I’m very much looking forward to this next exciting stage of my career and taking my artistry to the next level with this power team. There’s a great synergy in our creative vision and trajectory for my artistic goals,” shares Firerose.

Ryan Larkins Signs With CAA & Releases Two New Songs

Red Street Records artist Ryan Larkins has signed with CAA and released two new songs, “Man That Holds The Beer” and “She’s the Tough One.”

Larkins’ debut EP Meet Ryan Larkins will be available this October. Additionally, the singer-songwriter has had cuts with other artists, including Cody Johnson’s new single, “The Painter,” and songs recorded by Bill Anderson, Dolly Parton, Tim McGraw and more.

“It feels amazing to have music of my own out in the world,” says Larkins. “I’m really thankful for Red Street Records and CAA for giving me the opportunity to bring these songs to life and take them out on the road. My hope is that listeners connect with them the way I do!”

PLA Media Announces Promotions & Addition

Pictured (L-R): Ava Hundley, Pamela Lewis, Becky Parsons and Nikki Wildy

PLA Media has promoted Becky Parsons to Director of Publicity & Branding and Ava Hundley to Publicity & Social Media Manager. The public relations and marketing agency has also hired Nikki Wildy as Publicity & Social Media Assistant.

After gaining extensive experience at Louisville Ballet, Dead Horse Branding and Appalachian Places Magazine, Parsons joined PLA Media just over a year ago. In her new role, she will oversee all client accounts, using her previous experience in publicity combined with her Master’s degree in brand and media strategy from East Tennessee State University (ETSU).

Hundley began her journey with the agency as Publicity Assistant earlier this year during her final semester at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). She was then elevated to full-time position of Publicity & Social Media Coordinator, and has since risen to her new role.

Wildy, a rising junior and music business major at Belmont University, has focused on the audio and content production arenas of PLA and joins in the part-time position of Publicity & Social Media Assistant.

“It is my sincere pleasure to congratulate these three fine young women,” says Pamela Lewis, PLA Media President. “Each bring tenacity, integrity, critical thinking, creativity, loyalty and intelligence to the spectrum, and I am most excited to see what we can all do together. I am proud and blessed to have them on board our team!”

New applicants for inclusion in the Publisher company directory for the upcoming MusicRow Publisher Issue print magazine are now being accepted through Aug. 25. Previously included companies will also be solicited separately.

Along with the directory with contact information for Nashville’s publishing community, the issue also features exclusive editorial content focused on this essential segment of our business.

To submit your company for consideration, complete and submit this form.

For questions, please contact LB Cantrell at [email protected].

To reserve ad space in the 2023 Publisher issue, contact [email protected]. Rate card information is available here.

Become a subscribed member of MusicRow here to make sure you don’t miss the annual Publisher Issue.