Allan Geiger, Taylor Scheese, Kennedy Nickerson

BBR Music Group has announced the hiring of Allan Geiger to Director of Content Creation and Taylor Scheese to Manager of Partnerships. The company also announced the promotion of Kennedy Nickerson to Sr. Coordinator of A&R.

In his role, Geiger will handle the creation of creative assets and graphic design for the label group’s roster of artists. He joins BBR from Artistnoize, a creative agency he founded that offers web and design services to clients, including Koe Wetzel, Leah Kate, Lee Brice, David Morris, Dashboard Confessional and more.

Geiger reports to Jen Morgan, VP of Creative & Imaging, and can be reached at allan@bbrmusicgroup.com.

Scheese will work on revenue driving brand partnership deals for BMG’s recorded and publishing roster, with a focus on BBR Music Group’s award-winning and chart-topping artist roster. She comes to BMG from Thinkswell, a digital marketing agency specializing in content strategy and execution for brands and artists, where she served as its Digital Marketing Manager.

Scheese reports to Daron Moore, Director of Brand Partnerships, and can be reached at taylor.scheese@bmg.com.

Nickerson’s new role at the company moves her from BMG’s publishing arm to the A&R department of its recorded side. A Belmont graduate, Nickerson’s previous experience includes internships with Cornman Music and Big Yellow Dog Music.

Nickerson reports to Katie Kerkhover, VP of A&R, and can be reached at kennedy.nickerson@bmg.com.

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is offering a brand-new, five-day Music Industry Career Camp from June 19-23, 2023 at Middle Tennessee State University.

Presented by Ronald Blue Trust, the first-of-its-kind camp will offer a look at many careers in the music industry, and each day will focus on a select group of career options within the industry. Attendees can expect panels featuring expert speakers, Q&A sessions with industry professionals, on-site visits to live music facilities, recording studios, records labels and more.

Daily themes that will be explored during the camp include Audio/Video Production Careers, Live Music Touring Careers, Songwriting/Publishing Careers, Artist/Record Label Careers, and Media and Marketing Careers.

“We are excited to hold this camp covering so many potential careers available within the American music industry. Featuring experts in dozens of jobs, field trips to Nashville for on-site learning, and the ability to see how many of these roles operate in real life, this is going to be such a unique experience,” notes NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison.

“The idea was initially born from conversations with parents whose children are planning college degrees in the industry, but we’ve expanded to include anyone sixteen years or older as we know entering the music industry can happen at any point in someone’s professional journey,” he continues. ” It only makes sense to help anyone interested explore the myriad of creative and non-creative jobs available in the industry before changing careers or potentially committing tens of thousands of dollars or more to education.”

Registration is now open. An on-campus housing option will be available to purchase for those that opt to stay on-site in an MTSU dormitory. The camp is open to ages sixteen and up. For more information or to register, click here.

“Captain Jack” Aponte

“Captain Jack” Aponte has announced his retirement from radio after more than 50 years in the industry.

“The last few months have been very difficult due to various health issues that have included a cancer scare, two major surgeries, and weeks of recuperation,” Aponte shares with MusicRow. “I have had to put our important business on hold while working on getting well. Thank God no cancer was found. All that time, while I sat in the hospital bed and at home, I looked at my 50 years in this business. I realized I had accomplished a lot. In many cases I dared go where others had not.”

Aponte’s beginnings start in the New York metro area, which helped shape his major market mentality all while keeping his down home values front and center. His long-time love of country music is what drove him to make Music City his home over a decade ago.

In 2011, Aponte launched internet radio station, Renegade Radio Nashville, and within 6 months RRN became the first and only internet radio station in music history to be given legitimate “reporting” status on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

The veteran’s passion has always revolved around the Nashville scene and country music. Throughout his career, Aponte strongly believed in exposing new country songs and breaking new country artists to his audiences. As a contemporary country music programmer, he always went the extra mile to find a sound unique to his format.

In 2019, he moved back to his home state and settled in Seaside Heights, New Jersey where he set up a new online station covering the tristate areas of NJ, NY, and PA which also broadcasted live from the beach. Named Jersey Shore Country, this became the primary reporting station on the MusicRow Radio Chart.

Aponte states, “From moving to a new town, changing work hours to accommodate mine or just spending days, nights and weekends alone while I built up radio station listenership, my wife and family have cheered me on giving up so much of their lives to support me. After weeks of careful consideration, I have made the hard decision to retire.

“This wonderful experience that Music Row has afforded me and the opportunity to work with the best professionals in the music business will be something I will cherish forever,” he continues. “I don’t know what the future holds, as none of us do, however these are decisions I will make with my family in mind. I wish you all the best life has to offer and I will never forget our amazing relationships.”

He sums, “I hope growth and success is in all our futures.”

MusicRow wishes Aponte all the best in his retirement.

Pictured (L-R:) Joe Fisher, Ben Vaughn, Rodney Clawson, Billy Dawson, Shaina Botwin, Emma Kiefer, Will Overton

Billy Dawson has signed a joint venture publishing deal with Rodney Clawson, Boom Music Group, and Warner Chappell.

A West Texas native, Dawson is a singer, songwriter, and producer who has collaborated with many of Music City’s top writers including Clawson, Chris Tompkins, Lee Miller, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jon Nite, Matt McGinn, and many more. He is currently writing and producing a new military-inspired album co-written with veterans that will benefit Sierra Delta, which empowers veterans and provides purpose and community through the love of service dogs. Dawson also wrote and produced music for the newly-released Bollywood movie Rocketry with R. Madhavan, marking the first American country song to be featured in a Bollywood movie.

“Billy’s signature is his positive influence on everyone around him,” shares Warner Chappell’s Will Overton. “He knows how to get the best out of his cowriters and always puts others first. It’s an honor to be a part of his creative journey!”

“Billy is a great collaborator and a great guy,” adds Clawson. “We’ve been working together for years, and now we’re happy to make it official with Boom and Warner Chappell.”

“Billy Dawson is probably the nicest and most accommodating guy you’ll ever meet,” says Boom’s Shaina Botwin. “His positive attitude is infectious and he brings great energy to every co-write he’s in. We’re excited to represent him alongside Rodney and Warner Chappell!”

Pictured (L-R, front row): Mike Harris, Mike Dungan, Dalton Dover, Cindy Mabe, Brian Wright; (L-R, back row): Charly Salvatore, Bruce Phillips, Matt McVaney. Photo: Chris Hollo

Dalton Dover has signed with Universal Music Group Nashville, and will release new music on the label’s Mercury Nashville imprint.

Dover first achieved prominence following his appearance on Season 16 of The Voice, where he earned a chair turn from judge Blake Shelton. Two years later, Dover has continued to build his fan base on TikTok, garnering millions of views with his #CatchMeOffGuard series of cover song mashups.

Dover’s songs “You Got A Small Town” and “Baby I Am,” which has earned nearly 500,000 streams, helped the 23-year-old Georgia native earn a place on Spotify’s Hot Country 2022 Artists to Watch, along with a spotlight as Billboard’s February Country Rookie of the Month and a nod as MusicRow’s 2022 Discovery Artist of the Year.

“All of us at UMG have been fans of Dalton for a long time,” says Mike Dungan, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville. “For months our staff has filled the rooms at almost every one of his live performances in Nashville. As we worked our way through the legal process, our four label promotion teams were fighting over which label he would go to and who got to work with him. We are thrilled that he chose to be a member of our family and anxious to release the first taste of music with the Mercury logo on it.”

“I’m so excited to join the Mercury and UMG Nashville family,” shares Dover. “I wouldn’t be here without the support from my wonderful wife and family, my team, and the fans who have listened to and shared the songs we’ve released so far. This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on!”