The Nashville Songwriters Association International has added four songwriters to its board of directors.
J.T. Harding, Josh Kear, Jon Nite and Emily Shackelton have been elected as new members, while current board members re-elected to two-year terms include Steve Bogard, Jeff Cohen, Chris DeStefano, Byron Hill, Liz Rose, Jenn Schott and Jimmy Yeary.
Roger Brown and Lee Thomas Miller were re-elected to one-year terms as “Legislative Co-Chairs,” Rhett Akins and Caitlyn Smith were re-elected to one-year terms to the “Artist Writer” board positions and Brett James was re-elected to a one-year term to the “Industry Liaison” position.
They join existing board members Jim Beavers, Sarah Buxton, Nicolle Galyon, Tim Nichols, Josh Osborne, Rivers Rutherford, Anthony L. Smith, Bobby Tomberlin, Laura Veltz, Troy Verges and Danny Wells whose terms expire in 2021. The board terms begin each year at the May meeting.
NSAI Board President Steve Bogard said, “Once again, NSAI has elected an outstanding Board of professional songwriters that reflects the growing diversity, scope and influence of our organization. We look forward to another great year of progress for songwriters.”
NSAI Adds To Board Of Directors
/by Jessica NicholsonThe Nashville Songwriters Association International has added four songwriters to its board of directors.
J.T. Harding, Josh Kear, Jon Nite and Emily Shackelton have been elected as new members, while current board members re-elected to two-year terms include Steve Bogard, Jeff Cohen, Chris DeStefano, Byron Hill, Liz Rose, Jenn Schott and Jimmy Yeary.
Roger Brown and Lee Thomas Miller were re-elected to one-year terms as “Legislative Co-Chairs,” Rhett Akins and Caitlyn Smith were re-elected to one-year terms to the “Artist Writer” board positions and Brett James was re-elected to a one-year term to the “Industry Liaison” position.
They join existing board members Jim Beavers, Sarah Buxton, Nicolle Galyon, Tim Nichols, Josh Osborne, Rivers Rutherford, Anthony L. Smith, Bobby Tomberlin, Laura Veltz, Troy Verges and Danny Wells whose terms expire in 2021. The board terms begin each year at the May meeting.
NSAI Board President Steve Bogard said, “Once again, NSAI has elected an outstanding Board of professional songwriters that reflects the growing diversity, scope and influence of our organization. We look forward to another great year of progress for songwriters.”
Curb | Word Entertainment Announces PR, Marketing, Promo Staff Changes
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R, top row): Maddi Bayer, Brian Day; (L-R, bottom row) James Freshwater, Jessie Lowe
Curb | Word Entertainment has made several new promotions and hirings. Jessie Lowe moves into the role of Director, Publicity, to spearhead publicity efforts on behalf of the country and Christian artist rosters. Lowe has served multiple roles at Curb | Word Entertainment over the past five years, and spent the past three years as Coordinator for the Country Promotion team.
James Freshwater moves to the role of Digital Marketing Manager, where he will implement digital marketing strategies on behalf of the country and Christian artist rosters. The Ohio native most recently served as an A&R representative, and previously spent time as part of the band Lovedrug.
Brian Day joins as Promotions & Marketing Coordinator for Curb | Sidewalk Records. In his role, Day facilitates pop promotion initiatives and marketing efforts for the Curb and Sidewalk Records roster. Day previously worked at Columbia Nashville and in promotions for Hall Communications.
Maddi Bayer joins Curb Records as Coordinator of the Country Promotion team, having previously worked with the Radio & Streaming team at Warner Music Nashville. The Belmont graduate also spent time as an assistant to the President at Musicians On Call.
Curb | Word Music Publishing Hires Ciara Shortridge, Signs Kyle Jacobs And Chris Gelbuda
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured: Ciara Shortridge, Kyle Jacobs, Chris Gelbuda
Curb | Word Music Publishing has made a round of hiring and signing announcements. Ciara Shortridge has joined as Sr. Creative Director of Country Publishing. Songwriters Kyle Jacobs and Chris Gelbuda have also signed with the publisher.
Shortridge will report directly to Colt Murski; she most recently held the position of A&R Manager and served as the main creative point of Disney’s Nashville-based office. Shortridge’s career at Disney began in 2009 after graduating from Belmont University. She can be reached at cshortridge@curb.com.
Jacobs earned his first significant success as a writer in 2003 with Kimberly Locke’s “8th World Wonder.” In 2007, he penned Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory,” which debuted at No. 1; co-wrote Tim McGraw’s “Still” and Eli Young Band’s “Dust;” and produced four No. 1 singles for Lee Brice including “Hard To Love,” “I Drive Your Truck,” “Drinking Class” and “Rumor,” which is also his latest No. 1 as a songwriter.
Chicago native Gelbuda has had songs recorded by Billy Currington, Frankie Ballard, Darius Rucker, Dustin Lynch, and Meghan Trainor, and produced Trainor and John Legend’s four-time platinum hit, “Like I’m Gonna Lose You.” As a vocalist, writer and producer, Gelbuda also wrote, produced, and contributed vocals to the Platinum-selling “Bad Ideas” by German dance artist Alle Farben. Gelbuda is also a partner at The Attic studios in West Nashville.
K-LOVE Syndicated Radio Show “The Skip & Amy Show” Relocating To Franklin
/by Jessica NicholsonSkip Mahaffey and Amy Baumann
K-LOVE syndicated morning show “The Skip & Amy Show,” will relocate from Indianapolis to Franklin, Tennessee in May.
The show will begin broadcasting on May 18 from Franklin, which coincides with K-LOVE’s annual fan awards, which will be held May 22-24 in Nashville. K-LOVE airs “The Skip & Amy Show” from 5 a.m.-10 a.m. on Monday-Saturday.
Iowa native Amy Baumann has been part of the K-LOVE morning show since 2011. Skip Mahaffey joined K-LOVE in 2016, after being part of the morning show at country station KPLX in Dallas. Mahaffey is a three-time CMA Air Personality of the Year, and has worked at stations including KVOO, WFUS, and WQYK.
K-LOVE CEO Bill Reeves said, “Having personally been a part of the Franklin Christian music and media community for almost 25 years, I believe having K-LOVE’s morning show in the heart of it all will further deepen the network’s relationships with the industry and artists, and ultimately serve our listeners and supporters even better.”
Scooter Brown Band’s Carrigan Shields Passes Away
/by Jessica NicholsonScooter Brown Band member and pianist Carrigan Chet Shields passed away on Dec. 30, 2019. He was 30. No cause of death has been revealed.
The Idaho native’s final performance came on Dec. 28 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, alongside his bandmates Scott “Scooter” Brown, Matt Bledsoe, Steven Sutherland, and Brian Sowell.
Scooter Brown Band offered the following statement: “Carrigan was and always will be our brother and one of the greatest cats to pound those keys. Not only was he a great talent, he was also one of the most kind-hearted human beings. We’ve had some great times together over the years – his last performance was, fittingly, at the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman Auditorium on the Grand Ole Opry. The last song he played was ‘American Son’ and he truly is an American Son. Our condolences to his family and all of his friends and fans who have loved him.”
A private service will be held in Nashville on Jan. 12. Donations to a GoFundMe setup for funeral expenses and to support his family in their time of need may be made here.
Cory B. Savage Appointed One Vision Music Group CEO
/by Lorie HollabaughSavage will spearhead One Vision Music Group’s launch of Harrison’s forthcoming album release due June 12, Chosen Family Tree, which features her teaming up with some of Nashville’s most prominent songwriters including Chris Stapleton, Morgane Stapleton, Liz Rose, Trent Dabbs, and more. The 12-track album will also feature a special guest appearance by Brothers Osborne’s lead guitarist John Osborne on the title track.
Savage was previously President/CEO of Cory B. Savage Enterprises, a multi-media design consulting business based in Nashville, with satellite offices in Los Angeles, Miami and New York City. Savage also helmed positions as a Marketing Director with CBS consulting; Brand Partnership and Sponsor Relations Consultant for Sony Music Entertainment; Content Director for GIO Journal; Brand Strategist and Sponsor Relations Consultant for Big Machine Label Group; and Business Development Associate for Viant Group, LLC. His video production resume includes multiple hit videos, including Blake Shelton and Robin Thicke, and his work has graced the pages of countless magazines including Vogue, People, InStyle, Redbook, etc.
Lizzo, Jason Isbell, Morgan Wallen, The Band Camino To Play Bonnaroo 2020
/by Lorie HollabaughThe lineup includes:
Thursday, June 11: Grand Ole Opry Feat. Special Guests, Andy Frasco, Larkin Poe, The Regrettes and more.
Friday, June 12: Tool, Miley Cyrus, Bassnectar, The 1975, Run The Jewels, Glass Animals, Young The Giant, Megan Thee Stallion, Tipper and more.
Saturday, June 13: Lizzo, Flume, Oysterhead, Tenacious D, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard, DaBaby, Seven Lions and more.
Sunday, June 14: Tame Impala, Lana Del Rey, Vampire Weekend, Leon Bridges, Young Thug, Grace Potter, Flogging Molly, Rezz and more.
Tickets for Bonnaroo will go on sale Thursday, Jan. 9 exclusively via bonnaroo.com/tickets. Options will include General Admission (4 Day), GA+ (4 Day), VIP (4 Day), Platinum (4 Day), General Admission Camping & Parking, VIP Camping, Platinum Camping, and more. Once again, Bonnaroo is presenting an array of affordable options, with tickets starting at $35 down and accommodations available for as low as $70 per night. Car Camping Passes are priced at only $60 (plus fees) per car, not per person, allowing fans to both save money and reduce their carbon footprint by carpooling. New ticketing options for 2020 include GA+, offering traditional General Admission along with exclusive access to a brand new Centeroo lounge featuring air-conditioned restrooms, exclusive bars and food vendors, relaxed shaded seating, and more.
Dustin Lynch Rides To Top Of Country Charts With Latest Single
/by Lorie HollabaughLynch’s latest hit arrives in advance of his fourth studio release, TULLAHOMA, a concept album inspired by and dedicated to his Tennessee hometown. Arriving Jan. 17 and produced by Lynch’s longtime collaborator Zach Crowell, the LP has now delivered back-to-back No. 1’s, with the track “Good Girl” topping the charts in early 2019.
Lynch is set to perform his latest No. 1 on ABC’s Good Morning America on Jan. 20, and will follow that up with a late-night appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! Outdoor Stage in February. He’ll celebrate the release of TULLAHOMA with a blowout concert at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works Jan. 17, transporting his small-town north to Music City for one night only, and prior to that on Jan. 11 invites CMT’s Hot 20 Countdown on a deep dive into the album’s inspiration, taking viewers around the real-life Tullahoma, riding some roads and introducing the people and places that shaped the artist he is today.
At the end of the month, Lynch embarks on another trek, opening the throttle on his headlining Stay Country Tour 2020 in Detroit, Michigan on Jan. 30. With newcomer Travis Denning along for the ride, Lynch will visit 15 markets from New York to Nevada before wrapping up March 28 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
Al Gaines Joins Country Music Hall Of Fame In Senior Director Role
/by Jessica NicholsonAl Gaines
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has announced that Al Gaines has joined the museum as senior director of information and technology. Gaines will oversee strategy for IT infrastructure and development, and will ensure compliance of information technology policies and standards as well as the protection of data and assets.
Prior to joining the museum, he worked for Universal Music Group, HCA, Metro Nashville Public Schools and most recently at Bridgestone Americas. Gaines holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State University.
Gaines reports to Sharon Brawner, the museum’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.
Ashley McBryde, LeAnn Rimes Added To MusiCares Person of the Year Lineup
/by Jessica NicholsonAshley McBryde, Leann Rimes
Ashley McBryde and LeAnn Rimes will be among the performers paying tribute to Aerosmith during the MusiCares Person of the Year tribute on Jan. 24. They will join Sammy Hagar, Luis Fonsi, Gavin DeGraw, Johnny Depp, and Cheap Trick, as well as previously announced performers Gary Clark Jr., Alice Cooper, Foo Fighters, H.E.R., Jonas Brothers, Emily King, John Legend, John Mayer and Yola as performers. The MusiCares Person of the Year honors will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Jan. 24, leading up to the 62nd annual Grammy Awards, to be held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26.
McBryde is nominated for two Grammy honors at the upcoming awards ceremony; her single “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” is up for Best Country Solo Performance, as well as Best Country Song (McBryde co-wrote the track with Jeremy Bussey).
Rimes has earned two Grammys during her career, taking home the all-genre Best New Artist trophy in 1996, as well as Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her breakthrough debut single “Blue.”