Jennie Boddy and Erin Cooney have joined Capitol Music Group (CMG) as Vice Presidents of Publicity, announced Monday (Dec. 8) by Ambrosia Healy, the company’s SVP and Head of Media Strategy & Relations, to whom Cooney and Boddy will report.
In new positions, Boddy and Cooney will design and execute publicity plans for CMG artists and projects spanning the company’s portfolio of labels, including Capitol, Virgin, Motown, Harvest, Blue Note and Astralwerks. Boddy will be based in the company’s recently expanded New York offices, while Cooney will be based in Hollywood.
Both Boddy and Cooney come to CMG and reunite with Healy from the latter’s independent PR firm The Fun Star. Cooney joined Healy at The Fun Star 10 years ago, working closely with Tim McGraw, Coldplay, Robyn, Fiona Apple, Alabama Shakes, Nine Inch Nails, Bastille, Emeli Sandé, Dave Matthews Band and Phish. In 2001 Cooney joined the publicity department of Capitol Records.
Boddy began her career in 1988 as the first publicist for the Seattle-based independent label Sub Pop. She joined Interscope Records in 1994, working with artists such as M.I.A., Marilyn Manson, The Hives, Rocket From The Crypt and Tom Jones.

Will Hoge recently visited Nashville School of the Arts (NSA) as the featured guest for its student-produced program, NSA Presents, on Friday (Dec. 5). The program, developed by former NSA counselor and Hoge’s wife Julia Hoge, connects students with songwriters and industry members to help students determine avenues for launching their careers. The series is hosted by Lightning 100 On-Air personality Wells Adams.
The session offered an interview with Hoge about his life on the road, his path to success in music, and the craft of songwriting. Hoge also participated in a Q&A session with students and performed “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” the chart-topping song he co-wrote, with NSA’s student swing band.
“NSA Presents is a great way to connect students with singer songwriters and music industry professionals. For me, taking time to talk with the students at NSA was incredibly refreshing and inspiring because they are so talented and eager to learn about careers in the music industry,” said Hoge.
Other celebrities that have participated in “NSA presents” include Chris Young, Janelle Monae, Chip Esten and Ruby Amanfu.

ASCAP hosted the final 2014 installment of its long-running monthly songwriters showcase at the Bluebird Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Alyssa Bonagura (3 Ring Circus Music), Kalisa Ewing (UMPG/KingSpirit Music), Brentley Gore and songwriter-artist Jamie Kent performed at the famed listening room, to a sold-out crowd.

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The Belcourt Theatre will host the premiere of “For The Record,” a documentary of bass player Nathan East, who has performed on more than 2,000 albums in his 40-year journey. The documentary features Kenny Loggins, Eric Clapton, Don Was, and Phil Collins, among others. The documentary begins with East at age 16 touring with Barry White, and documents his career through 2014, when he released his solo debut and performed at the Grammy Awards with Daft Punk.
The screening will take place Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
To view the trailer for the documentary, visit artistworks.com.

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An all-star lineup including Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, the Grascals, Don Rigsby, Adkins & Loudermilk, Marty Raybon, David Davis & the Warrior Mountain Boys, Steve Thomas & Mark Newton, Kody Norris & Watauga Mountain, Larry Chunn & A Step Ahead, and more, will take the stage Monday, Dec. 15 at the Nashville Palace (2611 McGavock Pike) in tribute to “The Bluegrass Storyteller,” James King. King was recently diagnosed with chronic liver failure and is in need of a transplant.
The benefit will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20. All proceeds go directly to help offset King’s medical expenses. A silent auction will also be held at the event. Auction items include passes to the June Bean Blossom Festival; Poppy Mountain Bluegrass Festival; and the Vine Grove, Ky. festival.
Sam Jackson, a veteran bluegrass promoter, performer, stage manager, and on-air personality who hosted the radio program “Fiddler’s Grove Bluegrass Show” is producing the concert.
King’s most recent album, Three Chords And The Truth (Rounder, 2013) received a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album. In September of this year, he was inducted into the Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame.
 
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Lilly Rose Publishing and Andy Anderson Productions will host a holiday party to celebrate artist Maddy Siiter‘s 10-song album Runaway, on Dec. 10 at Union Station’s 108 Prime restaurant in Nashville. Also in attendance will be Fred Vail (Treasure Isle Studio), songwriter Tracy Williams, Hal and Susan Oven, and more.