Hill Entertainment Group Grows Team With Two New Members

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Machaela Nesler-Scibilia & Gipson Clark. Photos: Courtesy of Hill Entertainment Group

Hill Entertainment Group has added Machaela Nesler-Scibilia as Analytics & Digital Coordinator and Gipson Clark as Touring & Operations Coordinator to its growing team. Both will report to President & CEO Greg Hill.

Prior to joining the management firm, Nesler-Scibilia graduated from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 2020 with a concentration in commercial songwriting while touring full-time as a singer, fiddler and guitarist in a Nashville-based bluegrass/Americana band. Upon receiving her degree, she served as as Inventory Manager at Carter Vintage Guitars. In her newly created role, Nesler-Scibilia will help navigate all social media and streaming platforms for Hill Entertainment Group clients such as Rodney Atkins, Mark Wills and Tiera Kennedy.

Clark previously worked in Washington D.C. as a Director of Operations for the United States Senate. Since entering the music industry, he has utilized the tools he gained supporting high-profile individuals in the U.S. government to help run touring operations for Atkins. In his newly created position, Clark will continue to oversee day-to-day operations for Atkins while helping to direct the touring logistics of other clients including Wills, Kennedy, Emily Earle and Kyle Daniel.

“We are focused on building an extraordinary team to best serve our clients,” says Hill. “We are hiring passionate people with a love for music and a great knowledge of management. Machaela and Gipson come from diverse professional backgrounds and their varied experience is important in our evolving business.”

Ian Munsick Slates ‘White Buffalo: Introduce You To God’ For April

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Ian Munsick is releasing a new deluxe version of his album White Buffalo, titled White Buffalo: Introduce You To God, on April 5. The first of the album’s four new tracks, “Heartbreak King,” is available now.

“18 songs just wasn’t enough,” remarks Munsick. “This deluxe album features songs I wrote four years ago and songs I wrote four months ago. They’ve lived in my imagination long enough, now I can’t wait for them to be yours. Family, faith, heartbreak, legends of the West… you’ll get ’em all in this project. Thank you for always pushing me to write and release more music.”

Last week, during his headlining “Boots, Buckles & Bolos Tour,” Munsick stopped by The Bobby Bones Show for an in-studio interview and performance. He also released his exclusive Apple Music Sessions, featuring western-influenced covers of Justin Bieber, Hall & Oates and Travis Tritt.

Munsick’s headlining tour will continue through the spring, including a sold-out date at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 5. He will also join Lainey Wilson on her “Country’s Cool Again Tour” this summer.

White Buffalo: Introduce You To God Track Listing:
1. “Introduce You To God” (Ian Munsick, Jeremy Spillman, Jeff Hyde)
2. “Yippie-I-A” (Ian Munsick, Phil O’Donnell, Carlton Anderson)
3. “Heartbreak King” (Ian Munsick, Josh Thompson, Jeff Middleton)
4. “Seven Sisters” (Ian Munsick, Charlie Worsham, Jeremy Spillman)
5. “Boots, Buckles & Bolos” (Ian Munsick, Phil O’Donnell, Aby Gutierrez)
6. “From The Horse’s Mouth” (Ian Munsick, David Ryan Harris, Dave Villa)
7. “Arrowhead” (Ian Munsick, Chris LaCorte, Cary Barlowe)
8. “River Run” (Ian Munsick, Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Beaver)
9. “Ranch Hand” (Ian Munsick, Jeff Hyde, Jeremy Spillman)
10. “Neon Brightside” (Ian Munsick, Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander)
11. “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson) (Ian Munsick, Aby Gutierrez, Phil O’Donnell)
12. “Barn Burner” (Ian Munsick, Driver Williams, Jeremy Spillman)
13. “Dig” (Ian Munsick, Dave Villa, Jessi Alexander)
14. “More Than Me” (Ian Munsick, Carlton Anderson, Casey Beathard, Phil O’Donnell)
15. “Little Man” (Ian Munsick, Adam James, Ben Simonetti)
16. “White Buffalo” (Ian Munsick, Jeremy Spillman, Randy Montana)
17. “Bluegrass” (Ian Munsick, Josh Thompson)
18. “Cowshit In The Morning” (Ian Munsick, Jeremy Spillman, Luke Laird)
19. “Field Of Dreams” (feat. Vince Gill) (Ian Munsick, Jeremy Spillman, Vince Gill)
20. “Blazin’” (Ian Munsick, Chris LaCorte, Josh Miller)
21. “Missin’ Her Play” (Ian Munsick, Jamie Paulin, Randy Montana)
22. “Horses & Weed” (Ian Munsick, Josh Thompson)
23. “Indian Paintbrush” (Ian Munsick, Marty Stuart, Jeremy Spillman)

BREAKING: Warner Music Nashville Promotes Kristen Williams

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Kristen Williams

Warner Music Nashville has promoted Kristen Williams to SVP, Radio & Commercial Partnerships.

Having led the label’s Radio division since 2010, Williams will now also lead the Commercial Partnerships team which includes retail, streaming, catalog development and direct to consumer efforts. The Radio department will continue to operate under its two-pronged model of focusing on both individual stations and larger national accounts.

“This set-up positions us to work in a more sophisticated way while continuing to super serve our artist community and partners in this ever-changing, dynamic business environment. There is nobody better equipped to lead our efforts than Kristen. She is one of the most respected executives in this industry, and her passion and knowledge will bring a fresh perspective to all of WMN’s commercial partnerships, in addition to her radio expertise,” says Ben Kline, Co-Chair & Co-President, Warner Music Nashville.

“I want to thank Ben and Cris [Lacy] for trusting me with this great opportunity,” says Williams. “Aligning the radio and commercial partnerships departments, which utilize so much of the same data, will allow us to be both more efficient and more effective with all of our radio and streaming partners, and will also create a more strategic approach for our artists. Warner Music Nashville continues to have the foresight to anticipate change and take the initiative to meet it head-on.”

Tune In: MusicRow 2024 CountryBreakout Award Winners Revealed Tomorrow

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MusicRow will announce the winners of the 22nd annual CountryBreakout Awards virtually starting at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow (Feb. 27).

The MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards celebrate those who have dominated country radio’s secondary market. Winners in eight categories are determined by spins on the secondary market stations that report to the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart panel each week.

Winners will be revealed on all MusicRow online platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) on Feb. 27.

MusicRow CountryBreakout Awards Announcement Schedule:
9:00 a.m.: Reporter of the Year
9:30 a.m.: Songwriter of the Year
10:00 a.m.: Label Group of the Year
10:30 a.m.: Independent Artist of the Year
11:00 a.m.: Breakout Artist of the Year
11:30 a.m.: Group/Duo of the Year
12:00 p.m.: Female Artist of the Year
12:30 p.m.: Male Artist of the Year

Each winner will be featured in MusicRow‘s Country Radio & Streaming Issue, out tomorrow (Feb. 27).

Exile’s 60 Years Of Music To Be Featured In Two New KET Productions

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Pictured (L-R): Exile’s JP Pennington, Steve Goetzman, Les Taylor, Sonny LeMaire and Marlon Hargis. Photo: KET

Exile will be featured in in two new productions—Exile: 60 Years of Music and Exile: Live in Concert by KET (The Kentucky Network)—in March. The projects commemorate the award-winning band’s 60th anniversary as performers and songwriters.

Premiering March 2 at 5:30 p.m. CT on KET, Exile: 60 Years of Music chronicles the band’s rock ‘n’ roll roots in Richmond, Kentucky to their 1978 pop hit “Kiss You All Over” that topped the Billboard charts, to their reinvention as a hit-making country band. Through rare photos and home movies filmed over 50 years ago, and rarely seen archival musical footage, this documentary chronicles 60 years on the road with a true Kentucky original.

Exile: Live in Concert, scheduled for March 5 at 7 p.m. CT, was recorded at the historic Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky, and celebrates the band’s 60th anniversary. The one-hour film captures the band in classic form, sporting all five of its central members, including J.P. Pennington, Les Taylor, Sonny Lemaire, Marlon Hargis and Steve Goetzman. The performance, recorded Nov. 4, 2023, features many of their biggest hits, including “Kiss You All Over,” “Keep It in the Middle of the Road,” “She’s a Miracle,” “It’ll Be Me,” “Give Me One More Chance” and more.

“We’re excited to have our journey documented by KET,” says Exile. “We’re in hopes that our fans, old and and new, enjoy seeing it as much as we did making it.”

“I wanted viewers of this film to know the full story, which traces the band’s history back to 1963,” says KET Producer Thomas Thurman. “I feature some of their earliest recordings, like ‘It’s Alligator Time’ and ‘A Game Called Hurt,’ from 1966. The timing of making this documentary was perfect for me as the director. It coincided with the release of their new album A Million Miles Later, so it allowed me to portray just how relevant and powerful this band remains. So many people know the song ‘Kiss You All Over’ and the band’s massive success in country music. But the band is so much more than that. That’s what I try to present to viewers. A documentary about Exile wouldn’t be fair or accurate without emphasizing the importance of their original lead singer Jimmy Stokley, who died in 1985. In many ways, he’s at the heart of this story I tell,”

Earlier this year, Exile announced the release of A Million Miles Later, the group’s first album of original music in over 30 years.

Mexican Star Carín León Marks Career Milestone With Opry Debut

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Carín León

Global Mexican star Carín León made his debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry on Friday (Feb. 23), in a landmark event for Latin music in the U.S.

Carín León

León performed his new duet with Kane Brown, “The One (Pero No Como Yo),” which they premiered live at the Premio Lo Nuestro awards on Thursday (Feb. 22). The song is set for release Feb. 29.

Brown and Grammy-winning soul singer Leon Bridges were in the audience for León’s Opry debut, which had the crowd on their feet for the entire special evening and for the performance encore.

León continues his rapid ascent after a huge year, which included a Latin Grammy win for Best Norteño Album for Colmillo de Leche and the release of two hit singles, with “Primera Cita” and “Según Quién,” each charting top 25 on Spotify and top 30 on Billboard Global 200. Following his Nashville stop, León will make history as the first Spanish-language act to play both Stagecoach and Coachella this April.

‘Reportin’ For Duty’ Benefit Raises Over A Million Dollars For EB Research

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Eddie Vedder and Post Malone perform during second annual “Reportin’ For Duty” benefit. Photo: Erika Goldring

The second annual “Reportin’ For Duty” benefit, which honored the late Leslie Jordan, raised over one million dollars last weekend for EB Research Partnership (EBRP), a nonprofit organization that was close to Jordan’s heart.

Founded in 2010 by a group of parents along with Jill Vedder and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, EBRP is the largest nonprofit funding research aimed at finding a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a life-threatening genetic skin disorder that affects children from birth.

Vedder, Post Malone, The War And Treaty, Jelly Roll, Ruby Amanfu, Jake Wesley Rogers and Dan Spencer all performed intimate sets during the star-studded show at Humble Baron at Nearest Green Distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. The concert and live auction helped to support EBRP.

“I can’t find words to say how powerful and inspiring it was to be gathered with such incredible musicians under one small roof for a cause that’s so impactful on young people’s lives,” says Vedder. “The performances by Post Malone, The War And Treaty, Jake Wesley Rogers, Jelly Roll, Ruby Amanfu, Dan Spencer and Danny Myrick, were some of their best I’ve ever witnessed. I had chills. Had tears. And all the while with a grin of positivity and action. I speak for the entire tight-knit organization of EBRP that we are all so grateful for all the artists, their energies, and the energy of a beautiful crowd as well. THANK YOU! The generosity of all who were involved is tremendously appreciated and will help us continue to fund research aimed at curing EB by 2030.”

“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to take an event that began as a tribute to the wonderful Leslie Jordan and make it a tradition. In his spirit of ‘reportin’ for duty,’ our desire is to lift the voices of those in need,” adds Myrick, “Reportin’ For Duty” Music Director.

Kayla Williams Rises To Senior Ticketing Manager At Outback Presents

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Kayla Williams

Kayla Williams has been promoted to Senior Ticketing Manager at Outback Presents.

Williams will report to Vice President of Ticketing Jenny Reid, working ticketing operations that focus on country and comedy events.

Williams has been with Outback Presents for five years, during which she has held positions in both reception and ticketing. After beginning her career at the Grand Ole Opry in 2013, she transitioned to roles at Warner Music’s A&R department and later, BMI’s Customer Relations department. While serving as Support Associate and Account Manager, Williams gained an understanding of how to improve department operations and customer satisfaction, which she brought to Outback Presents in 2019.

“Kayla has been an extremely integral part of the team,” notes Reid.  “Her growth over the years has been nothing less than impressive, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”

“I appreciate all of the hard work Kayla has done for Outback,” adds Outback Presents President Michael Smardak. “She is a valued member of our tremendously growing ticketing department.”

Banjo Great & ‘Hee Haw’ Star Roni Stoneman Passes

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Roni Stoneman. Photo: Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Roni Stoneman, a member of the CMA Award-winning group The Stonemans and a longtime comedian and musician on the country television show Hee Haw, has died at age 85.

Born Veronica Loretta Stoneman in 1938, she was the youngest daughter of Country Music Hall of Fame member Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman (1893-1968). He and his wife Hattie Frost Stoneman (1900-1976) had 23 children, 15 of whom survived to adulthood and seven of whom formed a family band with him. Pop Stoneman was one of country music’s pioneers of the 1920s. He faced hard times during the 1930s, then began rebuilding his career with his children.

Roni Stoneman was raised by her parents to become a country music professional. At around age 9, she joined the family act in 1947, which was initially billed as Pop Stoneman and His Little Pebbles. Three of the children became renowned for their instrumental talents. Roni perfected three-finger bluegrass banjo. Donna excelled at “cross picking” mandolin. Scotty Stoneman (1932-1973) was a five-time national fiddle champion who was regarded as one of country music’s great fiddlers before dying of alcoholism.

In 1957, Roni Stoneman, age 19, was tapped to play on American Banjo: Tunes & Songs in Scruggs Style. This is now regarded as the first bluegrass album. During the early 1960s, The Stonemans became wildly popular on folk and bluegrass festival stages, playing everywhere from the Monterey Folk Festival to the Smithsonian Institution.

She and The Stonemans began recording for Starday Records in 1962. In 1965, The Stonemans relocated to Nashville, where they were guided by Jack Clement on a series of albums for MGM and RCA. In 1966, the group landed its own syndicated TV series, Those Stonemans, and became the long-running headline act at The Black Poodle nightclub in Printer’s Alley. Roni’s solo spot was often the comedic “Dirty Old Egg-Sucking Dog.”

In 1967, The Stonemans won the inaugural CMA Vocal Group of the Year award. After Pop died in 1968, Roni’s autoharp-playing older sister Patsy Stoneman (1925-2015) assumed leadership of the family group. The 1969 Pop Stoneman Memorial Album on MGM contained a gem, a previously recorded Roni Stoneman and Pop Stoneman duet on the folk song “The Mountaineer’s Courtship.” This was one of the last attempts to market old-time music by a major label. On the road, Roni’s comedy and banjo talents, plus Donna’s dancing and mandolin work, continued to define The Stonemans’ showmanship.

Roni left the group for a solo career around 1971. Two years later, she joined the cast of Hee Haw. The show routinely showcased her banjo virtuosity, but she became even more beloved for portraying the braying, gap-teethed, ironing-board harpy “Ida Lee Nagger,” shrieking one liners at her shiftless drunk of a husband, “LaVerne” (Gordie Tapp).

In between annual tapings of the show, Roni Stoneman headlined as a solo act at Disneyworld, entertaining an estimated 250,000 fans there in 1976. She also appeared in the 1975 film W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings starring Burt Reynolds. An acclaimed 1981 double LP titled The First Family of Country Music showcased nine Stoneman siblings, including Roni. Her daughters Barbara and Georgia also appeared on the record, as did the children of her brothers and sisters. She launched her own Roni Stoneman’s Music Park in Kentucky in 1989. It failed, leading to her bankruptcy petition late that year.

Her skits on Hee Haw continued. In addition to her “Ida Lee’ character, she was “Mophead,” the maid in the “Empty Arms Hotel” skits. She also starred in the show’s Hee Haw Banjo Band, demonstrating her picking prowess. Hee Haw became the most successful and longest lived syndicated TV program in history. During her tenure with the show, she recorded solo efforts for the Chart, Dot, Playback and Spin Chek labels. Roni Stoneman remained with Hee Haw until 1991. In 1992, she formed her all-female country band The Daisy Maes. In the 1990s, she worked the bluegrass-festival circuit with her bluegrass group Formal Grass. She divorced the fifth of her abusive husbands during this era.

Sometimes billed as “The First Lady of the Banjo,” Roni Stoneman continued to book solo shows into the early 2000s. She entertained in country nightclubs, on bluegrass festivals and at college campuses. She appeared at the annual International Country Music Conference of academics in Nashville in 2003 and 2012. She recorded a solo CD, Bummin’ Around, and collaborated with sister Donna on The Legend Continues. With sister Patsy, the women also issued The Stoneman Tradition. In 2007, Roni Stoneman published her autobiography, Pressing On. She and her family were inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame in 2021.

Roni Stoneman died on Thursday, Feb. 22 surrounded by her children. She had been in hospice care recently. Her death leaves sister Donna, 90, as the original family’s sole survivor. In addition to Donna, Roni Stoneman is survived by five children. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

JUST IN: BMLG Records Rebrands As Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment​

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Big Machine Label Group imprint BMLG Records is rebranding as Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. Initially founded as a joint venture in 2009 as Republic Nashville, Big Machine Label Group acquired full ownership of the imprint in 2015 and renamed it BMLG Records.

The imprint’s new namesake is meant to serve as a mark of a safe place for artists and executives to write, create, grow and flourish. Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment’s artist roster includes Riley Green, Brett Young, Chris Janson, Lady A, Greylan James and Shane Profitt. Jimmy Harnen remains the President/CEO, with operations continuing as normal.

“Under Jimmy’s leadership, this imprint has built an incredible reputation with the monstrous success of Florida Georgia Line and Lady A, more than 40 No. 1 hits, countless RIAA certifications/awards and impressive team of music executives that share in his passion,” shares Big Machine Label Group Chairman & CEO Scott Borchetta. “Since its inception, this label has been an exercise in experimentation and innovation and I have no doubt that the possibilities are endless for this team.”

“This label has always given artists the freedom to create music that is true to them and we want to double down on that and continue to create even more of a haven for creativity and an environment that fosters development,” says Harnen. “We want to take the time to nurture talent and provide a place they can call home.”

Janson’s forthcoming single “Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,” will be the first release under Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment. It comes out March 8.

“This rebranding is EXCITING, and I’m very happy to be first out of the gate, with ‘Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get,'” Janson says. “The entire team has my upmost respect, confidence, and gratitude. They have shown me what a winning team is, and I’m more than proud to be here and to be recognized on Harbor’s amazing artist roster.”

“This team has been in my corner since the very beginning. They’ve been so supportive of my family and my dreams and truly have always been a safe harbor for me and my music—the new name feels fitting,” adds Young

Green says, “Scott and Jimmy have always created an artist-first culture and I’m glad to be part of this team as it expands further.”

“Jimmy and his team are some of the most passionate advocates for country music and we’re excited to see what we can do together next,” adds Lady A.