Pictured (L-R, top row): Virginia P. Brick, Aura Guadagno, Taylor Baird, Alyssa Hoffman; (L-R, bottom row): Libby Gardner, Megan Clemens, Mackenzie Adkins, Aya Robinson

The Women’s Music Business Association has announced its 2023 Board of Officers, Organizational Chairs and Board of Directors.

Serving on the 2023 board are President Virginia P. Brick (SESAC), Vice President Aura Guadagno (Varnell Enterprises), Treasurer Taylor Baird (Wiles + Taylor & Co.), Secretary Alyssa Hoffman (Manager of Wayland), Events & Education Co-Chairs Libby Gardner (Academy of Country Music) and Megan Clemons (CSM Management), and Marketing & Membership Co-Chairs Mackenzie Adkins (Rhonda & Company) and Aya Robinson (Opry Entertainment Group).

The WMBA Board of Directors will be led by newly-elected Chairwoman Amery Fridenstine (Above Board Consulting) alongside brand new board members Sheree Spoltore (Global Songwriters Connection), Jensen Sussman (Sweet Talk Publicity), and Christy Walker-Watkins (The AristoMedia Group/AristoPR). Brandi Simms (MooTV, Moo Creative & The Steel Mill) will continue in an advisory role as Board of Directors Emeritus, and Lauren Spahn (Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley, & Norton LLP) will act as Legal Counsel.

WMBA held its first 2023 meeting to kick off the year on Jan. 24 at SESAC in Nashville. Simms was the featured speaker of the evening and shared her career story, the history of WMBA, and what she sees as the organization’s future.

“It is a privilege to follow in the footprints of those who served before me, and I admire the opportunity to lead this organization with a good balance of head and heart in 2023,” shares WMBA President Virginia Brick. “WMBA has built a culture of empowered women who choose to be bold and brilliant innovative leaders paving their own way in the music industry. My vision this year is to create safe spaces for our women to start conversations, migrate ideas, problem solve, impact through service projects, foster creative collaborations within our community of members and alumni while forging partnerships with other organizations and local businesses that align with WMBA’s mission. It’s going to be a fantastic year.”

Niko Moon Enjoys Triple Platinum “Good Time”

Pictured: Staff from RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville and Make Wake Artists surprise Niko Moon with news his debut single “Good Time” earned triple Platinum status. Photo: Corey Miler

Niko Moon recently celebrated his first RIAA triple-Platinum certification for his No. 1 debut single, “Good Time.” Staff from RCA Nashville/Sony Music Nashville and Make Wake Artists presented Moon with the news ahead of his sold-out show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl (Feb. 9).

Moon’s “Ain’t No Better Place Tour” continues this weekend with shows in Missouri and Arkansas.

CMA Hosts Safe Tracks Launch Party

Photo: Courtesy of Safe Tracks

Safe Tracks, a sexual assault prevention bystander intervention training program designed specifically for the music industry, held its official launch party at CMA’s headquarters on Jan. 25. The goal of the event was to raise awareness about the bystander intervention training program and grow the Safe Tracks advocate community.

Originally, the Safe Tracks program was the creation of husband-wife duo Haley & Michaels and their two Belmont University interns with the goal of making Nashville the safest place to make music and chase dreams free from sexual harassment and violence. The program was officially adopted by the Sexual Assault Center (SAC) in 2022, and endorsed by the CMA with the support of one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, activist Tarana Burke.

To learn more about Safe Tracks, click here.

Natalie Layne Signs With Centricity Music

Layne also takes a celebratory photo with Centricity Music staff and manager Marcus Rixon

Natalie Layne has signed a worldwide recording and publishing contract with Centricity Music. Layne’s latest independent single, “Love Me Back to Life,” has gained millions of views on socials, where she has 2.8 million likes on her videos. The single follows her 2021 Castles EP and 2020 independent debut Be Human. She has opened for Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin and We the Kingdom, and shared stages at festivals with Steven Curtis Chapman, Mandisa and Crowder.

“I’ve been telling our team for a long time that Natalie was an absolute force of talent and one of the most gifted artists I’ve come across,” says John Mays, Centricity Music’s Senior Vice President, A&R. “At our recent indie artist retreat, we discovered that her level of talent is exceeded only by her heart for God and love for people. We’re fortunate to be able to partner with Natalie and are excited to play our role in getting her music to the world.”

Carter Vintage Guitars To Relocate To Paseo South Gulch

Paseo South Gulch

Nashville guitar store Carter Vintage Guitars has signed a lease for 13,000 square feet encompassing the entire second floor of the revitalized antiques building found within SomeraRoad’s mixed-use district, Paseo South Gulch.

“We’re excited to continue Carter Vintage in the neighborhood where it all began,” shares Ben Montague, CEO of The North American Guitar, which merged with Carter Vintage Guitars in 2022. “Combining the legacy that Walter and Christie Carter built at their legendary location on 8th Avenue with the historic Antiques building next door feels like the perfect match. We want to ensure Carter Vintage remains just as convenient of a stop on 8th Avenue as it always has been, and the additional showroom space will help us to better serve our customers across the globe and the local vintage guitar market that Music City is known and loved for.”

Walter Carter, co-founder of Carter Vintage Guitars, adds, “The historic Antique building has a great vintage vibe, plus the space to accommodate a growing business, which makes it the perfect future home for Carter Vintage Guitars.”

Christie and Walter Carter founded Carter Vintage Guitars in November 2012 with the vision of providing a comfortable place for fine fretted instruments and the people who appreciate them. When the company was founded, both had more than 25 years of experience in the guitar and music industry.

Carly Evans Joins Marathon Music Group

Marathon Music Group’s Carly Evans & Chuck Sweeney at the 2022 Texas Country Music Awards

Carly Evans has joined Marathon Music Group as a booking agent. A veteran radio personality and programmer, Evans has received award nominations from both the Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association, in addition to capturing the award for Texas Regional Radio Personality of the Year six times. She also carved out a home behind the mic with her podcast, The Troubadour Podcast, which aired on stations in Kansas, Texas, Colorado, South Dakota and Virginia.

Marathon Music Group’s team was also among the nominees for the 2023 Texas Country Music Industry Awards. Owner and CEO Chuck Sweeney is nominated for Artist Manager of the Year and Evans earned a nomination for Texas Country Podcast of the Year for her work alongside Jared “Pete” Gile on The Troubadour Podcast.

Country Radio Seminar (CRS) is launching its new “Power Hour” speaker sessions, set to take place on Wednesday, March 15, during CRS 2023.

These new sessions are designed to challenge the traditional ways of thinking by presenting topics in a unique and dynamic manner, utilizing speakers to cover different subjects in short-form presentations. The “Power Hour” sessions will feature several lecturers, each presenting their own perspective on a given subject in a fast-paced 15-20 minute “talk” style format.

The speakers and their respective topics include:

• Alek Halverson, PD/personality at iHeart KAJA/San Antonio, with “Living The Dream – How A Younger Generation of Broadcasters Can Capture The Joy of Radio.”
• Mia McNeal, CMA Sr. Director of Industry Relations and Inclusion, with a talk titled “Beyond the Box: A Conversation on Expansive Inclusion.”
• Fred Jacobs, President of Jacobs Media, with a “Fred Talk” titled “The Future Ain’t What It Used To Be.”

“Prepare to be inspired and perhaps even a little provoked at CRS this year! Our ‘Power Hour’ speakers have been hand-picked to help you connect the dots between the business of today and the future,” says Joey Tack, chairman of the CRS 2023 Agenda Committee.

CRS attendees are encouraged to mark their calendars for these “Power Hour” sessions, which are sure to educate, inspire and energize.

CRS 2023 will take place Monday, March 13 – Wednesday, March 15 at the Omni Nashville Hotel. Registration for CRS 2023 is open and is available through www.CountryRadioSeminar.com. More agenda details surrounding the remainder of CRS 2023 will be released soon.

Pictured (L-R): Lonestar’s Michael Britt, Drew Womack, Keech Rainwater, Dean Sams. Photo: Taylor Ballantyne

In 2022, Lonestar celebrated their 30th anniversary as a band. The award-winning group is celebrating the milestone by announcing their new album, Ten to 1, will release June 2. By re-recording 10 of their No. 1 hits, the album will give fans brand new versions of their beloved classics in a project that combines nostalgia and innovation.

The collection’s lead single, “Amazed,” originally spent 11 weeks atop the charts, and it is set to release on March 1. Lonestar’s Dean Sams, Keech Rainwater, Michael Britt, and Drew Womack all worked on these re-recordings to balance freshness and familiarity for the Ten to 1 project.

“We’ve been doing this for a very long time, and we’ve been super blessed in our 30 plus years together to have 22 top 10 singles and then have 10 of those go No.1,” says Sams, a founding member of Lonestar and producer of the group’s last six albums.

“Most of these songs we’ve played for 25 years or so, and we know these songs like the back of our hand,” adds Britt. “It was fun to be able to record songs that everybody knows and just put a different spin on them because we’ve changed them over time.”

The 10-song collection is ordered chronologically beginning with Lonestar’s very first No. 1 from 1996, “No News.”

Ten to 1 Tracklist:
“No News”
“My Front Porch Looking In”
“Come Cryin’ To Me”
“Amazed”
“Smile”
“What About Now”
“Tell Her”
“I’m Already There”
“Mr. Mom”
“Everything’s Changed”

Coming off a successful touring year in 2022, Lonestar has a full slate of upcoming shows beginning in February, including some of their bucket list venues on their national trip. March 3 will mark Lonestar’s first headlining show at Nashville’s historic and iconic Ryman Auditorium.

Lonestar Tour Dates:
2/17 – Carlsbad, NM – Walter Gerrells Performing Arts & Exhibition Center
2/18 – Tucson, AZ – Tucson Rodeo
2/25 – Kingsland, GA – K-Bay Mardi Gras
3/3 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
3/4 – Versailles, OH – BMI Event Center
3/16 – Sugarcreek, OH – Ohio Star Theater
3/17 – Bloomington, IL – Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
3/18 – Flint, MI – Capitol Theatre
3/19 – Jackson, MI – The Potter Center at Jackson College
3/24 – Lake Jackson, TX – The Clarion at Brazosport College
3/25 – Marble Falls, TX – Putters & Gutters
4/13 – El Cajon, CA – Sycuan Casino Resort
4/14 – Florence, AZ – Country Thunder Arizona
4/15 – Santa Fe, NM – Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino
4/16 – Georgetown, TX – Two Step Inn
5/12 – Lampe, MO – Black Oak Mountain Amphitheater
5/13 – Kansas City, KS – Legends Field
6/16 – Deadwood, SD – Downtown Deadwood (Main Street)
7/15 – Tipton, IA – Cedar County Fair
7/22 – Twin Lakes, WI – Country Thunder Wisconsin
8/4 – Camrose, AB – Big Valley Jamboree
8/5 – Lake Cowichan, BC – Sunset Country Festival
8/12 – Galva, IL – The Back Road Music Festival
8/17 – Fairmont, MN – Martin County Fair
8/19 – Lakeside Marblehead, OH – Hoover Auditorium
9/2 – West Liberty, OH – Country Legends Festival
10/7 – Pocomoke City, MD – Dock Jam
10/21 – Kissimmee, FL – Country Thunder Florida