Grand Ole Opry Rings In Dolly Parton’s 77th Birthday With Special Celebration

The Grand Ole Opry celebrated the 77th birthday of Opry member Dolly Parton on Saturday (Jan. 21) with two shows at the Ryman Auditorium. Performers included Chapel Hart, John Conlee, The Fairfield Four, Caitlyn Smith, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent and Chris Young.

Chapel Hart performed Parton’s “Jolene,” as well as their answer song “You Can Have Him, Jolene,” before singing a Parton-inspired version of “Happy Birthday.” The Opry square dancers donned Parton hair and joined the trio on its new Loretta Lynn “Fist City” answer, “Welcome To Fist City.”

The Opry will conclude its special, one-month run at the Ryman Auditorium with another two-show Saturday night on Jan. 28 before returning to the Grand Ole Opry House in February.

Mtheory Opens Applications For 2023-2024 Equal Access Program

Mtheory has opened cohort applications for its 2023-2024 Equal Access program. Interested applicants can apply through Feb. 10.

The year-long program, sponsored by Mtheory, CMT, CMA and First Horizon Bank, provides resources, development and support to underrepresented artists and managers in country music. 2023 marks the first cohort, and the managers include Charlene Bryant, Marques Vance and Kadeem Phillips.

Mtheory works alongside artist managers and their teams to provide the necessary knowledge, resources and additional personnel to build their clients’ careers, while organically growing the size and engagement of artists’ fanbases. Their services and realms of expertise include strategic marketing, DSP relations, product management, tour strategy and marketing, live operations and production expertise, business affairs, digital and social marketing and strategy, analytics, creative services and CRM.

Bow To Stern Adds One, Elevates One To Staff

Bow To Stern, a music entertainment company that offers music production, artist management, label services, publishing and show/festival promotion and planning, has announces staffing changes. Among them are the addition of Renee McClure as VP of A&R/Operations, and Alex Kidd transitioning to President & Partner for Bow To Stern Group and Bow To Stern Records

McClure joins the company from her position as VP of Promotion at GrassRoots Promotion. She will be involved in all divisions of the company, including, Rooster Tail Productions, Bow To Stern Music, Bow To Stern Group and Bow To Stern Records. She can be reached at renee@bowtosterngroup.com.

“This was a bittersweet move for me. After 16 years with the company, the GrassRoots team feels like my family. I couldn’t be more excited about this new chapter in my career and being part of the growth we’re seeing at Bow To Stern,” says McClure.

Kidd formerly ran the company’s day-to-day operations. He has been with Bow To Stern Group since its founding, bringing his background in tour management and social media to the company. He can be reached at alex@bowtosterngroup.com.

Bow To Stern CEO & Owner, Matt McClure shares, “As a record producer, I wanted to create a way to offer additional services and opportunities to the artists and clients I work with. Over the years I’ve consulted many on growing their career, outside of strictly creating their music. It only made sense to us to create divisions that could focus on just that. Having Renee and Alex in their new positions will be key to our continued growth and success. I couldn’t be more excited about what we have ahead!”

Brady Lee Signs With Sincerely Music Group For Management

Sincerely Music Group has signed pop-country riser Brady Lee to an exclusive management deal. Lee will release “Strangers In A Photograph,” a duet with songstress Kelsey Lamb, on Feb. 3.

“I’ve worked with Trevor [Perkins] for almost three years now and to say he believes in me is an understatement,” Lee explains. “He continues to show up in my corner, even when things aren’t going well. He celebrates the highs with me, and he pushes me through the lows. He’s the real deal and I’m so glad to have him come onto my team as artist manager. There’s a real excitement and freedom knowing that we’re doing things my way. With Trevor, it doesn’t matter how long it takes us to get to the top, cause I know we’ll get there. I can’t wait to see where the next years take us.”

“I’ve been working with Brady for nearly three years and each day he brings something new and exciting to the table,” adds Perkins, President of Sincerely Music Group. “As an independent artist, Brady understands the industry and it’s quickly improving his craft with each release we push out. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Brady on the public relations and development side! I’m excited for the future as we’re just getting started.”

Lee, a songwriter, performer and multi-instrumentalist, released his debut single, “I Can Do This All Day” in September of 2020. In June, Brady released his debut EP, Backyard Vacation, which reached the top 50 on the iTunes Country charts and was featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday Country and Fresh Finds Country playlists.

Martha Henderson, City National Bank’s long-standing Executive Vice President of Entertainment Banking, will assume the newly created role of Vice Chairman of Entertainment Banking. JaHan Wang, formerly Head of Entertainment Banking on the East Coast, has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Entertainment Banking.

In this position, Henderson will continue to play an important role in Entertainment Banking, specifically in the organization’s work with clients and on strategy.

When Henderson first joined City National, she was one of just 16 colleagues on the bank’s fledgling Entertainment Banking team. She was made head of the business in 1989. According to the bank, under Henderson’s leadership, City National’s team of 250 colleagues now provides financial expertise to more than 90 percent of entertainment business managers, more than half of all Broadway shows, over 80 percent of the country music industry in Nashville as well as some of the biggest names in the sports and Latin entertainment industries. She led the strategic expansion of Entertainment Banking into New York, in addition to the openings of the bank’s first offices in Atlanta and Nashville on Music Row in 2011, and Miami in 2019.

Henderson is also a longtime supporter of Project Angel Food, where she is a member of its Circle of Angels. She serves on the boards of the Friends of Saban Community Clinic and The Geffen Playhouse, for which she was previously a Co-Chair, and she volunteers her time to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles.

“City National has a long and rich history of supporting the entertainment industry since our founding in 1954,” says Kelly Coffey, City National CEO. “I want to congratulate Martha on her new role, and I’m thankful that we will continue to benefit from her vast experience as she works closely with JaHan in her new capacity as Vice Chairman. We’re grateful for Martha’s decades of leadership and the indelible mark she has left on our organization.”

Wang has been with City National for 16 years and has served as head of Entertainment Banking on the East Coast since May 2021. He has more than 30 years of banking experience and has held a series of increasingly senior roles within Entertainment Banking since joining the team as a Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. Prior to City National, Wang worked as a relationship banker at Citibank’s national corporate bank. He began his career in JPMorgan’s mid-corporate banking division as a Relationship Banker.

He was named a member of Leadership Music’s Class of 2022, a selective nationwide nonprofit educational program and forum for recognized music industry leaders. Active in the community, he has served as a volunteer for New York Cares since 2017, supporting numerous charitable organizations in and around New York, and has served as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles since 2020. Wang has also been a member of the Business Leadership Council for the Central Park Conservancy since 2022.

In his new role, Wang has joined the bank’s Executive Council and will report directly to Rich Raffetto, President of City National.

“I also want to congratulate JaHan, who is incredibly client focused and has played an important role in our Entertainment Banking organization since he joined in 2007,” adds Coffey. “He is an outstanding leader who is a perfect example of the entrepreneurial spirit that defines our culture. His contributions and vision have helped us keep pace with the vibrant and dynamic entertainment community whose needs are always evolving.”

Country Radio Broadcasters (CRB) has announced that Tracy Lawerence will receive the 2023 CRS Artist Humanitarian Award and Brent Michaels will receive the 2023 Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award. Both awards will be presented to the honorees during the CRS 2023 New Faces of Country Music Show on March 15.

The CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was created by the organization’s board in 1990 to honor a country artist whose philanthropic efforts have significantly impacted the causes they support. This individual not only lends their name and influence but also dedicates their time, talent and resources. Past recipients include Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw and more

Lawrence has displayed a strong level of personal commitment in his efforts to address multiple aspects of homelessness, making him a worthy candidate for this award. His Mission: Possible platform has raised over two million dollars to help fight the homelessness epidemic. In the past year, he awarded substantial funding to 14 separate organizations. His Turkey Fry and Benefit Concert consistently features well-known artists and has served a total of 73,000 meals. The Mission: Possible Celebrity Golf Classic raised 800,000 dollars in its first two years, with country stars and golf pros stepping up to play and support.

Known for his on-air and programming work at WQYK/Tampa/St. Petersburg and WUSN/Chicago, Rivers was a highly regarded industry leader who set an example with his selfless public service. The Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award is given at the discretion of the CRB Board of Directors to honor an individual in country radio who largely exhibits care and generosity in service to their community through hands-on action and a personal commitment of time, talent and resources. Past recipients include Dan Halyburton, “Dollar” Bill Lawson, George G. Beasley, Heather Froglear, Jeff Smulyan, Lon Helton, Mary Quaas, Peter Smyth and more.

Michaels’ contributions to his community extend far beyond his position at KUZZ, such as his Shoe Guy campaign for League of Dreams and his Man of the Year campaign for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. His 6615 apparel line launch has raised over 15,000 dollars since its inception. He also does work with the Active Bakersfield Alliance, participating in marathon challenges in his spare time to raise money. Additionally, he’s been invited to take his St. Jude fundraising enthusiasm to Los Angeles and his hometown of Honolulu.

“We commend both Humanitarian Award winners for deep and personal commitments to their causes. Tracy Lawrence’s and Brent Michaels’ contributions go far beyond simply lending their names or influence. Each has devoted personal time, talents and resources over a significant period of time,” says CRS/CRB Board Member & CRS Awards Committee Chairwoman Beverlee Brannigan. “The results of their initiatives have improved lives in their communities. We are beyond proud to recognize Tracy and Brent’s efforts at CRS 2023.”

Abbey Cone has signed a global publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music and Truth or Dare Publishing. The agreement is part of the recently announced partnership between the two publishing entities.

Cone was raised in Texas and moved to Music City to hone her craft when she was 16. She burst onto the country scene in 2021 with the release of her single “Rhinestone Ring,” and in 2022 released her debut EP, Hate Me, featuring six tracks she co-wrote and co-produced.

After wrapping up a tour with Brittney Spencer, she headed out as a supporting act on CMT’s “Next Women of Country Tour” with Maddie & Tae and Sacha.

The CMT’s Next Women of Country Class of 2020 inductee was named one of Pandora’s 2022 Country Music Artists to Watch and has collaborated with writers such as Lori McKenna, Heather Morgan and Jessie Jo Dillon.