Beverly Keel
The “My Music Row Story” weekly column features notable members of the Nashville music industry selected by the MusicRow editorial team. These individuals serve in key roles that help advance and promote the success of our industry. This column spotlights the invaluable people that keep the wheels rolling and the music playing.
Beverly Keel is Dean of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment and a music industry activist who works for gender and racial equality in the music industry. She is also an award-winning music journalist whose work has appeared in People, Parade, InStyle, New York, Rolling Stone, The Tennessean, and many other publications.
Keel has been a professor in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry since 1995 and became chair of the department in 2013. She took a leave of absence to serve as Senior Vice President of Artist and Media Relations for Universal Music Group Nashville, where she was responsible for the media campaigns of projects, including Lionel Richie, Vince Gill, Sugarland, Shania Twain, George Strait and many more.
In her work as an activist, Keel co-founded Change the Conversation in 2014 to advocate for gender equality in country music. She also co-founded Nashville Music Equality in 2020 to help create an anti-racist environment in the Nashville music industry. Keel was recently named a national “Change Agent” by Billboard for her advocacy efforts.
The SOURCE Hall of Fame member also serves as publicist for Jamey Johnson and has been a consultant for various projects and artists, such as Richie, Alison Krauss, and Scotty McCreery.
Beverly Keel with Kenny Rogers. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Nashville. I attended school with Ty Conley, Earl Thomas Conley‘s son, and Kelly Greenwood, Lee Greenwood‘s daughter, but we didn’t give country music much of a thought. We thought it was cool, but I also thought the daughter of the manager of the movie theater was cool as well. She got to go to all those movies and eat all that popcorn. So, although I grew up here, I might as well have been in another state in terms of the country music industry.
You dad, Pinckney Keel, was an editor at the Nashville Banner for more than two decades. Did he instill a love of writing in you?
My dad spent about 27 years at the Nashville Banner. He invented the Weekender Section at the Banner and his claim to fame is that he gave Elvis the nickname “Elvis the Pelvis.” Unfortunately he died when I was in high school, before I knew I had an interest in journalism, so he never knew that I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
How did you realize that you wanted to pursue journalism?
I originally thought I wanted to do broadcast journalism, I guess I thought it would be cool to be on TV. I majored in broadcast journalism, but I got a part-time job at the Nashville Banner and was immediately hooked with print. It was just in my blood—I don’t know that there’s anything more exciting than a newspaper newsroom. Early on I thought I wanted to do sports journalism because I was a pretty good high school athlete. I got a scholarship and played volleyball at MTSU and I was a sports editor of Sidelines, the school paper at MTSU. [I became] a sports intern under Mark Howard at Channel 5, but then I realized I’d have to work every weekend and holiday of my life.
When I started with Banner, I just went where they had an opening and it was the business desk. Then, when I graduated, they hired me full time as a state desk writer. I decided to go to graduate school, and the Nashville Banner paid my way with a full scholarship. I had to come back and work two years, but I ended up coming back and working five. When I came back, the opening was in the business department and I was covering transportation. That was in the early ’90s, when the Garth Brooks/country music boom happened. I started covering the music business from a business perspective, and that’s how I got into it.
George Strait with Beverly Keel. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
Then you briefly moved over into a publicity role at a label, before coming back to journalism.
In ’94, they were reviving Polydor Records in Nashville. I went over to work in the publicity department with Wes Vause. It was a disaster and I was so miserable. I would just go home and stare at the ceiling at night. (Laughs)
I had been an adjunct of MTSU, so I went full time in ’95 and started a freelance journalism career from scratch. I wrote for MusicRow, doing album reviews and features, and spent 10 years as the Nashville correspondent of People.
What are some big stories that you remember covering in the music business at that time?
I worked on the People magazine cover story when Tammy Wynette died. One week in ’98 was particularly memorable because I interviewed Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash all in the same week.
How did you become so involved at MTSU?
I served as an adjunct from ’90 to ’95. I started teaching media writing in the journalism department. I created an entertainment journalism class in the recording industry department. Then, when I was doing publicity at Polydor, I started teaching music publicity. I’m teaching that course tomorrow—I still teach that course 20-something years later.
I’m really proud of how well my students have done. The best part of my life is getting to know our students and seeing them succeed.
Beverly Keel interviewing A&R legends Martha Sharp and Mary Martin. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
You have become a mentor for so many, including myself. Who have been some of your mentors?
Ruth Ann Harnisch, many people remember her as Ruth Ann Leach. I believe she was the first woman on TV in Nashville as an anchor. At one point she was on TV, had a radio show, and had a Nashville Banner column. My father was her editor at the Banner and I actually met her at the funeral home when he died. She took me under her wing then and still supports me to this day. Jane DuBose was my editor at the Banner. She really nurtured and guided me.
Patsy Bruce has been a long time mentor, Lura Bainbridge. Women have been so supportive of me, so I want to pass that on.
You became the Dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU in 2020. What are some of your goals for the program?
Quite simply to become the biggest and best possible program. We are the only College of Media and Entertainment in the world. Our recording industry program is ranked consistently on both Billboard and Hollywood Reporter‘s list of the best music or music business programs worldwide. So we keep raising our standards.
Everything’s changing: the music industry is changing, journalism is changing. Digital animation is a growing area for us, and we have a huge TV and film production major. So we are exploring. We want to be the leaders of the conversation and training in media and entertainment.
You’re also really well-known for your advocacy efforts. You co-founded Change the Conversation to advocate for gender equality in country music, and co-founded Nashville Music Equality to help create an anti-racist environment in the Nashville music industry. Do you feel that we’re moving in the right direction when it comes to race and gender in country music?
What is it that they say, the first step is acknowledging that you have a problem? I think that’s where we are.
Through Change the Conversation and Nashville Music Equality, we’ve raised awareness that the problem of sexism and racism exists, but the problem still exists. Last week I was driving from MTSU to Nashville, listening to a country radio station during drive time. I didn’t hear one female voice. Driving back at 7:00 or 8:00 p.m., I heard two songs by women. So, we have a long way to go. But keep in mind when we first started, people said there wasn’t a problem. The conventional wisdom now is there is a problem, so we’re getting there.
When it comes to racism in country music, the biggest thing I’ve learned over the last several years is it’s not that Black artists were not interested in performing and recording country music, it’s that the doors weren’t open for them. Now that we have raised awareness, we are seeing the needle move in terms of artists getting signed. You just saw Warner Music Nashville announce they have signed Breland; Big Machine has signed Tiera Kennedy; Brittany Spencer—who is one of our graduates—has exploded this year. So whether it is female artists or artists of color, all we’re saying is give them an even chance. The problem is the music is not getting heard. We’re trying to find ways to get their music heard.
Lionel Richie with Beverly Keel. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
It takes a lot to get to the position you’re at. Do you have any scars that you’ve earned along the way?
I am blessed with a short memory. I am ridiculously positive. Not only is the glass half full, it’s a gorgeous glass.
Not everyone loves an outspoken woman. I’ve had to learn it’s okay not to be liked. When you speak about what you believe in, you sleep well at night.
If someone says “old school Music Row,” what do you think of?
The good old days. It was two or three No. 1 parties a day. It was before there was so much pressure on the artist to look perfect in designer clothes and to have perfect bodies. It was still an age of innocence. There was a lot of money flowing, there were a lot of albums being sold. It was a community. It was before email, so we had time. Email and cell phones took away our time. Now people do the jobs of two or three people. The pressure is relentless and it can be not a lot of fun. Back then, it was just fun and the music was so great.
What are you most proud of in your career?
The success of my students. That is the joy and highlight of my life. The success of my students has brought me more rewards and satisfaction than anything I’ve done. Whether it’s seeing Brian Wright become Executive Vice President of A&R at UMG, or Daniel Miller and Aaron Tannenbaum succeed. Erin Enderlin played “Monday Morning Church” for me and my faculty office, and it became a nominated song for Alan Jackson. I remember seeing Hillary Scott in the student grill after Victoria Shaw had introduced her to me.
It is a privilege to be able to get to know these people and just share a little moment of their lives.
Ty Herndon Inks Multi-Project Deal With Pivotal Moments Media [Exclusive]
/by Lydia FarthingPictired (L-R, front row): Ty Herndon; )L-R, back row): Steve Dady of Sunset Blvd Studios, Herndon’s long-time lead guitarist and producer, Erik Halbig, Fusion Entertainment Company’s Amy Aylward, and Pivotal Moments Media Director of Nashville, Tamara Alan. Photo: Courtesy of AristoPR
Multi-Platinum recording artist Ty Herndon has partnered with Pivotal Moments Media (PMM) for his next three projects, including his upcoming album, Jacob, set to be released this spring.
In addition to the new album, Herndon will host a new, ten-episode podcast called Soundboard on the PMM platform channel Resilience, featuring conversations with high-profile artists discussing their wins and struggles in their mental fitness journeys. The series is designed to mirror the themes of Herndon’s new album and will be released alongside the album in late spring.
“My new album has been more than a year in the making, and it’s my most personal and revealing to date. It will take listeners on the journey of my life—the ups, the downs, the struggles, the triumphs—and I hope, help others talk about the hard stuff, the stuff that can make or break us,” shares Herndon. “We all have an opportunity to change our ending, and that’s what this album is about.”
Pivotal Moments Media is a newly formed global entertainment and education brand. Aiming to strengthen mental fitness by creating, distributing, and promoting entertainment and education programs, PPM serves to inspire and motivate people to become mentally fit, overcome adversity, and lead fulfilling lives.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ty’s voice to the power of Pivotal Moments Media and the work we are doing to bring conversations about mental health and well-being to the mainstream,” says Bob Morgan, founder, and CEO of PMM. “Ty’s journey is a unique one that deserves to be heard and shared, and I know it will resonate with people from all walks of life who struggle with mental health, addiction, and the common trials and tribulations that stand in the way of happiness and healthiness. He has a lot to share, and we are proud to partner with him to do it.”
Herndon burst onto the country scene and made his chart debut in 1995 with “What Mattered Most,” which became his first No. 1 song and garnered MusicRow Magazine’s Song of the Year award. His first album, of the same name, debuted on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and had the biggest first-week shipment in the history of Epic Records Nashville. Between 1995 and 2002, Herndon charted 17 singles, including his three No. 1s and numerous top 10 hits.
In 2014, Herndon became one of the first major country artists to publicly come out as gay. Shortly after, he made history when he hosted a first-of-its-kind country music event, The Concert for Love and Acceptance, now an annual event that provides a stage for LGBTQ and allied artists. In 2020, he created the Foundation For Love & Acceptance to further his work on behalf of LGBTQ acceptance.
Amazon & Prime Video Announce Special Activations For Upcoming ACM Awards
/by Lydia FarthingPrime Video and Amazon have unveiled one-of-a-kind activations for the upcoming 57th Academy of Country Music Awards from Amazon Live, Amazon Music, Amazon Fashion, IMDb TV, and more. The award show will livestream exclusively on Prime Video on March 7 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Elaina Smith, Kristin Cavallari, Priscilla Block, and Zuri Hall will host the ACM Awards Red Carpet Show on Prime Video from 6 to 7 p.m. CT. Giving fans VIP access to all the excitement from the red carpet, the red carpet event will showcase the biggest fashion trends, a look behind-the-scenes, and a special performance from Kat & Alex.
Amazon Live will also stream an interactive version of the pre-show starting at 6 p.m. CT to prominent Amazon placements, including the Amazon Homepage, the ACM Awards Storefront, Amazon Fashion homepage, and the Amazon Live homepage. Customers watching the show will be able to ask the hosts, artists, and celebrities questions via Amazon Live’s chat feature. They will also be able to shop the product carousel, featuring top artist merchandise and Amazon Fashion curations.
Amazon Fashion will host their own red carpet livestream on TikTok beginning at 5:30 p.m. CT, with entertainment correspondent Makho Ndlovu and special appearances by Claudia Oshry, Gabi Daiagi, and Lauren Wolfe. Viewers will be able to shop for fan gear to celebrate country music legends, as well as Amazon Fashion curations, including Best of the West, Boots Made for Walking, and Inspired by the Red Carpet.
Hosts of Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly Podcast, Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson, will be reporting from Allegiant Stadium and are set to host the first Amazon Music pre-show event on Sunday, March 6 beginning at 8 p.m. CT via the Amazon Music channel on Twitch.
Additionally, on March 8 beginning at 7 p.m. CT, fans will be able to rewatch the entire 57th Academy of Country Music Awards ceremony on IMDb TV, Amazon’s premium free streaming service, as well as a special rebroadcast of performances.
“On behalf of Prime Video and Amazon, we are thrilled to share this entertaining and immersive country music experience with our customers around the world,” offers Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “It highlights some of the most fan-centric offerings to honor the very best in country music—from a nonstop, commercial-free awards show streamed live globally for the first time ever, to an interactive red carpet pre-show, exclusive Academy of Country Music merchandise, curated Amazon Music playlists, and more. With world-class musical performances and collaborations lined up for this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, we’re excited to showcase the ability of Amazon to create 360-degree fan engagement that not only strengthens the connection between these artists and their fans, but redefines the live entertainment experience for viewers.”
Hosted by icon Dolly Parton the two-hour 57th Academy of Country Music Awards will be co-hosted by reigning ACM New Female Artist of the Year Gabby Barrett and reigning ACM New Male Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen. Among those slated to perform are Brittney Spencer, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Parton and Kelsea Ballerini, Eric Church, Barrett, Jason Aldean, Allen, Jordan Davis, Kane Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Mitchell Tenpenny, Parmalee and Blanco Brown featuring Brooke Eden, Thomas Rhett, Walker Hayes, and Breland.
O’Neil Hagaman Promotes Craig Owens & Sam Powers
/by LB CantrellCraig Owens, Sam Powers
Nashville-based business management and consulting firm O’Neil Hagaman has announced the promotion of Craig Owens and Sam Powers to Co-Heads of the company’s Intellectual Property Group, comprising a six person team previously known as its Special Projects division.
Formerly Principals of the firm, Owens and Powers will now oversee all aspects of the intellectual property issues of O’Neil Hagaman’s clients, including purchase and sale of publishing, overseeing the administration of active artist owned labels, related contract review, and consulting with music entrepreneurs.
Owens, a graduate of University of Arkansas and holding a Master’s Degree from University of Tulsa, has worked for O’Neil Hagaman since 1994. Powers, a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, has worked in the Special Projects division since 2007.
“Everyone who knows Craig and Sam knows that they are the backbone of this growing area of our business. Truthfully, I have been working in support of their front-line efforts for many years. We are pleased to formalize their leadership positions in this area,” says Co-Founder and Partner at O’Neil Hagaman, Kerry O’Neil, of the promotions.
Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum Celebrates American Currents Exhibit
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R, back row): Dan Rodgers, Carly Pearce, Jimmie Allen and Lainey Wilson; (L-R, middle row): Brittney Spencer, Thomm Jutz, Jenee Fleenor, Breland and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CEO Kyle Young; (L-R, front row): Trevor Rosen, Matthew Ramsey, Geoff Sprung and Brad Tursi of Old Dominion. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrated the opening of its newest exhibition, American Currents: State of the Music, on Tuesday night (March 1).
Pictured (L-R): Brad Tursi, Matthew Ramsey, Trevor Rosen and Geoff Sprung of Old Dominion. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Presented annually, American Currents highlights a selection of artists, musicians, songwriters and institutions that are figured prominently in country music. This year’s exhibit features Jimmie Allen, Brothers Osborne, Brandi Carlile, Luke Combs, Jerry Douglas and John Hiatt, Jenee Fleenor, the Grand Ole Opry, Mickey Guyton, Walker Hayes, Wanda Jackson, Alison Krauss, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce, Allison Russell, Chris Stapleton, Billy Strings and Taylor Swift.
The “Unbroken Circle” section of the exhibit highlights artists and their musical connections, including those who have influenced them or share musical perspectives. Featured pairings include Breland and Keith Urban, Thomm Jutz and Tom T. Hall, Brittney Spencer and Reba McEntire, and Lainey Wilson and Lee Ann Womack.
American Currents also includes a video compilation of important country music moments from 2021 and recaps the year’s chart-topping country albums, singles and highest-grossing tours as reported by Billboard and Pollstar. The exhibit runs through Feb. 4, 2023.
Carly Pearce attends the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opening of American Currents: State of the Music. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Pictured (L-R): Jimmie Allen, Brittney Spencer and Breland . Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Lainey Wilson attends the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opening of American Currents: State of the Music. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Jenee Fleenor attends the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opening of American Currents: State of the Music. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Dan Rodgers attends the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opening of American Currents: State of the Music. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Jimmie Allen attends the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opening of American Currents: State of the Music. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Leadership Music Announces Staff Changes
/by Lorie HollabaughLeadership Music has announced a handful of staff changes for the upcoming program year.
Following the retirement of longtime Communications and Events Manager Judi Turner on Jan. 1, 2022, Program Facilitator Liz Allen Fey will be stepping down with the graduation of the Class of 2022 in May. Dr. Sarita Stewart, Belmont University professor, will assume the role of Facilitator for the Class of 2023 in October.
Stewart, Associate Professor of Creative and Entertainment Industries in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business at Belmont University, began her career as a receptionist at Curb Records in LA. She transferred to Curb’s Nashville headquarters in 1994 as Director of Marketing. Stewart began teaching at Belmont as an adjunct professor in 2005, and in 2009 went on sabbatical to get her Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Alabama.
“Judi has been the backbone of the Leadership Music program for many years, and she will be greatly missed, but we wish her much happiness and relaxation in her well-deserved retirement,” says Leadership Music Executive Director Deb Linn. “Similarly, since 2014, L.A. Fey has been an integral part of each program day, and class members have learned to look to her to provide focus and challenge them to consider the issues from every angle. Hers are big shoes to fill, but we know Sarita is up to the challenge. We look forward to working with her when we welcome the Class of 2023.”
Turner graduated from Leadership Music in 1996 and was involved with the organization as a volunteer before joining the staff in 2012. She worked at the Country Music Association and Network Ink Public Relations before starting her own PR firm, Turnerand Company, in 1992.
As CEO of Strategy and Leadership, LLC, Fey works with corporations, organizations and communities to develop leadership skills and create and implement strategic plans. She graduated from the program in 2014, and was the first female in the organization’s history to serve in that role.
Mark Your Calendar—March 2022
/by Lydia FarthingSingle/Track Releases
March 7
Morgan Wallen/Wasted On You/Big Loud
Michael Ray/Holy Water/Warner
Andy Penkow/1993/MRVP Studios
Lucie Tiger/Right Next to You/2120 Music
Lily Grace/The Two Of Us Meet/My Biscuit
March 8
Jimmie Allen/Down Home/Stoney Creek Records/BBR
March 10
Greg Pratt/It Don’t Last Long/ProGo Music Group Nashville
March 11
Anthony Nix/Mississippi/Sincerely Music Group
Rachel Lipsky/Nothin’ But A Good Time/Riot South
Sammy Kershaw/Honky Tonk Boots/White Mustang Records
March 14
MaRynn Taylor/Every Single Summer/Black River Records
Laura Bryna/Body First/LTD Entertainment LLC
Albums/EP Releases
March 4
Dolly Parton/Run, Rose, Run/Butterfly Records/Ingrooves/UMG
John Berry/Find My Joy/Gaither Music Group
Jenny Tolman/Married in a Honky Tonk
Johnny Dailey/Dillashaw/Johnny Dailey Music
March 9
Jeremy Ivey/Invisible Pictures/ANTI- Records
March 11
Ernest/Flower Shops (The Album)/Big Loud Records
For King & Country/What Are We Waiting For?/Curb | Word Entertainment
Jackson Dean/Greenbroke/Big Machine Records
Ben Rector/The Joy Of Music
Drake White/The Optimystic
Michael Feinstein/Gershwin Country/Craft Recordings
Ned LeDoux/Buckskin
March 18
Randall King/Shot Glass/Warner Music Nashville
Ray Wylie Hubbard/Co-Starring Too/Big Machine Records
Hailey Whitters/Raised/Pigasus Records/Songs & Daughters/Big Loud Records
Donovan Woods/Big Hurt Boy EP/End Times Music
Deborah Allen/The Art of Dreaming/BFD/Audium Nashville
March 25
Reba McEntire/My Chains Are Gone/MCA Nashville
Maren Morris/Humble Quest/Columbia Nashville
Erin Kinsey/40 East/Records Nashville
Walker Montgomery/Rust/Play It Again Entertainment
Industry Events
March 7
The 57th ACM Awards
March 29 – April 2
Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival
Industry Ink: Carly Pearce, Big Machine Music, Jenny Tolman, Steve Ferguson
/by Lydia FarthingCarly Pearce To Be Inducted Into Kentucky Music Hall Of Fame
Carly Pearce. Photo: Allister Ann
Carly Pearce will be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame on Oct. 28 alongside Grand Ole Opry background vocalist Norah Lee Allen, Steel Guitar Hall of Famer Tommy White, hit songwriter Marty Brown and posthumously, Bluegrass songwriting legend Pete Goble and guitarist and producer Paul Yandell.
“Kentucky is where I learned to love country music and the incredibly talented musicians who wove their stories and texture throughout the genre. From straight-up sass of The Judds and Patty Loveless or truly understanding Loretta Lynn’s heartache, to the Bluegrass tinge of Ricky Skaggs and Bill Monroe, their influences have driven my music,” shares Carly. “I am so excited and grateful to be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame this fall.”
The reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and Grand Ole Opry member is currently up for four ACM Awards, including Female Artist and Album for 29: Written in Stone. She will also perform her Video and Music Event-nominated “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Ashley McBryde.
Big Machine Music’s Sara Davis Earns First Mediabase No. 1
Pictured: Gayle & Sara Davis. Photo: Courtesy of Sara Davis
Big Machine Music songwriter Sara Davis earned her first No. 1 on the Top 40 Mediabase chart this week for “abcdefu,” performed by Nashville-based artist Gayle. Davis signed with Big Machine Music in May of 2021.
Penned by Davis, Gayle, and Big Yellow Dog Music’s Dave Pittenger, the song first gained traction on TikTok. Released in August of 2021, the track has garnered over 1.7 million user-generated videos on the platform and earned more than 100 million streams by December of 2021.
The Gold-certified song has spent 8 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and topped the Billboard Global 200 earlier this year. “abcdefu” currently sits at No. 3 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart.
Davis and Pittenger recently talked with MusicRow about the song’s origins and success. To read the full interview, click here.
Jenny Tolman Celebrates Upcoming Album Release In Nashville
Pictured (L-R): Jeannie Seely, Jenny Tolman and Ty Bentli.
Jenny Tolman held her album release show last night (Feb. 28) at Riverside Revival for her upcoming album, Married in a Honky Tonk. A portion of ticket sale proceeds benefits ACM Lifting Lives.
Tolman’s sophomore album, due on March 4, was produced by Tolman’s soon-to-be-husband and Grammy-nominated producer Dave Brainard.
Included in MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing class of 2020, Tolman offers a new depth and range that signals her growing maturity as an artist. Life continues to inspire her art as she prepares to release Married in a Honky Tonk just weeks before marrying Brainard.
Aaron Gonthier Earns 2022 Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship
Pictured: Aaron Gonthier and GrassRoots Promotion’s Ashlee Wall
Aaron Gonthier, General Manager for WCVR (Randolph, Vermont), was presented with the 2022 Steve Ferguson CRS Scholarship on Feb. 24.
Gonthier was selected by a board of country radio programmers and other industry professionals to receive a paid registration for the 2022 Country Radio Seminar. Spearheaded by Nashville’s GrassRoots Promotion, the scholarship was established to honor the enduring legacy of longtime WTHO (Thomson, Georgia) PD Steve Ferguson, who passed away in 2019.
“We love the opportunity to honor industry professionals who carry on Steve Ferguson’s passion for country music and supporting independent artists,” says Nancy Tunick, GrassRoots Promotion Managing Director. “The selection committee saw those same qualities in Aaron Gonthier and we are thrilled to welcome him to his first Country Radio Seminar.”
My Music Row Story: MTSU’s Beverly Keel
/by LB CantrellBeverly Keel
Beverly Keel is Dean of MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment and a music industry activist who works for gender and racial equality in the music industry. She is also an award-winning music journalist whose work has appeared in People, Parade, InStyle, New York, Rolling Stone, The Tennessean, and many other publications.
Keel has been a professor in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry since 1995 and became chair of the department in 2013. She took a leave of absence to serve as Senior Vice President of Artist and Media Relations for Universal Music Group Nashville, where she was responsible for the media campaigns of projects, including Lionel Richie, Vince Gill, Sugarland, Shania Twain, George Strait and many more.
In her work as an activist, Keel co-founded Change the Conversation in 2014 to advocate for gender equality in country music. She also co-founded Nashville Music Equality in 2020 to help create an anti-racist environment in the Nashville music industry. Keel was recently named a national “Change Agent” by Billboard for her advocacy efforts.
The SOURCE Hall of Fame member also serves as publicist for Jamey Johnson and has been a consultant for various projects and artists, such as Richie, Alison Krauss, and Scotty McCreery.
Beverly Keel with Kenny Rogers. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
MusicRow: Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Nashville. I attended school with Ty Conley, Earl Thomas Conley‘s son, and Kelly Greenwood, Lee Greenwood‘s daughter, but we didn’t give country music much of a thought. We thought it was cool, but I also thought the daughter of the manager of the movie theater was cool as well. She got to go to all those movies and eat all that popcorn. So, although I grew up here, I might as well have been in another state in terms of the country music industry.
You dad, Pinckney Keel, was an editor at the Nashville Banner for more than two decades. Did he instill a love of writing in you?
My dad spent about 27 years at the Nashville Banner. He invented the Weekender Section at the Banner and his claim to fame is that he gave Elvis the nickname “Elvis the Pelvis.” Unfortunately he died when I was in high school, before I knew I had an interest in journalism, so he never knew that I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
How did you realize that you wanted to pursue journalism?
I originally thought I wanted to do broadcast journalism, I guess I thought it would be cool to be on TV. I majored in broadcast journalism, but I got a part-time job at the Nashville Banner and was immediately hooked with print. It was just in my blood—I don’t know that there’s anything more exciting than a newspaper newsroom. Early on I thought I wanted to do sports journalism because I was a pretty good high school athlete. I got a scholarship and played volleyball at MTSU and I was a sports editor of Sidelines, the school paper at MTSU. [I became] a sports intern under Mark Howard at Channel 5, but then I realized I’d have to work every weekend and holiday of my life.
When I started with Banner, I just went where they had an opening and it was the business desk. Then, when I graduated, they hired me full time as a state desk writer. I decided to go to graduate school, and the Nashville Banner paid my way with a full scholarship. I had to come back and work two years, but I ended up coming back and working five. When I came back, the opening was in the business department and I was covering transportation. That was in the early ’90s, when the Garth Brooks/country music boom happened. I started covering the music business from a business perspective, and that’s how I got into it.
George Strait with Beverly Keel. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
Then you briefly moved over into a publicity role at a label, before coming back to journalism.
In ’94, they were reviving Polydor Records in Nashville. I went over to work in the publicity department with Wes Vause. It was a disaster and I was so miserable. I would just go home and stare at the ceiling at night. (Laughs)
I had been an adjunct of MTSU, so I went full time in ’95 and started a freelance journalism career from scratch. I wrote for MusicRow, doing album reviews and features, and spent 10 years as the Nashville correspondent of People.
What are some big stories that you remember covering in the music business at that time?
I worked on the People magazine cover story when Tammy Wynette died. One week in ’98 was particularly memorable because I interviewed Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash all in the same week.
How did you become so involved at MTSU?
I served as an adjunct from ’90 to ’95. I started teaching media writing in the journalism department. I created an entertainment journalism class in the recording industry department. Then, when I was doing publicity at Polydor, I started teaching music publicity. I’m teaching that course tomorrow—I still teach that course 20-something years later.
I’m really proud of how well my students have done. The best part of my life is getting to know our students and seeing them succeed.
Beverly Keel interviewing A&R legends Martha Sharp and Mary Martin. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
You have become a mentor for so many, including myself. Who have been some of your mentors?
Ruth Ann Harnisch, many people remember her as Ruth Ann Leach. I believe she was the first woman on TV in Nashville as an anchor. At one point she was on TV, had a radio show, and had a Nashville Banner column. My father was her editor at the Banner and I actually met her at the funeral home when he died. She took me under her wing then and still supports me to this day. Jane DuBose was my editor at the Banner. She really nurtured and guided me.
Patsy Bruce has been a long time mentor, Lura Bainbridge. Women have been so supportive of me, so I want to pass that on.
You became the Dean of the College of Media and Entertainment at MTSU in 2020. What are some of your goals for the program?
Quite simply to become the biggest and best possible program. We are the only College of Media and Entertainment in the world. Our recording industry program is ranked consistently on both Billboard and Hollywood Reporter‘s list of the best music or music business programs worldwide. So we keep raising our standards.
Everything’s changing: the music industry is changing, journalism is changing. Digital animation is a growing area for us, and we have a huge TV and film production major. So we are exploring. We want to be the leaders of the conversation and training in media and entertainment.
You’re also really well-known for your advocacy efforts. You co-founded Change the Conversation to advocate for gender equality in country music, and co-founded Nashville Music Equality to help create an anti-racist environment in the Nashville music industry. Do you feel that we’re moving in the right direction when it comes to race and gender in country music?
What is it that they say, the first step is acknowledging that you have a problem? I think that’s where we are.
Through Change the Conversation and Nashville Music Equality, we’ve raised awareness that the problem of sexism and racism exists, but the problem still exists. Last week I was driving from MTSU to Nashville, listening to a country radio station during drive time. I didn’t hear one female voice. Driving back at 7:00 or 8:00 p.m., I heard two songs by women. So, we have a long way to go. But keep in mind when we first started, people said there wasn’t a problem. The conventional wisdom now is there is a problem, so we’re getting there.
When it comes to racism in country music, the biggest thing I’ve learned over the last several years is it’s not that Black artists were not interested in performing and recording country music, it’s that the doors weren’t open for them. Now that we have raised awareness, we are seeing the needle move in terms of artists getting signed. You just saw Warner Music Nashville announce they have signed Breland; Big Machine has signed Tiera Kennedy; Brittany Spencer—who is one of our graduates—has exploded this year. So whether it is female artists or artists of color, all we’re saying is give them an even chance. The problem is the music is not getting heard. We’re trying to find ways to get their music heard.
Lionel Richie with Beverly Keel. Photo: Courtesy Beverly Keel
It takes a lot to get to the position you’re at. Do you have any scars that you’ve earned along the way?
I am blessed with a short memory. I am ridiculously positive. Not only is the glass half full, it’s a gorgeous glass.
Not everyone loves an outspoken woman. I’ve had to learn it’s okay not to be liked. When you speak about what you believe in, you sleep well at night.
If someone says “old school Music Row,” what do you think of?
The good old days. It was two or three No. 1 parties a day. It was before there was so much pressure on the artist to look perfect in designer clothes and to have perfect bodies. It was still an age of innocence. There was a lot of money flowing, there were a lot of albums being sold. It was a community. It was before email, so we had time. Email and cell phones took away our time. Now people do the jobs of two or three people. The pressure is relentless and it can be not a lot of fun. Back then, it was just fun and the music was so great.
What are you most proud of in your career?
The success of my students. That is the joy and highlight of my life. The success of my students has brought me more rewards and satisfaction than anything I’ve done. Whether it’s seeing Brian Wright become Executive Vice President of A&R at UMG, or Daniel Miller and Aaron Tannenbaum succeed. Erin Enderlin played “Monday Morning Church” for me and my faculty office, and it became a nominated song for Alan Jackson. I remember seeing Hillary Scott in the student grill after Victoria Shaw had introduced her to me.
It is a privilege to be able to get to know these people and just share a little moment of their lives.
Dolly Parton To Make SXSW Debut With The ‘Dollyverse’
/by Lydia FarthingLeading up to the releases of her original novel, Run, Rose, Run, co-written with best-selling author James Patterson, and its companion music album, Dolly Parton is partnering with Fox Entertainment’s Blockchain Creative Labs (BCL) to launch “Dollyverse.” The audience-centric Web3 experience will take place at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference and Festivals starting next week.
Parton will make her first-ever appearance at SXSW on March 18, when she and Patterson will speak about the project at Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater. Immediately afterwards, she will give a live performance featuring songs from Run, Rose, Run, along with a few of her hits. The entire event will be streamed live for free on “Dollyverse” by Eluvio, which also will power the “Dollyverse’s” NFT sales.
James Patterson and Dolly Parton. Photo: Sebastian Smith/FOX for Blockchain Creative Labs.
The “Dollyverse” will release an exclusive selection of official and certified Dolly NFT collectibles, including limited-edition NFTs of the Run, Rose, Run album and a limited series of Dolly-inspired NFT artwork, for purchase during and after SXSW. In-person attendees will be able to claim a free NFT, while fans streaming the event will be able to receive tokens authenticating their participation.
“There’s almost nothing more important to me than connecting with my fans. And I’m almost always up for trying something new and different,” offers Parton. “I’d say releasing NFTs at my first ever appearance at SXSW, with James Patterson by my side, definitely counts as new and different!”
“Yet again Dolly is at the top of her craft,” shares Danny Nozell, Parton’s manager. “Her goal with new music has always been to use her gifts to connect with people. This partnership with BCL at SXSW, and the launch of ‘Dollyverse,’ provide her a totally new way to do that.”
Dates for “Dollyverse’s” limited-run and a schedule of NFT drops and information regarding her appearance at ACL Live will be announced in the coming days. Her performance at ACL Live will be for SXSW badge holders only and available on a first-come, first-serve basis depending on venue capability.
“I am a huge Dolly Parton fan. Who isn’t? She is a national treasure, whose important contributions to the world transcend her incredible work as an entertainer,” says Scott Greenberg, CEO of Blockchain Creative Labs. “Dolly is a true pioneer who brings the highest level of quality, heart and authenticity to everything she touches, which is why she’s the perfect person to introduce to the mainstream audience an easy-to-use, Web3 experience that will live stream her SXSW event and provide them the opportunity own and enjoy her music–not just a right to stream it–all designed to bring Dolly even closer to her fans.”
Run, Rose, Run is available for purchase beginning this Monday, March 7. Set in Nashville, the story centers around an aspiring female artist who comes to country music’s capital to pursue her music-making dreams. Behind the inspiration of her songs is a secret she has done everything to conceal, but she soon learns that her past is threatening the future she is trying to build.
Fans will also be able to listen to an album of 12 original songs inspired by the novel and written, performed and produced by Parton. The album is co-produced by Richard Dennison and Tom Rutledge, and will be released this Friday, March 4, by her label, Butterfly Records.
Grady Block Signs With Big Loud Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughGrady Block. Photo: Chris Hornbuckle
Grady Block has signed with Big Loud Publishing. He joins his brother and co-writer Rocky Block on the Big Loud Publishing roster.
The Nashville native is the son of local radio personality Billy Block and was raised around music, playing drums from the time he could walk. His progression from behind the kit to behind the song was an easy one, and he was influenced by a wide variety of music ranging from Future and Fountains of Wayne to The Eagles and Jon Cleary.
Block has already earned his first cut as a songwriter on Lil Durk‘s “Broadway Girls” featuring Morgan Wallen, as well as his first co-production credit on Nelly’s Heartland project (“Five Drinks Ago”).
“We are thrilled to welcome Grady Block to the Big Loud Publishing family,” says Big Loud Publishing’s Senior Director of A&R, Michael Giangreco. “We have had the pleasure to get to know Grady over the past few years drumming for Ernest and being a close collaborator of Rocky’s. Watching him develop as a songwriter and producer is inspiring and we couldn’t be more excited for what is to come.”
“I’m so excited to join the Big Loud family,” Block shares. “It is a dream come true to have the opportunity to bolster and uphold the legacy that is Big Loud. From the top to the bottom, it is an absolute all-star team, which made my decision a no brainer. Thank you, Craig [Wiseman], Seth [England], and Joey [Moi] for taking a chance on a kid from South Nashville.”