Pictured (L-R): Garth Brooks with Bill Cody at Allentown Studios. Photo: Danielle Piazza

Iconic country radio announcer Bill Cody‘s voice has been heard on the airwaves for nearly 50 years. The Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Famer is 25 years into his role as host of WSM’s Coffee, Country & Cody show, and as a Grand Ole Opry announcer/host.

But now, Cody is venturing into a new television show with Circle TV called, Bill Cody Presents, where he will sit down with some of country music’s biggest stars in places that are special to them.

Cody isn’t a stranger to television, as he previously worked for TNN and GAC. “A lot of us who were on radio were also doing things over at the television networks,” explains Cody in an interview with MusicRow. “So I’ve always had that connection to television.”

With Bill Cody Presents, Cody and Circle are bringing fans a long-form interview show where legendary country artists get to tell stories of their past in specific places that are special to each individual. Garth Brooks, Ray Benson (Asleep At The Wheel), Kathy Mattea, Pam Tillis, Marty Stuart, Brenda Lee and Ronnie Milsap will be featured on the first season.

“Radio is helping me in television in large part because I know these artists,” says Cody. “I was an on-air personality playing their records as they were starting their careers. So in a way, we all kind of grew up together.”

The first episode of the new series is with Brooks at his famed Allentown Studios, named in honor of his legendary producer Allen Reynolds. This interview stood out to Cody in particular, not only because of where it was, but because of how he has followed Brooks’ career from when he was just a young writer from Oklahoma doing radio tours. 

“To sit in that room where it all happened, there was a spiritual nature to that visit, I can’t explain it,” says Cody. “There were ghosts in the room.”

Every single note Brooks has ever recorded, except the Chris Gaines project, was recorded in that studio, Cody explains. The Brooks interview was emotional at times, and Cody could feel the energy from stories Brooks told. 

“That was forever memorable to me and I think it will be for the people [who watch]. Certainly if you’re a fan of Garth, you’ll feel that way. If you are on the fringe and he’s not your favorite artist but you know who he is, I think you’ll be endeared to him in a way that you never have been before [after watching the interview].”

Though Cody has interviewed many of the artists, many times throughout the years, he was able to learn something new about each of them. Cody gleaned insight from Pam Tillis at her interview at the Exit/In and the Villager Tavern about her making her own way in the music industry without the help from her father, Mel Tillis. He also spoke with Marty Stuart on his tour bus about his love for the road, traveling, and the memories made on tour busses. 

“I think each episode, as much as you may be a fan of a specific artist, or a country music trivia expert, I think you’re going to learn something,” says Cody. “You’re going to hear some things you didn’t know about these artists.”

Cody is most excited for fans to see the honest and personal side of these artists. Because the interviews were at places that meant something to these country legends, Cody feels that the setting brings out more than it would in a standard TV studio.

“It’s a conversation between two old friends, who’ve known each other through the best of times and the worst times, in many cases on a very personal level. We share things with each other,” sums Cody. “I hope that my curiosity in asking some of these questions comes through and marries the curiosity of the viewer.”

The dates and times for Bill Cody Presents episodes:

February 9, 2022 – 8/7c – Garth Brooks
Cody and Garth Brooks sit down in the famed Allentown Studios. The studio is full of history including being the place Garth recorded all of his albums.

February 16, 2022 – 8/7c – Kathy Mattea
Cody and Kathy Mattea take a trip down memory lane (and Music Row) including the publishing company Kathy called home (literally).

February 23, 2022 – 8/7c – Ray Benson
Cody and Asleep at the Wheel’s Ray Benson look back at the band’s 50-year history including a stop at the studio where they recorded their first album.

March 2, 2022 – 8/7c – Marty Stuart
What better place to revisit Marty’s history than his tour bus? A place he’s called his home away from home since he was a little kid. Cody visits with Marty to talk about his storied career.

March 9, 2022 – 8/7c – Pam Tillis
Cody and Pam Tillis visit the Exit/In and the Villager Tavern to talk about life as Mel Tillis’ daughter and making her own mark on the music industry.

March 16, 2022 – 8/7c – Ronnie Milsap/Brenda Lee
Join Bill Cody backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House as he sits down with the iconic Brenda Lee & Opry legend Ronnie Milsap to talk about their careers and memories of the Opry stage.

One of Music City’s most beloved independent venues, Exit/In, is celebrating 50 years of music with its new commemorative book, Exit/In: Fifty Years and Counting.

The book chronicles the history of the local, family-owned and operated music venue through never-before-seen photographs from its thousands of shows and a well-researched narrative text.

Starting off with a foreword by the legendary entertainer Jimmy Buffett, who christened the venue’s stage in 1971, readers can find candid shots of ’70s country outlaws such as Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and John Prine; behind-the-scenes photos from the set of Robert Altman’s Nashville film; and performance shots of national recording artists like The Police, The Ramones, Garbage and Gwar. The book also features interviews with Exit/In legends from John Hiatt to Darius Rucker to Margo Price and more.

There is also a Limited Collector’s Edition of the book which features a special gold foil-stamped slipcase and autographs from Hiatt, Marshall Chapman, Rodney Crowell, Jason Ringenberg, Rucker, Moon Taxi, Price, and All Them Witches.

Exit/In has stood at 2208 Elliston Place since 1971 and has made its mark on Nashville’s music scene. The complete list of performers numbers in the tens of thousands and includes notable acts such as Etta James, Rosanne Cash, Johnny Cash, Linda Rondstadt, Talking Heads, Billy Joel, Muddy Waters, Leonard Cohen, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Willie Nelson, Chuck Berry, Sharon Jones, Kings Of Leon, Lucinda Williams, The Allman Brothers Band, Cage The Elephant, REM, and many more.

Exit/In: Fifty Years and Counting is available online and in select retail locations, including Hurry Back, Gifthorse Nashville, Parnassus, Grimeys, and Nashville with Love. For more information on Exit/In: Fifty Years and Counting or to order the book, click here.

Pictured (L-R): Kacey Kovacs, Nicki von Seckendorff. Photos: Ford Fairchild

Crowd Surf has promoted two key Nashville team members to new roles. Nicki von Seckendorff has been elevated to General Manager and Kacey Kovacs has risen to Senior Account Manager.

Seckendorff has been with Crowd Surf for over 3 years, beginning as an office assistant. Rising through multiple promotions and roles, she has made herself invaluable to the company and its culture.

Kovacs has been at Crowd Surf for over 4 years, starting as an intern and then taking on a marketing assistant role. She has played an integral part in many key projects, including the social media marketing success of country duo CB30 and pop superstar Camila Cabello.

“I remember immediately being struck by Nicki’s can do attitude and knew she was the missing part of our team,” says Jade Driver, co-founder and CEO of Crowd Surf. “Watching her parlay herself into this integral role for the company has been fantastic to watch.” She continues, “In addition, I am thrilled to see what Kacey has achieved over 4 short years. She has that innate ‘fan girl whisperer’ mentality that we covet at Crowd Surf and watching her use that knowledge to break artists has been exhilarating!”

Founded in 2007 by MTSU alumni Driver and Cassie Petrey, Crowd Surf’s roster now boasts over 1 billion collective followers. The company’s Nashville roster of clients includes Universal Music Nashville, Sony Music Nashville, Capitol Christian Music Group, Jimmie Allen, Cody Johnson, Hayley Williams, Matthew West, and more.

Brooke Eden

BMG Nashville/BBR Music Group recording artist Brooke Eden has signed an exclusive artist management agreement with Maximum Artist Group.

Eden burst on the scene with the 2016 debut EP release, Welcome to the Weekend. Throughout her career, she’s shared the stage with Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood, Sam Hunt, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line and Kane Brown.

In 2021, Eden released a trio of new singles: “No Shade,” “Got No Choice” and “Sunroof,” which hit No. 1 on iTunes and secured a nomination at the 2021 CMT Awards. To date, she has accumulated over 42 million streams, according to Nielsen’s MRC Data. The singer-songwriter was recently named a member of MusicRow‘s Next Big Thing Class of 2022.

“Brooke’s talents are obvious to anyone who has listened to her music, or been to one of her shows,” shares Maximum Artist Group Founder Mitchell Solarek. “But the heart of this artist, and the light she brings into every room she enters, is not only what makes her special, it’s what makes me so proud and grateful to be a part of her life.”

Eden joins a roster that includes Gold and Platinum selling, multi-award winners Natalie Grant, Tauren Wells, Cory Asbury, and producer/writer Bernie Herms, among others.