Big Machine Records Adds Jane Staszak As Director, Midwest Promotion & Marketing

Big Machine Records has added Jane Staszak as Director, Midwest Promotion and Marketing of its radio promotion team, effective immediately.

Staszak most recently served as Director of Promotion Northeast at Black River Entertainment. She brings radio promotion expertise from her time with Nine North Records and various radio stations including WDSY, WONE and WQMX. Based in Pittsburgh, she will promote the imprint’s roster which includes Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce, Midland, The Cadillac Three, Callista Clark, and more.

“On behalf of Erik Powell and myself, we are absolutely thrilled that Jane is joining the mighty Big Machine Records promotion squad,” comments Senior Vice President, Promotion and Digital, Kris Lamb. “We’ve admired Jane’s promo brilliance for years and are delighted to have her knowledge and experience expand our artists’ initiatives through the midwest and beyond.”

“Big Machine is an innovative, forward thinking powerhouse,” says Staszak. “The promotion team is top notch and I know that it’s an environment that I will thrive in and excel.”

Staszak can be reached via Jane.Staszak@bmlg.net.

 

 

Grayscale Marketing Announces Four New Hires

Grayscale Marketing, the marketing and communication services firm based in Nashville, Tennessee, has announced a new round of hirings.

Jason Zinser has joined as the Communications & Marketing Director. He comes to Grayscale having worked with a variety of diverse brands and organizations across the sports, entertainment, and professional service industries including Zaxbys, NASCAR, Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, Nashville Sounds, Nashville SC, The Music City Bowl, and more.

Kate Edge has joined Grayscale as the Senior Media Buyer where she will oversee the negotiation and purchasing of traditional media across the continent and oversee the development of the agency’s international footprint. Prior to joining the team, Edge served for 8+ years at Outback Presents, finding success working with a variety of national touring acts such as Jim Gaffigan, the Impractical Jokers, and Rodney Carrington.

Lallie Maddox has become the Associate Media Buyer where she will support Edge and be responsible for the research, development, execution, analysis, and reporting of the agency’s media placement across the globe. Prior to joining Grayscale, Maddox moved to Nashville to work at CAA in the Music Brand Partnerships division under CAA’s Executive, Music Brand Partnerships Marieke Bianchi.

Kat Ruefenacht has joined Grayscale Marketing as the Video & Graphic Designer. She has worked with local businesses such as IV and GoWest Creative in addition to Country Music Television (CMT) where she contributed creatively on the CMT Music Awards and Artist of the Year Awards show.

“I’m incredibly excited to welcome the new team members to our agency family. Each of them have already made substantial contributions to the company as a whole,” says Tim Gray, CEO of Grayscale Marketing. “All I can ask for is to have a team that is focused on changing agency expectations and leaving a lasting impact for our clients and our team and I feel strongly that this group will help us to scale internationally.”

The new hires can be reached at Jason@grayscalemarketing.com, Kate@grayscalemarketing.com, Lallie@grayscalemarketing.com, and Kat@grayscalemarketing.com.

 

 

Karla Bonoff Signs Recording Deal With Melody Place

RIAA Gold-certified recording artist and hit songwriter, Karla Bonoff has signed a recording agreement with Nashville’s Melody Place LLC.

“It has been one of my great dreams to work with Karla, and with the solid concept that we are bringing to the album, it shows that dreams do come true,” says Melody Place President and noted producer Fred Mollin.

Since the early ’70s Bonoff has written songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd, Lynn Anderson, and many others. In 1977, Bonoff released her debut, self-titled solo album, recording many of her own compositions, previously released and made famous by some of the above artists. Her greatest commercial, chart success came in 1982 with her 3rd album, Wild Heart of the Young. The album spawned a Top 40 single, “Personally,” peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

In 1984, Bonoff recorded “Somebody’s Eyes,” which was featured on the film soundtrack to the hit ‘80s film, Footloose. 10 years later, she contributed “Standing Right Next To Me,” a duet with Vince Gill for the soundtrack to the film, 8 Seconds. In the subsequent decades, Bonoff has recorded a total of 6 studio solo albums, 1 live album, 3 compilation projects and toured internationally to great acclaim.

Bonoff is going into the studio with Mollin in August to begin recording a new album with an anticipated release date in the beginning of 2022.

 

 

The Dirty Guv’nahs Signs With ONErpm

East Tennessee’s long-running popular rock ensemble, The Dirty Guv’nahs, has signed with ONErpm, one of the fastest-growing music companies globally. The band has also recently released its first single, “Better in the Summer” from its upcoming fourth studio album Revival.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have The Dirty Guv’nahs join ONErpm,” says Jeff Tobias, ONErpm’s head of Country Music. “Like any band, the guys have weathered a lot and we’re honored to be a part of this new chapter in an already incredible career!”

Downtown Music Services has announced a wave of new signings and renewals across a wide array of creators for publishing administration and distribution.

DMS renewed its existing publishing deal with four-time Grammy winner, and nine-time Americana Music Awards winner Jason Isbell. Additionally, DMS has signed a distribution deal with country artist Hunter Hayes.

Along with Isbell, those who renewed their publishing deals with DMS are Grammy-nominated singer, composer, and pianist Tori Amos; two-time Academy Award nominee Marco Beltrami; global independent music publisher Kassner Music; cult rock band Ween; Hans Zimmer and Remote Control Publishing; and 14th Street Publishing.

Joining Hayes in signing new distribution deals are American rock band American Authors; Avex USA; American electronic music DJ trio Cheat Codes; distribution and DSP support platform Cima Incubadora; Middle Eastern artist and holder of 7 World Music Awards Amr Diab; Hayashi; alternative artist Hobo Johnson; regional Mexican trailblazers with 30x Platinum albums and 12 Grammy nominations Los Tucanes de Tijuana; the label arm of Mick Management, Mick Music; joint record label RAC / Goldroom / Minerva; Mexican label Rap Trap Records / Alzada Corp.; Moroccan pop artist Salma Rachid; and Egyptian singer and actor Mohamed Ramadan.

Among those who have signed administration deals are Big Indie; songwriter Samuel Dixon; Japanese composer Yuki Hayashi; songwriter Jimmy Hogarth; French-Cuban sister group Ibeyi; longtime co-writer for Gorillaz Remi Kabaka; female-fronted LA rock band Kills Birds; 3x Grammy winning blues icon Taj Mahal; actor, singer, and songwriter Anthony Newley; Scandinavian agency Tigerspring; Steven Wilson/Porcupine Tree; and 45th & 3rd Music Publishing.

“I’m extremely happy with the reception Downtown Music Services has received from existing and new clients alike,” says Ben Patterson, COO, DMS. “With a truly global staff focusing entirely on serving artists and constructing the right team for each project, we’re releasing some of the most exciting music on the planet just as the world is ready to get back out and hear it in all venues and formats.”

Independent record label Curb Records and the Mike Curb Foundation today (June 30) filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Tennessee law, HB 1182, that requires businesses to post a notice on their premises if they have policies allowing access for transgender individuals on an equal basis to other patrons.

HB 1182 was introduced by Representative Tim Rudd of Murfreesboro, signed into law by Governor Bill Lee in May and is scheduled to go into effect on July 1. The complaint was filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.

“It’s outrageous to have the government come in and force me to send such a derogatory message to my employees and customers,” says Mike Curb, founder and Chairman of Curb Records and President of the Mike Curb Foundation. “My grandmother Eloisa Salazar faced incredible discrimination as she grew up on the Mexico-U.S. border, and her experience shaped my family’s and my company’s values. Our foundation has been dedicated to inclusion and nondiscrimination, including for LGBT people, from day one. It is hard to believe that our LGBT community in Tennessee is being assaulted with so much harmful legislation, much of it being signed by Governor Lee, at a time when our country needs to come together more than ever before.”

With a history in business, philanthropy and government, Curb served as Acting Governor and elected Lieutenant Governor of California and President of the California state senate. He was a leader in the fight to stop California’s 1978 Briggs Initiative which would have banned gay schoolteachers. Curb also served as co-chair of Ronald Reagan’s successful 1980 presidential campaign.