O’Charley’s Wraps Up Songwriter’s Café Benefit Concert Series
Pictured (L-R): O’Charley’s CCO Bob Langford, O’Charley’s CEO Craig Barber, 103-3 Country’s host Elaina Smith, Teddy Robb, Lee Brice, and GMC President Gator Michaels
Closing out the four-part Songwriter’s Café virtual benefit concert series, O’Charley’s Restaurant + Bar hosted featured artists, as well as Folded Flag staff to share the outcomes of the concerts and thank the artists for their help.
O’Charley’s CEO Craig Barber and Vice Chairman of the Board for Folded Flag Fred Schremp hosted the cocktail party to thank featured musical artists for participating in O’Charley’s Songwriters Café. Several other artists who were integral to the project were also present, including: Lee Brice, Teddy Robb, and Elaina Smith (Host, “Nights with Elaina” on 103-3 Country).
In 2020, O’Charley’s raised over $575,000 for the Folded Flag Foundation with help from the artists who graciously gave their time to participate in Songwriters Café. Folded Flag provides educational scholarships and grants to Gold Star families who have lost a loved one in military combat, and O’Charley’s has proudly donated over $1.6 million to them since 2016.
Kallie Rhea Joins White Mustang Records As Manager Of Radio Promotion
Kallie Rhea
White Mustang Records has announced the hiring of Kallie Rhea as Radio Promotion Manager.
In this role, Rhea will coordinate and oversee promotional activities for White Mustang’s current and future label signings.
“Kallie was exactly who we were looking for to begin forming the promotion team for White Mustang,” says James Stroud, who launched the label last October. “Her passion for music and the mission of our label make her a perfect fit moving forward.”
Rhea is a Texas native who started her career as promotion coordinator for Cumulus Media Dallas. After a stint with WME Nashville, she transitioned to record promotion, cutting her teeth promoting music to radio stations reporting to the Texas Country Chart.
Rhea will be based in Nashville and can be reached at kallie@whitemustangrecords.com.
Bluegrass Veteran Phil Leadbetter Signs With Mountain Home Music Company
Jon Weisberger, Phil Leadbetter
A three-time recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year award, Phil Leadbetter has signed with Mountain Home Music Company.
“I am so happy to be part of the Mountain Home family,” says Leadbetter. “I know quite a few of the artists on the roster there, and I know they are all top notch — and that says a lot about this great label. I’m looking forward to the future!”
“I’ve known Phil for a quarter of a century,” says Mountain Home’s Jon Weisberger. “When he first reached out to me about joining the Mountain Home family, I was thrilled at the prospect of getting him on board. He has earned the respect of so many people in this industry, not only for his determination in the face of challenges, but for his big-hearted enthusiasm for and encouragement of his colleagues young and old — and above all, for his creativity.”
Leadbetter’s first project with Mountain Home, Masters of Slide: Spider Sessions, features a compilation of music from a cross-genre array of guitar masters.
Bailee Madison Signs With Jonas Group Entertainment
/by Lorie HollabaughBailee Madison. Photo: Cibelle Levi
Bailee Madison has signed a music management deal with Jonas Group Entertainment.
Madison starred in and co-produced Netflix’s newly-released faith-based musical, A Week Away, which was filmed in Nashville. Her song on the project, “Awesome God / God Only Knows (Campfire Medley),” and the A Week Away soundtrack are both charting.
From her first commercial spot at two weeks old to her major motion picture debut at six, the 21-year-old actress has dozens of TV and film roles to her credit. Best known for Just Go With It and The Strangers: Prey at Night, Madison starred in and co-produced Netflix’s newly-released faith-based musical, A Week Away. She recently made headlines as the lead in the sixth installment of the iconic A Cinderella Story franchise, A Cinderella Story: Starstruck.
Madison is represented by Management 360’s Beau Swayze and Clifford Murray and The Gersh Agency’s Allison Band, Mark Herzberg, and Matt Vioral for her acting endeavors. She joins fellow management clients Lanie Gardner, Frankie Jonas, PUBLIC, Melanie Pfirrman, LIVVIA, Mandy Harvey, and Lucy Cloud at Jonas Group Entertainment.
Industry Ink: Mike Molinar, Marcie Allen Van Mol; Nicolle Galyon; Gilda’s Club
/by Lydia FarthingMike Molinar, Marcie Allen Van Mol Named Part Of 2021 Leadership Class
Marcie Allen Van Mol, Mike Molinar
Ten government, business, academic, clergy, and nonprofit leaders from Middle Tennessee have been chosen by Global Action Platform for a Harvard Business School leadership program convening representatives who are working to help their communities prosper.
Included in the ten selected are music industry leaders Mike Molinar, General Manager of Big Machine Music, and Marcie Allen Van Mol, President and Founder of MAC Presents.
These leaders are selected by senior community leaders in those cities to participate in an intensive case study workshop on urban and rural regional collaborations and strategies for economic resilience. The program was launched to develop leaders who understand cross-sector collaborations for shared prosperity and can implement them more effectively and spread them more rapidly than in the past.
“We are pleased to be the regional affiliate of Porter’s Institute at Harvard and to be working with them on the Young American Leaders Program and other projects,” shares Chairman and CEO of Global Action Platform Dr. Scott T. Massey. “Through this collaboration, we hope to help enable emerging and established local leaders to work together for the shared growth and prosperity of our region in today’s global economy.”
Nicolle Gaylon And Michael Knox Team Up For Mother’s Day Celebration
Pictured (L-R): Shalacy Griffin, Michael Knox and Nicolle Galyon
Award winning, multi-Platinum songwriter Nicolle Galyon will join Michael Knox‘s Country 360 syndicated radio show for a very special Mother’s Day Weekend show airing across all affiliates beginning May 8, through Mother’s Day.
The show will focus on Galyon’s achievements as one of country music’s most notable songwriters, as well as her role as a mom. She has co-written some of country music’s biggest hits including Dan & Shay’s “Tequila,” Keith Urban’s “Female,” and Miranda Lambert’s “Automatic,” all while raising two children with husband and multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Rodney Clawson.
Annual Songwriters Night Raises Almost $20,000 For Gilda’s Club
Tony Arata, Leslie Satcher, Dave Brainard, Jenny Tolman
On May 2, Gilda’s Club hosted its 3rd Annual Songwriters Night at The Reserve at Fat Bottom Brewery.
Among the songwriters who performed were Tony Arata who wrote Garth Brooks chart-topping hit “The Dance” and Clay Walker’s “Dreaming With My Eyes Open;” Leslie Satcher who has penned “Troubadour” (George Strait), “I Said a Prayer” (Pam Tillis), “When God-Fearin’ Women Get the Blues (Martina McBride), and “Politically Incorrect” (Merle Haggard and Gretchen Wilson); newcomer Jenny Tolman who released her debut album last year; and Dave Brainard whose credits include cuts by Brooks & Dunn, Neal McCoy, Sammy Kershaw, Ricochet, Hunter Hayes, Jeff Bridges, and Jenny Tolman.
The night raised nearly $20,000 for Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee. Gilda’s Club is a free cancer support program for anyone in the Nashville community who has been impacted by cancer, including family and friends of those diagnosed.
Need A Job? Check Out MusicRow’s Job Board
/by LB CantrellWith vaccines rolling out across the country and concert tours scheduling dates into the summer and fall, the Nashville music industry is beginning to resume some normalcy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MusicRow wants to encourage its members and readers who are looking for a music industry job to check out our Job Listings Board, located in the top menu bar on the MusicRow website.
Those who have full-time, part-time or temporary job can submit a form to list a job on our Job Listings Board. All job listings are free-to-list and will be posted for 60 days. Listings are accepted and published at the discretion of MusicRow.
Industry Ink: O’Charley’s Songwriter’s Café, Kallie Rhea, Phil Leadbetter
/by Lydia FarthingO’Charley’s Wraps Up Songwriter’s Café Benefit Concert Series
Pictured (L-R): O’Charley’s CCO Bob Langford, O’Charley’s CEO Craig Barber, 103-3 Country’s host Elaina Smith, Teddy Robb, Lee Brice, and GMC President Gator Michaels
Closing out the four-part Songwriter’s Café virtual benefit concert series, O’Charley’s Restaurant + Bar hosted featured artists, as well as Folded Flag staff to share the outcomes of the concerts and thank the artists for their help.
O’Charley’s CEO Craig Barber and Vice Chairman of the Board for Folded Flag Fred Schremp hosted the cocktail party to thank featured musical artists for participating in O’Charley’s Songwriters Café. Several other artists who were integral to the project were also present, including: Lee Brice, Teddy Robb, and Elaina Smith (Host, “Nights with Elaina” on 103-3 Country).
In 2020, O’Charley’s raised over $575,000 for the Folded Flag Foundation with help from the artists who graciously gave their time to participate in Songwriters Café. Folded Flag provides educational scholarships and grants to Gold Star families who have lost a loved one in military combat, and O’Charley’s has proudly donated over $1.6 million to them since 2016.
Kallie Rhea Joins White Mustang Records As Manager Of Radio Promotion
Kallie Rhea
White Mustang Records has announced the hiring of Kallie Rhea as Radio Promotion Manager.
In this role, Rhea will coordinate and oversee promotional activities for White Mustang’s current and future label signings.
“Kallie was exactly who we were looking for to begin forming the promotion team for White Mustang,” says James Stroud, who launched the label last October. “Her passion for music and the mission of our label make her a perfect fit moving forward.”
Rhea is a Texas native who started her career as promotion coordinator for Cumulus Media Dallas. After a stint with WME Nashville, she transitioned to record promotion, cutting her teeth promoting music to radio stations reporting to the Texas Country Chart.
Rhea will be based in Nashville and can be reached at kallie@whitemustangrecords.com.
Bluegrass Veteran Phil Leadbetter Signs With Mountain Home Music Company
Jon Weisberger, Phil Leadbetter
A three-time recipient of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Resophonic Guitar Player of the Year award, Phil Leadbetter has signed with Mountain Home Music Company.
“I am so happy to be part of the Mountain Home family,” says Leadbetter. “I know quite a few of the artists on the roster there, and I know they are all top notch — and that says a lot about this great label. I’m looking forward to the future!”
“I’ve known Phil for a quarter of a century,” says Mountain Home’s Jon Weisberger. “When he first reached out to me about joining the Mountain Home family, I was thrilled at the prospect of getting him on board. He has earned the respect of so many people in this industry, not only for his determination in the face of challenges, but for his big-hearted enthusiasm for and encouragement of his colleagues young and old — and above all, for his creativity.”
Leadbetter’s first project with Mountain Home, Masters of Slide: Spider Sessions, features a compilation of music from a cross-genre array of guitar masters.
Billy Strings Slates Summer Solstice Shows For June
/by Lorie HollabaughBilly Strings. Photo: Jesse Faatz.
Billy Strings has announced some shows this June as part of his newly-confirmed Summer Solstice Tour. The new dates include stops at Schaumburg, Illinois’ Wintrust Field (June 11-12), Oshkosh, Wisconsin’s Ford Park Live (June 18-19) and Thornville, Ohio’s Legend Valley (June 25-26).
The June dates precede Strings’ extensive 2021 headline run kicking off this July that will visit L.A., Seattle, Portland, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston, Austin, Dallas, Atlanta and Nashville, among several others. Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, May 7, and full details can be found at billystrings.com/tour.
The upcoming shows follow an ambitious spring run for Strings, who continued to perform throughout the past year both virtually and in-person. Most recently, he performed multiple nights at Mobile, Alabama’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium; St. Augustine, Florida’s Saint Augustine Amphitheatre; Columbia, South Carolina’s Columbia Speedway Entertainment Center; livestream concerts from venues in New Orleans and Austin; and, finally, his six-night Déjà Vu Experiment—a one-of-a-kind livestream event broadcast from The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY.
Brandy Clark To Launch Who You Thought I Was Tour This Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughBrandy Clark is returning to the stage this fall as she headlines the Who You Thought I Was tour, which kicks off October 25 in Portland, Oregon.
Running through November 21, the 16-stop tour will include shows in Seattle’s Neumos, Los Angeles’ Lodge Room, New York’s Bowery Ballroom, and close out at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on November 21. Tickets for the shows are on sale now, and full details can be found at brandyclarkmusic.com.
The newly-confirmed dates celebrate a landmark year for Clark, whose new album, Your Life is a Record (Deluxe) was released earlier this spring in celebration of the standard version’s one-year anniversary. The special extended edition features all eleven tracks from her Grammy-nominated album as well as six new songs including “Remember Me Beautiful,” which Clark wrote late last year with Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose for NPR’s Morning Edition Song Project.
Ben Gallaher’s Debut EP ‘Every Small Town’ Slated For Summer
/by Lorie HollabaughBen Gallaher. Photo: David Abbott; EP Cover Design: Glenn Sweitzer/ Fresh, LLC
Ben Gallaher is gearing up for the release of his debut Quartz Hill Records EP, Every Small Town, on Friday, June 25.
Gallaher co-penned each of the five songs on the up-tempo collection produced by Mickey Jack Cones and Derek George, and has racked up more than a million YouTube streams of the EP’s title track “Every Small Town,” which is also his first single for the label and will be released to radio later this summer. Writers contributing to the project include Ash Bowers, Jim Collins, Joey Hyde, Jared Mullins, and more.
“To me, country music is the soundtrack to everyday life. That’s what these songs are about: the American spirit, family, community, love, loss, God, hard work and being proud of who you are and where you’re from,” said Gallaher. “None of these songs would have the life they do without my co-writers, session musicians, producers, the Quartz Hill team and my fans.”
A road warrior who has crisscrossed the U.S. touring, Gallaher has opened for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., Blake Shelton, 3 Doors Down, Lee Brice and more. In celebration of his EP announcement, Gallaher is giving fans a taste of that full band show with the release of a live performance video of “Every Small Town.”
Every Small Town Track List:
“Every Small Town” – (Ben Gallaher, Ash Bowers, Jim Collins)
“Get On One” – (Ben Gallaher, Joey Hyde, Mike Walker)
“Never Get Old” – (Ben Gallaher, Derrick Southerland, Andrew Jacob Pruis)
“Town Ain’t Dry” — (Ben Gallaher, Mark Irwin, Shane Minor)
“Til’ It’s Yours” — (Ben Gallaher, Billy Montana, Jared Mullins)
Brantley Gilbert Presents $75K Check To ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund
/by Lydia FarthingPictured (L-R): Lorie Lytle, ACM Lifting Lives BOD Vice President; Taylor Wolf, ACM Lifting Lives Manager + BOD Secretary; Brantley Gilbert; Aaron Keiser, Morris Higham Management; Paul Barnabee, ACM Lifting Lives BOD Chair. Photo: Brian Vaughn.
Known for sharing his platform with servicemen and servicewomen; veterans and veteran farmers; and his own BG Nation, multi-Platinum recording artist Brantley Gilbert has contributed $75,000 to ACM Lifting Lives’ COVID-19 Response Fund to support those in the entertainment industry who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19.
On Saturday, April 17, Gilbert hosted 500 fans on three separate trail rides at Brimstone Recreation in Huntsville, Tennessee, followed by a live show presented by Whiskey Jam, with all proceeds benefiting the COVID-19 Response Fund.
“We had such a great time out on the trails in East Tennessee and it made it that much sweeter knowing we were there to help people who really need an extra hand right now,” shares Gilbert. “I’m honored to present this check to ACM Lifting Lives on behalf of BG Nation and I’m so grateful for our partners who made this such a fantastic event.”
“Brantley has been such a wonderful partner to our fund,” shares Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives Lyndsay Cruz. “He and his team came to us at an important moment to lend their help finding ways to raise money for our colleagues who are still in immediate financial need due to the pandemic. We are grateful to be the beneficiaries of his inaugural trail ride.”
A longtime partner of Gilbert, Polaris continues to support his event, donating a RZR Trail S1000 Ultimate that will be available for auction later this summer, while Camping World will donate an off-road vehicle trailer, also available for auction later this summer. All monies raised via auction will directly benefit the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund. Additional auction details will be announced at a later date.
Since the launch of the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response Fund, $3.5 million has been raised and distributed thanks to many sponsors and individuals. Visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org to contribute to the fund in support of ongoing relief efforts.
Ingrid Andress Featured In New Amazon Short Film ‘A Lady Like That’
/by Lorie HollabaughIngrid Andress. Photo Courtesy: Amazon Music
Ingrid Andress is the subject of a new Amazon Music short film, A Lady Like That, premiering on May 14.
A Lady Like That tracks a breakthrough year for the rising artist through never-before-seen home video footage, candid interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments including her Grammys experience where she received three nominations, including Best Country Album for her debut album Lady Like. The short film will premiere in the Amazon Music mobile app and on the Amazon Music YouTube channel.
To celebrate the release, fans can watch a trailer for a sneak peek of the film, directed by Lauren Dunn, that offers a glimpse into the story of a young artist/writer forging her own path in the music industry. Also available today to Amazon Music listeners is a new Amazon Original reimagined version of “Lady Like”, featuring an orchestral arrangement. Produced by Margot, and arranged by Margot and Juan Villacrez, Andress’ new version of “Lady Like” was recorded with an all-female orchestra in Brooklyn, New York.
“I’m thrilled to partner with Amazon Music, Breakwater Studios, and Lauren Dunn on this short film,” says Andress. “To have the opportunity to work with this stellar team to bring a chapter of my story to life has been incredible. I’m excited for more folks to learn about my journey into the country music format and I hope my story can be encouraging to anyone who feels like an outsider.”
A Lady Like That is the latest short film created by Amazon Music, diving into pivotal moments in an artist’s career. Past releases include Velocity with Kane Brown, The Making Of: “Faith” by Galantis and Dolly Parton, Breakthrough: Gabby Barrett, and more.
Nick Meinema, Greg Baker Announce Action Entertainment Collaborative
/by LB CantrellMusic industry veteran Nick Meinema is announcing a new venture, Action Entertainment Collaborative (AEC), and expanded roster in partnership with Greg Baker.
AEC’s worldwide talent roster includes Trace Adkins, TLC (North America only), Lonestar, Terri Clark, Dallas Smith, High Valley, James Barker Band, Hunters Brothers, Kevin Costner and Modern West, Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters and Default, with artists in development Jason Lyle Black, Jason Petty, EmiSunshine, Karen Waldrup, and Veritas in addition to comedy artists Jeff Allen, Etta May and Southern Fried Chicks. Additionally, AEC will represent acts in Canada, including Dean Brody, Sawyer Brown, Chad Brownlee, and Trailer Park Boys, as well as The Road Hammers, The Reklaws, Gord Bamford and Jojo Mason in partnership with Paquin Entertainment.
“I moved here nine years ago to open the Nashville office of The Agency Group from Toronto,” Meinema says. “Since then, the office has grown with the acquisition of The Bobby Roberts Company and when United Talent Agency purchased the company.
“These past years have given me a perspective on what I want and truly don’t want anymore. I know what has worked for my clients and have learned what I’ll be able to do better going forward,” Meinema continues. “In this partnership with Greg, I hope to combine both our experiences and talent in the best joint collaborative for our clients.”
“I am honored and excited to be partnering with Nick and his company,” Baker says. “I began working with Nick in 2017, and he quickly earned my and, more importantly, my client’s trust. As we start to navigate 2021 and beyond, I have never been more optimistic about the future.”
“I have known Greg for 20 years,” notes veteran country artist Adkins. “He has been my bass player, bandleader, tour manager and now my manager for almost four years. No matter the job title, Greg always puts my best interests at the forefront of any decision. Nick took over my touring three years ago, and I can’t imagine another agent handling my touring business.”
In addition to Meinema and Baker, agent Charles Ray and booking coordinator Ryan Moult have joined the company. Additional associates will be announced summer 2021. AEC’s office will be located at 1617 17th Avenue South in Nashville. They can be reached at (615) 208-9596.
Congratulate Meinema, Baker, Ray and Moult respectively at nick.meinema@action-ent.com, greg.baker@action-ent.com, charles.ray@action-ent.com, and ryan.moult@action-ent.com.