Scott Borchetta Announces Big Machine Racing Team

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President/CEO and Founder of Big Machine Label Group, Scott Borchetta, has announced the formation of the Big Machine Racing Team. The team will compete full-time in the 2021 NASCAR Xfinity Series, with Nashville driver Jade Buford behind the wheel.

Borchetta has a long history of merging his Nashville music empire which includes superstars like Tim McGraw, Sheryl Crow, Thomas Rhett and Florida Georgia Line, with the sport of racing. From providing talent for pre-race ceremonies to securing title sponsorships such as the Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard, Borchetta’s announcement is a natural progression for the entrepreneur.

Borchetta is no stranger to the track himself, he raced motocross and quarter midgets as a kid in Southern California before following his dad in the Nashville music business in the early ‘80s. He picked racing back up in the late ’90s in the NASCAR SuperTrucks Weekly Series where he won three consecutive championships. In 2020, Borchetta raced in the SVRA Group 6 Division, picking up a National Championship in his ’72 Corvette. The Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway further recognized his commitment to the sport this past October by inducting him into their Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway Hall of Fame.

“I’ve always been involved in racing, it’s a part of my DNA,” says Borchetta. “Whether as a competitor, a fan or a sponsor, racing is a constant in my life and is a part of our Big Machine culture. The formation of the Big Machine Racing team only broadens the integration opportunities for our recording artists and the sport.”

Buford is well known for his road racing prowess which includes wins at such tracks as Sebring and Watkins Glen as well as a fastest qualifier/pole position at Daytona. Buford had his first Xfinity starts in 2020 where he scored a Top 10 finish at Charlotte’s rainy Roval.

Big Machine Driver Jade Buford

The Mooresville-based team will be overseen by longtime NASCAR Crew Chief Patrick Donahue, a seasoned veteran who led four-time NASCAR Champion and Hall of Fame driver Jeff Gordon to victory in the Xfinity Series.

Big Machine brands will be the primary sponsor for the No. 48 Xfinity Chevrolet, including Big Machine Vodka, Big Machine Hand Sanitizer and key Big Machine Label Group artists.

Brad Paisley And Blake Shelton To Co-Host Opry Anniversary Special

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Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton

Grand Ole Opry members Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton will co-host a new special celebrating the Grand Ole Opry’s legacy, Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Country Music, on NBC Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. ET.

The two-hour anniversary special will showcase Nashville’s most famous stage with original performances, unique archival footage and behind-the-scenes stories. Later that same week, Paisley will celebrate his 20th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member. Shelton is marking 10 years as a member.

For almost a century, the Opry has celebrated the past, present and future of country music, showcasing a mix of legends and contemporary chart-toppers who have followed in their footsteps. In that same spirit, the anniversary special brings together artists from across generations who share a passion and reverence for the Opry. Stars will not only perform their biggest hits, but also cover classics from some of the Opry’s most famous members during the evening. In addition to the performances, the Opry will open its archives spanning a period of over nine decades and include interviews, performances and appearances by artists in all stages of their careers.

PCG Artist Development Announces New Austin Division

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Matt Noveskey, Drew Womack of PCG Austin

PCG Artist Development has created a new Austin division, headed up by singer-songwriter/producer Matt Noveskey of alt-rock band Blue October and co-owner of Orb Recording Studios. Noveskey will serve as President of PCG Austin, with native Texan and songwriter Drew Womack, formerly of the Sons Of The Desert, serving as Director of A&R.

“I’m extremely excited to bring PCG Artist Development to Austin,” said Noveskey. “This city has so much incredible talent and now we have infrastructure to properly groom these artists for success.”

Veteran music executive Bernard Porter, PCG’s Founder and CEO, has spent most of 2020 steadfastly growing his Nashville-based company by hiring experienced writers, producers, performers and other industry professionals. Noveskey and Womack join a nationwide network of providers which also includes Broadway star Tony Vincent, writer and producer Britton Cameron, and artist and former Mouseketeer on The Disney Channel’s All New Mickey Mouse Club, Jennifer McGill.

“2020 brought many challenges and yet, tremendous clarity,” said Porter. “Considering the overwhelming blows the entertainment industry has endured, we feel especially grateful for the growth we’ve experienced at PCG. We do not take it for granted. We pray for better days for our friends and colleagues striving to make a difference in our world with their gifts and talents.”

Porter recently formed a partnership with Memphis-based Visible Music College creating a first-of-its-kind accredited curriculum which many of his developing artists, musicians and theatrical performers will have the opportunity to pursue. PCG At Visible was co-founded between Porter and Dr. Ken Steorts, formerly of Christian rock band, Skillet. Classes for the Spring 2021 semester are set to begin January 19 at all Visible Music College campuses in Memphis, Dallas, Chicago, Redding and Atascadero, California participating.

Entertainment Attorney Stephanie Taylor Renames Firm, Names Rachel Guttmann Partner

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Stephanie Taylor, Rachel Guttmann

Stephanie Taylor Law, PLLC has named Rachel Guttmann as a partner, rebranding the firm as Taylor Guttmann, PLLC.

Rachel joined my law practice almost three years ago, after moving back to Nashville from New Orleans where she had built a robust entertainment practice and gained extensive experience as a litigator,” says  Taylor. “Since joining the firm, Rachel has been an invaluable asset to the business. I always know that Rachel will provide the personalized attention that my clients have come to depend on, while providing quality work each step of the way. The Nashville music community has come to recognize Rachel as a talented, caring attorney who makes a positive difference in the careers of her clients and provides service to the community through her work with SOLID, WMBA, MusiCares Ambassadors, and Arts Immersion. I am excited and honored to promote Rachel to partner.”

“These past few years working with Stephanie and serving our clients and the Nashville music community have been a dream come true,” says Guttmann. “I am thrilled and honored be named partner and look forward to continuing to provide our clients with legal representation in the entertainment industry.”

Taylor worked as a professional violinist and fiddle player and was a tenured faculty member at MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry before returning to full-time law practice. Taylor holds a J.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, M.B.A. from Belmont, and B.M.E. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She can be reached at staylor@tgmusic.law.

Guttmann holds a J.D. from Tulane University Law School and a B.S. from Middle Tennessee State University. She can be reached at rachel@tgmusic.law.

SOURCE Nashville 2021 Board Members Announced

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Pictured (L-R, first row): SOURCE President, Kari Barnhart (Regions Bank); SOURCE Board Member, Claire Taylor (Average Joes Ent.); SOURCE Treasurer, Greta Day (Sussman & Assoc.); SOURCE Secretary/Awards Chair, Erica Rosa (FBMM); (L-R, second row from top): SOURCE Program Chair, Mary Lauren Teague, (Dotted i Ent., LLC/Belmont University); SOURCE Service Chair, Catherine Moore (Farris, Self & Moore, LLC), Membership Co-Chair, Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI); SOURCE Vice President, Mallory Mason (King Business & Fin’l Management); (L-R, third row from top): SOURCE Membership Co-Chair, Camilla Kleindienst (Banner Music); SOURCE Past President & Communications Co-Chair, Alicia Lanier Jones (River House Artists); SOURCE Social Co-Chair, Brooke Antonakos (Rockbrook Ent.); SOURCE Social Co-Chair, Becky McIntosh (Consultant); (L-R, fourth row from top): SOURCE Auxiliary Member, Lyndie Wenner (SRO PR); SOURCE Auxiliary Member, Laurie Hughes, (Hughes Law)

SOURCE, the longest running organization for females in the music industry in Nashville, has announced its new Board members for 2021. Among the newly-elected members are SOURCE President, Kari Barnhart (Regions Bank); SOURCE Board Member, Claire Taylor (Average Joes Ent.); SOURCE Treasurer, Greta Day (Sussman & Assoc.); and SOURCE Secretary/Awards Chair, Erica Rosa (FBMM).

Other elected members include SOURCE Program Chair, Mary Lauren Teague, (Dotted i Ent., LLC/Belmont University); SOURCE Service Chair, Catherine Moore (Farris, Self & Moore, LLC), Membership Co-Chair, Jennifer Turnbow (NSAI); SOURCE Vice President, Mallory Mason (King Business & Fin’l Management); SOURCE Membership Co-Chair, Camilla Kleindienst (Banner Music); SOURCE Past President & Communications Co-Chair, Alicia Lanier Jones (River House Artists); SOURCE Social Co-Chair, Brooke Antonakos (Rockbrook Ent.); SOURCE Social Co-Chair, Becky McIntosh (Consultant); SOURCE Auxiliary Member, Lyndie Wenner (SRO PR); and SOURCE Auxiliary Member, Laurie Hughes, (Hughes Law).

Founded in 1991 by Shelia Shipley Biddy, Judy Harris and Pat Rolfe, SOURCE is dedicated to fostering relationships and opportunities for its members through continuous education, networking, and community service initiatives. The nonprofit supports an exclusive community of accomplished women professionals who work in all facets of Nashville’s entertainment industry.

Organizers Cancel C2C: Country to Country 2021 Festival

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The European C2C: Country to Country festival will no longer take place in March 2021 as planned, due to current restrictions on mass gatherings and international travel from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizers announced the cancellation via a statement on social media. “In March of 2020, we could never have foreseen the extent of what has unfolded and the prospect that we would be without C2C for 2 years running was unthinkable. We are devastated that we are unable to deliver you the event that we all love.”

C2C organizers also announced dates for C2C 2022 in the statement. C2C 2022 will take place March 11-13, 2022. Tickets for C2C will remain valid for the 2022 event, but refunds will be also be available at point of purchase.

C2C: Country to Country is Europe’s biggest country music festival created by AEG Europe and SJM Concerts in association with the Country Music Association. The festival takes place each March in London, Glasgow and Dublin, with performances from the world’s best country stars as well as emerging talent from Nashville, UK and Europe.

Luke Combs Extends Streak At Radio With Tenth Chart-Topper “Better Together”

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Luke Combs. Photo: Zack Massey

Luke Combs continues his record-breaking streak at radio with his latest single, “Better Together,” which has reached No. 1 this week on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart. The song marks Combs’ tenth consecutive No. 1. The song hit No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Chart in December.

The accomplishment is just the latest in a series of groundbreaking and historic few years for Combs, whose global No. 1 album, What You See Is What You Get, is newly-certified RIAA double Platinum. Combs’ new deluxe album, What You See Ain’t Always What You Get, also debuted at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart as well as Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. A song from the deluxe album, “Forever After All,” landed at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart as well, marking the highest entrance ever for a male country solo artist. With the release, Combs also reached No. 1 on Rolling Stone’s Top 200 Albums chart, Top 100 Songs chart and Artists 500 chart, making him the first country artist ever to lead all three charts in the same week and first to top the Artists 500.

Combs also recently made history as the first artist ever to have their first two studio albums spend 25 weeks or more at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart—breaking Taylor Swift’s previously held record at 24 weeks. The achievement comes as What You See Is What You Get topped the chart for the 25th time this past summer, while his 2017 debut, This One’s For You, has spent 50 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1, tying the record for the longest reign atop the chart with Shania Twain’s Come On Over in 1997.

Curb | Word Music Publishing Extends Publishing Deal with Billy Montana

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Pictured (L-R, top row): Curb | Word’s Colt Murski; BMI’s Mason Hunter; Curb | Word’s Christy Robinson; (L-R, middle row): Billy Montana; Curb | Word’s Ciara Shortridge; BMI’s Jeff Syracuse; (L-R, bottom row): Curb | Word’s Mike Curb; BMI’s David Preston

Curb | Word Music Publishing has extended its worldwide co-publishing deal with Billy Montana. The singer-songwriter was originally signed to the publishing company in 2000, and the extension continues his relationship with the Curb | Word Music Publishing team, which includes Colt Murski, Ciara Shortridge, and Christy Robinson, into its 21st year.

“Billy Montana has been a very important part of our creative team at Curb for this entire century. He has had major No. 1’s with Garth Brooks, Jo Dee Messina, Tim McGraw, Sara Evans, and Lee Brice. He currently has a major single with Lee Brice, and we are proud to have him as part of our team,” says Curb | Word Music Publishing Chairman, Mike Curb.

Following the recent extension, Montana and Mike Curb were honored with BMI Million-Air certificates, presented by BMI’s David Preston, for Sara Evans’ No. 1 single, “Suds In The Bucket,” (4 million airplays) and Lee Brice’s No. 1 single, “Hard To Love,” (2 million airplays) over a Zoom gathering last week. Based on an average length of three minutes, six million collective plays are the equivalent of 300,000 hours or 34.2 years of continuous airplay.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of Billy Montana and his long standing relationship with BMI and Curb | Word Music Publishing. Billy continues to write hit songs that stand the test of time, as evident by the Million-Air awards we presented him today. We are excited for his re-signing with Curb and look forward to many more hits,” says BMI’s Mason Hunter. “Mike Curb has been a BMI writer for 58 years and he continues to support our industry with his business acumen, vision, and philanthropy. BMI is honored to be associated with Billy and Mike and wish both many more years of success.”

“I’m really thankful to continue to be a part of the Curb | Word and BMI families. For many, and I DO mean many, years, I’ve always been provided with great creative opportunities and environments, and the support from everyone has never wavered. I’m looking forward to making the best music I can, and having fun doing it!” says Montana.

BBR Music Group Signs Madeline Merlo

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Madeline Merlo

BBR Music Group has announced the signing of Madeline Merlo to its roster of artists.

The singer-songwriter and Vancouver native appeared on NBC’s songwriter series Songland, where she won with Lady A selecting Merlo’s co-penned “Champagne Night.” The trio recorded and released the tune digitally and, due to its initial success, became the first Songland winner to become a single—which then went on to become a three-week No. 1 single. Merlo also appears in the music video.

Merlo’s music bridges the pop-country gap, with quirky melodies and confident lyrics. The multi-talent who kickstarted her career at 16 doing demo work, went on to win CCMA’s Rising Star Award in 2015, before releasing her debut album in 2016. Since moving to Nashville in 2017, Merlo has garnered three Top 10 singles on Canadian Country radio, performed with her childhood idol, Shania Twain at the CCMA Awards, and hit the road with greats like Keith Urban and Willie Nelson, in addition to focusing on her songwriting.

“Madeline immediately drew us in with her stellar melodies and powerhouse vocals but it was the witty, confident vulnerability in her writing that made her an artist we had to have on our roster,” said Sara Knabe, VP A&R BBR Music Group. “We’re so excited for 2021 and beyond!”

“Getting the chance to be on BBR Music Group’s impressive roster is a dream come true,” said Merlo. “They are incredibly kind and hard-working individuals, and I am thrilled to be working with them. They see my vision and respect the artistry we have built. I know this next step will be the most exciting yet in my career.”

She is managed by Ron Kitchener at RGK Entertainment and is signed with Deluge Music for publishing.

Josh Osborne Starts 2021 On Top Of MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart

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Josh Osborne

Josh Osborne starts the new year off at the pinnacle of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, with many charting songs propelling him, including: “7 Summers” (Morgan Wallen), “Beers And Sunshine” (Darius Rucker), “Breaking Up Was Easy In The 90’s” (Sam Hunt), “Happy Anywhere” (Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani), “How They Remember You” (Rascal Flatts), “Never Be Sorry” (Old Dominion), and “Next Girl” (Carly Pearce).

In December, Osborne was named Songwriter of the Year for the second time in the history of the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

Ross Copperman is at No. 2 this week, and Randy Montana rounds up the top three.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital download track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.