Play It Again Entertainment’s flagship artist and emerging singer-songwriter Walker Montgomery has launched a new 10-episode digital series Influenced By featuring the Kentucky native talking about the artists who have influenced him and helped shape him as an artist and songwriter.

He kicked off the new series with one of his heroes, Luke Bryan. The weekly series is available on YouTube and across his socials, with a new episode airing each week. Episode 2, released last week, features Montgomery talking about one of his biggest influences, Glenn Miller, one of the most popular American big-band artists to emerge from the swing era during WWII.

“Growing up, I was blessed to be influenced and exposed to a wide range of different artists, music and songs, whether that was country, bluegrass, gospel or big band,” said Montgomery. “It all influenced the music that I make today.”

Emerging artist Montgomery released his new up-tempo feel-good single “Bad Day To Be A Beer” in late 2020. The song was penned by Dallas Davidson, Brock Berryhill, Ray Fulcher and Cole Taylor, and is the first single from a collection of new music expected next year.

The BMI Foundation is extending the deadline for scholarship applications to Friday, Jan. 29 for its programs including the Nashville Songwriting Scholarship, the Future Jazz Master Scholarship, John Lennon Scholarships, and the peermusic Latin Scholarship. The scholarships will award over $30,000 in prizes for best original songs in all genres of music.

The sixth annual Nashville Songwriting Scholarship will award $5,000 for the best original song in any of the following genres: Americana, blues, bluegrass, contemporary Christian, country, folk, and roots. The scholarship contest is open to students between the ages of 17-24 who are enrolled in any college or university located in the U.S. Grammy-winning recording artist and BMI songwriter Kacey Musgraves will serve as a final judge in the competition.

Program applications must be completed online no later than Friday, Jan. 29 at 11:59 p.m. For complete details and to apply, visit bmifoundation.org/programs.

Parker Stacy Named Director Of Digital Marketing At Collective Artist Management

Parker Stacey has been named Director of Digital Marketing for Collective Artist Management. His role has expanded to handle all digital marketing initiatives for the full roster of clients including Clint Black, Everette, Grant Landis, Edwin McCain, Sara Evans and Tyler Rich. Stacey joined Collective Artist Management as an intern in January 2019 and was then hired in August 2019 as Manager of Digital Marketing. Prior to joining CAM, he worked for Riverbend Music Festival in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

“Parker is fearless. Even during our industry’s challenges over the past year, he has continually stepped up with his creative energy and original thinking,” said CAM President Brinson Strickland. “The Collective, our artists and our partners are all lucky to have him.”

Taylor Miller Named Grayscale Marketing’s Manager Of Strategic/Creative Marketing

Taylor Miller has been named Grayscale Marketing’s new Manager of Strategic & Creative Marketing. Miller will lead the agency’s non-music industry corporate clients in marketing, advertising, and creative strategy. She will report directly to the CEO, Tim Gray. Prior to joining the team at Grayscale, Miller worked as a publicist and designer with a number of clients including Microsoft, Acura, Belkin, Humm Kombucha, Chileno Bay Resort, and Hotel Wailea in Maui. Originally from New Jersey, Miller holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications Design from Syracuse University.

“Taylor’s broad experience in publicity, design, and marketing across industry sets her apart, but to me, her superpowers lie in ideation, strategy, communication, and creative problem-solving.” said Gray. “She has really hit the ground running and made an immediate impact on the team and her clients. I feel like we’ve all leveled up since she’s joined the GSM family, and I’m thrilled to have her on the team as we continue scaling the agency”

Mallory Mason Joins King Business & Financial Management LLC

King Business & Financial Management LLC (KBFM), which is celebrating its two year anniversary this year, has added Mallory Mason to the firm as Business Manager. Mason—who has a decade of experience, including time at Wiles + Taylor and Company—joins the firm that Chris King started in early 2019. KBFM’s roster includes international touring artists, songwriters, producers, industry executives and publishing companies.

“2020 has been a whirlwind of a year for all of those involved in the entertainment industry, especially business management,” says King. “I am very excited to announce the addition of Mallory Mason to our team. Mallory brings years of experience that are vital for a firm who prides itself on having expertise in working with global superstars and fresh talent alike. Our focus is on ensuring all clients receive top notch service no matter where they are in their career.”

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.

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.