Rusty Gaston Officially Begins Reign At Sony/ATV As Publishing Powerhouse Acquires THiS Music

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Rusty Gaston

Rusty Gaston has officially started in his new role as CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville. MusicRow broke the news that Gaston would be joining the music publishing giant back in July 2019.

Gaston leads all creative and operations for the company’s Nashville division, including the signing of new songwriters and development of strategies to exploit its catalog. He reports to Jon Platt, Chairman and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

Sony/ATV has also acquired THiS Music, the Nashville-based publishing company Gaston co-founded with Nashville ‘Songwriters Hall of Fame’ inductee Tim Nichols and acclaimed songwriter Connie Harrington. THiS Music’s roster includes Ben Hayslip, two-time ASCAP ‘Songwriter of the Year’ winner and member of The Peach Pickers, as well as Grammy award winning artist Emily Weisband, who has written major pop hits for BTS, Halsey and Camila Cabello, among others.

Platt said, “Rusty is one of music’s most influential executives today, and his success in developing game-changing opportunities for songwriters makes him the perfect leader to step into this important role at Sony/ATV. I’m excited to work alongside Rusty and our Nashville team on nurturing the next generation of music’s hitmakers.”

Gaston added, “It is a tremendous honor to join Jon and the Sony/ATV family. The Sony/ATV Nashville catalog is the undisputed greatest collection of country music on the planet. As a music lover, I am in awe of the legacy of the songs and the songwriters…past, present and future…and I look forward to working with this amazing team and roster.”

 

 

Jimmy Dasher Joins APA Nashville

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Jimmy Dasher

APA Nashville has added Jimmy Dasher as a music agent; he will focus on booking clubs and theaters in North America’s Western region.

Dasher got his start in music as an artist, recording a few studio albums as well as working as a guitarist and bass player for other touring artists. In 2016, he joined Buddy Lee Attractions as an agent. In 2018, he joined Atomic Music Group, building a roster including artists Doug Stone, Terry McBride and Doug Kershaw.

“As a performer turned agent, Jimmy brings a wealth of experience to his work from both perspectives,” said APA partner and Co-Head of Worldwide Concerts, Steve Lassiter. “I’m very happy to have him join our Nashville team and look forward to working with him.”

“I’m excited to work with the team Steve has established at APA, and look forward to continuing to grow as an agent as I develop new relationships with their artists and buyers. It’s going to make a great home,” said Dasher.

Dasher can be reached at jdasher@apa-agency.com or (615) 297-0100.

Taylor Lamb Appointed Creative Director At RED Creative Group

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Taylor Lamb

Taylor Lamb has been named Creative Director for Nashville-based RED Creative Group. Lamb’s responsibilities in his new position will include creative publishing and writer management duties, as well as aiding in artist development initiatives.

He previously served as A&R Coordinator at Los Angeles-based indie publisher/record label/management company Position Music.

“Taylor has quickly proven himself to be a major asset for our writers and creative team. We are excited to welcome his talent and strong work ethic to our growing roster,“ said RED Creative Group president Jeremy Stover.

“I’m so excited to be part of such a hardworking team and can’t wait to come alongside our writers and artists to help them continue progressing in their art,” Lamb said.

 

John Prine Sets Second All The Best Festival For November

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John Prine

John Prine will once again welcome several of his musician friends for All The Best, a festival set for November in Punta Cana on Nov. 16-20. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will lead four days of musical performances and unique collaborations. The festival first launched in 2019.

This year, Oh Boy Records and Sixthman have partnered again and will welcome Bonnie Raitt, John Hiatt, Steve Earle, Iris Dement, Todd Snider, Paul Thorn, The Jerry Douglas Band, Ana Egge, and more.

For tickets, visit allthebestfest.com.

F. Reid Shippen, Chris Stevens Celebrate Grammy Honors

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F. Reid Shippen, Chris Stevens

Producer/engineer F. Reid Shippen and producer/songwriter Chris Stevens took home Grammy honors on Sunday (Jan. 26), for producing this year’s Best Roots Gospel Album, Gloria Gaynor‘s Testimony. The album was recorded live to analog tape at Nashville’s RCA Studio A.

F. Reid Shippen is managed by Triple 8 Management, while Chris Stevens is published by THiS Music Publishing.

Runaway June To Perform During Nashville’s Symphony Fashion Show

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BBR Music Group trio Runaway June will be the featured entertainment for the 2020 Symphony Fashion Show, set for April 14 at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

This year’s event will highlight the fashions of designer Zang Toi. The Symphony Fashion Show is presented each year via a partnership between the Nashville Symphony and Gus Mayer of Nashville.

“The Symphony Fashion Show has become one of Nashville’s most glamorous and spectacular events, a can’t-miss evening that brings together the best of fashion and music to help support the important work the Nashville Symphony does in our community,” said chairpersons Barbara Burns and Ashley Rosen. “So it is only fitting that the Symphony Fashion Show’s landmark 15th year will showcase this fabulous and fast-rising trio of gifted musicians. Naomi, Hannah, and Jennifer’s gorgeous three-part harmonies are a perfect fit for the warm acoustics of the Schermerhorn, and pairing them with Zang Toi and his dazzling collection ensures that guests are in for a truly electrifying night in April.”

Industry Pics: Luke Bryan Concludes Sixth Annual Crash My Playa

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Pictured (L-R): Lee Brice, Charles Kelley (Lady Antebellum), Luke Bryan, Brad Tursi, (Old Dominion), Dustin Lynch, Jonathan Fordin & Dan Berkowitz with CID Presents. Photo: Ethan Helms

Luke Bryan finished his sixth consecutive sold-out Crash My Playa event in Mexico’s Riviera Cancun area over the weekend. Bryan headlined two of the event’s four nights, which also included headliners Jason Aldean and Old Dominion. Others performing throughout the weekend included Dustin Lynch, Lee Brice, Scotty McCreery, Granger Smith, Jordan Davis, Jon Langston, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack, Kendell Marvel and DJ Rock.

Bryan also took advantage of the stunning locale to film a music video that will be released after his new album Born Here, Live Here, Die Here, which drops April 24.

Pictured (L-R): Jason Aldean, Charles Kelley, Luke Bryan. Photo: Ethan Helms

Pictured: Dustin Lynch. Photo: ALIVE Coverage

In Pictures: Warner Music Nashville’s Grammy Gold

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Pictured (L-R): Dan Smyers, Blake Shelton and Shay Mooney attend the Warner Music Group Pre-Grammy Party at Hollywood Athletic Club on January 23, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Warner Music)

Warner Music Nashville celebrated all of its Grammy nominees during a pre-Grammy party at the Hollywood Athletic Club on Thursday, Jan. 23.

WMN duo Dan+Shay went on to win Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Speechless” during the Sunday evening Grammy ceremony, marking back-to-back wins in the category (they took home the same honor the previous year for “Tequila”). The duo’s “Speechless” was also nominated for Best Country Song.

Fellow WMN artist Blake Shelton was nominated for Best Country Solo Performance (“God’s Country”) and performed “Nobody But You,” his latest single featuring Gwen Stefani. Ashley McBryde also scored two nominations, for Best Country Solo Performance (“Girl Goin’ Nowhere”) and Best Country Song (“Girl Goin’ Nowhere”).

Pictured (L-R): Ashley McBryde and Blake Shelton attend the Warner Music Group Pre-Grammy Party at Hollywood Athletic Club on January 23, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for Warner Music)

Pictured(L-R): John Esposito, Scott Hendricks, Shay Mooney, Blake Shelton, Max Lousada, Gwen Stefani, Dan Smyers and Ashley McBryde attend the Warner Music Group Pre-Grammy Party at Hollywood Athletic Club on January 23, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for Warner Music)

Industry Pics: ASCAP, Lauren Alaina, Kalie Shorr

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ASCAP Celebrates Alabama Music Hall Of Fame Inductees

Pictures (L-R): ASCAP’s Mike Sistad, Backstreet Boys’ Brian Littrell, Gary Baker, Backstreet Boys’ Kevin Richardson. Photo by Ken Shelton.

ASCAP and Nashville music industry friends traveled to the Muscle Shoals area on Saturday, Jan. 25 to celebrate Alabama Music Hall of Fame 2020 inductee Gary Baker and fellow inductees Mervyn Warren, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton, and Elton B. Stephens.

Shoals songwriter Baker was inducted by friends Brian Littrell and Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys. Baker moved to Muscle Shoals more than 40 years ago to write songs, and his hits include the Grammy-winning “I Swear,” made famous by both John Michael Montgomery and All 4 One, and “I’m Already There,” recorded by Lonestar.

Pictured (L-R): Tower Community Bank’s John Briggs, past Alabama Music Hall of Fame inductees David Briggs and Spooner Oldham, hit songwriter Chris Tompkins, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad.

 

 

Lauren Alaina Announces New EP During ‘Today Show’ Visit

TODAY Show host Jenna Bush Hager (Left) and guest host Jerry O’Connell (Right) welcome Lauren Alaina (Center) to set to perform her latest single “Getting Good.” Photo: NBC

Lauren Alaina recently announced her upcoming six-song EP, Getting Good, will be released March 6. She made the announcement during an appearance on NBC’s TODAY Show, where she also performed her single “Getting Good.”

 

 

Kalie Shorr Visits WSM/Circle’s Coffee, Country and Cody

Pictured: Shorr, WSM’s Charlie Mattos, WSM’s Bill Cody, WSM’s Jo Smith. Photo: 117 Entertainment

Kalie Shorr visited WSM and Circle’s Coffee, Country and Cody recently to perform two songs off her debut album Open Book and promote her “Too Much to Say” Tour, which visits Nashville’s Exit/In on Friday, Jan. 31.

SOURCE Hall Of Fame Awards Set For August

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The 18th Annual SOURCE Hall of Fame Awards have been set for Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020 at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville.

The annual awards honor and induct a select group of women into the SOURCE Hall of Fame who have made a significant impact on the Nashville entertainment industry. Inductees for 2020 will be announced soon. Info on how to purchase tickets, partnerships, and program ads will be released in the upcoming weeks.

The SOURCE Awards were established in 2003 to honor and pay respect to the women who helped shape and build upon Nashville’s entertainment industry. Founded in 1991, SOURCE is the longest running organization for females in the music industry in Nashville and is dedicated to fostering relationships and opportunities for its members through continuous education, networking, and community service initiatives.