MTSU rendering
Middle Tennessee State University has announced that a newly renovated live entertainment venue on the MTSU campus will be named the Chris Young Café to honor the multi-Platinum entertainer’s continued support of his alma mater.
The newly named Chris Young Café, located in a standalone dining building and surrounded by residence halls, will be a teaching and practice space for student performers and technicians during the day and a performance venue at night for music, radio broadcasts, comedy and other entertainment. At a celebratory event on Tuesday (July 9), MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee thankedYoung for lending his name for the venue—and for giving $50,000 for renovations.
“The Chris Young Café will encourage our students to dream bigger,” McPhee said. “Chris studied at MTSU and then launched a successful music industry career, so every time they see his name on the café, their aspirations will seem a little more obtainable if they follow in his footsteps and work as hard as he has.”
Chris Young, a former MTSU student (right, back), looks on as President Sidney A. McPhee and other university officials unveil the concept rendering for the Chris Young Café, a live performance venue on the Murfreesboro university’s campus. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
Young, who attended MTSU in 2005, is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has earned 2 billion on-demand streams, 12 million singles sold and 11 career No. 1 singles. He has two Grammy nominations, as well as award nods from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards.
A global ambassador for country music, Young has maintained his ties to the Murfreesboro campus, funding an annual scholarship for recording industry students beginning in 2016 and donating a selection of his touring audio equipment in 2012.
“MTSU will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Young. “It helped me launch my music career and I’m glad for the opportunity to give back to the University.
“I’ve been in that building before when I was still on campus,” Young said with a smile. “The fact that it’s going to turn into an incredible space for students to learn and perform, I am jealous that that is going to exist and I’m also very honored to be a small part of it.”
Chris Young talks about his decision to support the creation of a new live performance venue on the Murfreesboro university’s campus, as President Sidney A. McPhee looks on. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
Located in the Woodmore Building and formerly known as the Cyber Café, the facility has 3,200 square feet of community and dining space with two raised platform stages. The College of Media and Entertainment assumed management of the performance space last year, when faculty from the Department of Recording Industry began work to ready the café for shows.
Media and Entertainment Dean Ken Paulson said the college was “grateful to Chris for giving our students this hands-on opportunity to learn.
“When you’re teaching students how to manage, book and promote a concert hall, club or theater, having a working venue on campus is invaluable,” Paulson said.
Recording Industry Chair Beverly Keel said Young’s support “means so much to the university, faculty and students.
“His generosity will allow our students to gain real-world, hands-on experience in performing and live sound,” Keel said. “He is a wonderful role model for our students, not only because of his success, but because of his desire to continually give back and help others.”
Pictured (L-R): Beverly Keel, Recording Industry Chair; Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU President; Chris Young; Ken Paulson, Media and Entertainment Dean. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
In a conversation after the announcement, Keel and Young talked about his time at MTSU, and the potential of the Chris Young Café.
“The Chris Young Café means that our audio production students will get live sound experience, the students that want to be songwriters and artists will get performance experience, our music business students will get experience in booking and promoting shows and then also, it’s going to have that sense of community where everyone can come together in support. What would that have meant to you if you had had that during your day?” Keel asked.
“I mean, we did have a lot of that,” Young replied. “That’s what’s really cool about MTSU. [The Chris Young Café] is really focusing it and giving it a place to exist. It always existed in one form or another. We were always going to somebody, saying ‘Hey, I’ve got to play a show, do you know anyone that can run sound? Do you know anybody that’s an audio engineer?’ So a lot of those things already existed, this will hopefully just help students grow exponentially faster at whatever their craft is.”
Chris Young talks with Recording Industry department chair Beverly Keel about his continued support of his alma mater. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
“A lot of what was impressed upon me [at MTSU] is to know as much as you can about everything that’s involved in your career, because it’s never going to hurt. Just try everything out. By that I mean, even if it’s not going to be your focus, get a chance to see all facets of your career. Go ask somebody what they have to do to run lighting at a show, go ask somebody what they have to do to run front of house, if you’re a stage manager, what do you do, or a set carpenter. There’s so many different facets of a career.”
When asked about Young’s advice for current students, he said: “No matter what you want to do, not only should you work as hard as you can but also just understand as many of the facets of your industry as possible because you never know when that’s going to come in handy. Just knowing as much as possible about what you’re going into.”
SiriusXM Adds New Channels, Personalization, Expanded Video, Mobile App Upgrades
/by Eric T. ParkerThis upgrade for SiriusXM Select customers will also include access to over 100 recently launched Xtra Music Channels, curated across genres. This coincides with an expanded preview of SiriusXM Video that unlocks SiriusXM’s On Demand Archive via the SiriusXM app and web player. Subscribers can see hundreds of videos including in-studio performances, behind-the-scenes moments, and more from artists including Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Reba McEntire, Lady Antebellum, with new videos being added regularly.
Subscribers to the SiriusXM All Access and SiriusXM Premier Streaming packages will now be able to create their own customized commercial-free music stations within the SiriusXM app. With Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora, driven by Pandora’s Music Genome Project, the stations will draw from SiriusXM’s music library and be served through SiriusXM’s delivery infrastructure.
“We have always been dedicated to delivering our customers great value for their subscriptions, and we have achieved remarkable growth and listener loyalty by delivering unrivaled and exclusive content in an easy-to-use way. These new initiatives represent another tremendous step forward in that effort, and give our customers more value for their money than ever before,” said Jennifer Witz, SiriusXM’s President, Sales, Marketing and Operations. “Tens of millions of SiriusXM Select subscribers now get access to SiriusXM outside the car, and the many benefits of the SiriusXM app, at no additional cost. We are also especially proud that only six months after completing the merger with Pandora, our teams have brought unique music personalization to the SiriusXM app using Pandora’s industry-leading technology for our millions of All Access and Premier Streaming customers.”
For more info on these new features, go to SiriusXM.com/big.
Ruston Kelly Signs With Concord Music Publishing
/by Lorie HollabaughRuston Kelly has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing. Kelly is set to release his next album on Rounder Records in 2020.
Born in South Carolina, Kelly moved to Nashville at 17 and began penning songs for artists like Tim McGraw and Josh Abbott Band. He continued working on his own material, breaking through with the release of his debut EP Halloween in 2017 and his full length debut album, Dying Star in September of 2018.
“Ruston is that rare, wonderful breed of writer – with one foot firmly planted in tradition, while constantly pushing the limits of contemporary creativity. He has an undeniable punk ethic, like many of the legendary greats before him,” said Tom DeSavia, SVP of A&R/Artist Relations for Concord Music Publishing.
“We’re so honored to have Ruston join the Concord family of songwriters. We are beyond excited to be a part of his creative team, and we can’t wait for the world to hear what he has in store,” said Brad Kennard, VP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing.
“Refreshing the air in a writer’s sphere is bittersweet but also necessary at times,” said Ruston Kelly. “Signing with Concord is just that for me, and I’m very excited to have such an enthusiastic and driven team here.”
In addition to his solo work, Ruston Kelly has written songs for artists like Rob Baird, Hayes Carll, and Lucie Silvas. He recently played the Bonnaroo Music Festival and is set to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago next month. Kelly will kick off his headlining Brightly Burst Tour in September.
MTSU To Open The Chris Young Café, A Renovated Live Entertainment Space, In Fall
/by LB CantrellMTSU rendering
Middle Tennessee State University has announced that a newly renovated live entertainment venue on the MTSU campus will be named the Chris Young Café to honor the multi-Platinum entertainer’s continued support of his alma mater.
The newly named Chris Young Café, located in a standalone dining building and surrounded by residence halls, will be a teaching and practice space for student performers and technicians during the day and a performance venue at night for music, radio broadcasts, comedy and other entertainment. At a celebratory event on Tuesday (July 9), MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee thankedYoung for lending his name for the venue—and for giving $50,000 for renovations.
“The Chris Young Café will encourage our students to dream bigger,” McPhee said. “Chris studied at MTSU and then launched a successful music industry career, so every time they see his name on the café, their aspirations will seem a little more obtainable if they follow in his footsteps and work as hard as he has.”
Chris Young, a former MTSU student (right, back), looks on as President Sidney A. McPhee and other university officials unveil the concept rendering for the Chris Young Café, a live performance venue on the Murfreesboro university’s campus. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
Young, who attended MTSU in 2005, is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has earned 2 billion on-demand streams, 12 million singles sold and 11 career No. 1 singles. He has two Grammy nominations, as well as award nods from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards.
A global ambassador for country music, Young has maintained his ties to the Murfreesboro campus, funding an annual scholarship for recording industry students beginning in 2016 and donating a selection of his touring audio equipment in 2012.
“MTSU will always hold a special place in my heart,” said Young. “It helped me launch my music career and I’m glad for the opportunity to give back to the University.
“I’ve been in that building before when I was still on campus,” Young said with a smile. “The fact that it’s going to turn into an incredible space for students to learn and perform, I am jealous that that is going to exist and I’m also very honored to be a small part of it.”
Chris Young talks about his decision to support the creation of a new live performance venue on the Murfreesboro university’s campus, as President Sidney A. McPhee looks on. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
Located in the Woodmore Building and formerly known as the Cyber Café, the facility has 3,200 square feet of community and dining space with two raised platform stages. The College of Media and Entertainment assumed management of the performance space last year, when faculty from the Department of Recording Industry began work to ready the café for shows.
Media and Entertainment Dean Ken Paulson said the college was “grateful to Chris for giving our students this hands-on opportunity to learn.
“When you’re teaching students how to manage, book and promote a concert hall, club or theater, having a working venue on campus is invaluable,” Paulson said.
Recording Industry Chair Beverly Keel said Young’s support “means so much to the university, faculty and students.
“His generosity will allow our students to gain real-world, hands-on experience in performing and live sound,” Keel said. “He is a wonderful role model for our students, not only because of his success, but because of his desire to continually give back and help others.”
Pictured (L-R): Beverly Keel, Recording Industry Chair; Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU President; Chris Young; Ken Paulson, Media and Entertainment Dean. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
In a conversation after the announcement, Keel and Young talked about his time at MTSU, and the potential of the Chris Young Café.
“The Chris Young Café means that our audio production students will get live sound experience, the students that want to be songwriters and artists will get performance experience, our music business students will get experience in booking and promoting shows and then also, it’s going to have that sense of community where everyone can come together in support. What would that have meant to you if you had had that during your day?” Keel asked.
“I mean, we did have a lot of that,” Young replied. “That’s what’s really cool about MTSU. [The Chris Young Café] is really focusing it and giving it a place to exist. It always existed in one form or another. We were always going to somebody, saying ‘Hey, I’ve got to play a show, do you know anyone that can run sound? Do you know anybody that’s an audio engineer?’ So a lot of those things already existed, this will hopefully just help students grow exponentially faster at whatever their craft is.”
Chris Young talks with Recording Industry department chair Beverly Keel about his continued support of his alma mater. Photo: J Intintoli for MTSU
“A lot of what was impressed upon me [at MTSU] is to know as much as you can about everything that’s involved in your career, because it’s never going to hurt. Just try everything out. By that I mean, even if it’s not going to be your focus, get a chance to see all facets of your career. Go ask somebody what they have to do to run lighting at a show, go ask somebody what they have to do to run front of house, if you’re a stage manager, what do you do, or a set carpenter. There’s so many different facets of a career.”
When asked about Young’s advice for current students, he said: “No matter what you want to do, not only should you work as hard as you can but also just understand as many of the facets of your industry as possible because you never know when that’s going to come in handy. Just knowing as much as possible about what you’re going into.”
‘CMA Fest’ Special Set To Air On ABC In August
/by Lorie HollabaughCMA Fest, the TV special featuring highlight performances from Nashville’s Music Event of Summer, brings the hottest acts together onstage for three full hours of epic collaborations and must-see performances Sunday, Aug. 4 at 7 CT on ABC. The primetime special, hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini with special guest host Bobby Bones, brings the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience to a national TV audience for the 16th straight year.
Filmed during Nashville’s 48th annual CMA Fest in June, the special features more than 30 acts as they appear during the four-day festival. Fans won’t want to miss special collaborations including for the first time ever Lil Nas X joined by Billy Ray Cyrus and Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and The Chainsmokers, Brothers Osborne with Brooks & Dunn and Ashley McBryde, Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell, Tim McGraw and Luke Combs, Maren Morris and Brandi Carlile, and Carrie Underwood with Joan Jett.
Additional performers include Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Midland, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett and Brett Young.
Thomas Rhett returns to host CMA Fest for a fourth year, first co-hosting the special in 2016, while Kelsea Ballerini returns for a third year.
Breaking: Jimmy Harnen Adds CEO Title At BMLG Records
/by Jessica NicholsonJimmy Harnen has been elevated to President/CEO at BMLG Records, and inked a new long-term deal with the company.
Harnen will continue to oversee the BMLG Records’ roster of artists including trailblazing Diamond-certified superstars Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Brett Young, Danielle Bradbery and Riley Green.
“I am so proud of what Jimmy has helped to build at the Big Machine Label Group,” said Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta. “He and I have been breaking acts and making hits together for the better part of the last 20 years. I’m thrilled that he’s committed to continue to lead BMLG Records as he’s been an integral part of the overall success. His passion for the artists, staff, craft and leadership of BMLG Records is second to none. I also love that we continue to challenge each other every day to be the absolute best in the business. The new era has begun.”
Adds Harnen, “I can’t wait for everything the future brings! I truly believe there has never been a more exciting time to be in the music business and this new era for BMLG will be groundbreaking on every level. On a personal note, I could not be more thankful for everything Scott has done for me. He took a chance on a kid from Pennsylvania and gave me the opportunity to succeed. Fight like apes!”
Under his leadership, BMLG Records has scored 31 No. 1 hits, 39 Top 10 singles and released 23 albums that have accumulated millions in sales and billions of streams. The label is home to two of the five most downloaded country singles of all-time – Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and The Band Perry’s “If I Die Young.”
The most recent signees to BMLG Records Lady Antebellum, saw their debut single, “What If I Never Get Over You,” earn the most first-week adds from country radio of their accomplished career. Additionally, Harnen guided the rise of Brett Young’s first five consecutive No. 1 singles as well as Riley Green’s debut No. 1 hit.
Crowd Surf Adds Four To Nashville Office
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Leah Ducey, Dakota Heflin, AmiBeth Olds, Kristin Watson
Crowd Surf co-founders, Cassie Petrey and Jade Driver, have added four team members to the Nashville office, including Leah Ducey as VP of Marketing, Dakota Heflin as Senior Publicist, AmiBeth Olds as Operations Manager, and Kristin Watson as Senior Project Director.
“Jade and I are thrilled to welcome all four of our new employees to Crowd Surf,” said Petrey. “These ladies all contribute to our Nashville office’s upper management expansion with their unique experience and talent that will be outstanding in providing results for our clients.”
Prior to Crowd Surf, Ducey was the Associate Director of Digital Marketing/Product Manager at Sony’s Epic Records in New York City, where she worked collectively for eight years. She recently relocated to Nashville and will oversee the Nashville office as well as a roster of artists including Sabrina Carpenter, Asher Angel and more. She will report to Petrey and Driver and can be reached at leah@crowdsurf.net.
Heflin comes to Crowd Surf after operating boutique PR firm Songshine Media, working on publicity campaigns for a variety of independent country acts. Heflin also served as day-to-day publicist for Billy Ray Cyrus and others during her time at AristoPR. In her new role, she will oversee publicity efforts for Crowd Surf’s country music clients. She will report to VP of Publicity, Nina Kolb, and can be reached at dakota@crowdsurf.net.
Olds is now with Crowd Surf after global business interactions as Senior Sales Manager for J. Valentine Inc. with a total of ten years in the fashion industry. Olds will oversee day-to-day business operations and internal development. She reports directly to Petrey and Driver and can be reached at amibeth@crowdsurf.net.
Watson joins Crowd Surf after almost 10 years with Sony Music working on behalf of multiple talent rosters including the likes of Garth Brooks and Miranda Lambert. She further worked with other top country and Christian acts with time at ThinkSwell and The Collective Management. Watson will oversee multiple country and pop roster-mates. She will report directly to Petrey and Driver and can be reached at kristin@crowdsurf.net.
Crowd Surf was formed in 2007. The company has offices in Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York.
Tree Vibez Music Adds Blake Redferrin To Roster
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R, back row): Adam Romaine (Tvm Creative Director/Tour Manager); Tyler Hubbard (Florida Georgia Line/Tvm Co-Founder); Brian Kelley (Florida Georgia Line/Tvm Co-Founder); (L-R, front row): Leslie T. Dipiero (Tvm General Manager); Blake Redferrin; Emily Peacock (Tvm Creative Director)
Tree Vibez Music has signed writer Blake Redferrin to its roster.
Redferrin, a native of White House, Tennessee, first began exploring music when he received a guitar his father brought home from his job at Nashville’s Gibson Guitar plant. However, riding and racing dirt bikes was his first love during his teen years and he went pro at age 18. He later joined the national Arenacross circuit, while also serving as Editor-in-Chief at Motoplayground Magazine. But after a crash knocked Redferrin unconscious and broke his arm, coupled with the unexpected loss of his mother in 2017, he decided to try a different career path.
He had already met Florida Georgia Line member and Tree Vibez Music co-founder Tyler Hubbard through a mutual friend and bonded after riding at Hubbard’s private track, and was then introduced to TVM Creative Director/Tour Manager Adam Romaine.
“Signing with Tree Vibez is a dream come true,” says Redferrin. “I can’t thank everyone enough for giving me a chance to write songs for a living. I’ve grown in so many ways in the short time I’ve been a part of the TVM family and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for all of us.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome our newest writer to the Tree Vibez family,” shares FGL’s Hubbard and Brian Kelley. “Blake has grown as a writer faster than we could have ever imagined and we look forward to what’s ahead for him,” says Kelley. Hubbard adds, “Not only is Blake the man in a writing room but he’s also one of the best guys you’ll ever meet, and it’s easy to see why everyone loves being around him. Big things ahead for this guy.”
TVM General Manager Leslie T. DiPiero agrees, “Everything about Blake is fresh, unique, and fearless. His songwriting has a distinctive style that you can hear in any song he is a part of. From the moment he was signed, we all felt like we knew him forever.”
Redferrin joins a team that also includes Corey Crowder, James McNair, RaeLynn, Daniel Ross, Jordan Schmidt, Canaan Smith, Ernest K. Smith, and Jared Mullins.
Kane Brown To Headline STAPLES Center 20th Anniversary Bash
/by Lorie HollabaughKane Brown has been tapped to headline STAPLES Center’s 20th anniversary concert at the Los Angeles arena on Oct. 18. The concert marks the first major milestone event in what will be a year-long celebration of the arena’s history since opening its doors on Oct. 17, 1999. STAPLES Center will celebrate their 20-year anniversary with a series of events and special nights dedicated to highlighting significant moments that have taken place.
“We are thrilled to have Kane Brown headline STAPLES Center as part of our 20th anniversary celebration,“ Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE. “It is pretty remarkable to think that Kane was just shy of turning six years old when we opened our doors in 1999 and now he will be a huge part of us ushering in the next generation of extraordinary talent to headline our arena.”
“STAPLES Center is an incredibly diverse and iconic venue and it is an honor to headline and be a part of their 20th anniversary kick off celebration. From the Lakers, Clippers, Kings and Sparks, to all the artists that have graced the stage there, they bring the best in entertainment to Los Angeles and I cannot wait to celebrate the last 20 years and kick-off the next 20,” said Brown.
Tickets will go on-sale Friday, July 26 at AXS.com with tickets starting at $20. Exclusive pre-sales will be available through STAPLES Center, Go Country 105 and Kane Brown’s Fan Club.
Grand Ole Opry Reveals New Immersive Film, Custom-Built Theater
/by Jessica Nicholson“Photo courtesy BRC | Grand Ole Opry; photo by Matt Blair”
The Grand Ole Opry has unveiled the latest upgrade to its daytime backstage tour, a new immersive film and newly custom-built theater, The Circle Room. The new film, hosted by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, takes viewers through a behind-the-scenes journey of artists who have performed at the Opry. The film features archival footage of more than 100 artists.
In the film, Brooks and Yearwood stand in the Opry’s famous circle which moved with the Opry from the historic Ryman Auditorium to the Opry House more than 40 years ago and reflect on their first memories of the Opry, their Opry debuts, member invitations and inductions and more. The 14-minute film highlights artists from DeFord Bailey to Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Chris Young and Luke Combs, recalling memorable performances and Opry inductions.
The Grand Ole Opry Premieres New Immersive Film for industry guests in the state of the art custom-built Circle Room as part of the new backstage tour experience. The film was followed by a panel Q&A discussion about the creation of the 14-minute film. (L to R: Scott Bailey, Opry Entertainment President; Bill Cody, Opry announcer and 650 WSM AM host; Barbara Schaetz,VP Business Operations for Grand Ole Opry House; Colin Reed, Chairman and CEO for Ryman Hospitality Properties; Mark Wills, Opry member; Brad Shelton, BRC Imagination Arts Creative Director)
© Grand Ole Opry, Photo By: Chris Hollo
The new film is shown in one of the Grand Ole Opry’s newest additions, The Circle Room, a culmination of a $12 million expansion and renovation project at the Opry House, aimed at enhancing the guest experience. Other recent upgrades included a new retail store, added food and beverage options, a new parking area and plaza upgrades.
By day, the 1,500 square foot Circle Room serves as the starting point for Opry tours. By night, the room serves as a VIP lounge or a small live performance space. The Circle Room includes a theatrical LED lighting system, as well as a custom 23.1 surround sound audio system, with hidden speakers in the ceiling, walls and set pieces to allow audio engineers and designers to place sound anywhere in the show space. The space also allows for lighting changes to be made and for leaded crystal chandeliers to lower from the ceiling at the touch of a button to help instantly transform the space with a lounge feel. The new Opry Circle Room was designed and produced by BRC Imagination Arts, which has also worked with the Ryman Auditorium, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and more.
“Photo courtesy BRC | Grand Ole Opry; photo by Matt Blair”
“For nearly 100 years, the Grand Ole Opry has offered fans a unique way to discover and connect with country music’s new stars, superstars and legends,” said Colin Reed, chairman and chief executive officer for Ryman Hospitality Properties. “ As visitation to Nashville and the Opry has continued to rise in recent years, we have seen unprecedented demand from guests for more ways to connect with artists through the Opry and its amazing story. This magnificent film is designed to immerse fans in the Opry experience from an artist-centered point of view to give them a glimpse into why playing the Opry has been described by so many as the pinnacle of their careers.”
Luke Bryan Heads Back To The Farms For Annual Tour This Fall
/by Lorie HollabaughLuke Bryan will take a break from his Sunset Repeat Tour this Fall to set up in the harvest fields of six never-before played farms for his eleventh consecutive Farm Tour 2019. Luke’s guests for the mini-tour will include Cole Swindell, Mitchell Tenpenny, the Peach Pickers and DJ Rock during the September 26-October 5 run.
More than 100,000 fans have attended the tour each year since its inception in 2009. Bryan will continue giving back to farmers by awarding college scholarships to students from farming families who are attending local colleges or universities near the tour stops. To date, more than 60 scholarships have been granted through the proceeds.
Bayer is also proud to continue their #HeresToTheFarmer campaign this year. For every hashtag share, Bayer will donate a meal to a hungry American through Feeding America. Over the past few years, close to three million meals have been donated and over $180,000 went to area food banks and local farmers in each of the tour cities.