Pictured (L-R): London Gatch, Stephen Christian, Conrad Johnson, Jordan Lee Dooley

One of Christian music’s full-service entertainment management firms, First Company Management, is set to wrap 2018 with four new signees to its acclaimed roster. First Company general manager Mike McCloskey recently announced the signings of worship leader London Gatch; Anberlin frontman Stephen Christian; singer/songwriter Conrad Johnson; and popular blogger and speaker Jordan Lee Dooley to the firm’s management roster. 

First Company Management was established in 1995 by Christian music exec Wes Campbell. Under the guidance of Campbell and Dave Wagner, the firm’s roster includes Newsboys, Ryan Stevenson, 7eventh Time Down, Ashes Remain, former Stellar Kart and Audio Adrenaline frontman Adam Agee, and breakout new artist Austin French. In addition, First Company played a significant role in the development of the faith-based film God’s Not Dead.
 

Mitchell Tenpenny Celebrates ‘Secrets’ With Sold-Out City Winery Show

(L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Marketing Manager Chloe Doyle and SVP Media & Corporate Communications Allen Brown; 377/Red Light Management’s Haley McLemore; SMN Partnership Marketing Manager Jamie Alberici; Tenpenny’s manager Kristen Ashley; SMN’s Tenpenny Marketing Lead Jennifer Way and Chairman & CEO Randy Goodman; Mitchell Tenpenny; Columbia Nashville Promotion SVP Shane Allen; SMN Sr. Dir. Partnership Marketing Nicole Marinake; Tenpenny’s day to day manager JT Pratt; SMN’s COO/EVP Ken Robold, Manager Sales & Streaming Rachel Clogston and Associate Director Digital Strategy Jessica Valiyi; Columbia Nashville Director Northeast Regional Promotion Lyndsay Church; and, 377/Red Light Management’s Anthony DeVincenzo Photo: Alan Poizner

Mitchell Tenpenny celebrated his album debut Telling All My Secrets Tuesday night (Dec. 11) in Nashville. Tenpenny had much to celebrate with the sold-out City Winery crowd, including his new album and his first No. 1 single “Drunk Me.” Singer/songwriter Adam Hambrick kicked off the night’s festivities.

Toby Keith Honored With Harmony Award At Symphony Ball

Toby Keith and his agent Curt Motley recently attended the Nashville Symphony’s 34^thAnnual Symphony Ball, where Keith was presented with the Harmony Award and the symphony performed a classical medley of Keith’s No. 1 hits.

Tyler Rich Visits ACM Offices

(L-R:) Tom Torii, ACM SVP, Finance & Operations; Tyler Rich; Carrie Tekautz, ACM Coordinator, Awards & Membership   Photo Credit: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of the Academy of Country Music

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Tyler Rich to their offices while he was in L.A. recently. While at the Academy, Tyler performed his current single, “The Difference,” which went No. 1 on SiriusXM, and other songs from his self-titled EP on The Valory Music Co. Rich is taking the songs on the road opening for Brett Young on the CMT: Here Tonight Tour and has also been named a Pandora 2019 Country Artists to Watch.

ASCAP Reveals Sundance Music Cafe Plans For 2019

Pictured (L-R): Daniel Miller, Fusion Music and ACM Board member; Jacob Davis; Kele Currier, ASCAP Senior Director, Strategic Services and ACM Board member; Carlton Anderson; JT Harding; Erick Long, ACM SVP, Events; Erika Wollam Nichols, GM, The Bluebird Café. Credit: Bluebird Cafe

For over 20 years, ASCAP has hosted a Music Café in the heart of the Sundance Film Festival, featuring intimate performances by songwriters and artists. Next month, ASCAP continues the tradition, and in collaboration with the Academy of Country Music and the famed Bluebird Cafe, will present some of Nashville’s rising stars and country legends at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café.

Carlton Anderson, Jacob Davis and JT Harding celebrated bringing together the Academy and The Bluebird Cafe by performing a sold-out show at the Bluebird in Nashville Thursday night (Dec. 6). In January, Anderson and Davis will be joined by some very special guests at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café as part of the ACM & Bluebird Cafe Songwriters Series during the Sundance Film Festival. The complete Sundance ASCAP Music Café lineup will be announced in early 2019.

 

ASCAP Honors Austin Jenckes

Austin Jenckes pictured with ASCAP President Paul Williams (Right) and the Executor of the Adamson Estate Tony Mulanix (Left).

Austin Jenckes was in New York City last night (Dec. 12) for the ASCAP Foundation Awards. Jenckes was presented with The ASCAP Foundation Harold Adamson Lyric Award in Country for his song “I Got A Woman.” The award is presented in honor of the late lyricist Harold Adamson and is given to those who have demonstrated talent, musical intelligence and a dedication to future generations.

 

Matthew West Celebrates RIAA Platinum Certification

Pictured (L-R): David Sylvester (Vice President of Marketing, Capitol Christian Music Group), Brad O’Donnell (Chief Creative Officer, Capitol Christian Music Group), Matthew West, Hudson Plachy (Chief Marketing Officer, Capitol Christian Music Group), Peter York (Chairman & CEO, Capitol Christian Music Group). Photo: Trent Nicholson

Capitol Christian Music Group surprised Matthew West with an RIAA certified Platinum plaque commemorating his landmark song, “The Motions,” which reached No. 1 at Christian airplay for eight weeks with over 170 million global streams. The hit single marks West’s first career RIAA certified Platinum single.

 

Riley Green Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

Pictured (L-R): BMLG Records’ Jimmy Harnen, Rogue Management’s Joe Lee, Grand Ole Opry’s Sally Williams, Riley Green, Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta. Photo courtesy Grand Ole Opry LLC. Chris Hollo, photographer

A childhood dream was realized and fulfilled Tuesday (Dec. 11) as Riley Green made his official Grand Ole Opry debut. The cheeky “Get That Man A Beer,” a song about commiserating with another guy about both being cheated on by the same girl, started the set on a lighter note transitioning to the emotional “Numbers On the Cars,” a story about Alzheimer’s that runs in his family. Green capped his performance with his Top 20-and-climbing single “There Was This Girl.”

Photo: lyndsaycruz.com

The ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors and its Search Committee has announced Lyndsay Cruz will join the organization beginning Jan. 2, 2019. This position is based out of the Academy of Country Music (ACM) headquarters in Encino, California and reports to ACM Lifting Lives President and Academy of Country Music CEO, Pete Fisher.

“Lyndsay has well-established relationships with top creative professionals and firms across the entertainment sector and more than a decade of fundraising and event experience. We are excited to welcome her to ACM Lifting Lives and look forward to supporting her success in all our endeavors,” said Paul Barnabee, Vice Chairman of ACM Lifting Lives.

“ACM Lifting Lives has a wonderful history of making a difference, because of the amazing contributions of the country music community,” said Cruz. “I am honored and excited to contribute to the next chapter of the organization’s future.”

Cruz, a seasoned professional experienced in engaging celebrities in charitable affairs, began her career as a political appointee under George W. Bush’s White House where she worked as an Advance Representative for the Secretary of Education, Secretary of Treasury and the Vice President. She then went on to the international non-profit Oxfam America, where she created and managed their first-ever public figures ambassador program for 13 years. She left Oxfam to independently consult for a number of non-profit organizations, including two of the most successful fundraisers in New Orleans’ history, including leading the talent team of Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Galas in 2012 and 2014, and other major events and fundraising efforts for The Malala Fund, Emily’s List, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Girl Rising, The World Bank, Harlem Village Academies and many others.

She brings expertise from a range of fields, specifically talent outreach and recruitment, media and public relations, and logistics management to the newly created role of ACM Lifting Lives Executive Director. Cruz will lead and collaborate with stakeholders to further the mission of improving lives through the power of music, and execute ACM Lifting Lives 501(c)(3) California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, as well as organizational relationships, to meet qualifying needs.

Beginning Jan. 2, 2019, Cruz can be reached at lyndsay@acmcountry.com.