Steve “Bogie” Bogdanovich Passes

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Steve “Bogie” Bogdanovich, Romeo Entertainment Group Vice President/Production Manager, passed away on Monday (8/6) at the age of 66 following a three-year battle with ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Bogdanovich was born and raised in Omaha and started playing in local bands as a teenager. In 1978, he became the Production Manager for the Aksarben Coliseum and Thoroughbred Racetrack. He maintained his position at Aksarben until the building closed in 2001, then took a job with Romeo Entertainment Group as a production manager and booking agent. While working for REG, he became a true road warrior, producing concert events all over the western United States.

In addition to his full-time work, Bogie ventured into many side gigs, including his video production company, BogieVision, (1992-2003), his work producing the All Star Jam at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas (2003-2015), and his annual gig as production manager for the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting in Omaha. He was the recipient of several industry awards, including the 2013 IEBA Talent Buyer of the Year, the 2010 Academy of Country Music Talent Buyer of the Year, and the 2009 Jack Hunter Award from the Dakota Fairs Association.

Bogdanovich is survived by his wife of 45 years Nancy, two daughters and their husbands, Shawn Poulicek (Joe) and Jody Olsen (Ryan), two grandchildren, Steven and Sidney Poulicek, his mother Josie (Vecchio) Bogdanovich, sister Mary Jo Goodwin, and dog “L.B.”

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler on 7805 W. Center Road in Omaha. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 11 at 10 a.m. Cards can be sent in c/o Romeo Entertainment Group 5247 N. 129 th St. Omaha, NE 68164.

Carrie Underwood Welcomes All-Female Lineup For 2019 “Cry Pretty” Arena Tour

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Carrie Underwood will launch a new arena tour, The Cry Pretty Tour 360, in Spring 2019. Sponsored by CALIA, the new tour will kick off on May 1 in Greensboro, North Carolina, and will play 55 arenas across the U.S. and Canada and be promoted by AEG Presents. She will be joined on tour by special guests Maddie & Tae and Runaway June. The trek includes a stop at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Sept. 27, 2019.

Tickets for the concerts go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, Aug. 17 at 10am local time. Also beginning Monday, Aug. 13, a limited number of exclusive VIP Packages will be available which include an amazing selection of tickets, Meet & Greets, autographed memorabilia, custom merchandise and much more.

Following her successful “The Storyteller Tour – Stories in the Round,” the new production will feature a brand-new stage in the middle of the arena floor, creating a unique 360-degree setting to allow fans on all sides of the arena an intimate view of the concert. Barry Lather (Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson) is the tour’s Creative Director, and Nick Whitehouse/Fireplay (Justin Timberlake, Beyonce) is Production Designer.

“I love performing in the round,” says Underwood. “It’s so much fun for me and the band to play in every direction and creates a much more intimate and immersive experience for the audience, even in a larger arena setting. It’s been exciting to introduce audiences to Cry Pretty and I can’t wait to bring the new album to life on this tour, along with all of the songs we love to play live. I’m thrilled to be going out with an amazing line-up – Maddie & Tae and Runaway June are incredible artists that are going to bring even more electricity to our shows.”

Underwood has arranged for a donation of $1 from each ticket sold for The Cry Pretty Tour 360 to be contributed to Danita’s Children, which provides a safe haven for abandoned and vulnerable children in Haiti, while encouraging families to stay together through their education and malnutrition programs.

Prior to embarking on the tour next Spring, Underwood will appear at the upcoming iHeart Music Festival in Las Vegas, as well as such international festivals as The Long Road Festival and Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park in the UK, Tuckerville in The Netherlands, and Deni Ute Muster in Australia.

THE CRY PRETTY TOUR 360:
Date City Venue
May 1, 2019 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
May 3, 2019 Birmingham, AL Legacy Arena at the BJCC
May 4, 2019 N. Little Rock, AR Verizon Arena
May 6, 2019 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center
May 9, 2019 Phoenix, AZ Talking Stick Resort Arena
May 11, 2019 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
May 12, 2019 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
May 14, 2019 Sacramento, CA Golden1 Center
May 16, 2019 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
May 18, 2019 Bakersfield, CA Rabobank Arena
May 21, 2019 Portland, OR MODA Center at Rose Garden
May 22, 2019 Spokane, WA Spokane Arena
May 24, 2019 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome
May 25, 2019 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena
May 28, 2019 Edmonton, AB Rogers Place
May 31, 2019 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
June 2, 2019 Winnipeg, MB Bell MTS Place
June 9, 2019 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
June 10, 2019 Ottawa, ON Canadian Tire Centre
June 13, 2019 Hershey, PA GIANT Center
June 15, 2019 Cincinnati, OH U.S. Bank Arena
June 16, 2019 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse
June 18, 2019 St. Louis, MO Enterprise Center
June 20, 2019 Milwaukee, WI Fiserv Forum
June 21, 2019 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
June 23, 2019 Lincoln, NE Pinnacle Bank Arena
Sept 10, 2019 San Diego, CA Valley View Casino Center
Sept 12, 2019 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center
Sept 14, 2019 Salt Lake City, UT Vivint Smart Home Arena
Sept 16, 2019 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Sept 18, 2019 Wichita, KS INTRUST Bank Arena
Sept 19, 2019 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
Sept 21, 2019 Houston, TX Toyota Center
Sept 22, 2019 Lafayette, LA Cajundome
Sept 24, 2019 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Sept 25, 2019 Oklahoma City, OK Chesapeake Energy Arena
Sept 27, 2019 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena
Sept 29, 2019 Columbia, SC Colonial Life Arena
Sept 30, 2019 Raleigh, NC PNC Arena
Oct 2, 2019 New York City, NY Madison Square Garden
Oct 4, 2019 Washington, D.C. Capital One Arena
Oct 5, 2019 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center
Oct 10, 2019 Boston, MA TD Garden
Oct 12, 2019 Pittsburgh, PA PPG Paints Arena
Oct 13, 2019 Buffalo, NY KeyBank Center
Oct 16, 2019 Cleveland, OH Quicken Loans Arena
Oct 17, 2019 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center
Oct 19, 2019 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
Oct 20, 2019 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Oct 23, 2019 Memphis, TN FedExForum
Oct 24, 2019 Tulsa, OK BOK Center
Oct 26, 2019 Des Moines, IA Wells Fargo Arena
Oct 27, 2019 Sioux Falls, SD Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Oct 29, 2019 Chicago, IL United Center
Oct 31, 2019 Detroit, MI Little Caesars Arena*Tickets on sale Friday, Aug 24th in Wichita, Kansas City and Sioux Falls

Dan+Shay Plan “Tequila Tuesday” Street Party In Nashville

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Dan + Shay have cause to celebrate – and true to their roots, will do so back home in Nashville alongside their fans with a “Tequila Tuesday” Street Party on August 14.

The event, presented by City National Bank and benefiting Musicians On Call, will feature food trucks, assorted street games and activities, festive beverages and a full-band performance from the award-winning entertainers.

Hosted beside the Warner Music Nashville and Warner / Chappell Production Music headquarters on Music Circle North, the festivities are open to all ages and will begin at 6 p.m. Additional sponsors include Anderson Benson, ASCAP, BMI, CAA, Sam Adams, Sandbox Entertainment, Scooter Braun Projects, Don Julio, FBMM, Lyft, popchips and Topo Chico. Fans can reserve their free GA ticket here.

Former SESAC Headquarters Purchased

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The building at 55 Music Square East, home to the former SESAC headquarters, has been purchased by Jim Caden. According to Nashville Business Journal, Caden has plans to occupy one suite in the 16,000-square-foot building and lease the rest, after completing more than $500,000 in renovations.

In 2016, SESAC moved its headquarters to another building in the Music Row area, at 35 16th Ave. S.

Industry Ink: IBMA Foundation, Smith & Wesley, AristoPR

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IBMA Foundation Partners with The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee to Establish Endowment

The board of the IBMA Foundation (formerly the Foundation for Bluegrass Music) voted July 26 to move $50,000 of their undesignated funds into a new endowment managed by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, based in Nashville. Income earned by this endowment will return to the IBMA Foundation in perpetuity to help fund grants for educational programs and events that support the future of bluegrass music by introducing the music to upcoming generations of musicians and fans.

The IBMA Foundation awards $15,000 in grants annually, including $3,000 in mini-grants that help pay bands who present educational bluegrass music programs for children at schools and camps.

 

Smith & Wesley Sign With BFD

Country duo Smith & Wesley are prepping their second album For Better or For Worse. The duo’s Dream Walkin’ Records label has signed with national distribution company BFD via Orchard to handle all aspects of their current and future releases. The new album is due out this fall.

 

AristoPR Signs Kings Dining & Entertainment

Franklin-based restaurant and entertainment venue, Kings Dining & Entertainment has entered into a representation agreement with Nashville-based marketing and public relations firm, AristoPR, who will oversee publicity and public relations initiatives for the venue.

Located at CoolSprings Galleria, Kings Dining & Entertainment is a 25,000 square foot, 625 person-capacity-venue home to Kings Bowl, The Draft Room, The Royal Room, and The Whiskey Room Live. The venue offers guests unique entertainment experiences featuring luxury ten-pin bowling, table games, adult-geared “low tech” social games such as hoops and air hockey, and more. The Whiskey Room Live, Kings Bowl & The Draft Room feature an award-winning menu paired with upscale décor.  Their executive-chef designed menu is brought to life by “best-in-industry” service and various venue features, such as live music, karaoke, DJ’s, nightly promotions and deals for any size group.

Nashville Songwriters HOF To Welcome K.T. Oslin, Ronnie Dunn, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Byron Hill, Joe Melson

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Photo (L-R): Inductees Wayne Kirkpatrick, Byron Hill and Joe Melson; NaSHOF Executive Director Mark Ford; Inductees K. T. Oslin and Ronnie Dunn.

The latest inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame were announced during an event this morning (Aug. 7) in Nashville.

K.T. Oslin, Ronnie Dunn, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Byron Hill, and Joe Melson will be inducted during the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame gala slated for October 28 at Nashville’s Music City Center, according to an announcement from Pat Alger, chair of the organization’s board of directors.

These five writers and artists will join the current 208 members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Oslin signed to Elektra in 1981, which yielded two modestly-successful singles. By 1987, she had moved to Nashville and signed with RCA Nashville. Her self-penned song, “’80s Ladies” would earn the CMA Song of the Year in 1988. The same album also launched the singles “Do Ya” and “I’ll Always Come Back.” Her second album produced the singles “Money,” “Hey Bobby” “This Woman,” “Didn’t Expect It To go Down This Way,” and “Hold Me,” which earned a Grammy for Best Country Song in 1988. She was named SESAC’s Songwriter of the Year in 1988, 1989, and 1991. In 2014, she was inducted into the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Hill moved to Nashville in 1978 and was signed with ATV Music group, where he wrote the songs “Pickin’ Up Strangers” (Johnny Lee) and penned George Strait’s first No. 1 “Fool Hearted Memory.” He left ATV in 1984, but continued writing hit songs, including “Born Country” (Alabama), “Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous” (Tracy Byrd), “Nothing On But The Radio” (Gary Allan) and more. To date, his songs have generated more than 700 recordings, he’s earned 91 RIAA-certified Gold and Platinum Awards, 10 ASCAP Awards, and more.

Kirkpatrick spent his early songwriting career penning hits including Michael W. Smith’s “Place In This World,” and Amy Grant’s “Takes A Little Time,” and “Every Heartbeat.” In 1996, Wayne’s “Change The World,” co-written and recorded by Eric Clapton, earned a Grammy for Song of the Year. In 1999, he played, sang, and co-wrote 8 of the 10 tracks on Garth Brooks’ Chris Gaines project. In 2001, Kirkpatrick began collaborating with Little Big Town, resulting in songs such as “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” and “Little White Church.”

Melson’s early writing career was launched in the mid-1950s, when he met a then-unknown Roy Orbison. In 1960, their co-written “Only The Lonely” launched Orbison into stardom; the single would be entered into the Grammy hall of fame in 1999. In 1961, they co-wrote the smash hit “Crying,” with Orbison’s recording being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2002, Melson was also inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Dunn recorded with Kix Brooks as part of Brooks & Dunn from 1991-2011. Together, they earned the CMA Vocal Duo of the Year 14 times. Dunn is the sole writer on hits including “Neon Moon,” “Hard Workin’ Man,” “She Used To Be Mine,” “She’s Not The Cheatin’ Kind,” and “Boot Scootin’ Boogie,” which earned the ACM’s Song of the Year honor in 1992. Dunn was BMI’s Country Songwriter of the Year in 1996 and 1998. Dunn was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2003.

Jordan Feliz Hit “The River” Certified Gold

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Pictured (L-R): Centricity VP of Finance Ben Stauffer, VP of Publishing Chad Segura, Senior VP of A&R John Mays, Jordan Feliz, manager Adam Taylor, Centricity General Manager Steve Ford

Centricity Music artist Jordan Feliz is celebrating the most recent milestone for his hit “The River,” which has been certified Gold by the RIAA. Since its release, the track has also been honored with a GMA Dove Award nomination for Pop/Contemporary Song of the Year, a K-LOVE Fan Award nomination for Breakout Single of the Year, and the New Release Today We Love Christian Music Awards trophy for Song of the Year.

“I’m just really grateful,” said Feliz, who recently celebrated the milestone with his record label Centricity Music, family, bandmates, and other industry partners. “It’s always an honor with something you’re a part of creatively, to see it resonate with so many people. It’s incredible to see what it is the Lord does with music, and to be part of what He’s done with this song is amazing.”

Feliz wrote “The River” with Colby Wedgeworth and Josh Silverberg, with Wedgeworth also producing the track. The song, Feliz’s first-ever release to Christian radio, served as the title track for his 2016 album, which solidified Feliz as one of CCM’s fastest rising artists and earned him the Dove Award for Best New Artist. This year he followed up with his sophomore album, Future.

This fall Feliz heads out on the 28-city Big Church Night Out tour with Crowder.

In Pictures: Kenny Chesney, Carly Pearce, Watershed Festival

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Kenny Chesney And Espo Visit Backstage At The Tonight Show

Pictured (L-R): Kenny Chesney; John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN)

Kenny Chesney appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last week (July 31). With friends and team members joining him backstage, including Warner Music Nashville Chairman & CEO John Esposito, Chesney swapped stories with Fallon and performed his 30th No. 1 single, “Get Along.”

 

Carly Pearce Thrills Hometown Fans On Rascal Flatts Tour Date

Carly Pearce. Photo: Rachel Deeb

Carly Pearce made her debut at Riverbend Music Center Sunday night (Aug. 5). The Taylor Mill, KY native made an impressive return to her Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky hometown area on Rascal Flatts’ Back To Us Tour. “Last night was an absolute dream! I literally sat in those seats watching Rascal Flatts on stage for one of my first concerts,” shared Carly. “Next to the Grand Ole Opry, Riverbend has been on a pedestal ever since I was a little girl and throughout the years seeing shows with my best friend Kara, who I reminisced with all day! This area shaped me into the person I am and the music that’s made so many memories.”

Watershed Wraps Successful Three-Day Run

The Watershed Music And Camping Festival closed out an unforgettable weekend Sunday night, as a sold-out crowd basked in three-days of first-class music. Fans descended upon The Gorge Amphitheater Friday night as the festival kicked off to catch Clint Black’s hit-filled set and wrapped the night on a high with headliner Blake Shelton’s performance. The crowd was also thrilled by a surprise appearance from Gwen Stefani. Brantley Gilbert headlined on Saturday with an energetic show, and Sunday closed out at full pace with a rousing set from headliner Brad Paisley. Watershed Music And Camping Festival will return in 2019 on Aug 2, 3, 4.

Walker McGuire, Dillon Carmichael, Abby Anderson Set For Dierks Bentley’s Seven Peaks Festival

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When Dierks Bentley’s new Seven Peaks Music Festival hits Buena Vista, Colorado over Labor Day Weekend (Aug. 31-Sept. 2), several talented newcomers from the country and roots genres will come along for the ride. Abby Anderson, Boy Named Banjo, Brown & Gray, Cody Canada, Dillon Carmichael, Travis Denning, Walker McGuire, Mipso and Rapidgrass will perform on the “Whiskey Row Stage,” named for Bentley’s bar and grills.

Friday, Aug. 31, dubbed Hot Country Night, will feature performances from Clint Black, Sawyer Brown, Terri Clark, David Lee Murphy, and Bentley’s own Hot Country Knights. Main Stage artists for the Seven Peaks Music Festival include Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne, Sam Bush, Dan+Shay, Elle King, LANCO, Del McCoury, Lucie Silvas, The Cadillac Three, and Kiefer Sutherland.

Passes for the Labor Day weekend destination experience are available now at sevenpeaksfestival.com.

Industry Ink: Sony Music Nashville Staffing Changes

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Sony Music’s Fount Lynch Exits

Fount Lynch

Sony Music Nashville’s VP, Media Fount Lynch will exit the company for an as-of-yet undisclosed new role. No word on plans for a replacement at Sony Music Nashville at this time. Lynch started his role at Sony in 2014, after 14 years with UMG, where he began his career as an intern in the label’s marketing/PR department in January 2001.

 

Sony Music Nashville Adds Assoc. Director, Promotion and Artist Development

Olivia Laster

Meanwhile, Sony Music Nashville EVP of Promotion and Artist Development Steve Hodges has announced the appointment of Olivia Laster to Associate Director, Promotion and Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville.

Prior to accepting the position of Associate Director Promotion and Artist Development, Laster worked at Sony Music Nashville as Promotion Specialist for Arista Nashville. While in this position, she aided in the facilitation of brand partnerships with Sarah Cannon’s Band Against Cancer, Sandals Resorts and Hard Rock Hotels, as well as incorporated radio promotion into various label departments’ strategies. She worked on artist projects including Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Brad Paisley, LANCO and Seth Ennis, among others.

Olivia Laster graduated from Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She is a member of SOLID.