The Academy of Country Music and Change the Conversation, a coalition formed in 2014 to fight gender inequality in country music, are joining forces to present Change the Conversation: ACM Edition, a special free and open-to-the-public forum to discuss women in country music. The event will feature singer/songwriter Cam, and Change the Conversation co-founders Leslie Fram, Tracy Gershon and Beverly Keel. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 14 at the David Copperfield Theater at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

“To be perfectly clear, the future financial stability and cultural relevancy of the music business depends on how we can fully incorporate women into ALL areas of the business – from creators to distributors,” said Cam. “The Academy recognizes their responsibility in the current climate, and is choosing to create space to discuss the solutions. Women’s voices need to be at the center of this discussion, and some of the key points we hope to address are first, identifying inhibitive attitudes, practices and people that prevent gender equality. Second, how to raise awareness about key areas of gender disparity and enforce accountability. And finally, engaging with allies and supporting initiatives that allow our business to flourish independently of gender. I’m so happy to be a part of this conversation and help our community progress.”

“We are grateful that the Academy of Country Music is taking a leadership role in addressing the issue of gender inequality in country music,” says Keel, who is also Chair of MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry. “By holding this event during ACM Awards weekend, they are providing a prominent platform that will offer female artists education and support, while creating a forum for industry leaders to work together to find solutions.”

Roy Acuff and Les Leverett backstage in Acuff’s dressing room.
May 7, 1988. Photo: Donnie Beauchamp

For the first time, the Grand Ole Opry is opening the doors to the Acuff House, the home built for Roy Acuff in the shadow of the Grand Ole Opry House, to showcase the limited-time exhibit Family Reunion: The Opry Family Photo Album.

The exhibit will showcase behind-the-scenes moments at the Grand Ole Opry via the work of 32-year Opry staff photographer Les Leverett, who captured onstage and offstage moments for stars including Acuff, Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Minnie Pearl, and more.

The Acuff House will also share the story of Roy Acuff, through artifacts and videos highlighting his 50-plus years as the consummate showman on the Opry stage. Acuff lived in the home built for him by the Opry from 1983 until his death in 1992.

The exhibit opens April 30 and runs through Oct. 31.

Leverett’s work has also been featured on hundreds of album covers. Among his many honors are a Grammy Award for best album cover photography for Porter Wagoner’s 1966 album Confessions of a Broken Man and Billboard’s Best Country Cover for Dolly Parton’s 1973 album Bubbling Over. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2001 and from the California Bluegrass Association in 2006. In January 2015, Leverett was formally recognized and honored by the Tennessee Senate in a joint resolution for his significant and iconic work that documents the history and traditions of country music. In 2009, Leverett came out of retirement to serve as the official photographer for the weekly television program, The Marty Stuart Show.

Opry stars (L-R). Minnie Pearl, Wilma Lee Cooper, Jan Howard, Skeeter Davis, June Carter and Kitty Wells. Photo: Les Leverett, Oct. 7, 1961

The Grand Ole Opry Archives acquired thousands of slides, prints, negatives, and color transparencies from the Les Leverett collection in February 2017. The collection contains thousands of images that have never before been printed or published as well as Leverett’s handwritten notes pertaining to dates, locations, and subjects depicted; press clippings; and a homemade, typewritten index that contains additional details.

“We are delighted to be able to showcase even a small portion of the incredible work Les Leverett produced during his 32 years with the Grand Ole Opry,” said Colin Reed, Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman and CEO. “These photographs are of paramount importance to country music history and to our company’s heritage. We take very seriously our job as caretakers of this collection and look forward to some of the collection’s truly incredible photographs being seen by fans around the world.”

Acuff House tours can be purchased as part of tour packages also including Grand Ole Opry House backstage tours. Packages will be available seven days a week based upon Opry House availability. Additional package information is available at opry.com and by calling 1-800-SEE-OPRY.

George Jones, Tammy Wynette performing at the Ryman Auditorium. Photo: Les Leverett

Sunday night’s 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards show will feature plenty of superstar collaborations and must-see performances, and for the first time, the ACMs will also debut “ACM Flashbacks” to honor classic country hits and/or the artists whose music continues to influence musicians and fans alike.

With this new feature, the ACM Awards will celebrate hits from a specific year or honor an individual artist and their accomplishments through unique collaborations and one-of-a-kind renditions of their iconic songs. This year, the awards will honor three of country’s hits from 1993 with Toby Keith and Blake Shelton performing Keith’s celebrated No. 1 debut single “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” Alan Jackson and Jon Pardi performing Jackson’s ACM Award-winning hit “Chattahoochee,” and Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson performing Reba’s Grammy award-winning hit “Does He Love You.”

Other star-studded collaborations include Kane Brown and Lauren Alaina performing the multi-platinum, No. 1 hit “What Ifs,” Keith Urban and Julia Michaels performing Urban’s new single “Coming Home,” and Bebe Rexha with Florida Georgia Line performing on the chart-topping smash hit “Meant to Be.”

Dan + Shay, Darius Rucker and Chris Young will also join the show’s lineup of previously announced solo performances by Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini,Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert,Little Big Town, Midland, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Brett Young. Previously announced presenters include David Boreanaz, Drew Brees, AJ Buckley, Cam, Sam Elliot, Eve, Ashton Kutcher, Dustin Lynch, Nancy O’Dell, Rebecca Romijn, Max Thieriot and Lindsey Vonn.

Edison Research Adds Ivey

Laura Ivey

Longtime radio research executive Laura Ivey has joined Edison Research, where she will be directing various aspects of Edison’s growing practice in audio and social media. She will also take a role in Edison’s election research.

Ivey, who has had a variety of roles at Arbitron and Nielsen dating back to 1996, most recently was Account Director for the Southeast region for Nielsen’s radio ratings. Says Ivey, “Social science of the kind Edison produces is a particular passion of mine. I’m really excited to join the team there and help Edison’s efforts to serve its clients with quality data and analysis.”

British Music TV Producer/Broadcaster Vintage TV Comes To Nashville

British music television producer and broadcaster Vintage TV has expanded its production base to Nashville, Tennessee, and has already begun to film U.S.-based musicians in the city. With original shows that include “Needle Time,” “Live With…,” “My Vintage” and “The Friday Night Rock Show,” Vintage TV is the U.K.’s most prolific original music content producer.

Producing 25-30 hours of new music television shows per month, Vintage TV has become one of the largest music TV providers. Attracting a monthly following of more than 10 million viewers in the U.K. alone, Vintage TV has established itself as the music-lover’s TV channel of choice – a destination for music content highlighting established and emerging artists from around the globe.

“Vintage TV has been a long-time partner for our overseas label colleagues and we are thrilled to have them in the U.S. market,” said Brad Turcotte, VP of Marketing for Universal Music Group. “They have a very keen eye on top-tier production value and quality of content, and they are passionate about country music.  We’re delighted to welcome their type of passion into our fold.”

The organization plans to create regular content featuring U.S.-based musicians of all genres.

Vintage TV’s first U.S.-produced content spotlights Grammy-winning talent and emerging artists including Brothers Osborne, Southern Halo and Frontmen of Country. Vintage TV currently broadcasts in the U.K., Canada and China with plans to enter the US, Latin American and Korean markets by end of year.

SSM Entertainment Signs Debbie Anthony

Pictured (L-R): Label President Patti Olsen-Garafola, Debbie Anthony and Label CEO Dean Scallan

Debbie Anthony has signed with SSM Entertainment, located on Music Row. She joins a growing roster of artists at SSM Entertainment/SSM Nashville Records including; Branch and Dean, Alexandra Demetree, AC Jones, Wes Hayden and Ashley Barron.