Ricky Skaggs Celebrates Country Music Hall Of Fame Announcement

Pictured (L-R): Charlotte Scott, Ricky Skaggs, Don Murry Grubbs. Photo: CMA

Earlier this week, Ricky Skaggs was announced as one of three inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018, alongside the late Dottie West and Johnny Gimble. Skaggs celebrated the announcement with members of his team, including manager Charlotte Scott (RS Entertainment/Skaggs Family Records) and publicist Don Murry Grubbs (Absolute Publicity).

“Charlotte Scott, manager of RS Entertainment and Skaggs Family Records, and Don Murry Grubbs from Absolute Publicity have done such a great job for me, I don’t even know where to start in saying thanks,” Skaggs says. “They have worked tirelessly and fought hard for my career, and they’ve put up with me in the process. They truly deserve a medal. I want honor them both for there faithfulness to me and my family. I love you very much. We’re a great team.”

Bobby Karl Works The Room: Kacey Musgraves, Ashley McBryde, RaeLynn Celebrate New Music

Pictured (L-R): Shane Tarleton (WMN SVP, Artist Development), Aurora (“Shania Twain”), Vidalia (“Reba McEntire”), RaeLynn, Deception (“Dolly Parton”), Vanity (“RaeLynn”), Kristen Williams (WMN SVP Radio & Streaming), Cris Lacy (WMN SVP, A&R) and Ben Vaughn (President, Warner/Chappell Nashville)
Photo Credit: Alan Poizner

In a unusual lineup of the constellations, this week had three consecutive new-music parties by female country artists, with Kacey Musgraves on Monday (March 26), followed by Ashley McBryde on Tuesday (March 27) and RaeLynn on Wednesday (March 28).

In Kacey’s case, “constellations” is exactly the right word. She chose the Planetarium in the Adventure Science Center to present the tunes on her new Golden Hour collection. Billed as an “exclusive listening experience,” the event featured the venue doing its thing showing solar system, landscape, color-wash, universe, candy-dot, lunar and planetary images on its dome while we listened to the songs in the dark.

“This is the most personal collection of songs I’ve had so far,” said Kacey, who co-hosted with her co-writers and co-producers Daniel Tashian and Ian Fitchuk. They recorded it at Sheryl Crow’s studio.

The CD features more love songs than is usual for her, which she attributes to her happy marriage to singer-songwriter Ruston Kelly last fall. The songs are also more pop than is usual for her, perhaps due to touring with Katy Perry and/or to working with Tashian and Fitchuk, both of whom are pop artists.

Industry execs listen to Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour at Nashville’s Adventure Science Center. Photo: Kacey Musgraves/Twitter

At any rate, the evening was both an audio and a visual sensory immersion.

Grooving to it were Leslie Fram, Leslie Roberts, Rachel Whitney, R.J. Curtis, Susan Stewart, Al Moss, Garry Wall, Jason Owen, Michael McAnally Baum, Phyllis Stark, Cameo Carlson, Brenden Oliver and Nick DiFruscia.

“This looks like a sixth-grade field trip in here,” said Mike Dungan to the fabulons seated in the Planetarium. “You’re all so adorable.

“Brilliance is a word we too often throw around too loosely,” he continued as he introduced Kacey. “Songwriting talent, alone, can make anyone stand out from the pack. Throw in effortless performance, fashion and that something called ‘cool,’” and you have Kacey.

“You have a perfect score for coming up with cool places to have your listening parties,” I told the Grammy and CMA award-winning star. Remember the Christmas-album bash at Riverwood with trees in every room and fake snow falling from the balcony? How about the drag queens acting out the lyrics to the songs on Pageant Material at Play while we wore tiaras and beauty-queen sashes? Now we’ve had a Planetarium star show for Golden Hour.

“I’m going to have to keep coming up with cool new places,” Kacey replied. “If you have any ideas, let me know.”

Pictured (L-R): Cris Lacy (SVP A&R, WMN), John Peets (Manager, Q Prime), Ashley McBryde, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN).

The triple-play female fiesta continued with Ashley McBryde. She staged her listening party on Tuesday at the Melrose Billiard Parlor, another imaginative venue selection.

“Is this not what a frickin’ country record launch should look like?” asked Cris Lacy of the attendees. The WB exec was referring to the dive-y quality of the dark basement venue.

“You are the ‘It’ girl: we love you,” I said to Ashley. “It’s a lot to take in,” she replied, referring to her sudden rise from obscurity.

Her “A Little Dive Bar in Dahlonega” has been streamed more than 13 million times. It was named one of the best songs of any genre for 2017 by The New York Times. She’ll be on Jimmy Kimmel on April 2. She is Eric Church’s favorite new artist. Mine, too.

Ashley’s Girl Going Nowhere CD was produced by the great Jay Joyce. It drops March 30.

“This is the next generation,” Cris added during her remarks. “She’s an Arkansas red-clay bad-ass. I’ll have what she’s having. It’s raw and real and unlike anything else that’s out there. Little girls with dreams become women with vision. THAT’S Ashley McBryde. “We are proud to have you as part of the Warner Music family….This record is a gift to us.”

Ashley took the mic, but couldn’t overcome her emotions enough to speak at length. “Whiskey-drinkin’ bad ass?” she said as she wiped away a tear. She then led everyone in a toast: “Holler and swaller!”

Many rebel yells and war whoops ensued.

Rob Simbeck, Georgia Middleman, Kyle Young, Joseph Hudak, Erin Enderlin, Gary Burr, Becca Walls, John Peets, Ebie McFarland, Chuck Aly and, natch, John Esposito, Wes Vause and Mary Catherine Rebrovick raised their glasses.

The Warner label was in the spotlight again on Wednesday as we celebrated RaeLynn’s debut single from her forthcoming sophomore album for the company. It’s a rousing empowerment anthem called “Queens Don’t.” So the party at Suzie Wong’s House of Yum had a royalty theme. We all put on fuschia-colored plastic queen crowns that lit up and flashed. Then RaeLynn brought out the (drag) queens from the Play nightclub next door. “Shania” danced and pantomimed to, of course, “Man, I Feel Like a Woman.” “Reba” did “Fancy.” “Dolly” pranced to “9 to 5.” Finally, RaeLynn’s “twin,” “Vanity” pantomimed the song of the hour, “Queens Don’t.”

Pictured (L-R): Aurora (Shania Twain), Vidalia (Reba McEntire), RaeLynn, Vanity (RaeLynn), Deception (Dolly Parton) and Zac Woodward. Photo: Alan Poizner

When RaeLynn first came to Nashville as a teenager, friends took the Texas innocent to Play. It was her first club experience, and she was charmed by the drag community.

All the queens drew wild applause, although I thought everyone except “Dolly” looked kind of corn fed.

“I wrote this song because I’ve always had strong people around me,” stated RaeLynn about “Queens Don’t.” “The biggest was my mom. She found herself single with five kids. Most people would have found that devastating.

“Watching my mom, I found you can choose to build up and encourage your queen – and king — – potential.”

We not only got a floorshow at this party, but dinner, too. The House of Yum laid out jasmine fried rice, beef & broccoli, General Tso chicken, egg rolls, vegetable teriyaki, Asian wings and peanut chicken.

There were party favors, too. A basket at the exit contained gaily wrapped “mystical effects” lipsticks from the Too Faced cosmetics company that the former Voice competitor is affiliated with. The cards read, “Compliments of the Queen, RaeLynn: Always turn your pain into power, love you to the moon and back.”

Enjoying the gig were Hunter Kelly, Jon Freeman, Sherod Robertson, Julie Boos, Kerry Hansen, Ben Vaughn, Brandi Sims, Bob Paxman, Shane Tarleton, Shanna Strassberg, Eric T. Parker, and Nathan Pyle.

By the way, “Queens Don’t” had 700.000 streams this week. Sounds like a hit to me.

CMA Foundation Honors Nashville Music Teachers

The CMA Foundation has announced its 2018 Music Teachers of Excellence recipients for the state of Tennessee. The CMA Foundation created the Music Teachers of Excellence program in 2016 in an effort to recognize and celebrate the best and brightest music educators from Nashville and beyond.

The 30 recipients, from districts all across the state of Tennessee, were selected because of their tireless work to bring a quality music program to their students and impact their school community through music.

“Music education has proven to be an effective and invaluable tool for academic achievement and social development,” said Tiffany Kerns, CMA Director of Community Outreach. “Being able to help celebrate the educators who spend their days shaping our youth and instilling a love for music is a true honor for the CMA Foundation.”

Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested over $20 million in over 85 programs across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and with community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from CMA Fest, the four-day long music festival held annually in Nashville, are used to drive the CMA Foundation’s social impact and unique model of giving.

2018 Tennessee Music Teachers of Excellence Recipients:
Pamela Andrews, Station Camp Elementary School
Ronda Armstrong, Stanford Montessori
Jennifer Barnes, Lockeland Design Center
Lisa Benton, Heritage Middle
Rita Black, Eakin Elementary
Christopher Blackmon, Thomas A. Edison Elementary
Jacob Campos, Franklin High School
Joel Denton, Ooltewah High School
Benjamin Easley, Nolensville High School
Kim Folsom, Dan Mills Elementary
Lisa Forbis, Hume-Fogg Magnet High School
Glenn Fugett, Nashville School of the Arts
Mark Hale, Mt. View Elementary
Katie Harrah, Oliver Middle School
Trey Jacobs, Nashville School of the Arts
Kevin Jankowski, Oliver Middle Prep
Julie Jolly, West End Middle School
Anna Maria Miller, Hume-Fogg Magnet High School, Martin Luther King Jr. Academic Magnet School
Jennifer Partridge, Gower Elementary
James Phillips, Oak Ridge High School
Lauren Ramey, Ravenwood High School
Alaina Schwartz, Crieve Hall Elementary
Matthew Taylor, Meigs Academic Magnet Middle
Barry Trobaugh, Munford High School
Alice Asako Wall, Waverly Belmont Elementary
Paul Waters, Bellevue Middle Prep
Kristina Waugh, Rossview Middle School
Franklin Willis, Andrew Jackson Elementary School
Chad Witemeyer, Henry Maxwell Elementary
Alexis Yatuzis-Derryberry, Lascassas Elementary School

Robert Kouchoukos Joins Dickinson Wright

Robert Kouchoukos has joined Dickinson Wright PLLC’s Music Row office as Of Counsel.

Kouchoukos has 14 years of legal experience in Nevada and California, where he focused on media and tech companies in connection with a broad range of entertainment issues, including trademark, music, technology and content licensing, specifically licensing on worldwide platforms that use music, video, software and video game content. His practice on Music Row with Dickinson Wright will continue with that same clientele, but will expand to corporate music and entertainment-related company set-up, music publishing, indie record labels, indie artists, key executives or sports figures in the entertainment, sports and media spaces.

“Rob’s work product and personality are already a known high commodity, as he worked with many of our intellectual property lawyers in Las Vegas prior to his job with Sony PlayStation in Silicon Valley. We are so pleased Rob agreed to make the move here with his family. His deep knowledge of trademark, music, TV, film and tech licensing on a global level will greatly enhance our Music Row bandwidth and our International Entertainment Practice Group bench,“ said Derek Crownover, Dickinson Wright’s entertainment, sports and media practice group chair.

Prior to joining Dickinson Wright, Kouchoukos served as in-house music and video content production and licensing counsel at Sony Interactive Entertainment where he supported the SIE Worldwide Studios game development business and PlayStation Network digital TV, film, video game and live event streaming services. Prior to Sony, he was an attorney at the Las Vegas firm, Gordon and Silver. Kouchoukos’ clients include four times Grammy nominated Las Vegas hip hop and pop duo the Audibles whose recent production credits include Sam Smith, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Lupe Fiasco and Kid Rock.

Kouchoukos is a frequent writer on various topics within the legal industry including entertainment and intellectual property. He received his B.A. from Carleton College and his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology.

Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame Member Kenny O’Dell Dies

Kenny O’Dell

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member Kenny O’Dell died on Wednesday, March 28, at age 73.

O’Dell won the Best Country Song Grammy Award as well as the CMA Song of the Year award for “Behind Closed Doors,” a giant 1973 pop and country hit for Charlie Rich. He also wrote Rich’s 1972 country hit “I Take It On Home.”

In 1984, his song “Mama He’s Crazy” launched the chart-topping career of The Judds.

His songwriting catalog also includes “Lizzie and the Rainman” (Tanya Tucker, 1975), “Too Much Is Not Enough” (Billie Jo Spears, 1977), “Trouble in Paradise” (Loretta Lynn, 1974), “Never Did Like Whiskey” (Billie Jo Spears, 1976), “House of Love” (Dottie West, 1974) and “What I’ve Got in Mind” (Billie Jo Spears, 1976).

O’Dell’s “Why Don’t We Go Somewhere and Love” has been recorded by a number of artists, including Sandy Posey, Bobby Goldsboro, Kenny Rogers, B.J. Thomas, Charlie Rich and Roy Clark.

The hit songwriter was also a recording artist. Kenny O’Dell made the pop charts in the 1960s with “Beautiful People” (1967), “Springfield Plane” (1968) and “Happy With You” (1968). He became an even bigger success in the following decade as a country singer.

He wrote six hits for himself in the 1970s. They included “You Bet Your Sweet, Sweet Love” (1974), “Soulful Woman” (1975), “My Honky Tonk Ways” (1975) and “Medicine Woman” (1979). His biggest hits as a singer- songwriter were 1978’s “Let Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin’” and 1979’s “As Long As I Can Wake Up in Your Arms.”

He was born Kenneth Gist in Oklahoma and was raised in California. He was writing songs by age 13. After graduating from high school, he launched his own record label, May Kay Records, and began recording pop singles for it. He changed his last name to O’Dell at this time.

Early songwriting successes came in 1967 with Bobby Vee’s recording of “Beautiful People” and Rose Garden’s version of his “Next Plane to London.”

O’Dell moved to Music City in 1969. He became a staff songwriter at House of Gold, the publishing company operated by Goldsboro and Bob Montgomery.

A long list of country and pop stars has since recorded his works. It includes Charley Pride, Eddy Arnold, Mac Davis, Sammi Smith, Bill Anderson, Tom Jones, Diana Ross, Ferlin Husky, Ronnie Milsap, Floyd Cramer, Cal Smith, Percy Sledge, Bobby Womack, Dolly Parton, Jody Miller, Johnny Paycheck, Glen Campbell, Tina Turner, Lynn Anderson, Janie Frickie, Sammy Davis Jr., Cristy Lane and Jan Howard.

His own albums included Beautiful People (Vegas Records, 1968), Kenny O’Dell (Capricorn Records, 1974) and Let’s Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin’ (Capricorn Records, 1978).

He was the NSAI’s Songwriter of the Year in 1984 and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1996.

Kenny O’Dell was married to guitarist Corki Casey O’Dell (1936-2017), a member of the Musicians Hall of Fame due to her studio work with Duane Eddy, Al Casey and others. She passed away last May.

Visitation for Kenny O’Dell will be Saturday, 2-8 p.m. at Woodbine-Hickory Chapel, 5852 Nolensville Rd.

DisClaimer: Moon Taxi, Big Shoes Offer Top Pop/Rock Tracks

Moon Taxi

It’s a sunny season for the Nashville pop/rock community.

With Kelly Clarkson judging on The Voice, Jack White on the cover of the current Rolling Stone, blues rocker Mike Henderson cowriting with million-selling Chris Stapleton and The Shadowboxers out on the road opening for megastar Justin Timberlake, this side of Music City is definitely having a Moment.

Today’s listen to the community’s current sounds includes the legendary Peter Frampton, a comeback record by Raging Fire and a new album by my enduring favorite Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Taking home the Disc of the Day award is Moon Taxi. This former indie act is now on the RCA star-maker roster.

The DisCovery Award goes to the party band Big Shoes.

JACK WHITE/Connected By Love
Writers: Jack White III; Producer: Jack White III; Publishers: Third String Tunes, BMI; Third Man/Columbia
-His new Boarding House Reach collection kicks off with this shuddering throbber featuring ear catching percussive effects, rippling piano, soul-chorus backup singing and a passionate, shredded, top-of-his-range vocal performance. Gripping.

MOON TAXI/Two High
Writers: Moon Taxi; Producer: Spencer Thomson; Publishers: No More Worry, BMI; RCA (track)
– Joyous. This smile-a-minute bopper beckons us to raise our hands to the sky and celebrate life. A surprise, stuttering-sax section enters in mid song and gives the already ecstatic track an extra jolt of energy. I love this band. The album is called Let the Record Play. It’s available on vinyl. Buy it now.

MORGAN HERITAGE/Selah
Writers: M. Heritage/P. James; Producers: Morgan Heritage/Shannon Sanders; Publishers: Heritage 4 Life/Dubsmuggla, ASCAP; CTBC/Empire
– This Grammy Award winning family reggae band calls Middle Tennessee home. The members are the sons of Jamaican star Denray Morgan. On this single/video from its current Avrakedabra album, the group mixes traditional reggae beats with cool electronic touches, a segment of rapping and layered singing vocals. The track will make you want to move your body.

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS/Prayer For Peace
Writers: Luther Dickinson/Cody Dickinson/Oteil Burbridge; Producer: Dickinson Brothers; Publishers: Vibratone/Tandem Liberi/Ausar Auset, BMI;
– Judging by their name and the fact that their dad was a Memphis music mainstay, you wouldn’t expect these sonic wunderkinds to be Nashvillians. But there they are, right there in West Meade. This is the title tune of the group’s current album (which is available on vinyl, hallelujah). It’s a hypnotic stew of blues, gospel, trance and pop that will set you free. By the way, their late father Jim Dickinson’s book I’m Just Dead I’m Not Gone is a pip.

BETH NIELSEN CHAPMAN/Come To Mine
Writers: Beth Nielsen Chapman/Graham Gouldman/Kevin Montgomery; Producer: Sam Ashworth; Publishers: Songs of Prismlight/Union Square/BMG Rights Management/Winona Blvd., SESAC/PRS/ASCAP; BNC (track)
– This Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer’s new Hearts of Glass CD drops next month.It leads off with this percolating, rhythm-happy pop tune about living life to the fullest while we’re here. “Bring your smile with its light/Bring what’s wrong we’ll make it right.” Bop along and believe.

WOOTEN CHAMBERS FRANCESCHINI/Trypnotyx
Writers: none listed; Producer: Victor Wooten; Publishers: none listed; Vix (track)
-Victor Wooten is best known for his work in Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. But he has an independent reputation as one of the best electric bass players on the planet. The title track to his current trio CD with funk drummer Dennis Chambers (Bootsy Collins, Santana) and sax man Bob Franceschini (Paul Simon, Mike Stern) is a dizzy, complex, whirlwind of percussive picking and stop-start jazz rhythms. Brain tingling.

RAGING FIRE/After Loving One Man From East Texas
Writers: none listed; Publishers: Pristine/BMI; Producers: Mike Purcell/Raging Fire; Pristine (track)
– Back in the 1980s, these folks were among Nashville’s finest punk rockers. The first album in more than 30 years by Raging Fire is titled These Teeth Are Sharp. This track from it stings and bristles with snarling energy and snarky attitude. They’ve still got the goods. I loved them then. I love them now.

KELLY CLARKSON/ I Don’t Think About You
Writers: Andre Davidson/Sean Davidson/Jessica Ashley Karpov/Michael Pollack; Producer: The Monarch; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane/Numbers Don’t Lie/The Fraternity Music Group/Songs of Kobalt/Jessica Ashley Karpov/Evan And Eman Publish This/What Key Do You Want It In/Songs With a Pure Tone, BMI; Atlantic (track)
– Nashville’s reigning pop diva has just issued this torrid ballad as a single/video from her current Meaning of Life collection. Her high-soprano chops are on full display. Some gospel-y backup vocals are the icing on the cake.

BIG SHOES/Walked Out The Front Door
Writers: Mark T. Jordan/Rip Stock; Producer: Andy Peake; Publishers: none listed; Biglittle (track)
– Big Shoes is a seven-man blues-rock band comprised of top-tier Nashville and Muscle Shoals studio musicians. Its Music City notables include keyboardist Mark T. Jordan and singer-songwriter Rick Huckaby. The group’s Step On It! debut CD features this Jordan tune originally recorded by Bonnie Raitt. Their arrangement gives the number a certain New Orleans/funk vibe that’s mighty groovy. Collectively, these guys’ credits include Van Morrison, Etta James, Taj Mahal, Delbert McClinton and Bobby “Blue” Bland, as well as Raitt. So you know they know what the deal is.

PETER FRAMPTON/Black Hole Sun
Writers: Chris Cornell; Producers: Peter Frampton/Gordon Kennedy; Publishers: You Make Me Sick I Make, ASCAP; Phenix Phonograph
– Frampton’s Grammy-winning Fingerprints album has been reissued on vinyl this year. The Nashville resident guitar wizard demonstrates he has lost none of his power on this moody, dense, echoey instrumental that builds to a searing crescendo.

ACM Awards Add Alan Jackson, Kelly Clarkson, Kane Brown And More

The Academy of Country Music revealed today that Kane Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town and Jon Pardi have been added to the all-star lineup of performers for the 53RD Academy of Country Music Awards. It was also announced that country artists Cam, Dustin Lynch, and Kiefer Sutherland, The Ranch co-stars Sam Elliott and Ashton Kutcher, SEAL Team co-stars David Boreanaz, AJ Buckley and Max Thieriot, as well as The Talk host Eve have been added as presenters for the ceremony.

The 53rd ACM Awards, hosted by Reba McEntire, will broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Previously announced ACM Awards performers include Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Florida Georgia Line, Lady Antebellum, Midland, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Bebe Rexha, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and Brett Young. Previously announced presenters include Drew Brees, Nancy O’Dell, Rebecca Romijn and Lindsey Vonn.

 

Big Machine Marketing Department Promotes Susemichel, Fisher

Katherine Susemichel, Molly Fisher        Photo Courtesy of Big Machine Label Group

Big Machine Label Group has promoted Katherine Susemichel to Director, Project Management and Molly Fisher to Project Manager, reporting to Chief Marketing Officer Mike Rittberg.

Susemichel joined BMLG in 2013, and will continue to serve as project manager for Florida Georgia Line, Brett Young, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Thomas Rhett. She is also heavily involved in radio promotion initiatives and chart strategy across Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co. and BMLG Records’ imprints.

“I’m thrilled to have Katherine’s continued hard work and dedication as part of Big Machine’s Marketing department,” said Rittberg.

Fisher, a graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania, began at BMLG in 2014 and has since risen to project manager for Reba McEntire, Brantley Gilbert, Cheap Trick, Midland, Trent Harmon and Tyler Rich.

“Molly’s infinite passion for our artists makes this the perfect next step in her career at Big Machine,” said Rittberg.

Susemichel can be reached at katherine.susemichel@bmlg.net and 615-846-7689, and Fisher can be reached at molly.fisher@bmlg.net and 615-846-7681.

 

Lisa Ray Joins Sandbox Management

Lisa Ray

Former Warner Music Group executive Lisa Ray has joined Sandbox Management, where she will serve as day-to-day manager for duo Dan+Shay.

Since 2013, she served as VP, Artist Development for Warner Music Nashville, where she worked alongside a roster of artists including Dan+Shay, Devin Dawson, Chris Janson, RaeLynn, Ashley McBryde, Charlie Worsham and more.

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Lisa and watching her excel in her field, during her time at Warner Music Nashville,” said Sandbox President/CEO Jason Owen. “She has an amazing perspective and knowledge of all things in our world, and I am so excited to have such an incredible red-head bring her talents and expertise to the Sandbox team.”

“I’m beyond thrilled to get to work with such an amazing team at Sandbox, and with Jason, who I’ve been a huge fan of for years,” said Ray. “Jason’s innovation and forward-thinking will only help to guide me to the next level in this industry, and I am so appreciative for the opportunity to continue working alongside the enormously talented Dan + Shay in this new capacity. I’m over the moon about the future!”

She can be reached at lisa@sandboxmgmt.com.

Jeff Owen, Kyle Williams Sign With Centricity Publishing

Pictured (L-R): Chad Segura, Kyle Williams, Justin Nicolet

Jeff Owen and Kyle Williams have joined the Centricity Publishing writers roster.

Williams, a former member of Christian pop-rock group Stars Go Dim, currently plays guitar and keys for We Are Messengers. He co-penned Stars Go Dim’s No. 1 hit “You Are Loved,” and also co-wrote and performed on the track “Welcome To The Fire,”  which was recently licensed for promotional use for NBC’s Chicago Fire, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and the upcoming film I Still See You.

Owen is a member of the Dove-Award winning band Tenth Avenue North, playing guitar and singing backing vocals. He’s co-written multiple Chrsitian radio No. 1’s, including Tenth Avenue North’s “I Have This Hope,” “Healing Begins,” and “Worn.” Owen produced the band’s Decade The Halls Christmas album, along with projects for Jon McLaughlin and various indie artists. He also produces his own projects for film and TV.

“We are so excited to welcome Jeff and Kyle to the Centricity Publishing family,” VP of Publishing Chad Segura said. “They’re both ridiculously talented, and we know they’ve only scratched the surface of what they’re truly capable of. We’re grateful to be a part of this next chapter for each of them.”

Centricity Publishing’s writer roster includes Lauren Daigle, Johnny Diaz, Mike Grayson, Seth Mosley, Aaron Shust and more.

Pictured (L-R): Chad Segura, Jeff Owen, Justin Nicolet