MusicRow is proud to reveal the honorees ahead of its seventh annual Rising Women on the Row celebration.
The premier breakfast event, saluting women in the Nashville music industry, will be held Tuesday, March 27, at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
The event will feature a four-speaker panel, including Tracy Gershon (Co-founder of Change The Conversation, Manager, Consultant), Mary Hilliard Harrington (Manager, Red Light Management), Rose Palermo (Attorney), and Ann Powers (NPR Music Critic and Correspondent). Special performer Abby Anderson will deliver a two-song performance.
City National Bank, Tri-Star and Loeb & Loeb are the Presenting Sponsors for the 2018 Rising Women on the Row.
Faithe Dillman (Founder/CEO, Marbaloo):

Faithe Dillman
Dillman founded Nashville-based marketing & PR agency Marbaloo Marketing in 2010. Eight years later, the Marbaloo marketing umbrella encompasses four companies, including celebrity-focused digital agency Marbaloo;creative & design agency Remedy Creative; live event PR & marketing company Bandwidth, and Los Angeles based PR agency The Avenue West, which Dillman acquired in 2016. Dillman started in the music industry at 19 years old, quickly earning positions at Interscope Records and Universal Music Group, working with artists including Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem and more, before launching Marbaloo Marketing. Her current clients include Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Cole Swindell, Kelsea Ballerini, Brett Eldredge, Carly Pearce and Creative Nation.
Leslie DiPiero (General Manager, Tree Vibez Music):

Leslie DiPiero
In her role as General Manager at Tree Vibez Music, DiPiero oversees all day-to-day operations, as well as big picture planning for the company, including signing and developing talent and strategizing opportunities for the company. Within months of joining Tree Vibez, DiPiero negotiated three major signings, including RaeLynn, Corey Crowder and Daniel Ross. DiPiero’s career began at Buddy Killen Music and Beckett Music Group. She became a partner at Tom-Leis Music at age 30. She would go on to develop songwriters Sarah Buxton and Brandon Kinney, and secure record deals for both writers. In 2013, DiPiero opened Nashville’s Advanced Alternative Media Inc. management division, before joining Tree Vibez Music in June 2017.
Becky Gardenhire (Partner, WME):

Becky Gardenhire
Gardenhire is responsible for guiding the daily touring, film, literary and sponsorship opportunities for several well-known artists including Adam Craig, Charlie Worsham, Chase Bryant, Courtney Cole, Ingrid Andress, Jake Owen, Jordan Davis, Justin Adams, LANCO, RaeLynn, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Sara Evans and many others. She leads a team of agents that work across WME’s entire country roster booking concerts in arenas, amphitheaters, theaters, PACS and casinos in the South and is an integral part of WME’s New Artist Development Program. Gardenhire sits on the Board of Directors for the T.J. Martell Foundation and the W.O. Smith School of Music, and is a member of ACM, CMA, NARAS, IEBA and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Lynn Oliver-Cline (President/Founder, River House Artists):

Lynn Oliver-Cline
In 2016, Oliver-Cline launched River House Artists, a creative firm that includes label, publishing and management, with flagship artist Luke Combs. Combs has since celebrated a Gold-certified album and two Platinum, No. 1 singles. River House Artists manages Faren Rachels, Drew Parker, and in publishing represents Ray Fulcher (who earned his first No. 1 single with Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours”), Driver Williams, Rob Williford and Parker. Early in her career, Oliver-Cline joined Virgin Records as Director, A&R, before teaming with BMI in writer/publisher relations. In 2007, she became day-to-day manager for Zac Brown Band at ROAR. In 2010, she launched the band’s Southern Ground Artists as General Manager, overseeing all label, publishing and management operations. In 2014, she joined Thirty Tigers as VP, Marketing, spearheading album launches for Jason Isbell, Lucinda Williams, and more.
Annie Ortmeier (VP, Marketing-Digital Accounts, Universal Music Group Nashville):

Annie Ortmeier
Since joining UMG Nashville in 2013 as Director of Digital Marketing, Ortmeier has risen to the role of VP, Marketing-Digital Accounts, where she oversees streaming marketing strategy and analysis for all UMG Nashville artists, across all streaming accounts globally. Those artists include Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osborne, Gary Allan, Vince Gill, Kip Moore, George Strait, Josh Turner, Alan Jackson, Eric Paslay, Lauren Alaina, Billy Currington, Shania Twain and many more. Ortmeier’s career in digital marketing and commerce also includes time at Big Machine Label Group (Director of Interactive), Live Nation Entertainment (Merchandising Manager) and CMT.
Janet Weir (President/42 Entertainment; Manager, Red Light Management):

Janet Weir
Janet began her career more than 20 years ago with Terry McBride and Nettwerk Management in Vancouver, Canada during the launch of Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair concert tour and travelling music festival. She was involved with the early development of talent such as Coldplay, Dido, Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies, as well as managing Nashville based Sixpence None The Richer and signing Old Crow Medicine Show to Nettwerk Records. Joining Red Light Management, she moved with her family from Los Angeles to Nashville to sign and develop Texas singer-songwriter Maren Morris. She would eventually help Maren independently release the single “My Church” and EP before securing a record deal with Sony/Columbia Records. Janet continues to manage the GRAMMY, ACM and CMA-winning singer/songwriter today, in addition to Ryan Hurd.
Flood, Bumstead, McCready, & McCarthy Brings Top Execs To New Leadership Roles
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (Top Row): Duane Clark, Mary Ann McCready, Carmen Romano, Jamie Cheek, Chuck Flood and Julie Boos. (Bottom Row): Trey Dunaway and Frank Bumstead.
Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc., (FBMM) has elevated existing owners to more clearly defined leadership roles in the strategic oversight of the firm, to guarantee continuity of its clients’ financial management and security for decades to come. Previously, the owners and business managers did not use formal titles.
Julie Boos has been named Chairman, and will oversee and optimize the firm’s resources and client services. Jamie Cheek, President, will set the vision for the company’s continued growth and excellence. Duane Clark, Vice Chairman, will lead FBMM’s strategic plan implementation. Carmen Romano, Vice President and head of the firm’s New York office, will be dean of the firm’s learning and teaching academy, part of a commitment to teach future generations of FBMM leaders. Trey Dunaway, CFO, will also serve as treasurer and chief of compliance.
Founding owners Chuck Flood, Frank Bumstead and Mary Ann McCready will advance their roles as full-time business managers for their clients and be actively involved on boards including the Country Music Association, Country Music Hall of Fame, Memorial Foundation, Brookdale Senior Living, Nashville Wire Products, Country Radio Broadcasters and advocacy for the W.O. Smith Music School.
FBMM opened its doors in 1990, and its founding owners designed the firm’s succession plan in 2000. This commitment to succession planning early on in the company’s history was undertaken by founding owners Chuck Flood, Frank Bumstead and Mary Ann McCready in order to ensure that FBMM clients have a consistently rich mix of excellent business managers and financial resources available to provide counsel through the years ahead. This commitment to the long-term support of its clients, along with a focus on cultivating opportunities for staff members to grow as leaders inside the firm, is a tenet fundamental to FBMM’s original mission.
“Our longstanding clients and their other advisers want to know that the artists are, in word and deed, taken care of for the rest of their lives,” said Mary Ann McCready, founding owner of FBMM. “Chuck, Frank and I all feel strongly that the firm’s fiduciary and diligent oversight is independent of any one, two or three individuals. Nothing is more important than our clients’ financial well-being, so we purposefully selected a formidable team of passionate leaders and trusted advisers to next govern FBMM.
“These leaders are among the most highly regarded business managers in our industry and have worked with us to steer FBMM for a number of years,” McCready added. “Together, we created a collaborative team of professionals who have a deep understanding of our industry and will achieve the most advantageous results for our clients for generations to come.”
Ruston Kelly Inks With Rounder Records, Triple 8 Management
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Michelle Aquilato, VP of Marketing for Rounder Records; Ruston Kelly; John Strohm, President of Rounder Records; Gary Paczosa, VP of A&R for Rounder Records
Ruston Kelly has signed with Rounder Records and Triple 8 Management for representation. Kelly, whose songs have been recorded by artists including Tim McGraw and the Josh Abbott Band, plans to release his Rounder debut this summer.
“I have followed Kelly’s career for years and I believe he is the best rising singer-songwriter in Nashville,” said Rounder Records President John Strohm. “We at Rounder are incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work with him.”
Kelly joins a diverse roster at Triple 8 Management that includes Kaleo, ALT electronic duo MISSIO, Judah and the Lion, Chase Rice, Scotty McCreery, the Eli Young Band and more.
“I’ve been a fan of Kelly’s songwriting for years, and after listening to the forthcoming album; I knew I wouldn’t sleep well if I couldn’t dive in and help get this art to the world,” said Triple 8’s Bruce Kalmick. “Kelly is the next generation of storytelling folk rock. It’s only a matter of time before he’s uttered in the same conversation as Ryan Adams and Jason Isbell. Everyone should pay attention.”
Kelly is set to tour with Brian Fallon & The Howling Weather in March and April.
Breaking: ‘MusicRow’ Announces 2018 Rising Women On The Row Honorees
/by Jessica NicholsonThe premier breakfast event, saluting women in the Nashville music industry, will be held Tuesday, March 27, at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Nashville Hotel.
The event will feature a four-speaker panel, including Tracy Gershon (Co-founder of Change The Conversation, Manager, Consultant), Mary Hilliard Harrington (Manager, Red Light Management), Rose Palermo (Attorney), and Ann Powers (NPR Music Critic and Correspondent). Special performer Abby Anderson will deliver a two-song performance.
Click Here For More Details About Rising Women On The Row 2018
City National Bank, Tri-Star and Loeb & Loeb are the Presenting Sponsors for the 2018 Rising Women on the Row.
Faithe Dillman (Founder/CEO, Marbaloo):
Faithe Dillman
Dillman founded Nashville-based marketing & PR agency Marbaloo Marketing in 2010. Eight years later, the Marbaloo marketing umbrella encompasses four companies, including celebrity-focused digital agency Marbaloo;creative & design agency Remedy Creative; live event PR & marketing company Bandwidth, and Los Angeles based PR agency The Avenue West, which Dillman acquired in 2016. Dillman started in the music industry at 19 years old, quickly earning positions at Interscope Records and Universal Music Group, working with artists including Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas, Eminem and more, before launching Marbaloo Marketing. Her current clients include Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Toby Keith, Cole Swindell, Kelsea Ballerini, Brett Eldredge, Carly Pearce and Creative Nation.
Leslie DiPiero (General Manager, Tree Vibez Music):
Leslie DiPiero
In her role as General Manager at Tree Vibez Music, DiPiero oversees all day-to-day operations, as well as big picture planning for the company, including signing and developing talent and strategizing opportunities for the company. Within months of joining Tree Vibez, DiPiero negotiated three major signings, including RaeLynn, Corey Crowder and Daniel Ross. DiPiero’s career began at Buddy Killen Music and Beckett Music Group. She became a partner at Tom-Leis Music at age 30. She would go on to develop songwriters Sarah Buxton and Brandon Kinney, and secure record deals for both writers. In 2013, DiPiero opened Nashville’s Advanced Alternative Media Inc. management division, before joining Tree Vibez Music in June 2017.
Becky Gardenhire (Partner, WME):
Becky Gardenhire
Gardenhire is responsible for guiding the daily touring, film, literary and sponsorship opportunities for several well-known artists including Adam Craig, Charlie Worsham, Chase Bryant, Courtney Cole, Ingrid Andress, Jake Owen, Jordan Davis, Justin Adams, LANCO, RaeLynn, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Sara Evans and many others. She leads a team of agents that work across WME’s entire country roster booking concerts in arenas, amphitheaters, theaters, PACS and casinos in the South and is an integral part of WME’s New Artist Development Program. Gardenhire sits on the Board of Directors for the T.J. Martell Foundation and the W.O. Smith School of Music, and is a member of ACM, CMA, NARAS, IEBA and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Lynn Oliver-Cline (President/Founder, River House Artists):
Lynn Oliver-Cline
In 2016, Oliver-Cline launched River House Artists, a creative firm that includes label, publishing and management, with flagship artist Luke Combs. Combs has since celebrated a Gold-certified album and two Platinum, No. 1 singles. River House Artists manages Faren Rachels, Drew Parker, and in publishing represents Ray Fulcher (who earned his first No. 1 single with Combs’ “When It Rains It Pours”), Driver Williams, Rob Williford and Parker. Early in her career, Oliver-Cline joined Virgin Records as Director, A&R, before teaming with BMI in writer/publisher relations. In 2007, she became day-to-day manager for Zac Brown Band at ROAR. In 2010, she launched the band’s Southern Ground Artists as General Manager, overseeing all label, publishing and management operations. In 2014, she joined Thirty Tigers as VP, Marketing, spearheading album launches for Jason Isbell, Lucinda Williams, and more.
Annie Ortmeier (VP, Marketing-Digital Accounts, Universal Music Group Nashville):
Annie Ortmeier
Since joining UMG Nashville in 2013 as Director of Digital Marketing, Ortmeier has risen to the role of VP, Marketing-Digital Accounts, where she oversees streaming marketing strategy and analysis for all UMG Nashville artists, across all streaming accounts globally. Those artists include Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Eric Church, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Sam Hunt, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves, Brothers Osborne, Gary Allan, Vince Gill, Kip Moore, George Strait, Josh Turner, Alan Jackson, Eric Paslay, Lauren Alaina, Billy Currington, Shania Twain and many more. Ortmeier’s career in digital marketing and commerce also includes time at Big Machine Label Group (Director of Interactive), Live Nation Entertainment (Merchandising Manager) and CMT.
Janet Weir (President/42 Entertainment; Manager, Red Light Management):
Janet Weir
Janet began her career more than 20 years ago with Terry McBride and Nettwerk Management in Vancouver, Canada during the launch of Sarah McLachlan’s Lilith Fair concert tour and travelling music festival. She was involved with the early development of talent such as Coldplay, Dido, Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies, as well as managing Nashville based Sixpence None The Richer and signing Old Crow Medicine Show to Nettwerk Records. Joining Red Light Management, she moved with her family from Los Angeles to Nashville to sign and develop Texas singer-songwriter Maren Morris. She would eventually help Maren independently release the single “My Church” and EP before securing a record deal with Sony/Columbia Records. Janet continues to manage the GRAMMY, ACM and CMA-winning singer/songwriter today, in addition to Ryan Hurd.
Chris Young Wraps Losing Sleep Tour Winter Dates With 18 Consecutive Sellouts
/by Lorie HollabaughChris Young is on quite a run with his Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour, wrapping up the first leg of the tour with an impressive 18 consecutive arena sellouts and six straight weeks of playing to capacity crowds.
The tour picks back up April 5 in Hidalgo, Texas, with special guests Kane Brown and Morgan Evans, and after the tremendous response to its initial run, Young has added nine more shows. He headlines his first-ever hometown show as part of those at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Sept. 22.
Young’s latest single, “Hangin’ On,” the second single from his latest album Losing Sleep written by Young with Corey Crowder and Josh Hoge, is set to impact country radio March 5. He recently filmed a video for the new song at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach in Florida as part of a promotional partnership with Visit St. Pete Clearwater Beach. Fifty lucky fans had the opportunity to be part of the video, meet Young, and watch a private acoustic concert by him in addition to two nights of accommodations at the Wyndham Grand Clearwater Beach, Florida.
Darius Rucker Announces UK Tour
/by Jessica NicholsonDarius Rucker will make a return trip overseas this fall, including six shows in the UK in October. His tour will visit Glasgow, London, and Manchester among other stops.
Rucker’s multiple trips overseas have included the Country to Country festival in 2013. In 2017, he returned to C2C and performed shows in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Darius Rucker UK Tour 2018
Sunday, Oct. 21: Birmingham, Symphony Hall
Monday, Oct. 22: Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Tuesday, Oct. 23: Gateshead, The Sage
Thursday, Oct. 25: Bristol, O2 Academy
Friday, Oct. 26: Manchester, Albert Hall
Sunday, Oct. 28: London, Royal Albert Hall
CMT Celebrates ‘Music City’ Launch Party
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Cast member Alisa Fuller; cast member Bryant Lowry; Morgan Selzer, SVP Development, CMT; cast member Kerry Degman; cast member Rachyl Degman; Frank Tanki, GM, CMT; cast member Jessica Mack; cast member Sarah Thomas; Kevin Kay, President of Paramount Network, CMT and TV Land; cast member Jackson Boyd
CMT celebrated the launch of the new series Music City with a party at Nashville venue The Back Corner.
The evening included remarks from CMT General Manager Frank Tanki, as well as Music City creator/Exec. Producer Adam DiVello. DiVello shared a never-before-seen trailer with the room to get everyone excited for the March 1 premiere. Performances from cast members Kerry Degman and Jessica Mack rounded out the night, accompanied by cast member Bryant Lowry on drums.
In addition to special guest Whitney Port, other familiar faces at the party included CMT’s Cody Alan and Katie Cook, Jerrod Niemann, Brooke Eden, Luke Pell, Kelleigh Bannen, Wells Adams, Bellator MMA fighter Michael Chandler, and more.
Pictured: CMT GM Frank Tanki with cast members Alisa Fuller, Kerry Degman, Jessica Mack and Bryant Lowry
Pictured: Cast member Rachyl Degman; Brooke Eden; CMT’s Cody Alan; Trea Smith; CMT’s Marley Sherwood
Pictured: Cast members Kerry Degman and Jessica Mack perform at the Music City premiere party, accompanied by cast member Bryant Lowry on drums
Pictured: Music City cast members and The City star Whitney Port on the red carpet
Curb/Word Entertainment Names John Clore As VP, Marketing
/by Jessica NicholsonJohn Clore
Curb | Word Entertainment has appointed John Clore to the position of Vice President of Marketing, where he will oversee the execution of marketing strategies for the full roster of artists across all genres including country, pop, rock, hip-hop and Christian.
Clore joins the newly-formed Curb|Word Entertainment following a previous six-year stint at the company’s Word Records imprint as Sr. Director.
States Jeff Tuerff, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Creative, “We’re thrilled to bring John back to the company in an expanded role where his reputation, expertise and leadership skills are a perfect fit to help guide the marketing initiatives across the breadth of artists we are so honored to work with at Curb | Word Entertainment.”
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to work alongside Jeff Tuerff and Jim Ed Norman and the entire team at Curb|Word,” shares Clore. “Being able to market artists in multiple genres – including country, where my career started – is something I’m very excited about.”
Clore can be reached at jclore@curb.com or at 615-635-0853.
Weekly Register: Kane Brown Tops Country Albums Chart
/by Jessica NicholsonThree artists take this week’s top 5 country albums spots (total consumption), according to Nielsen Soundscan. Kane Brown‘s self-titled album is at No. 1, with 15K. Brown recently celebrated his latest No. 1 single, “What Ifs,” during an industry party in Nashville.
Chris Stapleton takes the No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 spots this week, with Traveller (13K), From A Room: Vol. 1 (12K), and From A Room: Vol. 2 (11K), respectively.
Thomas Rhett’s Life Changes holds the No. 3 spot this week, with 13K.
On the digital country songs sales rankings, Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line‘s “Meant To Be” earned 41K to top this week’s chart, bringing the song’s digital sales to more than 648K to date.
Jason Aldean‘s “You Make It Easy” is at No. 2, with 26K, followed by Thomas Rhett‘s “Marry Me” at No. 3 with 17K. Kane Brown‘s “Heaven” is at No. 4 with 16K, and Chris Stapleton‘s “Broken Halos” is at No. 5 with 14K.
Mitchell Tenpenny’s Self-Titled EP Released
/by Lorie HollabaughMitchell Tenpenny has released his self-titled EP and debut single, “Drunk Me,” on Riser House/Columbia Nashville. The EP, which includes new and previously released music, showcases Tenpenny’s rich, gritty, soul-infused sound.
Co-written by Tenpenny, Jordan M. Schmidt and Justin Wilson,“Drunk Me,” ships to radio today and will officially impact March 26. Currently on a national radio promotion tour, Tenpenny was recently the opening act on Dustin Lynch’s Ride or Die Tour and has also performed with Jake Owen, Brett Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more.
Mitchell Tenpenny EP Track Listing*:
1. “Truck I Drove in High School” – Mitchell Tenpenny/Jordan M. Schmidt/Andrew Albert/Devin Dawson (BMI/ASCAP)
2. “Drunk Me” – Mitchell Tenpenny/Jordan M. Schmidt/Justin Wilson (BMI/ASCAP/SESAC)
3. “Alcohol You Later” – Mitchell Tenpenny/Sam Sumser/Michael Lotten (BMI/ASCAP)
4. “Mixed Drinks” – Mitchell Tenpenny/Andrew Albert/Jordan Walker (BMI/ASCAP)
5. “Bitches” – Mitchell Tenpenny/Dallas Wilson (BMI)
*Produced by Jordan M. Schmidt, co-produced by Mitchell Tenpenny, except track 3 produced by Sam Sumser.
Reba McEntire To Reveal ACM Nominees On ‘CBS This Morning’
/by Lorie HollabaughReba McEntire is set to appear live on CBS This Morning on Thursday (March 1) to announce the nominees for the 53rd Academy Of Country Music Awards in the 8 a.m. ET hour. Prior to her appearance, Reba will go live on Facebook to reveal the nominees for ACM Song of the Year.
Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O’Dell will announce additional nominees on ETonline.com at 8:50 a.m. ET. The full list of nominations will be released immediately following the ETonline.com announcement on ACMcountry.com.
The 53rd ACM Awards will broadcast live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.