DISClaimer: The Tried And The True

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Country music charges into the fall season, still pretty much sticking to the tried and true.

That means rock, pop and hip-hop influences in the sounds of Lewis Brice, Eric Chesser, Tyminski and Jackson Michelson. Among the brightest spots in this edition of DisClaimer are the David Lee Murphy/Kenny Chesney duet and the Blake Shelton track.

The Disc of the Day award goes to Lady Antebellum, who have apparently returned from wandering in the pop wilderness. Bopping Susan Shann wins the DisCovery Award, partly because heaven knows we need more female voices in this format.

SUSAN SHANN/Rhythm of the Road
Writer: Susan Shann; Producer: Bil VornDick; Moose Lodge, ASCAP; SS (track)
– The band is cooking with gas in a taut, punchy, bopping arrangement punctuated by stinging guitar licks and fluid piano lines. The song’s toe-tapping, “traveling” groove is perfect for a sunny afternoon drive. Promising.

TYMINSKI/Bloodline
Writers: Tyminski/Barlowe/Frasure; Producer: Jesse Frasure; Publishers: Broad Banz/Dan Tyminski/Castle Bound/We Be Pawtying/Spirit/Songs of Roc Nation/Telemitry Rhythm House/Warner-Tamerlane, BMI/SESAC; Mercury (track)
– His album Southern Gothic‘s lead single is a meditation on heritage, music and memory with a choppy backbeat and an r&b feel. Haunting and hooky.

LEO EIFFERT Jr./Blue Crawfish Cup
Writers: Lwo J. Eiffert Jr.; Producer: none listed; Publishers: Young Country, BMI; Young Country
– Amateur Hour at the bar and grill.

LADY ANTEBELLUM/Heart Break
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Capitol Nashville (CDX)
– Breezy and charming. Hillary takes the lead on this tuneful, mid-tempo ditty about healing from a bad relationship. The layered track shuffles and echoes beautifully.

BLAKE SHELTON/I Lived It
Writers: Ashley Gorley/Ben Hayslip/Rhett Akins/Ross Copperman; Producer: Scott Hendricks; Publishers: none listed; Warner Bros.
– He is such a superb country singer, and this dreamy, nostalgic song is a perfect vehicle for him. Can’t wait for the new album.

NED LEDOUX/We Ain’t Got It All
Writers: Ned LeDoux/Chris LeDoux/Mac McAnally; Producer: Mac McAnally; Publishers: Rusty Spur/Mad Cracker, BMI
-The late rodeo champ, country singer and Garth Brooks fave Chris LeDoux left behind scraps of paper with song ideas on them. With help from Mac McAnally, his son has polished several of these into finished works. They’re included on Ned’s new CD Sagebrush. This one is a sturdy, home-folks outing with a steady backbeat that pumps right along. Recommended. By the way, the CD also includes a duet with Chase Rice on the elder LeDoux’s 1991 single “This Cowboy’s Hat.”

JACKSON MICHELSON/Rollin’
Writers: none listed; Producers: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Curb (CDX)
– Please stop talking and sing, for pete’s sake. Also, please lose the rock guitars.

LEWIS BRICE/Best Ex Ever
Writers: L. Brice/M. Walker/B. Davis; Producers: Lewis Brice/Brian Bunn; Publishers: none listed; Pump
– She rescues him when he’s drunk. He knows they’ll never get back together, but he sure likes her then. Very cute. Especially when the whole band shouts the title.

DAVID LEE MURPHY & KENNY CHESNEY/Everything’s Gonna Be Alright
Writers: David Lee Murphy/Chris Stevens/Jimmy Yeary; Producer: Buddy Cannon/Kenny Chesney; Publishers: none listed; Reviver/Blue Chair
– This has a steady groove that’s enormously pleasing. The feel-good message is certainly one we can use right now. I’m in.

ERIC CHESSER/Yes
Writers: none listed; Producer: none listed; Publishers: none listed; Big Big (CDX)
– I liked his last single quite a bit. This one not so much, largely because the production seems needlessly busy and noisy. He still sings splendidly.

Kid Rock, Justin Moore, Kenny Rogers Among Many Exiting Webster PR

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Kid Rock, Kenny Rogers, Justin Moore

Kenny Rogers, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bill Anderson and Justin Moore are among artists confirmed as no longer affiliated with Webster PR, following the allegations made against the company’s President, Kirt Webster, earlier this week.

On Thursday morning (Nov. 2), Webster PR’s artist roster of more than 70 artist clients displayed on the company’s website had been slashed to nearly 40, before the list was removed completely Thursday afternoon.

Moore is no longer affiliated with Webster PR, MusicRow has confirmed with Moore’s management. Kid Rock is also no longer affiliated with Webster PR, according to a representative from BBR Music Group. Billy Ray Cyrus, Naomi Judd, and The Bellamy Brothers have signed with publicist Scott Adkins‘ newly-formed PR company, Adkins PR. The Judds’ new affiliations have not yet been announced. Ex-Webster staffer Zach Farnum announced his 117 Entertainment Group in May 2017 and has recently signed clients including Randy Travis, NATD Honors, and Tim Rushlow.

Dailey & Vincent have signed with LCMedia.

Dolly Parton is among those artists whose name is no longer listed on the Webster PR site, along with fellow CTK Management (and former Webster clients) Kenny G and KC and the Sunshine Band. Danny Nozell, Parton’s manager at CTK Management, did not return MusicRow‘s request for comment.

A statement provided to media on Wednesday (Nov. 1) noted Webster PR would continue operations under the name Westby Public Relations, though MusicRow has since confirmed this is inaccurate. Westby Public Relations owner Jeremy Westby told MusicRow on Thursday the new company is completely separate from Webster PR.

Westby told MusicRow his company will be looking for new office space in downtown Nashville and that he is currently working on building staff, though he would not comment on whether any former Webster PR staffers would be joining Westby Public Relations.

Though Westby would not comment on Parton’s exit from Webster PR or the possibility of her joining Westby PR, he said he has been in communication with Parton’s management. Westby PR’s official site lists clients including many former Webster PR artists like The Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, KC And the Sunshine Band, Kenny G, Don McLean, John Conlee, Wanda Jackson and Lucas Hoge.

Those who have not yet announced new PR affiliation include:

  • Dolly Parton
  • Tanya Tucker
  • Aaron Lewis
  • Big & Rich
  • Lee Greenwood
  • Nu-Blu
  • Jeannie Seely
  • Cyndi Lauper
  • Olivia Lane
  • Hank Williams Jr.
  • Charlie Daniels
  • The Judds
  • Charley Pride
  • Crystal Gayle
  • T. Graham Brown
  • T.G. Sheppard
  • Don Williams
  • Ronnie McDowell
  • Janie Fricke
  • Moe Bandy
  • Mark Chesnutt
  • Collin Raye
  • Exile
  • John Michael Montgomery
  • John Anderson
  • Gary Morris
  • The Kentucky Headhunters
  • Confederate Railroad
  • Mark Wills
  • Sylvia
  • Ray Scott
  • Paulette Carlson
  • Baillie & The Boys
  • Jimmy Fortune
  • Craig Wayne Boyd
  • Tommy Roe
  • Lifehouse
  • Meatloaf
  • Seether
  • Brenda Lee
  • Rhonda Vincent
  • Sarah Dunn Band
  • Frank Foster
  • Denny Strickland
  • Shane Owens
  • Wilson Fairchild

BMLG Showcases Delta Rae’s Breakout Harmonies

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Delta Rae. Photo: BMLG

Scott Borchetta, Founder/CEO of Big Machine Label Group, welcomed a slew of industry tastemakers to the back room of his 16th Ave. bungalow on Nov. 1 to preview new music from new six-piece outfit, Delta Rae.

Delta Rae is siblings Ian Holljes, Eric Hölljes and Brittany Hölljes, together with longtime friend and lead vocalist Liz Hopkins in addition to accompaniment from Mike McKee (drums) and Grant Emerson (bass).

With over 50 songs and an EP already on the shelves, the Valory Music Co. act sampled six titles, including their joyous, lead single “A Long And Happy Life.” The showcase also touched on their current single, a ballad titled “No Peace In Quiet,” which began going for adds on Oct. 16. “No Peace In Quiet” is a play on words about the silence band member Eric Hölljes experienced after a breakup in his home city of Durham, North Carolina, and influenced his move to Nashville. The band just released a music video for the single.

Youtube video

The acoustic afternoon began with the upbeat, amiable “I’m Moved South” and finished with an a capella encore at the urging of Borchetta, titled “Bottom Of The River.”

Although “A Long And Happy Life” was recorded with producer Dann Huff, Delta Rae was brought to the Big Machine Label Group by Borchetta’s VP of A&R, producer Julian Raymond.

“Julian had been working with Delta Rae for a lot of years,” said Borchetta. “He pretty much brought Delta Rae with him when he came to Big Machine. He said, ‘You have to see and experience this.’ If you haven’t seen Delta Rae yet, you will understand our excitement. They’re great storytellers that are true to the art. They deserve your attention.”

Delta Rae has already headlined 60 shows across the nation on their A Long And Happy Life Summer Tour 2017, booked by Madison House. They have previously performed at major festivals such as Bonnaroo, Farm Aid, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, in addition to earning national media attention.

Crosshair Music Launches Monthly Program To Publicly Identify Influencer-Collaborators

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Nashville-based Crosshair Music has launched Crosshair Elite, a monthly program with 15 associated publications, including Indie Pulse. The program selects the top 20 influencers to highlight from Crosshair’s back-end analytic system that are helping artists from all genres, including country, gain the attention from global Spotify-sponsored playlists. The feature is a reward perk, thanking the influencers for their involvement in providing feedback to undiscovered music.

The initiative is designed to bring awareness for Crosshair and its ability to drive music consumption with its proprietary back-end, identifying independent music influencers and their playlists. The digital influencers described in Crosshair’s inaugural list are noted as having driven hundreds of thousands of streams and engagements for artists this year. They are regularly the first playlists and channels to get an artist’s song over 1,000 plays as well as get them on the radar of the editors at Spotify. They are the first movers and partners to independent music. For example, in the case of Prohaize, an independent rapper in Atlanta, our Elite influencers drove enough engagement to drive his song “Next Time” onto Spotify’s Spotify And Chill playlist.

“Our Crosshair Elite program was designed to help communities like the music industry understand how impactful social influencers, beyond just playlists, are for independent artists,” said Crosshair CEO Garrison Snell. “I wanted to partner with publications to publish part of Crosshair’s analytics to raise awareness for these influencers. They are the first people to take a chance on an undiscovered artist and are not to be underestimated.”

At the end of each month, the 20 influencers will be re-evaluated based on criteria including timeliness of reviewing campaigns, responding to artist messages. Any influencer has the potential to become an Elite Influencer.

Crosshair Music is located in Nashville’s Gulch Crossing building. It’s aim is to affordably connect musicians directly to the playlist curators and social influencers who can help grow their audiences. Crosshair influencers are leading tastemakers on Spotify, Youtube, Twitter, Instagram, and more. Artists can submit their music to Crosshair for a small fee, have their music reviewed, and get in contact with the best influencers who are actively looking for music to promote.

Two of the top country music influencers who were identified as driving discovery on Spotify, as noted by Crosshair for November 2017, are:

Adam Denney’s Public Spotify Playlist
-2017 Country Music

Ashley Bowsher’s Public Spotify Playlist
-Pop & Country

Dan Auerbach & The Easy Eye Sound Revue Launch Tour In February

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Dan Auerbach & The Easy Eye Sound Revue, featuring performances by Auerbach, Robert Finley, and Shannon Shaw with special guests Shannon and the Clams, has announced a 2018 tour. The group will play dates in Dallas, L.A., San Francisco, Boston, Denver, and a Nashville show at the Ryman Auditorium Feb. 25, among others.

Presale started Tuesday (Oct. 31) and general on sale will start tomorrow (Nov. 3).

Feb 23, Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater –  Austin, TX
Feb 25, Ryman Auditorium –  Nashville, TN
Mar 24, Union Transfer –  Philadelphia, PA
Mar 25, House of Blues –  Boston, MA
Mar 27, Brooklyn Steel  – Brooklyn, NY
Mar 29, Dansforth Music Hall  – Toronto, ON
Mar 31, Agora Theater  – Cleveland, OH
Apr 2, Riviera Theatre  – Chicago, IL
Apr 3, Palace Theatre  – St. Paul, MN
Apr 4, The Truman  – Kansas City, MO
Apr 5, Paramount Theatre  – Denver, CO

John Strohm Named Rounder Records President

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Rounder Records, a division of Concord Music, has named John Strohm as President of the American roots label. Strohm will oversee management of Rounder’s day-to-day operations in Nashville, reporting to Concord Music’s Chief Label Officer, Tom Whalley. Former Rounder president, John Virant will remain in a senior creative role, working closely with Strohm and the Rounder staff.

Strohm joins Rounder Records from Loeb & Loeb LLP, where, as Senior Counsel in their Music Industry practice since 2011. Strohm played a leading role in developing the careers of clients Bon Iver, Sturgill Simpson, Alabama Shakes, Dawes, Julien Baker, The Civil Wars and many others. In his multi-faceted career in the music industry, Strohm brings a wealth of experience in music publishing, recording, distribution and emerging media.

Strohm’s career in music began when the aspiring songwriter and musician left his hometown of Bloomington, Indiana to attend Boston’s Berklee College of Music in the mid ’80s. After meeting fellow music obsessives Juliana Hatfield and Freda Love, Strohm formed the beloved college rock band Blake Babies, who released their 2001 album God Bless The Blake Babies for Rounder’s Zoë imprint. He went on to play drums and guitar in The Lemonheads and released a string of well-regarded solo albums. Strohm left professional music to attend law school, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2004 from Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, where he served as Editor-In-Chief of the Cumberland Law Review.

Rounder Records has helped shape American roots music for 47 years. Its outstanding artist roster includes Steve Martin, Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Sarah Jarosz, I’m With Her (Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan), Chris Hillman, Pokey LaFarge, George Thorogood, Sierra Hull, Raffi, Jerry Douglas, Earls of Leicester, The Time Jumpers and the late, great Gregg Allman, among many others.

Warner/Chappell Music Promotes Ryan Beuschel

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Warner/Chappell Music (WCM), the global publishing arm of Warner Music Group Corp., has promoted Ryan Beuschel to Vice President, A&R. In this position, Beuschel will provide A&R resources and creative support across the publisher’s roster and catalog, and lead in the discovery of new talent, as well as the development of existing songwriters. Beuschel previously served as Director, A&R. He will continue to report to Ben Vaughn, President, Warner/Chappell Nashville.

“I love music and have always been passionate about helping to develop, encourage, and build songwriters’ careers,” said Beuschel. “Warner/Chappell Music is home to the most impeccable talent in the world—across both its roster of songwriters and its incredible staff—and I consider myself extremely fortunate to be a part of this family.”

“Ryan is passionate about songs and the songwriters who create them,” said Vaughn. “He’s a valued member of the Warner/Chappell family, and we’re excited to announce this well-deserved promotion.”

Beuschel works closely with WCM songwriters such as Ashley Gorley, Lady Antebellum, Eric Paslay, Dustin Lynch, Rhett Akins, Nathan Chapman, Randy Montana, and Kelley Lovelace among others.

Prior to Warner/Chappell, Beuschel served as Associate Director of Membership for ASCAP’s Nashville branch. During his time at ASCAP, Beuschel co-founded the ASCAP GPS Project which helps Nashville’s unsigned songwriters navigate the city’s vibrant publishing community. Prior to ASCAP, Beuschel held the position of A&R Manager at Universal Music Group, where he worked with artists on both the MCA & Mercury labels. He began his career in 2005 as an intern for Universal Music Publishing, where he was later named Catalog Coordinator, before moving to the UMG label group in 2007 as A&R Coordinator.

A Michigan native, Beuschel holds a degree in management and finance from Hope College.

Nashville Road Closures Announced Ahead Of CMA Awards

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In preparation for The 51st Annual CMA Awards, several traffic adjustments in downtown Nashville have been announced. Production set-up and clean-up for the show will require special traffic patterns that are in effect now and continue through Thursday, Nov. 9. The 51st Annual CMA Awards will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

From 6 a.m. today until 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, the sidewalks along Sixth Avenue from Broadway to Demonbreun Street will be closed.

From 12 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 to 2 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, one westbound lane on Demonbreun Street spanning Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue will be closed.

From 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, no parking will be allowed along the eastbound lane of Broadway from Fourth Avenue to Eighth Avenue, and Fifth Avenue from Broadway to Demonbreun Street will be closed for traffic.

From 6 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, Sixth Avenue from Broadway to Demonbreun Street will be closed. The northbound lane from the Hilton Hotel driveway to Broadway will remain open.

Closures in Downtown Nashville beginning Monday, Nov. 6 include:

  • Beginning 4 p.m., the southbound lane of Fifth Avenue from Demonbreun Street to Korean Veterans Boulevard, in addition to sidewalks along the Music City Center side of this section, will be closed until 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.
  • Beginning 5 a.m., no parking will be allowed on Broadway in front of Rippy’s Bar & Grill until 3 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.
  • Beginning 6 a.m., no parking will be allowed along Korean Veterans Boulevard from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue until 3 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.
  • Beginning 4 a.m., no parking will be allowed along Broadway from First Avenue to Second Avenue until 12 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.
  • Beginning 4 a.m., the southbound lane on First Avenue from Broadway to the Acme Feed & Seed parking lot will be closed until 12:00 PM Wednesday, Nov. 8.
  • From 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 to 2 a.m. Thursday Nov. 9, Demonbreun Street will close from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue, and sidewalks will close from Fourth Avenue to Seventh Avenue.

From 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 to 2 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, the following streets will be closed:

  • Sixth Avenue from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun Street (No cut through traffic – Music City Center parking and exit only).
  • Fifth Avenue from Demonbreun Street to Broadway.
  • Demonbreun Street from Fourth Avenue to Eighth Avenue.
  • Seventh Avenue from Demonbreun Street to Broadway (No cut through traffic – Music City Center parking only).
  • McGavock Pike from Seventh Avenue to Eighth Avenue (No cut through traffic – Music City Center parking only).
  • From 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 to 2 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, sidewalks will close on Demonbreun Street from Fourth to Seventh Avenue and from Fifth to Seventh Avenue on the Music City Center side. There will also be no parking during this time on Fourth Avenue from Broadway to Demonbreun Street.

From 6 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, Fifth Avenue from Korean Veterans Boulevard to Demonbreun Street will be closed for traffic.

From 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, the northbound lane will be closed on Fourth Avenue where the road intersects with Broadway. There will also be no parking allowed in this area.

Ryan Kinder Sets Headlining Tour

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Ryan Kinder will launch his 14-city headlining tour on Nov. 10 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville artist’s trek will run through early February 2018.

Kinder’s single “Close” has earned more than 25 million on-demand streams to date. The singer-songwriter has partnered with Shazam for the tour. Concert attendees will be abel to visually Shazam Kinder’s tour posters for access to exclusive photos and videos, as well as a chance to win tickets to an upcoming show. The posters will be displayed in tour markets leading up to each stop as well as through special posts on Kinder’s social media.

RYAN KINDER TOUR DATES:
11/10 – Virginia Beach, VA – Eagles Nest
11/11 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
12/7 – Baltimore, MD – Tin Roof Baltimore
12/8 – Asbury Park, NJ – The Wonder Bar
12/9 – Dewey Beach, DE – Rusty Rudder
12/12 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
12/14 – Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry
12/15 – Boston, MA – The Red Room Cafe 939
12/16 – Vienna, VA (D.C.) – Jammin’ Java
1/26 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
1/27 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
2/8 – Decatur, GA – Eddie’s Attic
2/9 – Athens, GA – The Foundry
2/10 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s

Radio Romance Wins NASH Next 2017 Challenge

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Back Row (L-R): John Shomby, Director Programming, Nash; Radio Romance’s Adam Smithwick; Mike McVay, Evp Content & Programming, Cumulus Media; Radio Romance’s Josh Gramling and Moises Padilla; John Kilgo, VP, Label Relations, Cumulus Media. Front Row (L-R): Radio Romance’s Sam Hayes; Scott Borchetta, President/CEO, Big Machine Label Group

Cumulus Media announced last night (Nov. 1) Radio Romance from Hermitage, Tenn., as the NASH Next 2017 Challenge winner.

The final competition event took place at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville with live performances from the Top 10 national finalists and a special performance from 2016 NASH Next winner Todd O’Neill and The Valory Music Co’s Delta Rae. The finale showcased up-and-coming country talent discovered through this first-of-it’s-kind national radio grassroots talent search and artist development program for country music, sponsored by Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM.

“Great showmen, very cohesive sound and a polished performance” were a few of the phases used by the NASH Next 2017 judges to describe Radio Romance, who will receive national radio airplay on Cumulus Media radio stations, and a recording contract under the Big Machine Label Group umbrella. As a surprise addition to the grand prize package, Country Inns & Suites presented Radio Romance with a gift of 10 free nights at any Country Inns & Suites locations.

“We woke up this morning and we didn’t have a record label or a booking agency. All we had was our one manager,” said Sam Hayes of Radio Romance. “But we are going to bed tonight with a record deal. We can’t thank our fans and family enough for all the support they have given us that got us here tonight.”

The winner of the NASH Next 2017 Challenge was selected by a celebrity panel of some of the biggest names in country music, including Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta; Kix Brooks, half of Grammy-winning duo Brooks & Dunn; award-winning Songwriter Hall of Fame writer Desmond Child; chart-topping entertainer Brantley Gilbert; and the Tennessean’s Cindy Watts.

“Radio leads the way when it comes to music discovery. NASH Next 2017 genuinely discovers new artists, enables all of the contestants to be heard and allows the winners to take advantage of an amazing opportunity to have their music backed by a major label as well as played nationally on the radio,” said Mike McVay, EVP Programming and Content, Cumulus Media. “We’re very excited to see what the future holds for Radio Romance.”

“We’re so excited to add Radio Romance to the Big Machine Label Group family,” said Borchetta. “This was the toughest competition yet for NASH Next but at the end of the night it was obvious that Radio Romance had prevailed.”

To sample Radio Romance’s music, as well as hear songs and watch music videos from all of the Top 10 finalists, visit: http://nashnextpresents.com.