Suzy Bogguss held a winning hand in 1991 with Aces, her breakthrough platinum album that charted four major hits and led to her winning the CMA Horizon Award a year later.
Bogguss, who paid her dues by touring small clubs across the country and singing in shows at Dollywood, joined the Capitol Nashville roster in the late 1980s when she was signed by Jim Foglesong. In the 25 years since releasing Aces (her third album for the label), Bogguss noticed that longtime fans were requesting album cuts like “Part of Me” and “Music on the Wind” as much as familiar favorites like “Aces,” “Letting Go,” “Someday Soon” and “Outbound Plane.”
So, after giving it some thought, she pulled her white Western jacket out of the closet, took a photo for the album cover (against the brown wall in her son’s bedroom), and in August presented Aces Redux, a collection of the original 10 songs recorded anew with modern arrangements.
During a visit to MusicRow, Bogguss chatted about ‘90s country, her folk influences, and her enduring love for the songs on Aces.
MusicRow: What were the conversations leading up to doing this new album?
Bogguss: Well, it was several things. I think the first thing was reconnecting with so many people over the last four or five years, now that our son’s in college. I have been coming back to so many of the country fans from the ‘90s that had this album. And each one of them had their own favorite song – and different ones, not just the hits that we do in the show. So, they were requesting these songs and I’d look and the band like, “Maybe we can pull this off…” We were butchering through stuff the band didn’t really know.
Later we worked up a song I wrote [with husband Doug Crider] called “Yellow River Road” because it comes up all the time. And I went back to listen to see if I knew everything I needed to do with it and I thought, “Oh, these songs are starting to sound dated…” And I don’t really sell the Aces album on the road, and to be perfectly honest with you, it costs a lot of money to buy them from Capitol. But the fans wanted to hear these songs so we just started working some of them up, and I thought, “Why don’t we just redo the album more like we do the show now?” It’s more acoustic-oriented. It’s a band record.
Your producer Jimmy Bowen helped you find the songs you needed to break through at country radio. When you went back and listened to these songs again, did you think about time when you first found them?
I totally did. One of those weird things that happens with Nashville being a small community is that when you cut a song, you oftentimes get to know the songwriter. In this case, two good friendships came out of it, and probably more than that. “Aces” was written by Cheryl Wheeler and she and I ended up touring and doing shows together. Kim Carnes [a co-writer on “Still Hold On”] is one of my best friends and I see her every couple of weeks. Those two songs were the main ones that Bowen brought into the project, where I felt like he finally understood what I was going for.
For a long time, he made fun of me, like, “You’ve got all this folkie influence in your music.” He was trying to beat it out of me but it wasn’t going to go away! (laughs) But when he brought those two songs to me, it was like, “That’s exactly what I’m looking for.” It was a meeting of the minds, and from that point on, we had a mutual respect for each other because we were on the same page with the same vision.
I would think “Someday Soon” is one that people still ask for.
Yes, and when I first started touring, I was singing that song because I didn’t have hits. They put me on the road with Alabama and Clint Black and I had one song [“Cross My Broken Heart”] that went to No. 14. So what I did was reach back to my lounge lizard days, to the covers I would play that were really popular.
I actually had to fight to record that song. That was when Jimmy said, “Too many people have covered that song. Moe Bandy did it 10 years ago and Judy Collins had a huge hit, and you’re going to draw comparisons.” I said, let me cut it because the young people were really responding to it. That’s one thing about the songs on Aces — the songs are pretty timeless.
The original Aces album cover
I listened to this record over and over when I was 16, and loved the lyrics and the arrangements, but now that I’m 41, these songs make a whole lot more sense.
You know, people were asking me what it’s like to be singing these songs. Some of them I sing night after night, and have for years. Lord knows I am very grateful for these songs—not just because they put me on the map, but because I love them. I have a really strong relationship with them. I sing them every night and I still see stuff in my mind. I put myself in that situation so I’m not just spitting out some stuff, because that would be a drag for me. I wouldn’t like it if I had to sing something that I wasn’t into.
And that was one of the other things with Bowen is that, in his mind, he was giving me enough rope to hang myself. But in my mind, he was giving me confidence that I could do what I needed to do. Sometimes I’ll do an interview with someone in the UK and they’ll say, “Oh that must have been awful to have your record label making you wear those short skirts!” And I say, “They didn’t make me wear those short skirts. I made me wear those short skirts!” I was a cheerleader and never got out of that phase!
I remember in the ‘90s when people would say, “This new country doesn’t sound like country,” and now it’s country gold.
That’s so funny. And when people say that to me, I think, “You don’t understand, we were the people that were ruining country. We started the whole ‘ruining country’ thing!” (laughs) And you know, it’s still really hard to write a good country song. There are still football games and there are still pickup trucks and simpler lifestyles, and the core things that we can relate to. And if you can tap into that, and a melody that makes people feel, you can still write one. But it ain’t easy!
Sam Hunt, Lady Antebellum Land On ‘American Honey’ Soundtrack
/by Craig_ShelburneSam Hunt’s “Take Your Time” and Lady Antebellum’s “American Honey” are part of the soundtrack to a new film, American Honey. The soundtrack was released Friday (Sept. 30) by UMe.
The film was written and directed by Academy Award winner Andrea Arnold. Sasha Lane, Riley Keough and Shia LaBeouf star in the film, which follows a “mag crew” that sell publications door to door, not sure where the job will take them next.
“Music is a huge part of my life but it’s also a huge part of the mag crews’ life,” Arnold says. “It’s a way of communicating and expressing emotion — and massively important because it’s so truthful to their world.”
The film opens in select theaters in Los Angeles and New York on Friday, and will expand in October.
American Honey – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Track Listing
1. Quigley, “Beginning Of Anything”
2. Madeintyo, “Uber Everywhere”
3. Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”
4. Kevin Gates, “Out The Mud”
5. Steve Earle, “Copperhead Road”
6. E-40, “Choices”
7. Jeremih, “All The Time” ft. Lil Wayne & Natasha Mosley
8. Ciara, “Ride” ft. Ludacris
9. The Raveonettes, “Recharge & Revolt”
10. Rae Sremmurd, “No Type”
11. Carnage, “Bricks” ft. Migos
12. Mazzy Star, “Fade Into You”
13. Lapsy, “8896”
14. OG Maco, “U Guessed It”
15. Carnage, “I Like Tuh” ft. I LOVE MAKONNEN
16. Bonnie Prince, “Careless Love”
17. Lady Antebellum, “American Honey”
18. Raury, “God’s Whisper”
19. Razzy Bailey, “I Hate Hate”
Sam Hunt Named NMPA’s Top Songwriter For August
/by Jessica NicholsonSam Hunt
The National Music Publishers’ Association has revealed the top songwriters, along with 227 certifications of hit songs for August as part of its Gold & Platinum program, which identifies and honors songwriters of RIAA-certified hits. The RIAA counts both sales and on-demand streams toward its gold (500K), platinum (1 million), and multi-platinum (2 million+) thresholds.
Sam Hunt was named the top songwriter, with seven certifications for “House Party,” “Take Your Time,” “Leave the Night On,” and “Break Up in a Small Town,” all certified multi-platinum. “Make You Miss Me” has been certified platinum and gold, while “Ex to See” has been certified gold.
The second top songwriter with four certifications is Halsey, whose song “New Americana” has been certified platinum. Meanwhile, “Colors,” “Gasoline” and “Hold Me Down” have all been certified gold.
SONY/ATV Music Publishing: 56 certifications
Gold: 29
Platinum: 15
Multi-Platinum: 12
Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG): 53 certifications
Gold: 21
Platinum: 11
Multi-Platinum: 21
Warner/Chappell: 41 certifications
Gold: 19
Platinum: 11
Multi-Platinum: 11
Kobalt Music: 14 certifications
Gold: 3
Platinum: 5
Multi-Platinum: 6
SONGS Music Publishing: 13 certifications
Gold: 5
Platinum: 5
Multi-Platinum: 3
BMG: 13 certifications
Gold: 5
Platinum: 5
Multi-Platinum: 3
Black River Entertainment: 10 certifications
Gold: 4
Platinum: 4
Multi-Platinum: 2
Big Deal Music: 6 certifications
Gold: 2
Platinum: 2
Multi-Platinum: 2
Downtown Music Publishing: 5 certifications
Gold: 4
Multi-Platinum: 1
peermusic: 4 certifications
Gold: 2
Platinum: 2
The Administration MP: 4 certifications
Platinum: 1
Multi-Platinum: 3
Atlas Combustion Music Publishing 3 certifications (Multi-Platinum)
The Royalty Network: 2 certifications (Multi-Platinum)
ole music mangement: 2 certifications
Platinum: 1
Gold: 1
Domino Music Publishing: 1 certification (Gold)
Big Yellow Dog: 1 certification (Gold)
Round Hill Music: 1 certification (Gold)
Ultra Empire Music: 1 certification (Gold)
Exclusive: 25 Years Later, Suzy Bogguss Deals ‘Aces’ Again
/by Craig_ShelburneSuzy Bogguss held a winning hand in 1991 with Aces, her breakthrough platinum album that charted four major hits and led to her winning the CMA Horizon Award a year later.
Bogguss, who paid her dues by touring small clubs across the country and singing in shows at Dollywood, joined the Capitol Nashville roster in the late 1980s when she was signed by Jim Foglesong. In the 25 years since releasing Aces (her third album for the label), Bogguss noticed that longtime fans were requesting album cuts like “Part of Me” and “Music on the Wind” as much as familiar favorites like “Aces,” “Letting Go,” “Someday Soon” and “Outbound Plane.”
So, after giving it some thought, she pulled her white Western jacket out of the closet, took a photo for the album cover (against the brown wall in her son’s bedroom), and in August presented Aces Redux, a collection of the original 10 songs recorded anew with modern arrangements.
During a visit to MusicRow, Bogguss chatted about ‘90s country, her folk influences, and her enduring love for the songs on Aces.
MusicRow: What were the conversations leading up to doing this new album?
Bogguss: Well, it was several things. I think the first thing was reconnecting with so many people over the last four or five years, now that our son’s in college. I have been coming back to so many of the country fans from the ‘90s that had this album. And each one of them had their own favorite song – and different ones, not just the hits that we do in the show. So, they were requesting these songs and I’d look and the band like, “Maybe we can pull this off…” We were butchering through stuff the band didn’t really know.
Later we worked up a song I wrote [with husband Doug Crider] called “Yellow River Road” because it comes up all the time. And I went back to listen to see if I knew everything I needed to do with it and I thought, “Oh, these songs are starting to sound dated…” And I don’t really sell the Aces album on the road, and to be perfectly honest with you, it costs a lot of money to buy them from Capitol. But the fans wanted to hear these songs so we just started working some of them up, and I thought, “Why don’t we just redo the album more like we do the show now?” It’s more acoustic-oriented. It’s a band record.
Your producer Jimmy Bowen helped you find the songs you needed to break through at country radio. When you went back and listened to these songs again, did you think about time when you first found them?
I totally did. One of those weird things that happens with Nashville being a small community is that when you cut a song, you oftentimes get to know the songwriter. In this case, two good friendships came out of it, and probably more than that. “Aces” was written by Cheryl Wheeler and she and I ended up touring and doing shows together. Kim Carnes [a co-writer on “Still Hold On”] is one of my best friends and I see her every couple of weeks. Those two songs were the main ones that Bowen brought into the project, where I felt like he finally understood what I was going for.
For a long time, he made fun of me, like, “You’ve got all this folkie influence in your music.” He was trying to beat it out of me but it wasn’t going to go away! (laughs) But when he brought those two songs to me, it was like, “That’s exactly what I’m looking for.” It was a meeting of the minds, and from that point on, we had a mutual respect for each other because we were on the same page with the same vision.
I would think “Someday Soon” is one that people still ask for.
Yes, and when I first started touring, I was singing that song because I didn’t have hits. They put me on the road with Alabama and Clint Black and I had one song [“Cross My Broken Heart”] that went to No. 14. So what I did was reach back to my lounge lizard days, to the covers I would play that were really popular.
I actually had to fight to record that song. That was when Jimmy said, “Too many people have covered that song. Moe Bandy did it 10 years ago and Judy Collins had a huge hit, and you’re going to draw comparisons.” I said, let me cut it because the young people were really responding to it. That’s one thing about the songs on Aces — the songs are pretty timeless.
The original Aces album cover
I listened to this record over and over when I was 16, and loved the lyrics and the arrangements, but now that I’m 41, these songs make a whole lot more sense.
You know, people were asking me what it’s like to be singing these songs. Some of them I sing night after night, and have for years. Lord knows I am very grateful for these songs—not just because they put me on the map, but because I love them. I have a really strong relationship with them. I sing them every night and I still see stuff in my mind. I put myself in that situation so I’m not just spitting out some stuff, because that would be a drag for me. I wouldn’t like it if I had to sing something that I wasn’t into.
And that was one of the other things with Bowen is that, in his mind, he was giving me enough rope to hang myself. But in my mind, he was giving me confidence that I could do what I needed to do. Sometimes I’ll do an interview with someone in the UK and they’ll say, “Oh that must have been awful to have your record label making you wear those short skirts!” And I say, “They didn’t make me wear those short skirts. I made me wear those short skirts!” I was a cheerleader and never got out of that phase!
I remember in the ‘90s when people would say, “This new country doesn’t sound like country,” and now it’s country gold.
That’s so funny. And when people say that to me, I think, “You don’t understand, we were the people that were ruining country. We started the whole ‘ruining country’ thing!” (laughs) And you know, it’s still really hard to write a good country song. There are still football games and there are still pickup trucks and simpler lifestyles, and the core things that we can relate to. And if you can tap into that, and a melody that makes people feel, you can still write one. But it ain’t easy!
CMA Encourages Black-Tie For 50th Annual CMA Awards
/by Sherod RobertsonPhoto courtesy Nashville Public Library, Special Collections, Nashville Banner Archives.
As country music eagerly anticipates the 50th Annual CMA Awards, the Country Music Association is encouraging all attendees to take a cue from nine-time CMA Awards winner Johnny Cash and honor the heritage and tradition of Country Music’s Biggest Night by dressing “to the nines.”
The industry will have the opportunity to show off their black-tie best on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Bridgestone Arena.
Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban will vie for this year’s Entertainer of the Year trophy. Eric Church, Maren Morris, and Stapleton top the list of final nominees with five nominations each. Dierks Bentley, Underwood, and Urban received four nominations and Tim McGraw received three nominations. Artists receiving two nominations include Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Bryan, Cam, Old Dominion and Thomas Rhett.
Click to see full list of CMA Awards nominations.
Charity Notes: Christmas 4 Kids, ‘An Evening With Black & Rich,’ Young Entertainment Professionals
/by Jessica NicholsonChristmas 4 Kids Sets Performer Lineup For 2016 Ryman Auditorium Concert
“This year’s show at the Ryman is shaping up to be huge,” says Christmas 4 Kids President, Linda O’Connell. “Last year, we set a record for money raised for Christmas 4 Kids. With this great lineup, I think we can do it again!”
Doug Gray, lead singer of The Marshall Tucker Band adds, “We had so much fun at last year’s show at the Ryman. We’re grateful that Christmas 4 Kids asked us to come back for a second year. We love being able to help an amazing organization that does so much to bring a memorable Christmas to the children who need it most. See you in November, Nashville!”
“I’m so glad to be a part of this great show,” notes Stevens. “I’ll be debuting a brand new Christmas song at the show and I’m sure it’s one the kids will love.”
Tickets are $36.50 and $60 and are available for purchase now at Ryman.com. All proceeds generated from the concert go to the Christmas 4 Kids organization.
Clint Black, John Rich Team To Raise Funds To Aid Anti-Drug Charities
Clint Black and John Rich will headline an exclusive music showcase on Oct. 25, beginning at 7 p.m., at Rich’s Mt. Richmore estate to raise funds for the Davidson County General Sessions Drug Court, Cherished H.E.A.R.T.S. and Grace Empowered. The three programs help citizens break free from drug addiction and recover from human trafficking and prostitution.
“I’m proud to see our city court system working so proactively to help folks get out of the terrible cycle of human trafficking and drug abuse,” said Rich. “It’s a very inspiring thing. This is a really important initiative in Nashville and I’m happy to be able to support it any way I can.”
“When I see so much hard work and generosity going into a cause such as this, I’m very happy to lend my support,” added Black.
Tickets for “An Evening with Black and Rich,” are $500 each and available for purchase at gsdrugcourtfoundation.org/blackandrich. Ticket price includes hors d’oeuvres, drinks and valet parking service. Capacity at Rich’s Hillsboro-West End area home is limited to 150 people.
Young Entertainment Professionals Aid Belmont University Student With GoFundMe Campaign
Miles Littlefield
Nashville music business organization Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) has launched a GoFundMe campaign to aid Belmont University student Miles Littlefield.
According to the GoFundMe page, Miles’ car was, by no fault of his own, crushed by a crane driven by a thief. As a result, Littlefield has had to use his mountain bike for all of his transportation needs in Nashville. The campaign aims raise enough to purchase a car for Littlefield. The campaign has a $5,000 goal. To date, more than $3,200 has been raised toward the goal.
Weekly Chart Report (9/30/16)
/by Troy_StephensonClick here or above to access MusicRow‘s weekly CountryBreakout Report.
In Pictures: Dan + Shay, Chris Lane, Kellie Pickler, Kyle Jacobs
/by Eric T. ParkerDan + Shay Deliver New Single On Jimmy Kimmel Live! Debut
Pictured (L-R): Dan Smyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Shay Mooney
Dan + Shay performed their new single “How Not To” on their Jimmy Kimmel Live! debut Wednesday (Sept. 28). The radio single is the second from the Warner Music Nashville duo’s sophomore album Obsessed.
Chris Lane Performs No. 1 Single On Seth Meyers
Big Loud Records artist Chris Lane made his national TV debut on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers Wednesday (Sept. 28). Lane peformed his first chart-topping hit “Fix.”
Lane’s second single, “For Her,” off his debut album, Girl Problems, offers a real-life proposal music video which has since garnered over 124,000 views in nearly two weeks.
Kellie Pickler And Kyle Jacobs Honored By Department Of Defense
Pictured (L-R): Robert O. Work, Deputy Secretary of Defense; Kellie Pickler; Kyle Jacobs; Vice Admiral Frank. F. Pandolfe, Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Mr. Michael Rhodes, Director of Administration, Office of the Deputy Chief Management Officer. Photo: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tim D. Godbee
The Department of Defense honored Kellie Pickler and her songwriter husband Kyle Jacobs with its Spirit of Hope Award on Wednesday (Sept. 28).
The award is presented annually to distinguished Americans and organizations whose patriotism and service reflects that of Mr. Bob Hope. Recipients have selflessly contributed an extraordinary amount of time, talent or resources to significantly enhance the quality of life of service members and their families serving around the world.
The star of CMT’s docu-comedy television series I Love Kellie Pickler is known for avid support of servicemen and women with USO tours. Notable honors have included the first-ever Operation Troop Aid Chris Kyle Patriot Award, given from the parents of the slain Navy SEAL during the 2015 CMA Music Festival, and in 2013 she received the Heart For The Warrior Award from the USO of North Carolina during the Salute to Freedom Gala.
Top IBMA Awards Go To The Earls Of Leicester, Flatt Lonesome
/by Craig_ShelburneThe Earls of Leicester. Photo: Dave Brainard
Bluegrass artists The Earls of Leicester, Flatt Lonesome and Becky Buller were among the top IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards winners in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Thursday night (Sept. 29).
The Earls of Leicester, an all-star bluegrass band that solely performs from the catalog of Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, claimed Entertainer of the Year. Individual members took home solo categories for Dobro Player of the Year (Jerry Douglas), Bass Player of the Year (Barry Bales) and Banjo Player of the Year (Charlie Cushman).
Flatt Lonesome — a band that includes siblings Kelsi, Charli and Buddy Robertson — walked away with awards for Album, Song and Vocal Group of the Year. Becky Buller was awarded the Female Vocalist and Fiddle Player of the Year.
Flatt Lonesome. Photo: Dave Brainard
The event was hosted by Sierra Hull and Dan Tyminski. During the ceremony, Hull won her first Mandolin Player of the Year award. Bryan Sutton claimed Guitar Player of the Year.
Meanwhile, Danny Paisley won Male Vocalist of the Year, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen earned Instrumental Group of the Year, and Mountain Faith received Emerging Artist of the Year.
The show’s Bluegrass on Screen theme offered performances like “Man of Constant Sorrow” by Soggy Bottom Boys (O Brother, Where Art Thou), “Rainbow Connection” by the Lonely Heartstring Band (The Muppets) and the inclusion of archival clips from classics like The Beverly Hillbillies, Bonnie and Clyde, and Deliverance.
“What a wonderful night for bluegrass music’s award-winning performers,” said IBMA Executive Director Paul Schiminger. “To celebrate music from young rising stars like Flatt Lonesome alongside iconic songs from movie and television classics is a reflection of the depth and timeless appeal of the genre. Congratulations to all nominees and winners.”
Winners of the 27th Annual IBMA Awards are:
Entertainer of the Year: The Earls of Leicester
Female Vocalist of the Year: Becky Buller
Male Vocalist of the Year: Danny Paisley
Vocal Group of the Year: Flatt Lonesome
Instrumental Group of the Year: Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Song of the Year: “You’re the One,” Flatt Lonesome
Album of the Year: Runaway Train, Flatt Lonesome
Gospel Recorded Performance of the Year: All Dressed Up, Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers
Instrumental Recorded Performance of the Year: “Fireball,” Special Consensus featuring Rob Ickes, Trey Hensley and Alison Brown
Emerging Artist of the Year: Mountain Faith
Recorded Event of the Year: “Longneck Blues,” Junior Sisk and Ronnie Bowman
Banjo Player of the Year: Charlie Cushman
Bass Player of the Year: Barry Bales
Dobro Player of the Year: Jerry Douglas
Fiddle Player of the Year: Becky Buller
Guitar Player of the Year: Bryan Sutton
Mandolin Player of the Year: Sierra Hull
Inductees into the Bluegrass HOF: Clarence White; the Rounder Founders: Ken Irwin, Marian Leighton Levy and Bill Nowlin
Distinguished Achievement Award: Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine, Boston Bluegrass Union, SiriusXM Radio’s Bluegrass Junction, Bill Emerson, Jim Rooney (handed out Thursday afternoon)
The Valory Music Co. Announces New Promo Staffers
/by Craig_ShelburneThe Valory Music Co. has appointed Northeast and Southeast Directors of Promotion and Marketing, effective Monday (Oct. 3).
Don Gosselin
Don Gosselin will lead the Northeast and Brooke Nixon will oversee the Southeast. The Big Machine Label Group imprint has also added Lauren Perry as Promotion Coordinator.
In August, Ashley Sidoti was named National Director of Radio Promotion for The Valory Music Co. The imprint’s roster includes Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, Justin Moore, Eli Young Band, Tara Thompson and The Church Sisters.
Brooke Nixon
“All of us at The Valory Music Co. are excited to have Don, Brooke and Lauren join us,” said Valory’s SVP Promotion George Briner. “With Don’s recent promotion experience working with radio in the Northeast, he has already created solid relationships. Brooke has this passion for music that is infectious and is just one of the many great talents she brings to the label that will make her a great promotion person. Being able to hire both Brooke and Lauren from within the BMLG just makes this hiring that much more special.”
Lauren Perry
“I am honored to join The Valory Music Co. team and can’t wait to get rolling,” said Gosselin, who joins The Valory Music Co. from iHeartMedia. “The artists at The Valory Music Co. are all such great friends and have always delivered great music to country radio!”
Nixon added, “I am extremely excited to join the The Valory Music Co.,” said Nixon. “Words cannot express how grateful I am for my time at Dot Records and everything it taught me. The support I have received from both the Dot and the Valory teams has been very much appreciated. I am ready to rock the Southeast with Valory!”
Pearl Records Adds Three Regional Promo Directors
/by Craig_ShelburnePictured (L-R): Nathan Cruise, Hilary Hoover, Glenn Noblit
Additionally, McCormack’s role at the label is expanding to Senior Vice President of Radio Promotion, Marketing and Artist Strategy. The label is owned by Garth Brooks.
“Mandy and I are thrilled to add Hilary, Nathan and Glenn to the Pearl Records Inc. family,” said Simon. “They bring a wealth of experience, a great passion for the music and incredible respect from the radio community to this team.”
Cruise, most recently with In2une Records, has spent the last 20 years in country promotion including stops at Arista, Curb Records, Show Dog and Warner Bros.
“I’m excited to be a part of this team and this chapter in Garth’s career,” said Cruise. “Thank you to Mandy and Lesly for bringing me on board.”
Hoover started her career at All Access Music Group, but spent the last four years in promotion at Broken Bow Records Music Group including time at both RED BOW Records and Stoney Creek Records.
“I’m so grateful to Mandy McCormack and Lesly Simon for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the extraordinary legacy of Garth Brooks,” said Hoover. “I’m eager to get started on this journey with the incredible team at Pearl Records!”
Noblit has worked in various capacities from publicity to radio promotion for over 18 years with artists including Blake Shelton, Willie Nelson, Randy Travis, Big & Rich, Ryan Adams, Carl Perkins, Faith Hill, Aaron Lewis, Montgomery Gentry and others while working for Warner Brothers, Lost Highway, AristoMedia, Webster & Assoc., and most recently with Reviver Records with hit duo LOCASH, The Josh Abbott Band & newcomer Michael Tyler.
“To say I’m excited to work for and with Garth Brooks and this exceptional Pearl team is a giant understatement,” added Noblit. “This is an absolute dream come true. I have been beyond blessed to have worked with and made friendships with some of the best people and artists in this awesome business. I’m so ready for this new dance to get started.”
The new team members can be reached at the following email addresses:
nathancruise@pearlrecordsinc.com
hilaryhoover@pearlrecordsinc.com
glennnoblit@pearlrecordsinc.com (effective Monday, Oct. 3)