Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton and Katy Perry have been added to the line-up of performers taking the stage at the ACM Awards, airing  Sunday, April 3 at 8:00 p.m. live ET/delayed PT on CBS. The two superstars will duet, marking their first-ever live performance together.

Additionally, Parton will be honored with the ACM’s Tex Ritter Award for her television movie, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors. The movie aired on NBC in 2015 and was watched by more than 16 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched TV movies of all time. Past recipients of the Tex Ritter Award include Country Strong, Crazy Heart, O Brother, Where Art Thou and Walk the Line, among others.

Parton and Perry join previously announced performers, including Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Cam, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brett Eldredge, Sam Hunt, Tim McGraw, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Chris Young with Cassadee Pope and Florida Georgia Line. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

The 51st Academy Of Country Music Awards, co-hosted by Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley, is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Kacey Musgraves and Bob Harris receive CMA International Awards during the recent C2C London event. (L-R): Mark Hagen, Executive Producer, BBC; Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award recipient Bob Harris, host of “Bob Harris Country” on BBC Radio 2; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; International Artist Achievement Award recipient Kacey Musgraves; Jason Owen, Sandbox Entertainment President/CEO and CMA Board member. Photo: Anthony D’Angio/CMA

The Country Music Association announced today (March 21) the 2016 recipients of the organization’s International Awards.

The timing of the announcement coincided with the recent C2C London event, where more than 60,000 fans attended a weekend of live performances from the biggest names in country music, alongside emerging artists from the U.K. and Europe. CMA-sponsored activities included the sold-out CMA Songwriters Series featuring Charles Esten, Lori McKenna, Ashley Monroe, Charlie Worsham, and host Shane McAnally, with a surprise appearance by Miranda Lambert.

The CMA Talks series included “Live with Charles Esten” and “Nashville Heavy Hitters” with Susan Bank, Mike Dungan, Ali Harnell, and Randy Goodman.

During the event, Kacey Musgraves was presented the International Artist Achievement Award from BBC Radio 2 personality Bob Harris. The singer then surprised the respected broadcaster with the Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award. Harris has more than four decades of experience covering music, and is currently on BBC Radio 2. He has been the recipient of three CMA International Awards.

International superstar Reba congratulated Musgraves and Harris, and notified fellow award recipients Gord Bamford and Paul McGuire of Canada via personalized email video messages. Watch Reba’s announcement.

Bamford is winning the Jeff Walker Global Country Artist Award. Bamford is a 22-time Canadian Country Music Award winner. His seventh studio album will be released on Sony Music Canada this month.

McGuire, host of multiple CMT radio and television shows in Canada, receives the International Country Broadcaster Award.

Jeff Walker posthumously receives the Jo Walker-Meador International Award. Walker was a CMA Board member who worked tirelessly to advance country music in foreign markets, including developing international events during CMA Music Festival. He served on the boards of prominent International Country Music associations in Canada and Australia.

CMA International Awards are voted on by CMA International Membership as well as a panel of domestic U.S.-based industry.

Cor Entertainment Signs Duo Walker McGuire

Pictured: Johnny McGuire, Mickey Jack Cones, Jordan Walker

Cor Entertainment has signed emerging country duo Walker McGuire to an exclusive management contract. Recently, Cor’s publishing arm signed a co-venture with Combustion/Atlas that will represent the two singer/songwriters. Cor Entertainment was founded by the duo’s producer, Mickey Jack Cones.

SOLID Hosts Employment Panel

Pictured (L-R): Lisa Nolan, SOLID University Outreach Co-Chair/ For the Record Entertainment; Tim Gray, SOLID University Outreach Chair/ Grayscale Entertainment Marketing; Faithe Parker, Marbaloo; Chitquita McCarthur, SONY; Hannah Clark, Ryman Hospitality Properties; Halie Hampton, Maverick Management.

SOLID recently hosted a panel for music industry newcomers on March 16 titled “An Insider’s Guide on How to Get Your First Job in the Music Industry.” The panel, held at Belmont University and led by SOLID’s University Outreach committee, was the second in the SOLID SPEAK series and consisted of hiring executives, selected to share tips on obtaining a job in Music City.

Tim Gray, University Outreach chair, Lisa Nolan, University Outreach co-chair and Halie Hampton, University Outreach leader with help from the rest of the committee recruited panelists that included: Marbaloo’s Founder and Managing Partner, Faithe Parker; Sony Music Nashville’s HR Manager, Chitiquita McCarthur and Ryman Hospitality Properties’ HR Manager, Hannah Clark.

WMBA Presents Sponsorships, Branding Panel

Top row (L-R): Kristen England, WMBA Events and Education Co-Chair; Meredith Bunch, WMBA Events and Education Co-Chair; Julia Grimoldi, WMBA Secretary; Dana Lalevee, WMBA President. Bottom row (L-R): Stacy Scism, WMBA Vice President; Holly Lane, Country Radio Broadcasters; Tim Gray, Grayscale Entertainment; Tiffany Kerns, CMA; Michelle Jacobs, WME.

The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) welcomed Holly Lane (CRS), Tim Gray (Grayscale Entertainment), Tiffany Kerns (CMA) and Michelle Jacobs (WME) to the organization’s monthly membership meeting about Sponsorships and Brand Partnerships held at NSAI on Tuesday, March 15.

Grayscale Entertainment has worked with artists such as Papa Roach, Shooter Jennings, Katy Perry, Joe Diffie, Justin Bieber, and Nicki Minaj.  Lane developed and managed corporate partnerships for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, matching global brands such as Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Company, Gibson, Southwest Airlines, and Comcast XFINITY.

Prior to joining WME and CMA, Jacobs served as Sales and Marketing Coordinator for Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe where she developed local partnerships for special events, managed philanthropic event activation, and oversaw the venue’s digital presence. Kerns has a background with with non-profits, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, where she worked with corporate community partners and large community groups to help achieve the development goals of the CFF Board of Directors.

Heartland Records Adds VP, A&R

Heartland Records Nashville has added Corey Lee Barker as VP, A&R Nashville. Since moving to Nashville 18 years ago, Barker has had over 400 cuts and television placements for his music. He also penned the book Hit Happens to support aspiring songwriters.

“I am more than excited to join the staff here at Heartland Records and I look forward to great things in 2016 and beyond,” Barker said.

Barker can be reached at corey@heartlandrecords.net.

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will host “Finding Your Voice: Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out” on Monday, May 16, from 3:45 p.m. – 6 p.m. during the Music Biz 2016 convention at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in Nashville.

The event will feature influential female music executives, as well as Supremes co-founder and vocalist Mary Wilson, as well as songwriting trio the Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose). The trio penned “Girl Crush” for Little Big Town, who are set to receive the Music Biz 2016 Artist of the Year Award.

Additionally the event will include keynote speaker Vivien Lewit, Director of Content Partnerships and Global Head of Artist Relations for YouTube and Google Play, conducted by music industry veteran Cindy Charles.

Music Biz Board of Directors members, including Candace Berry of Universal Music Group, Kelly Rich of Big Machine Label Group, Christina Calio of Microsoft, Amy Dietz of INgrooves Music Group, and Dilyn Radakovitz of Dimple Records, will then discuss their journey through the music business and how it affects their everyday lives with moderator Debbie Newman.

Finally, entertainment attorney and musician Judy Tint speak with Wilson and the Love Junkies to discuss how female creators navigate their way through the business.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate some formidable women in the music industry and help to inspire those looking to break into the biz with a forum to share ideas and discuss ways to overcome and eliminate inequality,” said James Donio, President of Music Biz. “It is amazing to see more and more women rising to positions of power and being recognized. We hope this event will play a part in encouraging even more young women to make their mark in this business.”

Admission to “Finding Your Voice: Music’s Leading Ladies Speak Out” is included with a full Music Biz 2016 badge, which Music Biz members can purchase at eventbrite.com. Passes for the “Leading Ladies” event only can be purchased via Eventbrite.

Music Biz 2016, which will return to Nashville from May 16-18. For more information or to sign up for the conference, visit www.musicbiz2016.com.