Rascal Flatts Marks 10 Years and $4 Million for Vandy
Rascal Flatts visit Vanderbilt. Photo: John Russell
Rascal Flatts marked the 10th anniversary and almost $4 million raised to date with its relationship with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The group performed and visited with patients last week, in addition to holding their annual fundraising dinner for the hospital at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 29. Special guests at the event included RaeLynn, Scotty McCreery, and comedian Henry Cho.
Off The Record Combines Fashion and Music to Benefit Second Harvest
Pictured (L-R): Brian Kelley, Florida Georgia Line with wife Brittney; Old Dominion’s Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi; Gil Cunningham, Neste Event Marketing and EntertainmentBuy; Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey, and Trevor Rosen. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
The inaugural Off The Record event was held last night (Nov. 1) at the estate of Sylvia Roberts (a.k.a. the home of ABC Nashville‘s Rayna James) to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The gala combined fashion and music with performer appearances from Brian Kelley, Big Kenny, Chase Bryant, Kaleo, Old Dominion, The Cadillac Three, Phil Vassar, and Brooke Eden. Models were flown in to hit the runway in designs from John Varvatos, Gucci, Tribe Kelley, Johnathan Kayne and Kaufman Franco, to name a few. Event concept and execution were spearheaded by Nashville-based Neste Event Marketing’s Gil Cunningham. This event serves as the flagship event for Neste’s new event division, EntertainmentBuy.
Kacey Musgraves Fundraiser Generates $100,000 for Hometown
Kacey Musgraves’ Hometown Hang. Photo: Blake Hall
Kacey Musgraves’ recent Hometown Hang concert raised a total of over $100,000 in Mineola, Texas. The fundraiser generated $65,000 to benefit music and arts programs at Wood County public schools and nearly $40,000 for technology and infrastructure improvements at the Mineola Nature Preserve. Over 4,000 were in attendance and saw close to 200 volunteers with 24 Wood County students involved. Openers John & Jacob and Wade Bowen also played. In addition to launching a Lucchese boot line this month, the star will bring her tour to the U.K. and Europe.
Hats Off Event to Benefit High Hopes Children Therapy Programs
Jonathan Cain of Journey will be joined by Tim Nichols, the Warren Brothers, and Jamie O’Neal on November 15 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for a benefit to Franklin-based High Hopes. The Hats Off event will benefit the organization that serves children with and without special needs utilizing two programs, High Hopes Development Center Inclusive Preschool and Pediatric Therapy Clinic.
Chase Bryant Headlines Inaugural Arthritis Benefit
Chase Bryant. Photo: Joseph Llanes
RED BOW Records’ Chase Bryant will headline the inaugural Music For Mobility concert to benefit the Arthritis Foundation on November 22. Additional guests will be announced soon for the all-ages concert, which will take place at 7 p.m. at Nashville’s The Listening Room. General admission is $15 in advance. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $45, $500 per table. Click for more information.
“A lot of people don’t realize just how painful arthritis is and that it also affects young children,” says Bryant. “My cousin Emma has suffered from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since she was 2 years old. She’s already had a number of surgeries and treatments because of the disease. My aunt Jenifer also suffers from arthritis. My hope is to raise money for research to discover more effective treatments and – ultimately a cure — for the disease.”
BMLG’s The Valory Music Co. Imprint Celebrates Eight Years
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (back row L-R): Ellen Mundy, Brad Howell, George Briner,
Ashley Sidoti and Amy Staley. (front row L-R): ara Thompson, RaeLynn, Levi Hummon, Justin Moore and The Valory Music Co.’s Bradford Hollingsworth. Photo: The Valory Music Co.
Artists signed to BMLG’s The Valory Music. Co. imprint gathered with VIP partners last night (Nov. 2) to celebrate the imprint’s eight years of chart-topping success since launching in 2007. Artists, staffers, and industry execs gathered at Barlines in Nashville.
Among those celebrating was Justin Moore, who has been with the label since its inception, and who has released three gold-certified albums and earned five No. 1 singles.
The Valory Music Co. radio promotion team – SVP Promotion George Briner, Southwest Director of Promotion Brad Howell, West Coast Director of Promotion Amy Staley, Southeast Director of Promotion Ashley Sidoti, Northeast Director of Promotion Bradford Hollingsworth and Promotion Coordinator Ellen Mundy – introduced up-and–comers RaeLynn, Levi Hummon and Tara Thompson who joined in the excitement of the evening.
Over the last eight years, the imprint has earned 17 No. 1 hits and scored 22 Top 10 singles at country radio. Artists have been nominated and won numerous awards as well as sold over 24 million tracks to date.
The Valory Music Co.’s full roster includes Moore, Hummon, RaeLynn, Thompson, Brantley Gilbert, Thomas Rhett, and The Mavericks.
Pictured (L-R): Scott Borchetta, President/CEO, Big Machine Label Group; Justin Moore; George Briner. Photo: The Valory Music Co.
Industry Ink: Republic Nashville, C2 Media Relations, Industry Networking and Guitar Tech Workshops
/by Jessica NicholsonRepublic Nashville Adds Director of Southwest Promotion
Lauren Longbine
Republic Nashville has added Lauren Longbine as Director of Southwest Promotion. She will work with the imprint’s roster of artists, including Florida Georgia Line, The Band Perry, Cassadee Pope, A Thousand Horses, and Brett Young.
“We are excited to welcome Lauren into the Ape Den at Republic,” said Vice President Promotion Matthew Hargis. “Lauren’s energy and passion for Country music are second to none. A true possibilitarian!”
Longbine added, “I am humbled for the opportunity to join the Republic Nashville family and can’t wait to live my passion for radio every day out on the road with our amazing artists.”
Longbine replaces Kristen White, who will depart in December to pursue other opportunities. Longbine, a Kansas native, will be based in Nashville. She can be reached at lauren.longbine@bmlg.net or at 620-341-0573.
C2 Media Relations Hires Associate Publicist
Samantha Johnson
C2 Media Relations has hired Associate Publicist Samantha Johnson. Johnson recently relocated to Nashville from Los Angeles.
Her career background includes stops at E! Entertainment and NBC International.
Johnson can be reached at sam.c2media@gmail.com.
Nashville School of Law To Host Music Industry Networking Workshop
Ramona P. DeSalvo
Nashville School of Law’s Sports and Entertainment Law Society will host a workshop on networking in the entertainment industry.
NSL SELS faculty advisor Ramona P. DeSalvo will lead the workshop, which will be held Nov. 6 from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. at Nashville School of Law, Room 400.
Light refreshments will be provided, and the workshop is free and open to the public.
Guitar Services Workshop To Be Held in Nashville
John LeVan
Nashville luthier John LeVan‘s Guitar Services Workshop will be held in Nashville next year, aimed at meeting the demand for qualified guitar repair specialists. The workshop will be held on Feb. 6, 2016 at the Guitar Services Workshop, located at 209 10th Ave. S., Ste. 136 in Nashville.
“We’re proud to announce the launch of Guitar Services Workshop,” says LeVan. “Our workshops are designed to help guitarists start a new career by providing hands-on training from industry experts, extensive learning materials, and the necessary tools to launch a guitar-repair business. Our goal is to change the instrument repair industry by providing comprehensive instruction for aspiring guitar technicians and luthiers.”
Registration is open for the workshop, and all skill levels are welcome. For more information about Guitar Services Workshop, contact John M. LeVan at 615-251-8884 or email guitarservices@aol.com.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing Signs Sammy Arriaga
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Josh Van Valkenburg, Ed Williams, Sammy Arriaga, Hannah Williams, Terry Wakefield, Tom Luteran
Cuban-American country artist Sammy Arriaga has inked a publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Arriaga’s new single, “Cold In Miami,” recently made its debut on SiriusXM The Highway’s “On The Horizon,” and he made a visit to SiriusXM The Highway’s Music Row Happy Hour. “Cold In Miami” has been released to Spotify and iTunes.
Arriaga is working with LA-based manager Charles Chavez of Latium Entertainment.
Kacey Musgraves Launches Lucchese Boot Line in Nashville
/by Eric T. ParkerPictured (L-R): Jennifer Huggins, Lucchese; Kacey Musgraves; Lucchese’s Doug Kindy and Randy Steele. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
Mercury recording artist Kacey Musgraves celebrated the launch of her “Kacey for Lucchese” boot collection last night (Nov. 2) at Lucchese’s retail store in the Gulch in Nashville. The premier three-boot line officially launched Nov. 1 and is a collaboration between the Texas native and the Lonestar State’s 132-year-old boot maker.
Lucchese’s partnership and marketing representative Randy Steele welcomed the crowd, which included Lee Ann Womack with daughter and budding recording artist Aubrey Sellers, Brandi Cyrus, Nashville‘s Clare Bowen, Holly Williams with daughter Stella June and sister Hilary Williams, Shane McAnally, Brandy Clark, and videographer Becky Fluke.
“Two years ago we decided to go a new direction,” explained Steele, “we sought a female influence. Someone who had shared values, roots and spirit. We think we found it in Golden, Texas’ Kacey. She’s a ball of fire and I can tell you from first-hand experience, pays a lot of attention to detail.”
Appreciation was given to Lucchese President Doug Kindy, who greeted guests alongside his wife Sally.
“This has been a really fun process,” said Musgraves while addressing the crowd wearing her Golden Arrow boots. “It’s been a good departure for my brain from music and songwriting. I toured their El Paso factory and I know they care about how long these boots will last. Believe me, I have more ideas in the tank!”
Musgraves’ boots, however are made in Brazil and range in price from $329-349, far less than the four-figure prices on the other handmade collections in the showroom. The collection can be found at CountryOutfitter.com, Lucchese.com, select Cavender’s locations and Lucchese retail stores in Nashville, Houston, San Antonio, and Santa Fe.
BMG, Still Working Music Sign Jon Randall
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Austen Adams, Dickinson Wright; Chuck Fleckenstein, GM and COO, Still Working Music; Chelsea Kent, Creative Director, Still Working Music; Jon Randall; Alex Orbison, President, Still Working Music; Tommy Lee James, CCO, Still Working Music; Daniel Lee, Sr. Creative Director, BMG.
Still Working Music and BMG Nashville have signed an exclusive publishing agreement with Jon Randall. Randall’s hit songs include Brad Paisley’s “Whiskey Lullaby,” Dierks Bentley’s “Am I The Only One,” Blake Shelton’s “Drink On It,” and other songs recorded by Gary Allan, Scotty McCreery, Little Big Town, Sheryl Crow, Guy Clark, and others. Randall has recorded solo albums for RCA, Epic, Asylum and other labels, and produced Bentley’s album Up On The Ridge. He has toured with Lyle Lovett and Emmylou Harris (with whom he earned a Grammy as a Nash Rambler).
‘Still Working is so proud to have Jon on board and for many reasons. He’s a superbly talented and respected songwriter who additionally brings along deep and super-valued experience on both the writing and artist side of our business – and we will together build off both. Jon is everything that’s good and special about this town – welcome Jon!’ says Still Working Music President Alex Orbison.
“Jon is an amazing talent and a wonderful guy on top of that. We are excited to be working with him and our friends at Still Working on what will certainly be some incredible music,” says BMG EVP Kos Weaver.
Still Working Music also represents Tommy Lee James, Chase Bryant, Ryan Lafferty, Matt Nolen, Skip Black, Derrick Southerland, and Alana Springsteen.
SpinMedia Rebrands ‘Country Music Is Love’ Website
/by Jessica NicholsonLauren Black
Consumer-focused site CountryMusicIsLove has rebranded as SpinMedia’s Sounds Like Nashville. The website joins a network of sites that includes SPIN, Vibe, Idolator, Death and Taxes, Stereogum, and more.
The site will expand its content to include country lifestyle-related beauty and fashion, travel, food and drink, home decor and more, in addition to deepening its coverage of country music with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes coverage.
Lauren Black founded Country Music Is Love in 2008. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Central Florida.
The newly-rebranded site will add Lauren Laffer as a staff writer. Laffer has written for CountryMusicIsLove for the past three years She has a degree in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida.
Jeremy Weber
Also joining the Sounds Like Nashville team is television producer Jeremy Weber and his Get Nashed Media, to produce exclusive video content.
Weber spent nine years as a coordinating producer for CNN’s Entertainment unit. He most recently spent eight years as supervising producer for Surfing Moose Productions’ Headline Country, a weekly country music news program on the GAC Network.
“SpinMedia is thrilled to partner in launching Sounds Like Nashville,” said SpinMedia’s VP, Content, Alex Moore. “We feel millennial and diehard fans of country are looking for a fresh voice in digital coverage. We’re excited at the opportunity to provide that, along with Lauren and her team.”
Lauren Laffer
“We’re so fortunate to have someone with Jeremy’s impressive experience and reputation within the music industry partner with our team,” says Black. “He’s the perfect fit to produce the kind of exclusive content that will set Sounds Like Nashville apart from other country music sites.”
Benefit News: Rascal Flatts, Off The Record, Kacey Musgraves, Hats Off, Chase Bryant
/by Eric T. ParkerRascal Flatts Marks 10 Years and $4 Million for Vandy
Rascal Flatts visit Vanderbilt. Photo: John Russell
Rascal Flatts marked the 10th anniversary and almost $4 million raised to date with its relationship with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. The group performed and visited with patients last week, in addition to holding their annual fundraising dinner for the hospital at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 29. Special guests at the event included RaeLynn, Scotty McCreery, and comedian Henry Cho.
Off The Record Combines Fashion and Music to Benefit Second Harvest
Pictured (L-R): Brian Kelley, Florida Georgia Line with wife Brittney; Old Dominion’s Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung, Brad Tursi; Gil Cunningham, Neste Event Marketing and EntertainmentBuy; Old Dominion’s Matthew Ramsey, and Trevor Rosen. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
The inaugural Off The Record event was held last night (Nov. 1) at the estate of Sylvia Roberts (a.k.a. the home of ABC Nashville‘s Rayna James) to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The gala combined fashion and music with performer appearances from Brian Kelley, Big Kenny, Chase Bryant, Kaleo, Old Dominion, The Cadillac Three, Phil Vassar, and Brooke Eden. Models were flown in to hit the runway in designs from John Varvatos, Gucci, Tribe Kelley, Johnathan Kayne and Kaufman Franco, to name a few. Event concept and execution were spearheaded by Nashville-based Neste Event Marketing’s Gil Cunningham. This event serves as the flagship event for Neste’s new event division, EntertainmentBuy.
Kacey Musgraves Fundraiser Generates $100,000 for Hometown
Kacey Musgraves’ Hometown Hang. Photo: Blake Hall
Kacey Musgraves’ recent Hometown Hang concert raised a total of over $100,000 in Mineola, Texas. The fundraiser generated $65,000 to benefit music and arts programs at Wood County public schools and nearly $40,000 for technology and infrastructure improvements at the Mineola Nature Preserve. Over 4,000 were in attendance and saw close to 200 volunteers with 24 Wood County students involved. Openers John & Jacob and Wade Bowen also played. In addition to launching a Lucchese boot line this month, the star will bring her tour to the U.K. and Europe.
Hats Off Event to Benefit High Hopes Children Therapy Programs
Jonathan Cain of Journey will be joined by Tim Nichols, the Warren Brothers, and Jamie O’Neal on November 15 at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for a benefit to Franklin-based High Hopes. The Hats Off event will benefit the organization that serves children with and without special needs utilizing two programs, High Hopes Development Center Inclusive Preschool and Pediatric Therapy Clinic.
Chase Bryant Headlines Inaugural Arthritis Benefit
Chase Bryant. Photo: Joseph Llanes
RED BOW Records’ Chase Bryant will headline the inaugural Music For Mobility concert to benefit the Arthritis Foundation on November 22. Additional guests will be announced soon for the all-ages concert, which will take place at 7 p.m. at Nashville’s The Listening Room. General admission is $15 in advance. A limited number of VIP tickets are available for $45, $500 per table. Click for more information.
“A lot of people don’t realize just how painful arthritis is and that it also affects young children,” says Bryant. “My cousin Emma has suffered from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since she was 2 years old. She’s already had a number of surgeries and treatments because of the disease. My aunt Jenifer also suffers from arthritis. My hope is to raise money for research to discover more effective treatments and – ultimately a cure — for the disease.”
Webster PR Expands Staff
/by Jessica NicholsonPictured (L-R): Scott Adkins, Jaime Spinner
Webster Public Relations has expanded its staff, with the addition of VP, Publicity Scott Adkins, and Publicity Manager Jaime Spinner.
In his new role, Adkins will lead a team of publicists to maximize exposure and brand awareness for all Webster PR clients. He will oversee day to day for Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, Hank Williams Jr., Phil Vassar, Gene Watson, Roy Clark, Crystal Gayle, Don Williams, Brenda Lee and Jeannie Seely. The Ball State University graduate previously worked as Director of Publicity at Kaleidoscope Media.
“Scott’s passion and get-it-done attitude, as well as a diverse background in public relations and communications, tipped the scales. He thinks outside the box and has a unique perspective on how we are going to elevate our clients and team to the next level,” said Webster Public Relations CEO/President Kirt Webster.
Spinner will head publicity and marketing initiatives for Reviver Records clients, including LOCASH, Blackjack Billy, Little Anthony, and Lucas Hoge. Most recently, the Loyola Marymount University graduate led ThinkSwell’s team as Digital Marketing Manager.
“We have been on a search to find just the right dynamic to head up the Reviver Records account, and in Spinner, we’ve hit a home run,” Webster said.
Adkins can be reached at scott@websterpr.com or 615-777-6995 x224.
Spinner can be reached at jaime@websterpr.com or 615-777-6995 x230.
Weekly Register: Carrie Underwood Debuts at No. 1
/by Craig_ShelburneCarrie Underwood’s album launch for Storyteller has a happy ending, as the superstar’s new collection debuts at No. 1 on the country chart this week. Accounting for streaming and digital singles, she achieved sales of 177K units (164K album only) and enters the overall album chart at No. 2.
Meanwhile, Blake Shelton secured 40K units (33K album only) of Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits, hitting the No. 2 spot on the country album chart and No. 5 on the overall chart.
Luke Bryan’s Kill the Lights (14K), Thomas Rhett’s Tangled Up (12K) and Don Henley’s Cass County (10.5K) round out the Top 5 country albums sales.
Sam Hunt’s Montevallo lands at No. 6 (10.5K), just ahead of a reissue of his acoustic mixtape, Between the Pines, at No. 7 (10K). Hunt recorded that set prior to signing to a major label.
Jimmy Fortune, a member of the Statler Brothers, enjoys a No. 10 debut on the country album chart with Hits & Hymns (4K). Other new releases on the country album chart include Colt Ford’s Answer to No One: The Colt Ford Classics (No. 14), The Cox Family’s Gone Like the Cotton (No. 55) and Kyle Park’s Blue Roof Sessions (No. 57).
Meanwhile on the digital country tracks chart, Rhett continues to reign with “Die a Happy Man” at No. 1 (62K), trailed by Kane Brown’s “Used to Love You Sober” (46K), Hunt’s “Break Up in a Small Town” (33K), Cam’s “Burning House” (32K) and Bryan’s “Strip It Down” (32K).
Keith Urban takes a bow with “Break on Me,” entering at No. 7 (22K).
On the overall album chart, 5 Seconds of Summer’s Sounds Good Feels Good debuts at No. 1 with 192K units (179K album only). Adele’s astonishing “Hello” arrives on the digital tracks chart with 1.1 million units in its first week.
Info according to Nielsen Soundscan
Dierks Bentley’s Miles & Music For Kids Raises $636,479
/by Craig_ShelburneDierks Bentley performs during Miles & Music For Kids 2015. Photo: The Greenroom PR
Dierks Bentley’s 10th annual Miles & Music For Kids event, held Sunday (Nov. 1) in Nashville, raised a record-breaking $636,479 for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital in Vanderbilt.
Bentley led a motorcycle ride from the Harley-Davidson dealership in Columbia, Tennessee, into downtown Nashville, then hosted an all-star concert at Ascend Amphitheater. The concert featured Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell, The Cadillac Three, Canaan Smith, Brooke Eden and emcee Storme Warren.
“You always want to make each year different and raise more money, especially with it being the 10th anniversary,” said Bentley. “We had a killer lineup and moved over to the new Ascend Amphitheater, but I was completely shocked to see that first number when they flipped over the check – a six! Really big thanks to all the fans and friends who helped make it such a huge night.”
The donation brings his 10-year total to nearly $4 million in all.
Dierks Bentley signs a check for Miles & Music For Kids. Photo: The GreenRoom PR
Dierks Bentley’s Miles & Music For Kids. Photo: The Greenroom PR