The core panel moderators have been announced for Country Radio Seminar 2016. The E.W. Scripps Company’s Beverlee Brannigan, radio vet Gregg Lindahl, and Falls Media Group’s Dan Halyburton are return moderators from last year. Bob Richards from WLHK/Indianapolis returns as a past moderator and RJ Curtis of All Access is named as a new moderator.

The moderators will oversee and direct the educational panels throughout the seminar, which is held Feb. 8-10 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tenn.

For more information, visit countryradioseminar.com.

Big Loud Records Beefs Up Promotion Staff

Big Loud Records continues its hiring spree with the announcement that Dave Kirth will join the label as West Coast Region Director of Promotion. Kirth will report directly to the label President Clay Hunnicutt and can be reached by email at dave@bigloudrecords.com or via phone at 916-903-7865.

He worked at New Revolution Entertainment for the past seven years, promoting artists including Zac Brown Band, Lee Brice, Big & Rich, Gloriana, and Steve Holy. His previous career stops include Bigger Picture Group, Lofton Creek Records, and KTOM-FM in Monterey, Calif.

 

Scooter Braun Joins NASH Next Challenge As Guest Judge

Cumulus has added music industry exec Scooter Braun to serve as a guest judge during the NASH Next Challenge, which will discover and release music from promising country musicians. Braun joins fellow NASH Next judges, including producer James Stroud, artist and radio personality Kix Brooks, and Cumulus Executive VP of Content and Programming John Dickey.

The NASH Next Challenge grand prizewinner will be signed to the new NASH Next record label, and all of the top 10 finalists will participate in a national NASH Next concert tour next year. Winners will be decided based on a combination of the music industry judges, an original “Spin Index” of social media activity and online fan voting.

Braun, founder of entertainment and media company SB Projects, discovered artists including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Cody Simpson, each of whom he continues to manage. His roster also includes Dan+Shay, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Tori Kelly.

 

Friedman Reportedly Leaving Columbia Nashville For UMG Role

Columbia National Director of Field Promotion David Friedman is reportedly leaving his post for a VP/Radio Marketing role at MCA Nashville.

Friedman has worked at Sony Nashville for 15 years.

A native of Harrisburg, Pa, Friedman graduated from Emory University and also studied at Oxford University in England.
 
 
 

Blue Light Entertainment Adds Voorhis

Blue Light Entertainment has added new manager Chip Voorhis of Voorhis Consulting to the team.

Voorhis will take over all management duties for Blue Light’s flagship artist Brian Collins.

BBR Music Group has added a fourth imprint with the launch of Wheelhouse Records, anchored by the imprint’s first artist signings, Trace Adkins and Granger Smith. Wheelhouse Records’ first single to be promoted to radio is Smith’s “Backroad Song,” while Adkins will debut new music in the Fall.

“When the BBR Music Group makes a commitment to an artist, we intend to do our very best to help them live out their dreams. In order for us to do that, we have to add the support it’s going to take to gain the most airplay for each single. We’ve found that if we have more than four or five artists on one label then someone isn’t going to get the fair shot they need. That’s why we started Stoney Creek in 2009, then Red Bow in 2012, and now Wheelhouse Records. We want to do everything we possibly can for each artist – because we don’t give up easy,” said Benny Brown, owner & CEO of BBR Music Group.

“Benny Brown and I have always shared a vision of providing the artists on our roster with the individualized attention and strategic support they each deserve. Recently, we’ve been fortunate to work with some extraordinary new talent. The formation of Wheelhouse Records – and its additional promotion staff – became a necessity so that we may uphold the vision that has made the BBR Music Group both a haven for artist development and for the continued growth of superstar acts,” said Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group.

Teddi Bonadies will lead the imprint as VP of Promotion for Wheelhouse Records, and will report to BBR Music Group’s Sr. VP of Promotion Carson James. Bonadies can be reached at 615-496-6352 and teddi@wheelhousebbrmg.com.

Additional staffers include:

• Jennifer Shaffer, Director of Midwest/ Southwest Promotion
Shaffer reunites with Bonadies with whom she previously worked with at Streamsound, Rodeowave and also Columbia Records. A graduate of James Madison University, Shaffer’s career includes stops at Atlantic, Warner Bros Nashville, MCA Nashville, Lyric Street, Columbia, WAR Nashville, Rodeowave, Sidewalk and Streamsound Records.
Shaffer can be reached at: 904-386-5050 and Jennifer@wheelhousebbrmg.com

• Brittany Pellegrino, Director of Northeast Promotion
Most recently an Assistant Editor at All Access Music Group, Pellegrino began her music industry career at the age of 18 as an intern for WDTW/ Detroit. Pellegrino’s vast industry experience since then includes internships with Big Machine Label Group, Warner Music Nashville and the Nashville Predators as well as working in Promotions for WKDF/ Nashville and as the Director of Northeast Promotion for Cold River Records.
Pellegrino can be reached at: 248-420-1125 and BrittanyP@wheelhousebbrmg.com

• Kimmie Trosdahl, Director of Southeast Promotion
Trosdahl has served as the Promotion Coordinator for Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records since October 2014. Trosdahl previously spent six years in the promotion department at Bigger Picture Group working to enhance the careers of Zac Brown Band, Craig Campbell (now signed to Red Bow Records) and more.
Trosdahl can be reached at: 615-598-0175 and Kimmie@wheelhousebbrmg.com

• Bill Snickers, Director of West Coast Promotion
Most recently the Promotion Coordinator for Red Bow Records, Snickers’ experience includes working in sales for Sprint, a Fortune 500 company, for over five years. He simultaneously got his start in the music business by representing local artists in booking and management while in his native Seattle. Combining his true passion for music with a strong foundation in corporate sales, Snickers relocated to Nashville in late 2013 to pursue a career in the music business.
Snickers can be reached at: 206-261-0588 and Bill@wheelhousebbrmg.com

• Nicole Nehrbas, Promotion Coordinator, RED BOW & Wheelhouse Records
After serving two years as Publishing Administrator for Tucson’s Funzalo Records, Nehrbas took the plunge and moved cross-country to Nashville. Upon arriving in Music City, Nehrbas worked as a tour guide/ guest services rep at the Country Music Hall of Fame. She most recently served as the Promotion Coordinator at Streamsound Records, Nehrbas will serve as the Promotion Coordinator for both Wheelhouse Records and also Red Bow Records.
Reach Nehrbas at: 480-329-0718 and Nicole@bbrmusicgroup.com