Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc. (BLA), one of Nashville’s oldest and largest privately owned talent agencies, commemorates its 50th anniversary celebration with an expansion of services.
The BLA umbrella now includes 38 Music Artist Development and 38 Music Publishing. The artist development division will help build the artist team and oversee day-to-day activities such as songwriting, publishing, marketing, touring and more.
“This is not a novel or innovative transition, this is a Buddy Lee Attraction business standard and service that our company was founded upon,” said BLA owner Donna Lee, daughter of Buddy Lee and newly named Chief Executive Officer. “BLA has never been ‘just a booking agency;’ we are an artist career and relations group and our passion is to help the artist become valuable to the market–to sustain a long life in music and entertainment–and it all starts with a solid organizational plan with a solid team supporting the artist.”
The company has also announced its Professional Speaker & Guest Appearances Division, headed by Mike Meade, and representing authors, personalities, business leaders, and actor/entertainers available for appearances as emcees, product endorsements, at seminars, corporate events, and educational programming.
“By diversity alone, this new division brings added value to the Buddy Lee Attractions arena of services,” said Meade. “It’s a wide open area that can be explored by even the music entertainers on our roster as an alternate forum to share his or her individual talents while affording an alternate income.”
The BLA Professional Speaker & Guest Appearances Division currently works alongside Duck Dynasty’s Mountain Man, American Hoggers’ Krystal Pistol Campbell, American Pickers’ Lauren Wray, The Gold Family of Hardcore Pawn, Swamp People’s “Gator Queen,” music business professional Shelia Shipley Biddy and more.
The announcement of BLA’s expansion is paralleled with the departure of the agency’s former President Kevin Neal.
The BLA talent agency currently represents Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Rhett Akins, Parmalee, Jared Ashley, Colt Ford, LoCash Cowboys, Will Hoge, Steve Holy, Cledus T. Judd, The McClymonts and many more.
BLA’s numerous industry awards include three Talent Agency Of The Year CMA Awards, two Tour Of The Year Pollstar awards, and the 2014 Pollstar Award for Independent Agency Of The Year.
BLA has developed and represented some of the biggest names in country music including George Strait, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks and Jason Aldean.

Play One For Billy, the musical fundraiser and tribute for Billy Block held at the Listening Room Cafe, raised over $42,000 this past Sunday (May 4).
Hosted by Zuus TV’s Kelly Sutton, performers included Billy Adams, Al Anderson, Chelsea Bain, Ella Mae Bowen, Ryan Broshear, Gary Burr, Chase Bryant, Aaron Eshuis, Feed The Birds, Wade Hayes, Kristen Kelly, Matt McGinn, Brittany McLamb, Buddy Miller, Muddy Magnolias, Danny Myrick, Gary Nicholson, The Other Brother, Marc Scibilia and Striking Matches.
“Billy has been an advocate for young people in our industry for decades,” said Andrew Cohen, Exec. Director of Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP). “We couldn’t be more proud to have helped facilitate this outpouring of love. Thank you to all the talent that came out and offered their support. The town really stepped up on this one to help one of Music Row’s finest in a time of need.”
Those supporting the cause included Chris Young, BMI, Florida-Georgia Line, Crush Music, I.R.S. Records Nashville, SunTrust Bank, Big Machine, Razor & Tie Music Publishing, Curb Records, City National Bank, Mailchimp and many more. The Ryan Huie Fund, via MusicCares, made a very special donation of $5,000.
The donation site will remain live until Friday, May 9. To donate, visit yepnashville.com and click on the “Play One For Billy” banner.

Independent label Gotee Records turns 20 this year. The CCM label has released five RIAA Gold-certified albums and launched artists including Out of Eden, GRITS, Jennifer Knapp, Relient K and Jamie Grace.
In celebration, Gotee will release a compilation album, Gotee Records: Twenty Years Brand New, on June 17. The project will feature new recordings from its current artist roster along with Gotee alumni performing each other’s signature songs. The project features Relient K, Capital Kings, The Katinas, Sarah Kelly, Finding Favour, and others.
“Twenty years can feel like a lifetime, but when it’s filled with creation, dreams being fulfilled, new friends being made, character defining moments, memories catalogued, hopes being shared, potential being realized, family trees growing, and prayers being answered (not always the way one hopes), it all happens in the blink of an eye,” reflects Gotee President and co-founder Joey Elwood.
Track listing* for Gotee Records: Twenty Years Brand New:
1. Relient K – “Body Be” (originally performed by Johnny Q. Public)
2. Capital Kings feat. John Reuben – “Ooh, Ahh” (originally performed by GRITS feat. tobyMac)
3. The Katinas – “River” (originally performed by Out of Eden)
4. Out of Eden – “Constant” (originally performed by House of Heroes)
5. John Reuben – “Love Addict” (originally performed by Family Force 5)
6. House of Heroes feat. Stephanie Smith – “Stereo” (originally performed by 4th Ave. Jones)
7. Jamie Grace – “Getting Into You” (originally performed by Relient K)
8. Ayiesha Woods – “Refine Me” (originally performed by Jennifer Knapp)
9. Ryan Stevenson – “My Refuge” (originally performed by Sonicflood)
10. Soul Glow Activatur – “Doin’” (originally performed by John Reuben)
11. Harper Still – “Here’s My Heart” (originally performed by Out of Eden)
12. Sarah Kelly – “Bless the Lord” (originally performed by Jeff Deyo)
13. GRITS – “Undo Me” (originally performed by Jennifer Knapp)
14. Finding Favour – “One More Time” (originally performed by The Katinas)
15. Stephanie Smith – “I Celebrate the Day” (originally performed by Relient K)
16. Paul Wright – “Valley of Decision” (originally performed by Christafari)
17. Zilch – “Over Thinking” (originally performed by Relient K)
18. The Gotee Brothers – “Gotee’s Groovin’” (originally performed by Out of Eden)
**Bonus Tracks**
19. John Reuben – “Love Addict (Lounge Club Version)” [originally performed by Family Force 5]
20. Relient K – “Sadie Hawkins Dance (10 Year Reunion)” [originally performed by Relient K]

Dark Horse Recording Studio is seeking a Public Relations Manager to spearhead efforts for Dark Horse Recording, Dark Horse Institute and Robin Crow. The ideal candidate will have the ability to obtain print and other media coverage, pitch stories, and will have excellent copywriting and editing skills. Resumes can be sent to jobs@darkhorserecording.com.

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The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is hosting The Big Payback TODAY (May 6), an online day of giving celebrating Middle Tennessee’s local nonprofit organizations. For 24 hours, donors can make contributions to more than 500 participating Middle Tennessee nonprofits. There will be prizes awarded to the organization that receives donations from the most people or raises the most money.
To find a full list of participating organizations and to donate, visit thebigpayback.org.

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Tim Gray has launched Nashville-based Grayscale Entertainment, an artist management, strategic partnership and booking agency for all genres of music. GSE’s collective portfolio of brand partnerships include Ole Smoky Moonshine, Pilot Flying J, Southern Charm Traditional Wear, NASCAR’s – Kevin Harvick Inc., and Morton Buildings.
He previously worked at ticketing company Concert Gorilla, Inc., in artist management at Big Show Music Co. and as a booking agent at Artist Events Inc.