While gearing up to join Jason Aldean’s 2013 Night Train tour, RCA Nashville artist Jake Owen celebrated a Gold certification in the U.S. for his single “The One That Got Away.” Label executives and management surprised Jake with a plaque to commemorate the occasion in the midst of his tour rehearsal on Feb. 19 at Nashville’s Soundcheck.
“If the excitement wasn’t already building just preparing to hit the road with friend (and headliner) Jason Aldean, it sure is now! I can’t thank Country radio and the fans enough for supporting my music. My band and I have been in rehearsals day in and day out getting our new show ready and I can’t wait to share it,” shares Jake.
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Director, Digital Sales Alaina Vehec and VP, Sales Caryl Healey, Jake Owen, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, Manager Brandon Gill and Booking Agent Michael Betterton
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Brantley Gilbert recently performed for an enthusiastic packed house in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of a string of sold-out concerts in Kansas City, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Mankato, Minn.; Corbin, Ky.; Morgantown, W. Va.; Augusta, Ga. and Chattanooga, Tenn. Gilbert and special guest Kip Moore will bring Gilbert’s Hell On Wheels tour to full houses in Tulsa, Okla. (Feb. 22) and Thackerville, Okla. (Feb. 23).
Brantley Gilbert performs to a sold-out crowd in Morgantown, W. Va. Photo: Justin Nolan Key
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The Academy of Country Music welcomed Eli Young Band to its Los Angeles office recently. The band performed their hit single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” which is nominated for both Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards.
Eli Young Band performs for the Academy of Country Music.
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Craig Campbell performed to a sold-out house in Raleigh, N.C.’s City Limits Saloon on Saturday.
NASH FM 94.7 Adds On-Air Personalities
/by Jessica Nicholson“After over 20 years in Denver, it’s exciting to start a new chapter of my career in New York, the epicenter of everything. I am thrilled to be part of the historic launch of NASH FM. I am so grateful to be given such an amazing opportunity,” Ford said.
Addy joins NASH FM from Detroit and said, “Hopefully this speechless thing wears off soon or my run at NASH FM will be short-lived! I have a lot of thank you phone calls to make, because it takes a village of PDs and mentors for this to happen. I’m so excited to make America’s busiest afternoon commute a little less stressful on America’s Country Station NASH FM 94.7.”
NASH FM 94.7 is the flagship station for the national NASH entertainment brand based on the Country music lifestyle. NASH FM 94.7 is the only Country station in New York City.
Weblinks: BMG, Grimey's Too
/by Sarah Skates• • • •
Grimey’s Too is expected to open for business this week on 8th Ave., just two doors down from the original Grimey’s location, which will remain open as well. Grimey’s Too will offer music, as well as books through a partnership with Howlin’ Books. Another local fave steaming up the new store is Frothy Monkey coffeehouse. The all-day grand opening is Saturday, Feb. 23, with a performance by blues and soul singer Bobby Rush at 5:00 p.m. Details from the Nashville Scene and at Grimey’s.com.
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Mary Bufack, country music book author and wife of music critic Robert Oermann, is in today’s Tennessean. The article highlights her work at United Neighborhood Health Services, which was selected for a new round of federal funding.
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A man committed suicide near a recording studio on 16th Ave. today (Feb. 21), according to News Channel 5. No further details are available at this time.
MusicRowPics: Chris Janson
/by Caitlin RantalaHe shared several songs, including his current single, “Better I Don’t,” which is based on a true story. Janson puts a lot of his experiences back into his music, like his song, “Back in my Drinking Days.” “This first half of the song is about what really happened downtown on second avenue,” he said of “Drinking Days”
He also played “Redneck Revival” and “Hey, Hey My Money’s All Gone.”
For more information visit chrisjanson.com.
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Kelli Cashiola Haywood Joins Starstruck Management Group
/by Jessica NicholsonKelli Cashiola Haywood
Starstruck Management Group has hired Kelli Cashiola Haywood as Director of Strategic Marketing and Business Development. Her start date will be March 4. She will work closely with Narvel Blackstock and the Starstruck roster, including Reba, Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson.
Most recently, Cashiola Haywood served as VP, Brand Management for Warner Music Nashville.
She can be contacted at kellih@
Nashville on TV
/by Sarah Skates• • • Miranda Lambert will be a guest judge on tonight’s (Feb. 21) episode of Project Runway. The show airs at 8 p.m./CT on Lifetime. Among the contestants in Nashvillian Amanda Valentine.
• • • Texan turned Nashvillian Kree Harrison made it to the Top 40 on American Idol, comprised of 20 female and 20 male contestants. The Top 40 also includes Tennesseans Paul Jolley (Palmersville), Janelle Arthur (Oliver Springs), Jimmy Smith (Waynesboro) and Nick Boddington (Memphis). Keith Urban is a judge on the show this season.
• • • Extras are needed tomorrow (Feb. 22) to shoot a concert scene for the show Nashville. The shoot is at Nashville Sound Stages on Brick Church Park Dr. Details and registration at www.nashvilleextras.com.
• • • Luke Bryan recently inked a multi-year partnership with Cabela’s outdoor gear. See his new commercial below.
Strickland Named Exec. VP and GM, Warner Music Nashville
/by Jessica NicholsonPeter Strickland
Warner Music Nashville’s Peter Strickland has been promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager, WMN. In his new role, Strickland will help oversee day-to-day operations of WMN’s country division. He previously served as Sr. VP, Brand Management & Sales and will continue to report to John Esposito, President and CEO, WMN.
“Throughout two decades of loyal and outstanding service to Warner Music’s country division, Peter has demonstrated his amazing skills at creative marketing and sales. He also has shown the ever so important ability to have outstanding and trusting relationships with our artists,” said Esposito. “I couldn’t be more thrilled to have him as a partner in helping to take WMN to the next level.”
“When I started with Warner Music Group nearly 25 years ago, I could have never imagined it would lead me to this exciting path,” said Strickland. “I am truly honored to have my contributions recognized by my Nashville family, and cannot wait to help lead my label cohorts into WMN’s next era of success and innovation.”
Strickland first joined Warner Music Group as a Field Representative for Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (WEA) Distribution based in Boston, Mass. He moved to Nashville in 1995, with his wife, Linda and children, to accept a position as Regional Sales Manager for Warner Bros. Records, and went on to serve as both National Sales Director and Vice President of Sales/Marketing for Warner/Reprise Nashville, prior to being named Sr. VP, Brand Management & Sales. Strickland also serves as the de facto general manager of comedy imprint LoudMouth Entertainment, and executive produced Jimmy Fallon’s 2013 GRAMMY Award-winning Comedy Album of the Year, Blow Your Pants Off.
Keith Urban’s We’re All For the Hall Concert Returns
/by Sarah SkatesThis year’s theme is “Rebels and Renegades, the Outlaws are In.” The all-star performance line-up includes Urban, Gill, Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw, Montgomery Gentry, Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and Hank Williams Jr.
“The purity in making music on your own terms – to create art in your own way – for me is at the heart of the outlaw spirit,” said Urban. “It’s those outlaws that we celebrate this year, who not only made it possible for a guy like me to do what I love, but who play a pivotal role in the strength of country music’s diversity.”
The first three We’re All for the Hall concerts raised a combined total of approximately $1.5 million.
Reserved seat tickets are $35 and $50, plus Ticketmaster surcharge, and go on sale March 1 at 10:00 a.m. CST. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, the Bridgestone Arena box office or by phone at (800) 745-3000.
Museum members enjoy a special presale ticket opportunity for the event.
VIP packages range from $200 to $3500 and go on sale March 1 at Ticketmaster.com. These packages include all or some of the following: a VIP dinner hosted by Urban’s friends and collaborators, premium concert seat, meet and greet with Urban, guitar autographed by Urban, post-concert party, commemorative Hatch Show Print autographed by Urban and Gill, premium concert parking, and membership to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Country Greets New York City with Nash Bash
/by Jessica NicholsonSeveral artists helped New York City welcome new country station Nash-FM 94.7 by way of a trio of NASH BASH concerts at the historic Roseland Ballroom.
On Monday, Kix Brooks, Blake Shelton, Randy Houser, Lonestar and Dustin Lynch performed for approximately 3,000 fans. On Tuesday evening, the lineup included Brooks, Lady Antebellum, Gary Allan, Justin Moore and Brantley Gilbert. Brooks, Sara Evans, Lee Brice, The Henningsens and Darius Rucker filled Wednesday evening’s performance roster.
The concerts weren’t exactly open to the public, either. Fans had to enter a radio contest via Nash-FM 94.7 to win admission to the show. Here, photos from the three nights as some of country music’s brightest stars lit up New York City.
Lady Antebellum
Blake Shelton
Randy Houser
Brantley Gilbert
Kix Brooks
Dustin Lynch
Gary Allan
Justin Moore
Artist Snapshots (2/21/13)
/by Jessica NicholsonWhile gearing up to join Jason Aldean’s 2013 Night Train tour, RCA Nashville artist Jake Owen celebrated a Gold certification in the U.S. for his single “The One That Got Away.” Label executives and management surprised Jake with a plaque to commemorate the occasion in the midst of his tour rehearsal on Feb. 19 at Nashville’s Soundcheck.
Pictured (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Director, Digital Sales Alaina Vehec and VP, Sales Caryl Healey, Jake Owen, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, Manager Brandon Gill and Booking Agent Michael Betterton
• • •
Brantley Gilbert recently performed for an enthusiastic packed house in Morgantown, W. Va., as part of a string of sold-out concerts in Kansas City, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Mankato, Minn.; Corbin, Ky.; Morgantown, W. Va.; Augusta, Ga. and Chattanooga, Tenn. Gilbert and special guest Kip Moore will bring Gilbert’s Hell On Wheels tour to full houses in Tulsa, Okla. (Feb. 22) and Thackerville, Okla. (Feb. 23).
Brantley Gilbert performs to a sold-out crowd in Morgantown, W. Va. Photo: Justin Nolan Key
• • •
The Academy of Country Music welcomed Eli Young Band to its Los Angeles office recently. The band performed their hit single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” which is nominated for both Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year at the upcoming Academy of Country Music Awards.
Eli Young Band performs for the Academy of Country Music.
• • •
Craig Campbell performed to a sold-out house in Raleigh, N.C.’s City Limits Saloon on Saturday.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Promotes Henton
/by Jessica NicholsonHenton will report to Director of Museum Sales and Guest Relations Suzanne Tolbert. In his new role, he will continue to develop and grow the corporate meetings and convention markets and manage the department’s museum sales coordinator staff.