Robinson Joins rpmentertainment Promotion Staff

Will Robinson

Rpmentertainment’s VP of Promotion Jack Christopher has announced the hiring of Will Robinson as Director of Midwest Promotion, effective immediately.

“Will is a one of the most well-rounded guys in the business,” says Christopher. “He understands that this job is about relationship building, follow-up and using all the tools you have to make it work. We are really excited to add him to our team.”

Most recently, Robinson joined the team launching Triple Crown Promotions, and he will continue to promote Triple Crown projects Rich O’Toole and Lonestar until July 16. Previously, his career includes time in country radio with WQYK/Tampa, WCAT/Harrisburg, and WFRE/Frederick, as well as Midwest promotion for Nine North Records.

Rpmentertainment officially launched in May 2012, adding promotion staffers Jack Christopher, Rocco Cosco, Jon Conlon, and Kelsey Lantrip to promote Maggie Rose’s music including new single “I Ain’t Your Mama.” The company has also partnered with Jeff Solima and Southern Ground Artists to promote future singles by Zac Brown Band.

Easton Corbin Plans Sophomore Album Release

Mercury Records recording artist Easton Corbin will release his sophomore album All Over The Road on Sept. 18.

The 11-song set includes the fast-rising single “Lovin’ You Is Fun,” written by Bob DiPiero and Jim Beavers, and was produced by Carson Chamberlain.

All Over The Road highlights the singer’s traditional stylings with songs such as the title track, written by Chamberlain, Ashley Gorley and Wade Kirby; “Tulsa Texas” written by Tony Lane, David Lee and Mike Lane; and “A Thing For You,” written by Corbin, Chamberlain and Lane.

All Over The Road is the follow-up to Corbin’s 2010 self-titled Mercury Nashville release, which contained his first two singles, “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It.”

Corbin is scheduled to open for Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour throughout the Summer.

Sophie Shines Benefit Concert, More Charity News

Sophie Shines
A slew of top singers will take turns at the mic on Mon., June 25 backed by Tim Akers & the Smoking Section, a funk band comprised of leading session musicians. Set to perform at the Sophie Shines benefit are Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Larry Carlton, Melinda Doolittle, Mandisa, Mike Eldred, Etta Britt, Chris Rodriguez, Annie Sellick & Pat Bergeson, Michael Londra and Lisa Cochran. Proceeds will go to Sophia Salveson, the 19-year-old daughter of music community members Marabeth Quin and Paul Salveson, who suffered a severe stroke in March. The concert is at 6 p.m. on June 25 at 3rd & Lindsley. Visit www.sophieshines.com to buy tickets or make donations.

Craig Morgan Charity Weekend
Craig Morgan’s 6th annual charity weekend takes place Aug. 11-12 in his hometown of Dickson, Tenn. The event kicks off Sat., Aug. 11 with a motocross exhibition, group trail ride and lunch. Later that night, Morgan and friends will perform an acoustic concert at Dickson Middle School. The popular Sporting Clay Shoot will return the morning of Aug. 12 at Nashville Gun Club. Proceeds benefit the Craig Morgan Charity Fund, a component of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which is working to establish Billy’s Place for foster children in Dickson County and Middle Tennessee. Tickets are on sale at NowPlayingNashville.com as well as all TriStar Bank locations in Dickson.

McGraw Hosts Celeb Clay Shootout
The inaugural Celebrity Sporting Clay Shootout, presented by DeltaSports.TV as one of the events surrounding CMA Music Festival (6/5) raised over $65,000 for the Tug McGraw Foundation. For the event at Nashville Gun Club Tim McGraw was joined by Keith Anderson, Luke Bryan, Craig Campbell, Mike Fisher, Troy Gentry, Brantley Gilbert, Josh Gracin, JT Hodges, Steve Holy, Jeff McMahon, Eddie Montgomery, Jon Pardi, Josh Thompson, Brad Warren, Brett Warren and numerous world-class sporting clay professionals. The Tug McGraw Foundation works to improve the lives of military service members who have been affected by Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.

Steel Magnolia Boosts Second Harvest
Steel Magnolia is headlining a benefit show at the Hard Rock Nashville’s Reverb Room on June 22. Admission for the all ages 8 p.m. show is two non-perishable food items.The duo will also work the front lines of Second Harvest’s Mobile Food Pantry that morning at Una Christ Church. They will promote the events, which are part of their “Speak Out Against Hunger” campaign, with a performance on Fox-17’s TN Morning on June 20.

Willie Hitting The Links
The first annual Willie Nelson Celebrity Golf Tournament will be Sat., June 30 at Pedernales Cut N Putt Golf Club. Proceeds will go to the Pedernales Fire Department, the Helping Hands Crisis Ministry, the Children’s Music Foundation and the RunTex Foundation. Entertainment will include live music from Sonny Throckmorton plus more special guests. Details at www.willienelsongolftournament.com.

Kristofferson Aids UFW
The Kris Kristofferson & Friends Concert Series, June 15-22, will benefit the United Farm Workers (UFW) in celebration of the organization’s 50th anniversary. Kristofferson will perform with renowned Latin artists for the series of dates in California.

Academy of Country Music Promotes Three, Hires One

Lisa Lee

The Academy of Country Music has announced a round of promotions and one new hire, as well as a reorganization and renaming of three departments.

Sr. VP Lisa Lee has been promoted to lead the new Creative, PR & Production department, which combines the previously separate Creative & Media Production and PR/Marketing departments. Sr. VP Michelle Goble will head up the newly named Membership & Industry Relations department. As a result, Erick Long will take over Academy event management in his new role as Sr. VP of Operations & Events, formerly the Operations department. All positions are based out of the ACM’s Encino, CA headquarters and report to EVP and Managing Director Tiffany Moon. Additionally, the Academy has hired Alexa Fasheh as Director, Finance.

Michelle Goble

“Not too long ago, the Academy’s focus was solely on one television property,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy. “But over the past few years, our scope of work has grown to include more large-scale events, promoting

more country music artists and engaging more of our industry than ever.  This reorganization recognizes the incredible work our Academy senior team has done to lead this charge, and positions us for the growth to come.”

Erick Long

Lee joined the organization in 2007 when it implemented an in-house creative and media production team, editing all materials and serving as video producer. She will continue to act as liaison with CBS creative and promotion departments and manage fan voting for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year.

Goble managed the Academy’s Membership & Events department since 2007, producing and elevating events such as ACM Honors, ACM Weekend on Fremont Street, and more. In her new role, she will act as lead liaison for artist talent booking for ACM Events and continue focusing on industry engagement.

Alexa Fasheh

Long started with ACM in 2009, and manages logistics for the ACM Awards and daily operations in Encino. He also spearheaded the creation of the ACM Experience in 2012, a 3 day, open to the public event during ACM week.

Fasheh joins the Academy staff after seven years as a Sr. Accountant at The Haber Corporation, where she managed the ACM account. Fasheh is a Los Angeles native who graduated from Loyola Marymount University, and has worked for a variety of CPA Firms.

Nail Covers Adele on VEVO

David Nail, who has been warming up before his shows with Adele’s “Someone Like You,” has performed the song acoustically in a video that is airing on VEVO/YouTube today (6/18).

“When my manager called me to tell me, I thought it was funny,” said Nail. “We did the video just for friends who’d heard me sing the song backstage, and wanted to have access to it. It’s a great song – and it brings so many things out of you as a vocalist, so I wanted to make sure the visuals lived up to it, but I never thought anyone would pay attention to it. I certainly didn’t expect it to turn into something like this…”

“Someone Like You” will be featured on VEVO’s front page all day. It will also be cycling through playlists on the entire country roster on YouTube. You can view the video here.

Industry Pics: AIMP, Lambert, ACM

AIMP Power Lunch
Fifth Third Bank’s Music and Entertainment Division hosted an AIMP (Association of Independent Music Publishers) power luncheon on Mon., June 11 at The Tavern restaurant in Nashville. Attendees included AIMP officers, founding members, music supervisors and Fifth Third Bank personnel.

(L-R): Front Row: Amy Rosen (Grey NY); Cheryl Martin (Fifth Third); Sarah Gavigan (Sarah Gavigan Music). Back Row: Debbie Zavitson (Zavitson Music Group); Karen Macmillian (Nettwerk Music Group); Dianna Maher (Moraine Music Group); Brad Peterson (Fifth Third); Philip Feemster (Fifth Third); John Melillo (Melillo Music); Craig Currier (peermusic). Photo: Jill Napier

 

Lambert Celebrates 1 Million Twitter Followers
RCA Nashville artist Miranda Lambert recently surpassed one million Twitter followers, a milestone few country artists have reached. Sony Music Nashville Chairman/CEO Gary Overton (left) and Sony Music Nashville Manager of Digital Marketing Copeland Isaacson (right) presented her a plaque backstage before her show at LP Field during the CMA Music Festival Show.

Photo: Blu Sanders

 

Claudia Lee Visits ACM
The Academy of Country Music welcomed singer/actress Claudia Lee to the office while she was in Los Angeles recently. Lee is best known for her past role on hit TV show Zeke and Luther on Disney XD, and currently is featured on the CW’s Hart of Dixie. While at the Academy she performed her single “3 Leaf Clover” and signed up for professional ACM membership, as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.

(L-R): Michelle Goble, ACM Senior Vice President, Membership & Events, Claudia Lee. Photo: Michel Bourquard/ACM

 

BamaJam Brings Out the Fans

Zac Brown performs at BamaJam 2012. Photo courtesy BamaJam.

Festival season is in full swing, and thousands of country music fans flocked to Enterprise, Alabama over the weekend for BamaJam 2012.

Tim McGraw and Eric Church performing. Photo courtesy BamaJam

After a one year hiatus the popular BamaJam festival, now with Pepsi onboard as a sponsor, returned to BamaJam Farms in southeast Alabama June 14-16. The event offered dual music stages for constant musical entertainment and the all-star lineup included Tim McGraw, Zac Brown Band, Kid Rock, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, NEEDTOBREATHE, Yelawolf, Casey James, Gov’t Mule, Ronnie Milsap and more. The grounds also offered camping, ATV Trails, and a water park.

A series of severe storms interfered with the schedule on Thursday night (6/14) and forced several performers, including Broken Bow up-and-comer Dustin Lynch, to cancel their sets. But when he heard about two fans who drove from Virginia just to see him, Lynch turned his tour bus around and gave them a special private performance of “Cowboys and Angels.” Check it out here. Thursday evening headliners Eric Church and Tim McGraw went on and performed as planned after the weather cleared.

Don Williams Album Coming Tomorrow

Don Williams’ new album is premiering exclusively today (6/18) on 650 AM WSM. And So It Goes, set for release tomorrow by Sugar Hill, features guests Alison Krauss, Keith Urban, Vince Gill and Chris Stapleton.

WSM’s Bill Cody kicked off today on his “Coffee, Country, and Cody” show with an interview with Garth Fundis who produced the new album as well as numerous other projects by the Country Music Hall of Fame inductee. Cody will also air excerpts from a sit-down interview with Williams recorded earlier this year.

Throughout the day, listeners will have the opportunity to hear all tracks from And So It Goes and be able to win copies of it and the accompanying commemorative Hatch Show Print.

“Don Williams has been a core WSM artist his entire career, so it’s only natural that the station where his hits live premieres his newest album,” WSM Operations Manager Joe Limardi said. “We can’t wait to share the classic Don Williams sound on this new CD with our audience!”

The on-air content can also be heard at www.wsmonline.com.

Radney Foster Revisits “Del Rio”

Radney Foster will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his classic album Del Rio, TX, 1959 with a new release called Del Rio, Texas, Revisited: Unplugged and Lonesome due out August 14.

Foster made his solo artist debut with the original Del Rio collection, which featured the hits “Just Call Me Lonesome,” “Nobody Wins,” and “Easier Said Than Done.” The new album aims to reinvent the original with a looser feel and updated acoustic arrangements.

“This time everyone was in the same room, with live takes with no fixes and no headphones,” says Steve Fishell, who produced the original Del Rio and played guitars on Revisited. “We have all new tempos and new grooves.” In addition to Fishell, guests on the new collection include Dixie Chick Martie McGuire (fiddle), Jon Randall Stewart (guitar), Glenn Fukunaga (doghouse bass), and Michael Ramos (keyboard).

Pre-orders of Revisited are available here. For tour dates, check here.

Law Group Celebrates Turning One

(L-R): Country Artist Lorrie Morgan and Attorney Jason Turner

Attorney Jordan Keller shares childhood stories of spinning in his father's Herman Miller chair, now proudly featured in his office.

 

Located in the stylish Terrazzo building, the law firm of Keller, Turner, Ruth, Andrews, Ghanem & Heller celebrated its first anniversary in style by opening the firm’s contemporary dwellings to a packed house earlier this month.

Looking more like a modern penthouse than a law office, the space provided the perfect place for attendees to mix and mingle while celebrating the firm’s one year milestone.

Offerings made to party goers included a full bar, margaritas, and fabulous food including a chocolate cupcake tower with each cake donned with miniature chocolate guitars.

Attorneys Jordan Keller, Jason Turner, TD Ruth, Chris Andrews, Jennifer Ghanem and Jaime Heller started their full-service entertainment law firm last year to provide transactional and litigation services for entertainment and sports, as well as real estate, corporate, tax and estate planning.

 

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