Black River Entertainment has added Gordon S. Kerr as Chief Operating Officer. The New York state native will oversee all leadership functions and business affairs of Black River Entertainment and its subsidiaries which include Black River Music Group, Black River Publishing, Black River On-Line, Ronnie’s Place Studio and the newly acquired Sound Stage Studios. His background is in corporate and educational administration.

“I am humbled to be a part of such an outstanding organization,” says Kerr. “It is the desire of Black River Entertainment to demonstrate a healthy respect for the past, to recognize and understand the present and then through incredible teamwork and some unbelievable creativity, demonstrate a collective vision for our future!”

Kerr will report directly to Terry and Kim Pegula, owners of Black River’s parent company East Resources, Inc. He plans to divide his time between Nashville and Orchard Park, NY.

ACM Lifting Lives® has donated $800,000 this year to programs that improve lives through the power of music. Among its newest beneficiaries are the Nashville Symphony, Sophia’s Heart Foundation and Stars for Stripes.

Throughout 2010, the organization has supported flood relief in Middle Tennessee, the Diane Holcomb Emergency Relief Fund for music industry professionals in need, and artists’ favorite causes through a monthly “My Cause” web feature.

“These gifts can ultimately be attributed to the support ACM Lifting Lives has received from the music industry and the artist community, who give of their time for ACM endeavors that raise our corpus,” said Erin Spahn, Executive Director of ACM Lifting Lives. “In a year of economic recovery, we are thrilled to be in a position to increase our giving and support these deserving organizations.”

“Our goal has been to grow ACM Lifting Lives through our grant cycle – to expand our reach and help people in need all over the country through the power of music,” said Gayle Holcomb, Chairman, ACM Lifting Lives Board of Directors. “In addition to serving our home bases of Los Angeles and Nashville, we are now funding programs in New York, Austin, Washington, DC, Charleston and even on a Native American reservation in Boulder. The need for healing and learning through music is widespread, and we’ve taken great strides toward meeting that need, nationally.”

Among the 20 beneficiaries are:

• Holston Home in East Tennessee, a favorite of Rodney Atkins who lived there as an infant, prior to being adopted.
• Lollipop Theater Network in Los Angeles, CA and Nashville, TN received funding for music sessions for pediatric patients at the local children’s hospitals.
• Musicians On Call received funding to launch a chapter in Washington D.C. to bring music to the bedsides of military hospital patients.
• Nashville Symphony received funding to provide musical instruments and services for at-risk youth.
• Sophia’s Heart Foundation in Nashville, founded by Danny Gokey in memory of his late wife, received funding for an after-school music and arts program for children.
• Stars for Stripes in Nashville received funding for an overseas celebrity entertainment tour for the troops.
• Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp in Nashville, for the second consecutive year, received scholarships for children and complete funding for a camp that studies Williams Syndrome and provides music therapy through performance and education.

EMI Records Nashville’s flagship artist Troy Olsen releases his self-titled 4-song EP today (10/5). In addition to his current single, “Good Hands,” the Troy Olsen EP features “Summer Thing,” “Tumbleweed” and “Ghost Town Train.”

The Arizona native makes his debut next Wednesday, October 13 on the 3rd Annual Capitol Street Party in Nashville, TN alongside his labelmates Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Jennette McCurdy and Walker Hayes.

Fans have the opportunity to learn more about Olsen in his own webisode series “Livin’ The Dream with Troy Olsen” on GACTV.com. He talks about how he discovered music, how he accidentally discovered he could produce and a multitude of other stories of his path to living his dreams of making music for a living.

Sara Evans was in Florida recently for a trip that included a visit with K-Country/WOGK Ocala’s Mr. Bob and Big Red. Sara is on the radio now with her new RCA Nashville single, “A Little Bit Stronger,” written by Luke Laird, Hillary Lindsey and Hillary Scott. The song was produced by Tony Brown. “Everybody’s gone through some sort of heartbreak,” says Evans. “Whether it’s losing someone to death or just breaking up with somebody that you were in love with. The very first line says, ‘woke up late today, and I still feel the sting of the pain,’ and we’ve all been there, where we wake up and for just a second, we forgot, and then all of a sudden we remember, and it just comes flooding back.  So the song just talks about getting stronger, and that’s the attitude that you have to have.”

(L-R) Mr. Bob; Evans; Big Red; and RCA Nashville promo’s Liz Sledge.

Trace Adkins was in Boston recently visiting with WKLB, promoting his new CD Cowboy’s Back In Town and performing with Show Dog-Universal Music label head Toby Keith. Pictured here with WKLB/Boston Music Director Ginny Rogers (L) and Marketing & Promo Director Dawn Santolucito (R) just before taking the stage on Keith’s “American Ride Tour.

Todd Ramey

Todd Ramey has joined artist management firm Sandbox Entertainment, where he will work closely with Jason Owen on all projects, including those for flagship artist Shania Twain.

Ramey’s background in artist management includes work with Loretta Lynn, Alan Jackson, SHeDAISY and others. Ramey’s music career started at Universal Music Group in 2001 where he first met and worked with Owen.

“I have been fortunate enough to work with Todd over the years in many different capacities,” said Owen. “He brings a knowledge and energy to this field unlike anyone else. I am looking forward to building castles in the ‘sand’…box.”

“I am so excited to join Jason in this new endeavor,” said Ramey. “Sandbox is primed to be a new heavy hitter in the world of artist management/entertainment. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

He can be reached at todd@sandboxmgmt.com or 615-679-9497.