Joe Galante, Sony Music Nashville Chairman, left his 18th Ave. S. offices today officially turning over the reins of the organization to new Sony CEO Gary Overton. His departure marked the end of a 40-year career with the same company.

The transition was first announced in April when Galante noted, “As a 21-year-old kid from Queens starting out at RCA Records in New York, I never dreamed of the nearly 40-year journey that was before me. In 1974, a temporary Nashville assignment turned permanent, and it changed my life – I thank God for it every day. I have been inspired by so many exceptional artists and songwriters and feel privileged to be a part of their careers. I’ve worked with unique managers and executives who helped me learn more about this business and how to better my craft. My RCA, BMG and Sony family’s support and passion for our artists’ music helped us build the label group of the year for seven of the last eight years. This is solely my decision and I’m excited to begin my journey down another road. Nashville is my home and will continue to be.”

Marking today’s official changeover, the entire Sony Music Nashville staff assembled to recognize and pay tribute to Galante in what was undoubtedly a very emotional and private gathering for all involved.

Galante has helped launch the careers of such stars as Alabama, Carrie Underwood, Keith Whitley, Chris Young, The Judds, Martina McBride, K.T. Oslin, Kellie Pickler, Clint Black, Jake Owen, Lonestar and Sara Evans. He and his Nashville team have bolstered the careers of superstars Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Brooks & Dunn and Montgomery Gentry, among others; and, in addition, he has worked with icons including Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton and Ronnie Milsap. He has also been a driving force serving and leading industry organizations such as CMA, Leadership Music, NARAS and others.

Sony Music Nashville currently includes  four country label operations – RCA, Columbia, BNA and Arista Nashville – and Provident Music Group, one of the world’s leading Christian music companies. Sony Music Nashville is a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

Toby Keith will perform on the the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular in a live broadcast from the Charles River Esplanade in Boston that will be aired on CBS July 4. The show will be hosted for the fourth consecutive year by The Late Late Show‘s Craig Ferguson.

Keith will perform some of his biggest hits with The Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra under the direction of conductor Keith Lockhart. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, in its 37th year, is the orchestra’s annual free outdoor Fourth of July concert and is sponsored by Liberty Mutual Group.

[Nashville Post] The Country Music Association has asked a court’s help to stop trademark infringement on the sale of CMA Music Festival merchandise.

The CMA filed suit in U.S. District Court Wednesday, the day before the start of its headline event, claiming that various vendors have at past CMA Music Festivals have sold counterfeit T-shirts and other merchandise of inferior quality using the CMA Music Festival trademark and logos.

CMA is seeking a temporary restraining order, a permanent injunction and a court order enabling law enforcement officers to seize counterfeit merchandise on sale during this week’s festival. The organization also is asking for damages…

Read More

Chapter 339—My kingdom for a parking space.

Downtown Nashville is a sea of humanity. If this year’s CMA Music Festival doesn’t set another attendance record, I will be very much surprised. There were moments during my first tour of the “campus” on Thursday (6/10) when I was literally inching along in the packed pedestrian traffic.

Probably because so much more of the fest is now free, the crowds are not only larger, they are more diverse. At the Riverfront stage, there were grandmas, toddlers, teen-age twins, body builders, wheelchair people, bikini-topped babes, plus-size suburbanites, African-American children, bikers, tourists from overseas and just about any other type of individual you can imagine.

Joey + Rory were giving them quite a show, everything from “A  Little More Country Than That,” which Rory co-wrote, to their clever set closer, “Buy Our CD.” Rowdy Colt Ford followed the duo.

A youngster was being thrown from the mechanical bull at the foot of Broadway as I passed it (The First Aid Tent is conveniently nearby). Next to the bull was one of several convenient water-misting tents.

In the Fun Zone, CMT was rounding up contestants for its cute “Singing Bee” contest, right across from the Manwich Open Mic Contest. Trevor Finlay was holding forth at the Hard Rock stage. Later in the afternoon, Eden’s Edge left a Music Row event to head down for a set on that same stage.

Full-dress Marines manned a recruiting booth. Ocean Spray had set up a cranberry bog. There were food give-aways and wheel-spinning games of chance galore.

The Sports Zone included the ever-popular bungee jumping station. In the Famiily Zone, there were giant inflatables, kiddie slides and bean-bag tossing. In the big tent, the Josh Turner Dance Contest was underway, with the star being joined by fellow judges from UMG, Royce “Siman” Risser and Van “Abdul” Haze. Nearby was Chuck Wicks with a roving CMT crew. Behind the tent, were the delightful “K-9” doggies diving into a big pool chasing Frisbees.

Across the street from Walk of Fame Park, the Country Music Hall of Fame was offering $6 barbeque lunches. Inside, fans were gathering for a Dierks Bentley autograph session. Dierks staged his fan club party on Wednesday night (6/9) at Limelight.

Charlie Monk was hosting the Chevy Stage in front of the Bridgestone Arena. Blaine Larsen, Randy Montana and The Kentucky HeadHunters performed and accommodated autograph seekers who gathered at the fence behind the stage. Strolling in the vicinity were such industry figures as Rod Essig, Troy Tomlinson and Regina Stuve.

In the Fan Fair exhibit hall in the Convention Center, you could have your pick of any number of celebrity encounters. Signing and smiling were Doug Stone, Danny Gokey, Richard Petty, Con Hunley, Bucky Covington, Lulu Roman, Love & Theft, Jack Greene, Julie Roberts, Gretchen Wilson, Joe Dee Messina, Jesse Lee, Kix Brooks, Diamond Rio, Josh Thompson and Julianne Hough. After Pam Tillis put in some autograph time, she headed upstairs and turned in a sizzling set in the Durango Acoustic Corner. The Judds were signing in the Fan Fair hall, too, having announced their 18-city “The Last Encore” tour at a press conference that morning. Chris Young headed from his #1 party on Music Row to downtown to delight the Fan Fair fans.

Jimmie Van Zant and songwriter Charlie Craig were signing in the Tootsie’s booth. Fans were making videos with a digital Rodney Atkins or singing Shania songs with a real-life Laura Bell Bundy. There were free arcade games, stations for playing electronic checkers and a real Air Force fighter jet on display.

Upstairs from the exhibit hall, T. Graham Brown had them yelling for more in the Durango Acoustic Corner. Meanwhile, back at Riverfront, Keith Anderson hollered, “Man, it’s hot!” at the thousands gathered there, and they roared in response. “Just drink more beer,” he suggested before romping through “Pickin’ Wildflowers.”

Wednesday’s downpour (6/9), alas, cancelled Randy Houser’s gig at the Block Party. But Marty Stuart’s Late Night Jam at the Ryman went on as scheduled that night. This year, he had Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Ralph Mooney, announcer/fiddler Eddie Stubbs and Connie Smith, among others.

In addition to the folks I saw, others slated to sing in Thursday’s blazing sunshine on the various free stages included Bomshel, Clay Walker, Neal McCoy, Jeannie Seely, Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius, The Band Perry, Jaron & The Long Road to Love, Tyler Dickerson and Ash Bowers.

If you decide to experience the Festival, take along some Patience. It is crowded and muggy down there.