Gabby Barrett. Photo: Robby Klein
Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Gabby Barrett released her much-anticipated sophomore album, Chapter & Verse, a few weeks back. With 14 songs all co-produced by Barrett, the project reflects the life lived since the 23-year-old broke out onto to the scene with her debut album, Goldmine, and shows off her depth and song-sense.
Barrett had big shoes to fill with Chapter & Verse. 2020’s Goldmine delivered mega-hits such as the seven-time Platinum chart-topper “I Hope” and triple-Platinum, three-week No. 1 “The Good Ones.” But the singer, now with two kids and another one on the way, wasn’t phased by the pressure. She turned inward, writing songs about her real life and looking for outside tunes that spoke to her values.
Within the 14-song tracklist for Chapter & Verse, Barrett is listed as a co-writer for over half. She also produced the project alongside Ross Copperman, which she says helped her maintain her strong vision for the album.
“I always love to be really hands-on with whatever I’m doing. I have to admit, I’m a very particular person. That can get in the way sometimes,” Barrett says with a laugh. “I like being heavily involved in all aspects of everything from the imaging, to the coloring, to the sound, to the singing, the way that the songs were sung, who was collaborating, etc. I’m just very involved in the creative, so I’m really glad that I got to [co-produce] this time around. ”
In addition to some other early releases, the album was preceded by its current radio single, “Glory Days.” Written with James McNair, Emily Weisband and Seth Mosley, the tune reminds us to live in the present because, as Barrett sings, “these are the glory days.”
Now top 20-and-climbing at country radio, “Glory Days” marked her second time in the coveted most-added position with 77 first-week stations on its add week. It marked the most first-week adds for a female artist in the genre in 14 months.
“‘Glory Days’ was the centerpiece [of the album], and that’s why we chose to release that song first as a first peak,” Barrett shares. “It reflects what my life looks like right now, and it also fits so much into the theme of what the rest of the album talks about: family, faith, [being] real, vulnerable and honest.”
A highlight on the project is the evocative “Growin’ Up Raising You.” Written with Jon Nite, Zach Kale and Jimmy Robbins, the song tells Barrett’s truth about becoming a mother young. She sings about the birth of her first child, Baylah May, saying, “Six in the morning, hands are shaking. Half ready, half scared to death. Hand me the world wrapped in a plain blanket, the world falls asleep on my chest. I’m so in love even though we just met, got no clue what I should do next.”
“That’s a very special song. It came from a very intimate place,” Barrett says. “I’m only 23. I’m pretty young and still figuring out a lot of things. I don’t know everything and have lots to learn while raising another human. There’s difficulties and challenges to that, but it’s a beautiful thing—figuring it out while they’re figuring it out.”
Another standout is “Dance Like No One’s Watching,” a tune that superstar Luke Combs shared with Barrett.
“I loved it immediately when I heard it. He texted the song to me and gave me the backstory on it. He wrote it with James McNair and Emily Weisband, who I wrote ‘Glory Days’ with,” Barrett says. “He was very passionate about it and I was really thankful that he had chosen me to put a vocal on it if I felt compelled.
“He kindly was able to hop in the studio and throw some vocals on it, too,” she says. “I know he really loves the song. I’m really thankful that he also got to sing on it and be part of it in that way.”
“You’re My Texas,” a romantic song about how your person becomes your home, is a beloved track for Barrett. She wrote it with a hero, Texan Miranda Lambert, alongside Hillary Lindsey.
“I’ve always respected [Miranda] and loved her music and her songwriting abilities, so I was really thankful to get in the room with her and Hillary Lindsey,” Barrett says. “We were able to write a song about Texas. You can’t be country and not have a song about Texas.
“I got to know her more as a person. She’s just one of the most real artists that I’ve ever met, which I appreciate a lot because you don’t see that always.”
Chapter & Verse has a lot of Christian values weaved throughout its 44 minutes, including in its title, which was Barrett’s husband and fellow musician Cade Foehner‘s idea.
“[The title] connects to me in a faith-based way. Biblically it connects with chapters and verses—that’s such a big part of me as a human and as an artist. It also connects to the many things that I’ve had to learn quickly within the past couple of years, because life has just felt really fast professionally and personally,” she says. “It was me saying, ‘This is the chapter I’m in,’ and then writing all the verses to that chapter.”
The album begins with a song called “The Chapter”—one of Barrett’s favorites on the project—and ends with “The Verse: Doxology (Amen),” which features Christian music mainstay Phil Wickham.
“Something that I’m also trying to be intentional about with my albums is [highlighting my faith]. On my first album, I did a Christian song. With this album, I end it with a strong message in that song.”
With her second album in the hands of the fans, Barrett will soon welcome her third child. Just like in Chapter & Verse, her life, music and career all culminate together, hand in hand.
ACM Hires Six Across Several Departments
/by LB CantrellPictured (L-R): Ben Carter, Matt Brum-Taylor and Lexi Cothran
The Academy of Country Music has added six new team members across multiple departments.
Ben Carter has been hired as Vice President, Live Events & Production; Matt Brum-Taylor has been hired as Director, Digital Marketing; Lexi Cothran has been hired as Senior Manager, Communications & Strategic Initiatives; Kendra Williams has been hired as Coordinator, Finance; Brooke Boyd has been hired as Assistant, ACM Lifting Lives and Heather Howard has been hired as Assistant, Marketing.
Carter, a Missouri native, has a background spanning more than two decades in the entertainment capital of Los Angeles. His experience includes time serving as Senior Director of Event Production for the Television Academy (Emmys), and production work for prestigious events such as the LA Area Emmys, College Television Awards, Emmys Nominations Announcement and Television Academy Hall of Fame, in addition to oversight of all logistics associated with and supporting the Emmy Awards ceremonies.
In his new role, Carter will leverage his experience to lead the planning and execution of the Academy’s live events, including the Academy of Country Music Awards and ACM Honors. He will play a pivotal role in elevating the ACM’s live events to new heights, while fostering innovative experiences to support the Academy’s mission of connecting industry, artists and fans. Carter reports to Gil Beverly, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer. Reach him at ben@acmcountry.com.
A Rhode Island native, Brum-Taylor moved to Nashville more than 10 years ago to begin his career in promotions and marketing at the iHeartRadio Nashville cluster. Following his stint in radio, he worked as Social Media Manager for the Grand Ole Opry. Most recently, Brum-Taylor served as Digital Marketing Director at Big Machine Label Group for seven years.
In his role as Director, Brum-Taylor will lead all digital and social media efforts for the Academy. This includes working alongside the marketing team to create relevant and compelling content for the Academy’s social platforms, engaging with fans, artists and the industry through the Academy’s platforms, and working to grow the reach of the Academy in the ever-changing digital world. Brum-Taylor reports to Rory Levine, Vice President, Marketing and Digital Strategy & Engagement. Reach him at matt@acmcountry.com.
With nearly a decade of experience in the music industry, Cothran most recently served as Account Executive at Shore Fire Media, where she spent more than two years handling day-to-day PR initiatives for a wide variety of clients that ranged from musical artists to brands and influencers. Prior to Shore Fire Media, she spent two years as a publicist at Nashville boutique PR firm Sweet Talk Publicity and previously held the role of Digital Producer at iHeartMedia/Premiere Networks for four years.
In her role as Senior Manager, Cothran will handle publicity and PR for the Academy’s organizational initiatives, key programs and courses, ACM Lifting Lives, brand partnerships and sponsorships as well as executive leadership. She will actively assist with communications campaigns supporting major tentpoles, live events, awards shows and other projects as needed. Cothran reports to Jesse Knutson, Senior Manager, Publicity & Media Relations. Reach her at lexi.cothran@acmcountry.com.
Pictured (L-R): Kendra Williams, Brooke Boyd and Heather Howard
Prior to the Academy, Williams served as a Staff Accountant at a CPA firm. Born and raised in Mims, Florida, she graduated from Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting. She is continuing her education at Cumberland University, working toward a master’s degree in Business Management. In her role as Coordinator, Williams will focus on responsibilities across the finance operations of the Academy. She reports to Michael Stern, Office Manager. Reach her at kendra@acmcountry.com.
Hailing from Greenville, South Carolina, Boyd interned with the Academy throughout 2023. During that time, she worked with both ACM Lifting Lives and the Academy’s live event operations team to assist in the planning and execution of key events, including the 14th annual ACM Lifting Lives Music Camp and the 2023 ACM Lifting Lives Topgolf Tee-Off and Rock On fundraiser. She graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor’s degree in Management. In her role as Assistant, Boyd will support the ACM Lifting Lives team with administrative duties, live events and fundraising efforts. She reports to Taylor Wolf, Senior Manager, ACM Lifting Lives. Reach her at brooke.boyd@acmcountry.com.
Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, Howard graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Business in 2023. Prior to the Academy, she served as Digital Marketing Coordinator for Universal Music Group Nashville and held internships at Collective Artist Management, Live Nation Entertainment, and more. In her role as Assistant, Howard will work with the Marketing and Communications teams on all day-to-day needs. She reports to Levine. Reach her at heather.howard@acmcountry.com.
Jon Pardi Signs With WME For Global Representation
/by Madison HahnenJon Pardi. Photo: Jim Wright
Country star Jon Pardi has signed a global representation deal with WME. He will be represented in touring, brand partnerships, TV, film and digital by the agency.
“Jon is an incredible talent who has seen a tremendous amount of success through the impact he’s made on country music,” shares WME’s Nashville Office Co-Head Joey Lee. “We’re excited to have Jon join the WME family and be a part of the journey in taking his career to the next level.”
Pardi has made an impressive career in the country music space, notching six No. 1 singles including “Head Over Boots,” “Dirt On My Boots,” “Heartache Medication,” “Last Night Lonely,” “Night Shift” and “Your Heart or Mine.” Known in the community for his writing, producing and singing skills, he has racked up awards from ACM and CMA. At Stagecoach 2023, Pardi was invited by Alan Jackson to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was later inducted by Garth Brooks, making him the first artist from California to ever become a member.
For booking inquiries, contact Kevin Meads at KRM@wmeagency.com. Pardi is managed by Gaines Sturdivant with Red Light Management and Charlie Walker of C3 Management, and is signed to Capitol Records Nashville.
Why&How Partners With Audio Up & Audio Chateau Records To Manage Uncle Drank [Exclusive]
/by Liza AndersonWhy&How has partnered with Audio Up and Audio Chateau Records to manage Uncle Drank, the fictional brainchild of Audio Up Founder & CEO Jared Gutstadt and voiced by Will Sasso.
Uncle Drank was first created by Gutstadt in 2022 with The Ballad of Uncle Drank podcast, starring Sasso, which eventually reaching No. 1 on the Apple Podcast music charts. The podcast featured cameos from Luke Wilson, Chelcie Lynn, Brian Kelley and Uncle Kracker, with Billy Zane as a talking blender and songwriter/musician Kinky Friedman as Uncle Drank’s fictional manager, Hayseed Schwartz.
In his world, Uncle Drank is the originator of “Gulf & Western Music.” With easy-going tunes like “Third Wife’s A Charm” and “Biggest Dock on the Lake,” he is described as “one part Kenny Chesney, one part Kenny Powers,” and takes listeners on an adventure through a different era of time.
“This project combines my lifelong passions of music and storytelling. I’ve been fortunate enough to work in country music with some of the all-time legends, from Kris Kristofferson, Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, Brad Paisley, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bob Dylan to name a few. What all of these names have in common is their unique ability to reach an audience through their stories and authentic personalities, this is exactly what I intend to do with the music of Uncle Drank,” shares Gutstadt. “The music of Drank is meant to immediately take you to a beach with a beer in your hand and bring you two and a half minutes of sunshine one song at a time. With Uncle Drank, we aim to create an endless summer.”
“I love working with all the weirdos Jared brings together,” adds Sasso. “Writing and recording this music has been a gas, and we’re quite psyched to bring Uncle Drank to ‘reality.'”
“Uncle Drank isn’t just an unforgettable character, he is an icon in the making. We are thrilled to partner with Jared, Will and the entire Audio Up team to take Drank to the next level and introduce this singular talent to a new fanbase. We have some fun tricks up our sleeves for Drank—this is going to be fun,” says Bruce Kalmick, Founder & CEO, Why&How.
Uncle Drank plans to release his debut album, Eternal Sunshine of the Tropical Mind, via Audio Chateau Records/Virgin Records in June 2024. A tour is set to follow.
Gabby Barrett Shows Depth & Vision On New Album ‘Chapter & Verse’ [Interview]
/by LB CantrellGabby Barrett. Photo: Robby Klein
Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Gabby Barrett released her much-anticipated sophomore album, Chapter & Verse, a few weeks back. With 14 songs all co-produced by Barrett, the project reflects the life lived since the 23-year-old broke out onto to the scene with her debut album, Goldmine, and shows off her depth and song-sense.
Barrett had big shoes to fill with Chapter & Verse. 2020’s Goldmine delivered mega-hits such as the seven-time Platinum chart-topper “I Hope” and triple-Platinum, three-week No. 1 “The Good Ones.” But the singer, now with two kids and another one on the way, wasn’t phased by the pressure. She turned inward, writing songs about her real life and looking for outside tunes that spoke to her values.
Within the 14-song tracklist for Chapter & Verse, Barrett is listed as a co-writer for over half. She also produced the project alongside Ross Copperman, which she says helped her maintain her strong vision for the album.
“I always love to be really hands-on with whatever I’m doing. I have to admit, I’m a very particular person. That can get in the way sometimes,” Barrett says with a laugh. “I like being heavily involved in all aspects of everything from the imaging, to the coloring, to the sound, to the singing, the way that the songs were sung, who was collaborating, etc. I’m just very involved in the creative, so I’m really glad that I got to [co-produce] this time around. ”
In addition to some other early releases, the album was preceded by its current radio single, “Glory Days.” Written with James McNair, Emily Weisband and Seth Mosley, the tune reminds us to live in the present because, as Barrett sings, “these are the glory days.”
Now top 20-and-climbing at country radio, “Glory Days” marked her second time in the coveted most-added position with 77 first-week stations on its add week. It marked the most first-week adds for a female artist in the genre in 14 months.
“‘Glory Days’ was the centerpiece [of the album], and that’s why we chose to release that song first as a first peak,” Barrett shares. “It reflects what my life looks like right now, and it also fits so much into the theme of what the rest of the album talks about: family, faith, [being] real, vulnerable and honest.”
A highlight on the project is the evocative “Growin’ Up Raising You.” Written with Jon Nite, Zach Kale and Jimmy Robbins, the song tells Barrett’s truth about becoming a mother young. She sings about the birth of her first child, Baylah May, saying, “Six in the morning, hands are shaking. Half ready, half scared to death. Hand me the world wrapped in a plain blanket, the world falls asleep on my chest. I’m so in love even though we just met, got no clue what I should do next.”
“That’s a very special song. It came from a very intimate place,” Barrett says. “I’m only 23. I’m pretty young and still figuring out a lot of things. I don’t know everything and have lots to learn while raising another human. There’s difficulties and challenges to that, but it’s a beautiful thing—figuring it out while they’re figuring it out.”
Another standout is “Dance Like No One’s Watching,” a tune that superstar Luke Combs shared with Barrett.
“I loved it immediately when I heard it. He texted the song to me and gave me the backstory on it. He wrote it with James McNair and Emily Weisband, who I wrote ‘Glory Days’ with,” Barrett says. “He was very passionate about it and I was really thankful that he had chosen me to put a vocal on it if I felt compelled.
“He kindly was able to hop in the studio and throw some vocals on it, too,” she says. “I know he really loves the song. I’m really thankful that he also got to sing on it and be part of it in that way.”
“You’re My Texas,” a romantic song about how your person becomes your home, is a beloved track for Barrett. She wrote it with a hero, Texan Miranda Lambert, alongside Hillary Lindsey.
“I’ve always respected [Miranda] and loved her music and her songwriting abilities, so I was really thankful to get in the room with her and Hillary Lindsey,” Barrett says. “We were able to write a song about Texas. You can’t be country and not have a song about Texas.
“I got to know her more as a person. She’s just one of the most real artists that I’ve ever met, which I appreciate a lot because you don’t see that always.”
Chapter & Verse has a lot of Christian values weaved throughout its 44 minutes, including in its title, which was Barrett’s husband and fellow musician Cade Foehner‘s idea.
“[The title] connects to me in a faith-based way. Biblically it connects with chapters and verses—that’s such a big part of me as a human and as an artist. It also connects to the many things that I’ve had to learn quickly within the past couple of years, because life has just felt really fast professionally and personally,” she says. “It was me saying, ‘This is the chapter I’m in,’ and then writing all the verses to that chapter.”
The album begins with a song called “The Chapter”—one of Barrett’s favorites on the project—and ends with “The Verse: Doxology (Amen),” which features Christian music mainstay Phil Wickham.
“Something that I’m also trying to be intentional about with my albums is [highlighting my faith]. On my first album, I did a Christian song. With this album, I end it with a strong message in that song.”
With her second album in the hands of the fans, Barrett will soon welcome her third child. Just like in Chapter & Verse, her life, music and career all culminate together, hand in hand.
Trisha Yearwood To Celebrate 25th Anniversary As A Member Of The Opry
/by Lorie HollabaughTrisha Yearwood. Photo: Russ Harrington
Trisha Yearwood is gearing up to mark her 25th Anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member with a special celebration on March 13.
The evening will feature Yearwood collaborating with an all-female cast of mentors and friends including Suzy Bogguss, Terri Clark, Jeannie Seely, Pam Tillis and more.
“Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry means that you have a home forever,” Yearwood has said backstage at the Opry House. “It is a family like no other. It’s such an honor. I’ve had some great things happen to me in my career, but when I am asked in any interview with anybody, I always talk about being a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It’s the bar.”
Yearwood was inducted into the Opry family on March 13, 1999, by Opry member Porter Wagoner. Highlights of Yearwood’s 25th anniversary event will air on March 30 as an Opry Live episode. Fans can watch on the Opry Facebook and YouTube channels, stream free on the Circle Now app or tune in via Circle Country digital streaming partners.
Along with the 15 albums Yearwood has released throughout her three-decade career, she also hosts the Emmy-winning Food Network show Trisha’s Southern Kitchen and her Facebook Live show, T’s Coffee Talk. She has also penned four New York Times-bestselling cookbooks, and has designed cookware, furniture, home accessories and more.
Lineup Announced For CRS ‘Team UMG At The Ryman’ Luncheon
/by Lorie HollabaughThe lineup has been announced for the Country Radio Seminar (CRS) 2024 “Team UMG at the Ryman” luncheon, taking place Feb. 29 at the Ryman Auditorium.
The bill for this year’s event includes Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Tyler Hubbard, Sam Hunt, Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum, Brothers Osborne, Jon Pardi, The War And Treaty, Dalton Dover, Luke Grimes, Kassi Ashton, Priscilla Block, Hueston and Anne Wilson.
Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., with the show kicking off at 12 p.m. Attendees can walk or take shuttles provided by UMG Nashville between the Omni Nashville Hotel and the Ryman from 11 a.m.-1:50 p.m. A boxed lunch will be served upon entry before the performances commence.
CRS 2024 is set for Feb. 28-March 1. Online registration is now closed, and will reopen on-site at the Omni Nashville Hotel. For more information, click here.
Morgan Wallen To Open Six-Story Bar In Downtown Nashville
/by LB CantrellMorgan Wallen. Photo: Cameron Baird
Morgan Wallen will open a six-story venue in downtown Nashville’s Lower Broadway district called This Bar and Tennessee Kitchen. The bar, restaurant and live music concept is slated to open later this year.
Wallen has partnered with trusted Broadway owner and operator TC Restaurant Group to help execute his vision.
“I sing about finding myself in ‘this bar’ and now it’s coming to life. This venue will hold true to everything I love and is inspired by my fans and the way they have embraced me and my music,” shares Wallen. “We’re designing a menu around some of my family favorites, so it brings a piece of East Tennessee to Music City. I hope This Bar is a place you’ll want to find yourself in and make memories with your friends and family and celebrate the way country music has brought us all together.”
Wallen’s This Bar, named after a song off his Dangerous: The Double Album, will feature pivotal elements that shaped the singer’s life, with each level showcasing photos and memorabilia from his childhood as well as some of his most notable performances to date.
The 30,000 square feet property will be situated on 4th Avenue, adjacent to the Ryman Auditorium, and will include three live music stages, six bars and an open-air rooftop. It will also feature a gift shop with exclusive Wallen merchandise offerings and a homage to his favorite Tennessee team.
The menu will be curated by Wallen with Chef Tomasz Wosiak, Vice President of Culinary Development for TC Restaurant Group, and feature southern delectables, bar bites, Tennessee favorites and some of Wallen’s mother’s own recipes.
“Morgan Wallen is one of the most sought after stars in the music industry, and we are thrilled that he has trusted us to deliver a concept that will bring him closer to his fans, hold fast to his roots and enshrine his name among an exclusive group of artists who can claim international stardom with a Lower Broadway destination fans all over the world seek out,” says Adam Hesler, President at TC Restaurant Group.
Dean Dillon’s Unwound Records Signs Due West [Exclusive]
/by Liza AndersonPictured (L-R): Dean Dillon, Brad Hull, Matthew Lopez and Tim Gates. Photo: Derrek Kupish
Hitmaker Dean Dillon‘s Unwound Records has signed country trio Due West.
Made up of Tim Gates, Matt Lopez and Brad Hull, the group formed at a Nashville house party in 2004. Since then, they have released singles including “Things You Can’t Do In A Car” and an EP Move Like That, which reached No. 8 on the iTunes Country Albums chart, No. 13 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart and landed on the Billboard Top 40 Country Albums chart.
Produced by and co-written with Dillion, Due West’s new album Unbroken is set for release Friday, Feb. 23.
“Dean Dillon is a legend and a star, but he’s also a friend and a brother to us,” says Hull. “It’s a privilege to get to make music with someone who checks all of those boxes. Working with Dean is like going to school with a quiet genius as your teacher. We couldn’t feel more excited and humbled to sign with his new label Unwound Records!”
“Bringing Due West into the Unwound Records family is an exciting move. Their talent speaks volumes, and I’m eager to see them shine in the world of country music,” shares Dillon.
Operation Song Appoints Jon Foti As CEO
/by LB CantrellJon Foti
Operation Song, the 501(c)(3) non-profit that pairs veterans, active-duty military and their families with professional songwriters to tell their stories through song, has appointed a CEO, Jon Foti.
In this newly created role, Foti leads Operation Song into its second decade, overseeing fundraising development and the expansion of partnerships within the music industry and veterans organizations. Currently, Foti is leading the non-profit’s search for new office space in Nashville to accommodate its growth.
Founded in 2012 by Grammy, Dove and 11-time ASCAP award-winning Bob Regan (Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Reba McEntire, Hank Williams Jr., Randy Travis), Operation Song has produced over 1,600 songs at year-round retreats and songwriting sessions and inspired other organizations to adopt similar missions.
“It’s an honor to join Operation Song and connect gifted songwriters with veterans, for whom self-expression can be challenging. As a nation we often forget the impact of service but in giving veterans a voice, we ensure that all Americans remember the sacrifices our freedoms are reliant on,” shares Foti.
Navy veteran & Operation Song Board President, Bob Leonard, shares, “Operation Song is expanding our ability to inspire every veteran to tell their story through the expressive power of songwriting. Jon’s proven leadership with veterans’ non-profits will allow us to be more strategic in our efforts to reach more veterans in more places across this country as we enter into our second-decade as an organization. It’s also our intent to broaden our involvement with the veterans we serve by creating a community resource network through our Operation Song ‘alumni’ program that gives our veterans access to Operation Song on a regular basis regardless of where they live. The ultimate goal; ensure every veteran has the opportunity to inspire every American through song.”
Foti graduated from the University of Tampa as a Distinguished Military Graduate and joined the US Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in 2012. His first assignment was the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky as a flight line Platoon Leader of a Blackhawk Helicopter Air Assault Company. Deployed to Afghanistan in 2015, Foti served as a combat aviator and Battle Captain for the Aviation Taskforce’s Command and Control Center. In 2018, he transitioned into private aviation management in Colorado while completing his Masters in Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
In 2019, Foti worked as a Wounded Warrior Fellow for the U.S. House of Representatives conducting congressional inquiries into the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. In 2020, he became the CEO of the Dale K. Graham Veterans Foundation, based in Norman, Oklahoma. There, Foti led a team in the service of 5,000 veterans per year, mostly in the VA claims and benefits application process and fundraised millions of dollars to expand veterans services nationwide.
Foti can be reached at jon@operationsong.org.
Scott Borchetta Assumes Leadership Role For Big Machine Music City Grand Prix
/by Liza AndersonScott Borchetta. Photo: Nathan Morgan for BMLG
Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) Chairman & CEO Scott Borchetta will now oversee operations for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix (BMMCGP), Nashville’s annual NTT IndyCar Series race, and Big Machine will continue to be the event’s entitlement sponsor.
“Nashville is a world-class sports and entertainment market that loves its racing,” says Borchetta. “In its first three years, the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix successfully established itself as a major event in Nashville and has tremendous potential for growth, so I couldn’t be more excited to make this statement regarding its future.”
After spending the last several weeks reviewing each aspect of the organization as well as plans for the event, he has decided that this year’s race will run at Nashville Superspeedway on the same weekend as previously announced, with the IndyCar Series Season Finale remaining on Sunday, Sept. 15.
“With construction set to begin for the new Titans Stadium, the Grand Prix operations team knew the course used for the first three years would have to change dramatically for 2024’s race,” he states. “The proposed course change that would have run through the streets of downtown Nashville (a big loop that utilizes the Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge, 1st Avenue, Broadway, 4th Avenue and Korean Veterans Blvd), simply doesn’t have the proper space needed by the race teams nor the proper access for downtown businesses and residences to execute the world-class event that is expected by our amazing fans, IndyCar teams and sponsors. With the significant challenges of the proposed new layout and unknowns with the new stadium construction, which has been the center of operations for the first three years of the Grand Prix, the decision has been made to move the 2024 race to the Nashville Superspeedway.”
Borchetta continues, “This has no bearing on our great relationship with the Tennessee Titans. The team’s management has been nothing but supportive regarding the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix and we fully intend to continue conversations with them and the city of Nashville as to when the right time will be to return to the streets of Nashville. We also want to underline how supportive Metro and new Mayor Freddie O’Connell and his team have been during this transition. He and his team have helped us address all angles in how best to proceed and we feel that we’ve landed on the best option for a great race experience, for both fans and race teams, by moving to Speedway Motorsports’ Nashville Superspeedway.”
“The Music City Grand Prix has been more than a race. It’s a festival that celebrates both Nashville and racing,” says Mayor O’Connell. “We appreciate Scott Borchetta and Big Machine’s vision and partnership and look forward to the race returning to downtown Nashville in the future. I’ve enjoyed attending all three Music City Grand Prix races and appreciate their continued commitment to Nashville. Racing at the Nashville Superspeedway will add new intrigue to this year’s event.”