Anastasia Brown

Anastasia Brown has left her position as Chief Content Strategist at Visionary Media Group (VMG), where she oversaw creative, culture and music since 2020 for the start-up.

During her tenure, the company optioned the life rights for the Cowboy Jack Clement film and The Cowboy Writes Again album, which are both currently in development. She also signed Leigh Nash, O.N.E The Duo, Cody Belew and Clayton Anderson, and helped VMG to secure multiple sync placements with NBC, Ford Trucks, Hulu, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Netflix, Hallmark, FX and more.

Brown began her entertainment career in 1993 with Miles Copeland of Firstars Management, where she signed and developed artists including Keith Urban, John Berry, Junior Brown and Paul Jefferson. As an A&R consultant for Copeland, she signed Waylon Jennings and Leon Russell to Ark 21 Records.

She moved over to music supervision in 2001, first working on the Emmy-winning, Steven Spielberg mini-series Taken. That led to feature film and television credits including Tell Me Your Secrets, The Shack, Hot Pursuit, The Americans, The Darkest Hour, Footloose, August Rush, It’s Complicated and the bio-pic about the Rev. Billy Graham called The Early Years: Billy.

As a music consultant, Brown has placed close to 50 songs in major films and television series. She also served as a judge on USA Network’s Nashville Star, which led to her writing the book Make Me A Star with journalist Brian Mansfield. She has also written columns for various publications.

Brown can be reached at nashvilleanastasia@gmail.com.

Pictured (L-R, top row): Alexes Aiken, Jackie Ebnet, Haley Fairman, Kenyon Glenn and David Hawkins; (L-R, bottom row): Lacey Hayes, Gator Pizer, Nathan Pyle, Lizzy Stone and Bryan Webb

A new cohort has been selected for the Academy of Country Music’s LEVel Up: Lift Every Voice program. The new members were announced alongside a celebration of the inaugural 2022 cohort’s completion of the Nashville-based two-year professional development program.

Designed to elevate and drive the next generation of rising leaders in the industry, the ACM LEVel Up Rising Leaders curriculum was created to empower participants to play a pivotal role in expanding the horizons of the country music industry into new audiences that transcend demographics and geography.

Pictured (L-R, back row): ACM DEI Task Force Chair Shannon Sanders; Haley Fairman; David Hawkins; Gator Pizer; Bryan Webb; ACM CEO Damon Whiteside; Former ACM Board Chair Chuck Aly; (L-R, front row): ACM Manager of Programming & Community Engagement Kortney Toney; Alexes Aiken; Kenyon Glenn; Jackie Ebnet; Lacey Hayes; Nathan Pyle. Not pictured: Lizzy Stone. Photo: John Jo for the Academy of Country Music

Funded entirely by the ACM, the program is at no cost to participants. The first year is spent learning from leaders across the industry as well as collaborating as a cohort to develop a proposed plan to expand country music’s reach. The second year sees the class implement their plan, working intentionally to shape the future and move the industry forward.

The inaugural 2022 cohort worked together to create an undergraduate series for college students across Nashville focused on highlighting various sectors of the music business and diving into behind-the-scenes education beyond textbooks to prepare them for the music industry. The 2022 cohort collaborated with the Academy and Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) to ideate and develop the initiative that became OnRamp, a guaranteed income program for young Black members of the Nashville music community, including artists and industry professionals.

The 2022 cohort also helped bring to life the ACM Lift Every Voice Award, which celebrates an individual in the industry who has played a pivotal role in elevating underrepresented voices throughout the country genre. The inaugural award was presented to Breland at the 2023 ACM Honors show in August.

“I celebrate the commitment of these individuals in leading the evolution of Nashville’s country music industry, confident that with the LEVel Up program’s support, they will achieve remarkable feats,” states Shannon Sanders, Chair of the ACM DEI Task Force. “The 2022 cohort has set a high bar, and the 2023 cohort is well-positioned to effect substantial change in 2024. The latest LEVel Up members are at the forefront of this transformation, and I am eager to witness the enduring contributions they, and future participants, will make in the coming years.”

ACM LEVel Up, 2024 Cohort, revealed in December 2023:
Alexes Aiken, Westwood One
Jackie Ebnet, Mtheory
Haley Fairman, UTA
Kenyon Glenn, ASCAP
David Hawkins, MY Public Relations Lab
Lacey Hayes, Romeo Entertainment Group (REG)
Gator Pizer, Farris, Self & Moore
Nathan Pyle, Songfluencer
Lizzy Stone, Wiles + Taylor & Co.
Bryan Webb, Apple Music

ACM LEVel Up, 2023 Cohort, who have just completed the first year of the program:
Sabrina Butera, CAA
Nick Coulson, SiriusXM/The Highway
Ellen Ford, BBR Music Group
Aimee Graham, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Synnovea Cleveland, Sony Music Publishing
Alex Heimerman, UMG Nashville
Roxy King, UMPG
Markus Koger, Smoking Section Podcast
Jenn Tressler, Opry Entertainment Group

ACM LEVel Up, 2022 Cohort, who have just completed the program:
Kaela Allen, Singer-Songwriter
Mackenzie Cooper, Triple Tigers Records
Stephanie Davenport, Warner Music Nashville
Morgan Kenney, WME
Daniel Killian, FBMM
Shelby White, AEG Presents

The Cadillac Three Strike Gold With “White Lightning”

Pictured (L-R): Kris Lamb, Big Machine Records; Heather Luke-Husong, Big Machine Label Group; Allison Jones, BMLG; Jaren Johnston, The Cadillac Three; Neil Mason, TC3; Scott Borchetta, BMLG; Kelby Ray, TC3; Andrew Kautz, BMLG; Mike Rittberg, BMLG; Clay Hunnicutt, BMR. Photo: Alexa Campbell for Big Machine Label Group

The Cadillac Three recently celebrated the Gold certification of their hit single “White Lightning” alongside their team at Big Machine Records.

The achievement follows the release of the southern rock trio’s new album, The Years Go Fast, out now on all platforms.

The Marshall Tucker Band Awarded Pandora Billionaires Plaque

Pictured (L-R): Steve Hinson (MTB), Rick Willis (MTB), Charlie Daniels, Jr., Doug Gray (MTB), Hazel Daniels, Chris Hicks (MTB), Marcus Henderson (MTB), B.B. Borden (MTB), Alec Vidmar (UTA), Don Murry Grubbs (Absolute Publicity), Dan Rogers (Grand Ole Opry). Photo: Grand Ole Opry / Chris Hollo

Southern rock and country group The Marshall Tucker Band (MTB) was awarded Pandora’s coveted Billionaires Plaque on Saturday night (Dec. 9) on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, marking the band’s one billion streams on Pandora.

During the band’s set, Opry announcer Mike Terry stopped them for the big reveal. Terry welcomed the late Charlie Daniels‘ wife and son, Hazel Daniels and Charlie Daniels, Jr., to the stage with a wrapped Christmas present containing the Pandora Billionaires Plaque. Two years ago, the MTB presented the same honor to the Daniels family to recognize one billion Pandora streams for The Charlie Daniels Band.

“Receiving this great honor from Pandora was one of the proudest moments in our over 50 years of performing,” explains MTB’s lead singer and founder Doug Gray. “Over one billion streams. We are floored and completely overwhelmed. Thank you Pandora, thank you Grand Ole Opry and thank you to Hazel and Charlie Jr. for making it so very special. I know Charlie was watching. And thank you to the fans. We wouldn’t be here without you. Merry Christmas!”

Grace Leer Adds To Team

Grace Leer

Rising artist Grace Leer has added Tiffany Bearden to her management team, in partnership with Red Light Management. Bearden will continue to operate Evolution PR and Evolution Artists LLC where she manages American Idol winner Noah Thompson.

Leer just made her acting debut in the Blake Shelton-executive produced Hallmark movie Time For Her To Come Home for Christmas. The film also features Leer’s single “Star On Top of The Tree,” written by Leer, Dan Agee and Joybeth Taylor.

Reach Bearden at tiffany.bearden@redlightmanagement.com.

Pictured (L-R): Members of SOLID’s Board of Directors (L-R) Jared Meyer, Lizzy Stone, Colin McKay, Guy Evans, Leah Binkerd, Jessica Korver, Cherylynne Nader and Jenna Smith. Photo: Courtesy of SOLID

Across two events this year spearheaded by the organization’s Community Outreach committee, SOLID (Society of Leaders in Development) has raised over $46,000 to be donated across five nonprofits through the organization’s philanthropic initiative, SOLID Shares. The 2023 partners who will receive these funds include the W.O. Smith Music School, Porter’s Call, the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC), the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) and Hope on the Row.

In May, SOLID held its annual Music Row Madness bowling tournament which brought in over $18,000. At the organization’s 37th annual Turkey Bowl Tournament on Nov. 18, SOLID raised over $25,000. Additionally, $3,000 was generously contributed to the total in memory of former SOLID Board member Matt Alese, who passed away earlier this year. This donation was made possible by Alese’s family and friends.

“As an alumnus and board member, Matt was an individual that leaned in and stepped up to the plate,” says Erin Pettit, SOLID President. “He was a support system for so many in our organization. Even when he was flying under the radar, his influence lifted up those around him. We are grateful that his friends, family and colleagues gathered in his memory to raise funds for our organization. His light will continue to shine on our outreach, endeavors and membership.”

The total amount raised will be divided evenly among the five selected SOLID Shares organizations. These organizations reinforce the tenets of SOLID’s mission to improve the future of the music industry, strengthen professional relationships and serve the community.

“Through organizations like our five 2023 SOLID Shares Partners, every cent raised can make an impact in our community. It’s a huge honor to create lasting connections between our industry and these incredible nonprofits. We are so grateful for the willingness of our colleagues and friends in the music industry to step up and every opportunity to give back this year. Let’s raise even more in 2024,” says Leah Binkerd, SOLID Community Outreach Chair.