Industry Ink: Westwood One, Big Yellow Dog Music, CAA, Music Biz Conference

Westwood One, Kix Brooks Honors Military Veterans

Kix Brooks

Westwood One and Kix Brooks will celebrate the service of all U.S. military veterans with a special two-hour Veterans Day music special, “A Salute to our Military Veterans.”

Brooks, the popular award-winning host of Westwood One’s American Country Countdown and Kickin’ it with Kix, hosts his annual special in honor of the servicemen and women who have sacrificed their lives to keep us free. He will play songs that capture America’s patriotic spirit, like Brooks & Dunn’s “Only in America,” Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Toby Keith’s “American Soldier” and “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue,”  Keith Urban’s “For You,” Tim McGraw “If You’re Reading This,” Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried” and more.

“Our servicemen and women are always at the top of my mind,” said Brooks. “It’s really important to me to be sure to carve out time to thank our military veterans and their families and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of honoring them.”

Nashville Rocker Justin Forrest Signs with Big Yellow Dog Music

Photo (L-R): Devon Devries, VP of Creative – Film/TV A&R, Alex Stefano, Film & TV Music Manager, Justin Forrest, Carla Wallace, Co-Owner, Kent Marcus, Attorney, Kerry O’Neil, Co-Owner

Big Yellow Dog Music has inked a deal with Nashville rocker Justin Forrest. Forrest’s “City Life,” the first track on his independently released project Chapters, caught the attention of Nashville radio station Lightning 100, and later ranked No. 5 on Lightning 100’s Top 100 Hit List. He was also recently named by Nashville Lifestyles in the Top 25 Artists to Watch in 2015.

The Peacock Invitational To Be Held In Memory of Ryan Huie

CAA’s John Huie and his wife, Dawn, are honoring the memory of their son, Ryan, who committed suicide in 2014. The Huie family has started Ryan’s Guitars Project, which works with St. Paul’s Foundation to provide guitars and music instruction for poor and refugee children in the Middle East.

In addition, the Peacock Invitational golf tournament, which is held in honor of Huie’s passion of golf, will be held Monday, Nov. 2, at the Vanderbilt Legends Club beginning at 8:30 a.m. A pre-tournament dinner will be held Sunday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. at Sopapilla’s in Franklin. Proceeds will benefit Ryan’s Guitars Project. The invitational is presented by Creative Artists Agency. To register email peacock.invitational@gmail.com.

Registration Open For Music Biz 2016

Registration is now open for Music Biz 2016 in Nashville. The conference, hosted by the Music Business Association, will be held May 16-18, 2016 at Nashville’s Renaissance Nashville Hotel.

Early bird rates are available through March 11. Special rates area also open for students ($74 for Music Biz members, $89 for non-members) and first-time independent retail and label attendees ($199).

Those interested can register at eventbrite.com.