Author Archive: Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
Willie Nillie Photos
Same name edition: Miss Willie Brown, Anastasia Brown, and Willie Nelson’s Throwdown
Luke Bryan Debuts Video, Sets “CMT Crossroads” Date
Luke Bryan is gearing up for the Aug. 9 street date of his third studio set with this week’s release of the video for lead single “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).” Directed by award-winner Shaun Silva, the video was filmed last month in Los Angeles at Siren Studios. Single stats are boding well for […]
Tim McGraw Countersues Curb Records
Tim McGraw has filed a countersuit against longtime label home Curb Records, according to today’s Tennessean. The news broke last week that Curb was suing the superstar for breach of contract. According to the newspaper, McGraw is seeking punitive damages, an advance payment for his latest recordings, and a legal ruling that he has fulfilled […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Financial/Legal, Label
Warner Releasing Music From Three Rising Acts
Warner Music Nashville is working new releases from rising acts Frankie Ballard, Jason Jones and Mandy Barnett. The label is also bringing back its Pickin’ On The Patio parties starting tomorrow night (5/26). Frankie Ballard’s full-length debut album hit shelves this week and he is celebrating with a string of performances in his home state […]
Signing Pics: Dean Alexander, Ahmande Grimes
Dean Alexander Builds Team Elektra recording artist Dean Alexander has signed with J.P. Williams and C.T. Wyatt of Parallel Entertainment for management representation. He has inked with Paradigm Nashville for booking. Alexander joined Warner Music Nashville in early 2010 and is currently in the studio working on his debut album. Parallel Entertainment is known for its […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Publishing
Bigride Records Launches With Marlee Scott
Bigride Entertainment has launched new division Bigride Records, expanding the artist management business that has been headed by Gerry Leiske since 1997 and achieved success with country band Emerson Drive. Marlee Scott is the label’s flagship artist and her debut U.S. single, “Beautiful Maybe,” goes for adds June 27. She is currently on a radio […]
Industry Ink Tuesday (5/24)
Sharp Objects expands • Clay Bradley to bank board • R&J Records addition • Letters for Lyrics honored • Richard Marx named Songwriter Icon
Jamey Johnson Plans New Album, Produces Other Artists
Jamey Johnson has been working on a new album for Mercury Nashville, as well as manning production for other acts. His upcoming project will be his follow-up to the gold-certified, critically acclaimed two-disc set The Guitar Song. “I’ve written some and recorded a bunch,” he says, “not necessarily new songs that I wrote, but just […]
Grady Forms Management Alliance
New York based Crush Management and Nashville music vet John Grady have joined forces to form a new venture. Along with Crush principals Jonathan Daniel and Bob McLynn, Grady will open Crush Nashville. The first two artists on the Crush Nashville roster are Sony Music Nashville recording artist Kristen Kelly, and the duo of Sarah […]
Picture Party
Songwriters Go Coastal • Book Party For “Business Wisdom of The Beatles” • Justin Moore Visits ACM
Category: Artist, Featured, Financial/Legal, Organizations
Bentley’s Miles & Music for Kids Riding Strong
Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music for Kids” rolled through Columbus, Ohio on Sun., May 22, raising over $143,000 for Columbus’ Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Nearly 1,000 bikers stretched eight miles behind Bentley as he led the pack of motorcycles to the LC Pavilion where an additional 4,000 fans joined for the afternoon concert featuring Bentley and pals […]



