Author Archive: Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
2011 Country Radio Hall of Fame Inductees
Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® has announced that Dale Carter, Charlie Cook, Dene Hallam, Barry Kent, Bill Payne and Lee Rogers will be inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame. Dale Carter, Barry Kent and Lee Rogers are the 2011 On-Air Personality inductees. Charlie Cook, Dene Hallam and Bill Payne are the Radio inductees. The […]
Cracker Barrel Offers Smokey Robinson Collection
Cracker Barrel, known for releasing exclusive product from country and bluegrass artists, is expanding its music collection with a new album by legendary hit-maker Smokey Robinson. Starting today, Nov. 1, he is visiting national media in Nashville and New York to promote Now and Then. The CD features six live versions of classics, including “Going […]
Broken Bow Names Rick Shedd SVP
Broken Bow Records CEO/President Benny Brown has named Rick Shedd Senior Vice President of Operations for Broken Bow Records and Stoney Creek Records, effective immediately. Shedd has been a longtime consultant for the label and will report directly to Brown. Exiting the label is Executive Vice Pres./General Manager Jim Yerger. “Over the last decade, Rick […]
Dixie Chicks Release 2-Disc Collection
The Dixie Chicks released a 2-disc career anthology this week. The Essential Dixie Chicks has 30 of the band’s most popular songs, including six No. 1 hits. The collection covers all four studio albums recorded for Sony Music, which have resulted in more than 30 million in career sales. With an armful of 2007 Grammys, […]
Jack Ingram, Troy Olsen Offer Web Series
Big Machine’s Jack Ingram is bringing back his “Acoustic Motel” concept by releasing weekly videos, and EMI Nashville newcomer Troy Olsen has his own webisode series “Livin’ The Dream with Troy Olsen” on GACTV.com. On his videos, Ingram is offering acoustic versions of his biggest hits, and surprising covers, such as Paramore’s “The Only Exception.” […]
New Songwriter Show With Jewel, Kara DioGuardi
Jewel and Kara DioGuardi are the first celebrities on board for a new songwriter competition series on Bravo. Jewel will host and occasionally join DioGuardi as part of the judging panel. Going Platinum is expected to premiere in 2011. Judging will be based more on the contestants’ songwriting ability than their singing and performance prowess. […]
BMG US Taps Richard Blackstone
Music rights company BMG has hired Richard Blackstone to be the Chief Creative Officer of BMG US. He is the former Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music and, more recently, has been working with the Zac Brown Band. Blackstone, who will be based in BMG’s US headquarters in New York City, also has strong ties […]
Category: Featured, Publishing
ASCAP Christian Music Award Winners
ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) saluted the songwriters and publishers of Christian music’s most performed songs at its 32nd annual Christian Music Awards last night (10/25) at Richland Country Club in Nashville. The evening’s top honors were awarded to the following: ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year: Ben Glover ASCAP Christian […]
Category: Artist, Awards, Featured, Organizations
Urban Launches iTunes Countdown, Sets Salvation Army Halftime Show
Beginning today (10/26) Keith Urban is revealing a new track every Tuesday exclusively at iTunes from his new album, Get Closer, set for release on November 16. The album’s first single “Put You In A Song,” and “Long Hot Summer,” are available now and two more tracks will be released before the album comes out: […]
CMA Awards Presenters; History Book
“Country Music’s Biggest Night(tm)” continues to get bigger as The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Easton Corbin, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Jerrod Niemann, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Darius Rucker, Chris Young, and NASCAR champion Jeff Gordon are announced as the first group of presenters for “The 44th Annual CMA Awards.” Hosted by Brad Paisley and […]
Category: Artist, Awards, Featured, Organizations
Country Hall Salutes Bonnie Garner
The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will present an interview honoring visionary music executive Bonnie Garner, as part of the Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum series. The forum is set for Tuesday, November 16, at 6 p.m. in the Ford Theater. It is free and open to the public. The interview with Garner, whose […]



