Author Archive: Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
Gospel Music Hall of Fame Names New Class
The GMA Foundation (GMAF) announced today that it will induct Johnny Cash, DeGarmo & Key, Golden Gate Quartet, and Bill “Hoss” Allen into the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame on January 24, 2011. “The impact this group of individuals has made on gospel music is immeasurable. It’s an honor to recognize these inductees for […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Organizations
Media Surge For Swift’s “Speak Now”
It’s release day for Taylor Swift’s highly-anticipated, Speak Now, and while she makes the media rounds, reviewers have been weighing in. The critical response has been positive, and it is expected that first-week sales will fall somewhere between the 700,000 and one-million mark. At almost 21, Swift’s all grown up, but hasn’t tried to prove […]
Marvell Re-ups With Bug; Songwriters In Chicago; BMI Buzz
Hit songwriter Kendall Marvel renewed his publishing deal with Bug Music recently. He is the writer behind hits including “Right Where I Need to Be” (Gary Allan), “Tougher Than Nails” (Joe Diffie), and “Yee Haw,” “Startin With Me,” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” (Jake Owen). His songs have been recorded by Trace Adkins, […]
Category: Featured, Organizations, Publishing
Photos: Jeff Barry, Best Cellars, ICM Winners
Jeff Barry writing in Nashville with Rebecca Lynn Howard…TJ Martell Best Cellars Dinner with Charley Pride and Lee Ann Womack…Dailey and Vincent team with Garth Fundis…Point of Grace and The Roys win at ICM Awards.
Category: Artist, Featured, Organizations
Trailer Choir Shows Comedic Chops On YouTube
Members of Show Dog-Universal band Trailer Choir have tapped into their inner comedians and teamed with director John Ritchie to create a series of comedy vignettes for YouTube. The storyline follows the hijinks of an up-and-coming country band, and the oftentimes hilarious situations they find themselves in. The first two vignettes have already been posted, […]
Big Week For Lambert, Shelton
Hot country couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are having an exciting week. Lambert just celebrated the Platinum certification of her album Revolution with Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton. The album has yielded the No. 1 singles, “White Liar” and “The House That Built Me,” and was voted the ACM Album of […]
McGraw, Paisley Bring Hits In Time For Holidays
Greatest hit collections from genre superstars Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw have been previously reported on, but new details, including the track-listings have been revealed. Expect big sales from both of these fourth quarter releases, which are likely to end up under a lot of Christmas trees. On November 30th, Curb Records will release, Number […]
FUNL Showcase, Louvin Album, Secret Sisters
•••Nashville-based independent label FUNL Music hosted a double-feature showcase last night (10/19) at the Mercy Lounge with performances by Ty Herndon and Amber Hayes. Herndon’s Journey On earned the chart-topping singer a Dove Award earlier this year for “When We Fly.” Hayes’ current single, “C’mon,” is approaching Top 40 status on the Music Row Country […]
Warner Releases Songwriter Demos
The original songwriter demos to some of country music’s biggest hits are being released today by Warner Bros. Records. Some of Nashville’s best songwriters are represented in the two-volume series. And the CD/digital booklet for Original Songwriter Demos contains the stories behind each hit as told by the writers. It is available online at www.originalsongwriterdemos.com as well […]
Virginia Davis To Lead B.A.D. Management
Front Line Management CEO Irving Azoff, Big Machine Label Group CEO Scott Borchetta and Front Line artist manager Virginia Davis have formed B.A.D. Management, under the Front Line umbrella. Davis, who joined Front Line in 2007, will oversee operations of the new company. She represents Jewel, and now adds fellow Big Machine group artists Steel Magnolia […]
Sugarland Unleashes Incredible Machine
It’s release day for Sugarland, who are on the road celebrating and promoting their adventurous fourth album, The Incredible Machine. The duo, known for pushing country’s music boundaries, drew from a myriad of influences for the new project which weaves together pop/rock anthems, upbeat country, and even throws in a dash of reggae on the […]
