Author Archive: Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
Country Hall Unveils Updates
Curators at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum unveiled additions to its permanent collection at a special reception Thursday night (5/13). The second-floor updates, which bring the story of country music forward in time from 1965 to present, showcase contemporary artists Jamey Johnson, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, bluegrass […]
Warner/Chappell Promotes BJ Hill, Alicia Pruitt
BJ Hill and Alicia Pruitt have been promoted to Sr. Directors of A&R for Warner/Chappell Nashville. They will continue to be responsible for signing emerging songwriters, developing the publisher’s existing roster, and securing song placements. Hill joined the company in 2005 where he is responsible for signing and overseeing some of Nashville’s top songwriters including […]
Category: Featured, Publishing
Photos: Gill Wedding, Country Throwdown, Songwriters
Jenny Gill, singer and daughter of Vince Gill, was married on May 8th to Josh Van Valkenburg, Manager of A&R for EMI Music Publishing. The wedding and reception was held at the Nashville home of her father and his wife Amy Grant. Jenny’s mother is Janis Oliver of Sweethearts of the Rodeo. The couple, who […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Label, Publishing
Music City Relief Concert Raises Over $1.7 MM
Last night’s flood relief concert on GAC raised $1.7 million and counting. Some of Nashville’s biggest names turned out to perform, answer telethon phones and make significant donations. Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley opened the night with a $100,000 gift. Kimberly co-hosted the event at the Ryman along with actor and Nashville native […]
Live Nation; EMI/Terra Firma
Live Nation Entertainment today (5/11) released financial results for the first quarter of 2010, the first earnings report since completing its merger with Ticketmaster on Jan. 25. The company reported a loss of $112 million (76 cents/share) in the quarter that ended March 31, which was more than the prior-year Q1 loss of $102.7 million […]
Category: Featured, Financial/Legal, Label
Country’s Newest Acts Debut Music
EMI Records Nashville’s flagship artist Troy Olsen released his self-titled EP today (5/11). Among the four tracks is his debut single, “Summer Thing,” for which the singer recently taped the music video in his home state Arizona. Olsen has been visiting radio stations across the country promoting the song, co-written with Ben Hayslip and Jimmy […]
Shelton, Lambert Announce Engagement
People.com reports that one of Country music’s favorite couples got engaged over the weekend. Blake Shelton surprised his girlfriend of five years, Miranda Lambert, with a diamond and platinum engagement ring on Sunday, May 9. He popped the question near her home in Oklahoma, after receiving her father’s blessing, Lambert tells People. Get the full […]
Photos: CBS Nashville Reunites For One Night
Roy Wunsch and Mary Ann McCready hosted a CBS Nashville Reunion over the weekend at Cellar One on 2nd Ave. The event attracted artists, former label staff, and industry friends from the 1975-95 time period. Album cover art adorned the walls as decoration. Guests including Billy Sherrill, Janie Fricke, Joe Stampley, Bobby Bare, Ricky Skaggs, […]
Photos: Little Big Town, Matt Giraud, Toby Keith
Matt Giraud, American Idol Top Five Finalist, Season 8, has signed with ASCAP. He is currently working on an EP with Grammy-winning producer Drew Ramsey to be released this summer. Victoria Shaw, Marcus Hummon and JT Harding are collaborators on the new project. The soulful pianist is also busy on tour. •••••••••••••••••••••••• Capitol Nashville’s Little […]
CMT Award Noms., A Word From Pres. Brian Philips
The final nominees for the 2010 CMT Music Awards will be revealed tomorrow (5/11) morning exclusively on People.com starting at 8 AM/CT. Mercury recording artist Laura Bell Bundy and CMT’s Evan Farmer will do the honors. And more nominations will be announced later in the day on CMT.com. The top nominees in all categories, except […]
Category: Awards, Featured, Flood2010, Sales/Marketing
BMI Nashville Remains Closed; SoundCheck Inspects Damage
BMI’s Nashville office remains closed Monday, May 10 due to a lack of water pressure and air conditioning in the six-story Music Row building. BMI’s Nashville office usually houses over 400 employees and is currently relying on a reduced on-site staff. However, Nashville Writer/Publisher executives are still readily accessible by email and cell phone, and […]
