Author Archive: Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
Ticketmaster/Live Nation Merger To Get US Approval
The US Department of Justice plans to approve the merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation. Regulators are demanding that the companies make a few concessions to ensure fair competition, including licensing its Ticketmaster Host ticketing software to concert promoter and venue manager Anschutz Entertainment Group, and divesting its self-ticketing subsidiary Paciolan to promoter and manager […]
Category: Featured, Financial/Legal, Touring
Crook & Chase On WSIX; Paradiso Hires King
Nashville’s Big 98/WSIX-FM has added The Crook & Chase Countdown to the station’s lineup, starting yesterday (1/24). The Nashville-based program will air Sundays from 6 – 10 p.m. CT. Each week, Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase count down the top 30 Country music songs and interview the genre’s superstars and rising artists. The show is nationally […]
Category: Featured, Publishing, Radio
Chesney Sets Four Summer Shows In Vegas
Kenny Chesney keeps adding to his summer schedule but, as promised, isn’t mounting a full-scale tour. He has just announced four dates at the Hard Rock Las Vegas, on May 14 and 15, and July 2 and 3. The performer will take over the hotel’s venue called the Joint, and says audiences in the 4000-seat […]
New Music From Texans Josh Abott Band And Zane Williams
Fast rising Texas act Josh Abbott Band played over 250 shows last year, packing Texas hot spots such as Wild West in Lubbock, Cowboys in San Antonio and Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth. Coming off the success of their 2008 debut album Scapegoat, the Josh Abbott Band now returns with their sophomore album She’s Like […]
The Band Perry’s New Video; Josh Thompson At “Music In The City”
Republic Nashville’s The Band Perry – siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry – teamed up with award-winning video director Trey Fanjoy (Taylor Swift, Keith Urban) for their first video, “Hip To My Heart.” Shot last week in Nashville, the video is for the trio’s debut single, currently a Top 35 hit – and climbing – […]
Category: Artist, Label, Sales/Marketing
Helping Haiti: Benefits With Superstars, Locals
The ultimate superstar telethon for Haiti relief efforts airs tonight (1/22) at 8/7 PM/CT on all the major networks and cable outlets. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban are among the A-list celebs set to sing on Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief. The two-hour telethon will also feature performances by Wyclef Jean, […]
Microsoft Salutes CMA’s Tech Initiatives
Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer was in Nashville last night (1/20), where he saluted the Country Music Association as a leader in technology initiatives. During the event at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, he also reconfirmed his company’s commitment to working with the CMA to bridge technology and country music, and presented CMA Digital […]
Category: Featured, Organizations
Stoney Creek Adds Thompson Square
Stoney Creek Records CEO/President Benny Brown has signed Thompson Square to a record deal as well as publishing deal with Magic Mustang Music. The duo is made up of Shawna Thompson and Keifer Thompson. The singer-songwriters are busy finishing their debut album, with the lead single “Let’s Fight,” set for a spring 2010 release. Thompson […]
Blue Steel Builds Promo Team
Blue Steel Records’ label head Steve Pope has been building the radio promotion team. Steve Freeman will head the division as Promotion Director and oversee the Southeast territory. Joining Freeman are Blake Hunter handling the Midwest region, and Faron Smith as the West Coast rep. First on the schedule is working Burns & Poe’s new […]
CRS Adds To Agenda; Digital Summit Moves To Sept.
Country Radio Seminar 2010, to be held Feb. 24-26, 2010, has announced an updated list of educational panels and agenda items. Starting with the Keynote Address from financial authority Dave Ramsey, CRS 2010 is packed with expert speakers, comprehensive market research and current industry issues designed to educate attendees, regardless of market size or region. […]
Category: Featured, Organizations, Radio
Paisley Creates Pop-up Book Video
The video for Brad Paisley’s latest hit, “American Saturday Night,” uses over 20,000 still photographs to build a world designed to look like a pop-up book. Paisley’s camp says it is a “2.5D world” that includes Paisley, his band The Drama Kings, and over 100 extras. Production company Branded Picture made the video, using several […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Sales/Marketing



