Author Archive: Sarah Skates
Sarah Skates has worked in the music business for more than a decade and is a longtime contributor to MusicRow.
Musical Chairs: W.A.Y. Ent., Republic Nashville
Former Sony execs. Jon Elliot and Christian Svendsen have formed W.A.Y. Entertainment, a fully integrated entertainment company. The Nashville-based outfit will specialize in artist management and marketing services, and also offer merchandise and TV production through partnerships with A3 Merchandise and Relay Productions. With combined experience of more than 30 years and backgrounds in promotion, […]
Category: Featured, Label, Radio, Sales/Marketing
Whisperin’ Bill Still Making Noise
Whisperin’ Bill Anderson was already having a wonderful vacation when he received a phone call from Terry Wakefield at Sony/ATV that made his trip that much better. Wakefield let him know the status of two of Anderson’s co-writes: Sugarland‘s “Joey” hit the national country charts at No. 50 yesterday (6/29), and today (6/30) Brad Paisley […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Financial/Legal, Publishing, Reviews, Sales/Marketing
Brotherly Love w/ Bellamys & Bacons; Plus Artist LifeNotes
The Bellamy Brothers have released a new single and video with The Bacon Brothers titled “Guilty of the Crime.” The song is currently in medium rotation on CMT Pure and featured worldwide on CMT.com. Directed by Laura Lyness, the video was shot in a single day inside a prison in Memphis. The video features both […]
Artists Celebrate Summer on Field and Water
Last month’s Nashville Celebrity Softball Challenge, held each year in conjunction with CMA Music Festival, raised over $100,000 for City of Hope’s research, treatment and education for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The Grand Ole Opry team defeated the After Midnite team. Stepping up to the plate to help the charity were notable Nashvillians and […]
Kristofferson Named BMI Icon, Awards Date Set
Kris Kristofferson will be honored as a BMI Icon at the U.S. music rights organization’s 57th annual Country Awards. Slated for Tuesday, November 10 in Nashville, the black-tie, invitation-only gala will celebrate the songwriters of the past year’s most-performed country songs from the BMI catalog. Hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Nashville […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Organizations, Publishing
821 Grows the Hollywood-Nashville Connection
821 Entertainment, the Music City company headed by Pres. Anastasia Brown and CEO Eric Geadelmann, has optioned the film rights to one of John Grisham’s biggest bestsellers. That project, along with the company’s upcoming Roy Rogers trilogy, will offer many possibilities for the use of Nashville music, says 821 COO Graham Chalfant. Grisham has been […]
Category: Featured, Label, Radio, Sales/Marketing
CMA Fest To Rock TV, First Awards Ballot Coming
Country Music takes center stage when CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock airs Monday, Aug. 31 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. Filmed in Nashville June 11-14, the special has been expanded to three hours. Kenny Chesney, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Sugarland and Taylor Swift are the first performers […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Organizations
Revolving Door: Stoney Creek, Sony, LifeNotes
Stoney Creek Records, the new label founded by Broken Bow owner Benny Brown, has signed Ash Bowers. and is planning the release of his first album. The Buddy Cannon produced project contains seven songs penned by Bowers, as well as the new single, “Stuck,” which was written by Billy Montana and Frank Myers and goes […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Label, Radio, Reviews, Sales/Marketing, Touring
Richard Marx Catalogue Acquired By Chrysalis
Chrysalis Music Group USA has finalized an agreement to purchase the catalogue of renowned writer/artist Richard Marx. Among his most recent hits was the 2008 song “Everybody,” which was written with and performed by Keith Urban. Marx has been an internationally known singer/songwriter/producer for over 20 years. In addition to selling over 30 million records […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Label, Publishing, Touring
CMT Awards Draw Top Execs
The 2009 CMT Music Awards aired live from Nashville’s Sommet Center on June 16. Many of MTV Network’s top brass came to town to mingle with Nashville executives and artists at the event.
Category: Artist, Featured, Label, Radio, Sales/Marketing, Touring
Monday Morning Rundown- WB, Ray Price, Platinum Plaques, AMA, Alana Grace
Country singer Ray Price underwent surgery on June 23 to remove precancerous polyps from his colon. Doctors say the operation was a complete success and he is making a slow, steady recovery with the help of family and friends, especially his wife Janie. ————————— The Hannah Montana soundtrack was the only Country album which received […]
Category: Artist, Featured, Organizations, Touring



