Industry Ink: ASCAP Honors CRS, Cole Swindell’s Heavy Metal, ACM Welcomes A Thousand Horses

ASCAP Commemorates CRS 45th Anniversary

Pictured (L-R): Bill Mayne, Executive Director, CRS; Judy Harris, Judy Harris Music; Barry Coburn, ASCAP Board Member; Charlie Monk, Monk Family Music. Photo: Ed Rode for ASCAP

ASCAP celebrated the 45th anniversary of the Country Radio Seminar (CRS) at its 53rd Annual ASCAP Country Music Awards on Monday, Nov. 2. CRS Executive Director Bill Mayne and former ASCAP executives Judy Harris (owner, Judy Harris Music), and Charlie Monk (CRS Director Emeritus) accepted the honor from ASCAP Board Member Barry Coburn.

The Country Radio Seminar was founded in 1969 to connect country radio with the country music industry. Harris and Monk were ASCAP executives who saw value in promoting the growth of country radio. ASCAP hosted the first seven years of planning meetings and ASCAP’s annual songwriter showcases have been among its most popular features.

Cole Swindell Celebrates Gold and Platinum Status

Pictured (L-R): WMN: Justin Luffman, VP Brand Management; Scott Hendricks, EVP A&R; Katie Bright, Director, National Promotion; Peter Strickland, EVP & GM; Cole Swindell; John Esposito, President & CEO; Cris Lacy, VP A&R; Kristen Williams, VP Promotion; Kevin Herring, SVP Promotion; KP Entertainment: Kerri Edwards. Photo: Joseph Llanes

Cole Swindell was surprised on Wednesday (Nov. 4) with a gold and platinum plaque for his self-titled debut album, and its three chart-topping singles, “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey,” and “Chillin’ It.”

“I was literally just talking about how cool it would be to have a plaque with the gold album and three platinum singles, but to be surprised with it this week was amazing,” Swindell said. “A lot of work went into this by a lot of people, so this is ‘our’ plaque.”

Swindell may soon add another No. 1 to that list. His fourth single from the the album, “Let Me See Ya Girl,” is at No. 2 on the country radio charts.

ACM Welcomes A Thousand Horses

A Thousand Horses with Academy CEO, Bob Romeo. Photo: Michel Bourquard/Courtesy of ACM

The Academy of Country Music welcomed Republic Nashville recording artists A Thousand Horses to the office while the band was in Los Angeles. While at the Academy, they performed songs from their current album, Southernality, and signed up for professional ACM membership as part of the Academy’s complimentary one-year membership offered to support emerging artists.

Watch a video of the band’s performance below.