Industry Ink: Listening Room To Relocate

A&M/Octone Records' Miss Willie Brown was invited to become honorary “Friends and Family” members of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum. The duo, comprised of Amanda Watkins and Kasey Buckley, recently released its debut single "You're All That Matters To Me.” Pictured (L-R): standing: CMHoF Membership Manager Rachel Weingartner, CAA’s Jim Butler, and CMHoF VP of Development Pamela Johnson, (sitting) Watkins and Buckley.

• The Listening Room Cafe will close its current Cummins Station location Aug. 10 to prepare for a grand reopening in downtown Nashville this fall. Venue owner Chris Blair says the soon-to-be-revealed new location will offer nightly shows, additional parking, and a fully renovated stage and bar. He also plans to launch a publishing company division called Emerge Nashville and a full service video and audio recording division.

• Jason Aldean is in the process of signing an endorsement deal with the Coors Brewing Company so he re-recorded a line in his new single “Take A Little Ride,” changing the lyric referencing Shiner Bock beer to “a couple rocky tops.” Radio stations are being asked to air the updated version.

• Jim Reyland, radio host and owner of Audio Productions, has written a new play. Stand stars Barry Scott and Chip Arnold, and is directed by David Compton. Thirty-six performances of Stand will be presented in the Nashville area for 12 consecutive weekends beginning Aug. 24. Proceeds will benefit Room In The Inn. Tickets at ticketsnashville.com.

• Former LA-based UMPG VP of Business Affairs Michael Rexford has joined the entertainment practice of law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.

• The Arts & Business Council will present the Creative Capital Workshop: Strategic Planning, Funding & Marketing Intensive for Artists on Sept. 21-23 at Belmont University. The workshop is a crash course in self-management, strategic planning, fundraising and promotion for artists of all creative genres. Applications are due Aug. 15. Apply here.

• A federal court jury in Virginia has rendered a verdict of $276,000 against the owners and operators of WOLD-FM, a radio station based in Marion, Virginia, for its unlicensed broadcast of copyrighted songs represented by SESAC.

• Finest Worldwide Entertainment is expanding its offerings with the launch of Finest Worldwide Management Group, which will be headed by Shane Jemelka. He will report to Michael Sheahan, CEO.

Several hit songwriters traveled to Wood River, Nebraska on June 30 to perform a benefit concert supporting Team Abbie. The group performed two acoustic shows and donated various silent auction items to raise money for the family of Abbie Vialpando, who is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Pictured (L-R): Arlos Smith, Michael Platek, Abbie Vialpando, Kevin Denney, Abbie's father Steve Powell, and Brice Long.