Industry Ink Tuesday (5/24)

Pictured seated (L-R): Kenneth Johnson (BNG Music Group), Samantha Stroh, Ray Bruce (BNG Music Group). Standing (L-R): Gary Stroh, Nicholas Carsner (BNG Music Group), Amy Stroh

Sharp Objects has expanded with the launch of BNG Music Group; the label joins its songplugging and artist/writer development services. CEO Kenneth Johnson and Pres. Ray Bruce have signed Samantha Stroh for recording and publishing as the independent label’s flagship artist. Her debut album is expected this fall. The Georgia native was the State Winner of the Texaco Country Showdown in 2009, and has been writing and performing since she was a teenager, opening for The Band Perry, Montgomery Gentry and more.

“Samantha has been working hard to hone her songwriting craft and sound, and writing with some of Nashville’s most talented songwriters,” said Bruce. “She is as genuine a person as she is a talent. With an undeniable passion for country music, her direction, intuition and foresight align perfectly with our vision at BNG Music. We are excited to welcome Samantha as part of the family.”

Now in its eighth year, Sharp Objects Entertainment represents Jan Buckingham, Bobby Carmichael, Michael Peterson, Randy Sharp, Maia Sharp and Jeff Silbar. The Sharp Objects/BNG Music Group offices are located at 62 Music Sq. W., Nashville, TN.

Clay Bradley

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BMI Asst. VP Writer/Publisher Relations Clay Bradley has joined the Advisory Board of Fifth Third Bank, Tennessee.

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Bill Catino and Tim McFadden have hired Kelsey Lantrip as Promotion Coordinator for R&J Records. The recent graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University, has completed internships with the promotion department at Big Machine Records as well as Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing and Bullseye Marketing’s NashvilleCountryClub.com website. Lantrip can be reached at (615) 290-9559 or kelsey@randjrecords.com.

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The Ram Truck brand and its experiential marketing partner George P. Johnson (GPJ) took home a coveted Gold Ex Award for the Zac Brown Band Letters for Lyrics campaign at the recent Event Marketing Summit in Chicago. The Gold Ex Award acknowledges the campaign’s unconventional, cause-based approach to brand storytelling through experiences delivered online, at concerts, dealerships and through mobile devices.

Richard Marx

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Richard Marx will receive the 2011 Songwriter Icon Award at the NMPA’s Annual Meeting in New York City on June 15. In addition to selling more than 30 million records, Marx has achieved great success writing and producing songs for some of the biggest names in music, including country stars Keith Urban, Vince Gill, Kenny Rogers, and Travis Tritt.