Nashville Notes: Tanya Tucker, Randy Travis Sign On for Dallas Police Benefit; ‘Duck Dynasty’ Star Inks Marketing, Media Deals
Here is your weekly roundup of goings on -- artist signings, staffing moves, good news and more -- in the wide world of country music.
NEWS & NOTES
T.G. Sheppard will host when a bevy of country artists gather July 27 at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, Texas, to raise money for the families of five police officers who were killed in the July 7 ambush in Dallas. Fourteen acts are set to perform during Stars Behind the Stars, including Tanya Tucker, The Oak Ridge Boys, John Conlee, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee and Gene Watson. The night also will include a guest appearance by Randy Travis, who continues to recover from a stroke in 2013. Monies will be distributed through the Dallas Police Association’s Assist the Officer Foundation.
Dallas Police Chief Quotes Stevie Wonder Lyrics During Memorial Service
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Chris Stapleton and James Taylor are set to join Vince Gill on Sept. 27 at the annual All for the Hall Los Angeles benefit at the Novo by Microsoft to raise money for the Country Music Hall of Fame. VIP tables are on sale at $10,000 and $5,000 price points. The event was established in 2005, attracting such previous participants as Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Zac Brown, REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin, Kris Kristofferson and Lionel Richie.
It’s a bit ironic for a guy who famously sang “Don’t Rock the Jukebox”: Alan Jackson is among 50 artists represented in a new exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Louder Than Music: Rock, Power & Politics. The display, which comes as the Republican National Convention is making the city a political hot spot, features the guitar Jackson played during the 2001 Country Music Association Awards show when he introduced his 9/11 statement, “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).” The guitar is among memorabilia from U2, Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin and Bruce Springsteen that will be on display until Nov. 27.
Brad Paisley‘s GoFundMe initiative to help flood relief in his home state of West Virginia is nearly two-thirds of the way toward its stated goal. Paisley established the fundraising page on June 29, intent on bringing in $1 million in donations. As of July 18, more than 5,900 people had pledged support, totaling nearly $652,000. Funds will be distributed through a flood relief account set up through the Brad Paisley Foundation at the WESBANCO Trust Department in Wheeling, W.Va.
‘ROUND THE ROW
The Country Music Association added five new members to its staff. Senior manager of strategic partnerships Kevin Coffey worked in marketing and merchandising for Taylor Swift’s 13 Management. Senior manager of market research Courtney Ledford arrives after five years of employment in San Francisco, most recently as data operations leader for retail analytics firm Quri. Manager of event ticketing Chris Harrington spent five years as box office/special events coordinator for the Nashville Predators, where his projects included the CMA Music Festival. Awards and industry relations assistant Angela Rolandwas a Buddy Lee Attractions agent assistant. Administrative assistant/receptionist Kathy Gillihan most recently was employed by Dr. James Fisher in Nashville.
Thirty Tigers regional promotion director Ken Rush announced his retirement, effective July 31. Gwen Foster was hired to replace him and already is on the job. She most recently was in a similar post at I.R.S. Nashville.
Country Music Hall of Fame senior director of communications Edie Emery ended her tenure on July 15 in favor of a freelance role that would allow her to devote more time to her elderly parents.
Producer-songwriter Alex Kline (Tara Thompson) renewed her co-publishing deal with Starstruck Writers Group and 10,000 Hours, which she co-owns with songwriter Erin Enderlin (“Last Call”).
Nashville executive Anastasia Brown was named a producer for the Pop cable network’s American Supergroup, debuting this fall.
Bluegrass act Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers hired Laura Mainer as booking agent and office manager, effective July 18. She most recently handled booking for Moonstruck Management.
The Scooter Brown Band signed a booking agreement with the Agency for the Performing Arts Nashville.
Duck Dynasty star Si Robertson‘s band, The Si-Cotics, and Marsha Robertson signed with Burning Ground Entertainment for marketing and Kore PR for media.
Promotion veteran Tom Moran established a weekly podcast, Inside Nashville.
Big Machine Label Group president/CEO Scott Borchetta is among the new board members for the Nashville Film Festival. Go here for a complete list.
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Cumulus appointed two new operations managers in separate markets. Jeff Jarnigan took the position at Cumulus/Knoxville, Tenn., where the cluster includes country WIVK. A longtime fixture in the market, Jarnigan already was the voice of the University of Tennessee football games. Cumulus/Toledo, Ohio — Monroe, Mich., also promoted Bill Michaels to the OM position for the eight-station cluster, including country outlets WKKO and WMIM. He continues to serve as PD at four brands.
Dave Daniels started July 18 as morning host at KHAY Oxnard-Ventura, Calif. He most recently was operations manager/PD/morning host at KSNI Santa Maria, Calif.
Meghan Lawton joined the morning show at WCJW Warsaw, N.Y. She takes on the role while continuing to serve as marketing and communications director for Campground Owners of New York.
Mid-West Family/Springfield, Mo., hired Kevin Watkins as a marketing executive for the cluster, including country KOMG. Previously a Mid-West employee, he most recently was a manager at retail chain Text Bucks.
KKGO Los Angeles PD Tonya Campos left her post, RadioInfo.com reported.
WKTI Milwaukee hired Jeff Stone for middays, according to RadioInfo.com. The owner of 421 Productions, he previously was WSRG Sturgeon Bay, Wis., operations manager/PD. Elsewhere in the WKTI lineup, PD Dayton Kane is a temporary afternoon-drive solution for Shane Parkey, who has left the company.
WSM-AM Nashville PD Dean Warfield left the company after a two-year run in the position, InsideRadio.com reported.
Tickets for the New Faces Show at the 2017 Country Radio Seminar have sold out.
This article first appeared in Billboard’s Country Update — sign up here.
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