Jim Catino Promoted to VP, A&R, Sony BMG Nashville

Sarah Skates – 07/02/2008

Jim Catino

Jim Catino has been promoted to Vice President, A&R at Sony BMG Nashville. Most recently Senior Director, A&R, Catino is a 13-year industry veteran who first joined the label group in October of 2001. Since then, he has been instrumental in the signing and development of such artists as Jason Michael Carroll and Chuck Wicks, and is responsible for day-to-day A&R for Carroll and Wicks, as well as Blaine Larsen and Brad Paisley. He is based in Nashville, and reports directly to Exec. Vice President, A&R Renee Bell.

Catino arrived at the label group following seven years in publishing and A&R working with DreamWorks Nashville and Giant Publishing. A native of Cleveland, OH, he is a graduate of Belmont University, with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing and Music Business.

GAC To Feature Armiger Online

David M Ross – 08/28/2008

Katie Armiger

Great American Country (GAC) and newcomer Katie Armiger have created a six-part exclusive web series entitled Kapturing Katie. The first two webisodes will debut Sept. 1 and give fans a behind-the-scenes look into the life and career of the young artist. Timed to coincide with the launch of Armiger’s second album, Believe, the webisode page will also feature a link to “Unseen,” the video for her new single. Each Wednesday a new three-minute webisode will become available on the GAC Web site. Included in the series are scenes from Armiger’s CMA Music Festival performance on the Riverfront stage, a surprise 17th birthday pool party in her Texas hometown and walking the runway at the Country Weekly fashion show. To find the webisodes visit www.gactv.com/katiearmiger.

1st Annual Amelia Island Songwriters Fest Officially Underway

08/28/2008

The 1st Annual Amelia Island Songwriters Festival officially launched Wednesday (8/27) with a reception at host venue the Florida House Inn. Slated for August 27-31 in Florida hotspot Amelia Island, the BMI-sponsored event offers a combination of intimate hit songwriter showcases and educational opportunities for aspiring troubadours including workshops and song contests.

(L-R) back: BMI’s Mark Mason; Florida House Inn co-owner Diane Warwick; performers John Wiggins, Connie Harrington and Chuck Jones; BMI’s Clay Bradley; Florida House Inn co-owner Joe Warwick, and performers Bobby Pinson, Billy Montana and Tim Nichols. Front: performers Jon Randall, Kate & Kasey Coppola and Jessi Alexander. Photo by Alan Mayor

Yvette Arledge Joins Cherry Heart

08/28/2008

Yvette Arledge has joined Cherry Heart Music & Entertainment as Director of Administration. She will be responsible for publishing administration duties, writer/publisher royalties, as well as song copyrights and clearances for the company’s publishing branch. Arledge and publishing administration veteran Carolyn Sells, will also provide publishing services to outside clients as part of the company’s new Copyright Administration Division. Arledge was previously employed by Jones, Hawkins & Farmer Law Firm. Her other experience includes running her own Arledge Entertainment, and working at Little Big Town Music Group, Love Monkey Music, Dennis Robbins Music Group and in radio.

(L-R): Cherry Heart Music & Entertainment’s Shelby Kennedy, Arledge and Cherry Heart Music & Entertainment Pres./Mgr. Gratton E. Stephens, III. Photo: John Albani

Buddy Spicher Honored at Hall of Fame

08/28/2008

It was a family affair at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Saturday (8/23) when legendary fiddler Buddy Spicher was honored in the latest installment of the quarterly programming series Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Session Players. Throughout the 90-minute interview and performance, Spicher graciously pointed out how many friends and fellow musicians were in the museum’s packed Ford Theater, including longtime colleagues Ray Edenton, Jerry Kennedy, Scotty Moore and Howard White. Spicher contributed to scores of recorded hits and performed with nearly every country star of the 1960s and 1970s, including Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Charley Pride, Marty Robbins, the Statler Brothers, Hank Thompson and Bob Wills.

(L-R): Edenton, Spicher, Moore and program host Bill Lloyd. Photo: Donn Jones

Industry News Thursday (8/28/08)

Mercury Nashville will release Billy Currington's third album Little Bit Of Everything on Oct. 14. Co-produced by Carson Chamberlain and Currington, it consists of 12 tracks, five of which Currington had a hand in...

Nance and Dean Add Songs to BMI Million-Air Club

08/27/2008

Wil Nance and Steve Dean recently celebrated significant career milestones together as BMI saluted them both for penning songs that have achieved more than one million performances. Nance and Dean’s co-written “Round About Way,” recorded by George Strait, hit the one million mark, while Nance’s “She’s Everything” recorded by Brad Paisley, along with Dean’s “Watching You” recorded by Rodney Atkins, “Southern Star” recorded by Alabama and “Hearts Aren’t Made to Break (They’re Made to Love)” recorded by Lee Greenwood, also reached the impressive benchmark. Steve Dean also composed Reba McEntire’s “Walk On,” which has amassed two million spins.

(L-R): BMI’s Jody Williams, Nance, Dean and BMI’s David Preston.

Bogard Music Marks First Anniversary With New Name, New Location

Sarah Skates – 08/27/2008

Publishing and production entity Bogard Music Nashville has changed its name to One Music Group and moved to new offices at 1311 16th Ave. S. in Nashville. Writer/producer Steve Bogard explains, “The One Music Group name sums up the philosophy of our creative association. We are all working together for one goal, one mission, and that is to make great music.” In addition to Bogard, One Music Group includes writer/producer Jeff Stevens and creative head Shannon Myers. Several young artist/writers are also in development at the company.

The name change comes in time for the company’s one-year anniversary on Sept. 1, which will be celebrated with a writer’s night at the Bluebird Café on Sept. 4 at 6 PM. Bogard and Stevens will be the featured writers, along with Jason Sever and new duo Blaze & Desirée.

CCMA Names More Performers, Presenters

Sarah Skates – 08/27/2008

International music legend Randy Bachman (The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Bachman/Cummings) and up-and-coming RCA Nashville artist Crystal Shawanda have been added as performers for the Canadian Country Music Awards in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Sept. 8.

Jimmy Wayne, Adam Gregory, Aaron Pritchett, Lisa Brokop, former Canadian Idol contestant Tara Oram, and CMT’s Paul McGuire and Elissa Lansdell have been added as award presenters.

Terri Clark will host the show, which will feature previously announced performers Gord Bamford, Dierks Bentley, George Canyon, Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, Jessie Farrell, Kellie Pickler and Johnny Reid.

Cold River Hires Brad Helton

Sarah Skates – 08/27/2008

Brad Helton, most recently Northeast and Midwest Radio Marketing Manager at Montage Music Group, has joined Cold River Records in a similar capacity. “We are excited to expand our team with Brad’s energy and enthusiasm,” remarked label head Pete O’Heeron. “Brad comes to us with the two most important qualities…passion for the music and belief in the project.”

Prior to Montage, Helton worked Northeast regional promotion at Equity Records, and Lofton Creek Records. He started his career in promotion at Music City Records, and can be reached at brad@coldriverrecords.com.

Disney Music Publishing Signs Sonya Isaacs

08/26/2008

Critically acclaimed vocalist, performer and songwriter Sonya Isaacs has signed with Disney Music Publishing Nashville. Issacs and three of her family members comprise the popular family bluegrass/gospel group The Isaacs, whose beginnings go back to the early ’70s. Sonya has made music since she was three years old—harmony singing, playing the mandolin and writing songs. She also tours with country superstar Vince Gill, who co-produced her solo country album released by Lyric Street Records.

(L-R) back: Isaacs’ attorney Malcolm Mimms and Doug Howard, Sr. VP/GM, Disney Music Publishing/Nashville. Front: Isaacs and Lisa Ramsey, VP Disney Music Publishing/Nashville.