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Lucas Hoge Recognized For Entertainment, Vocal And Performance Talents

By on July 19, 2013 in In The Press

Lucas Hoge

Inspirational Country Music Association Nominates Hoge For Entertainer of The Year, Male Vocalist of The Year, Song of The Year And Video of The Year

Nashville singer/songwriter, performer and country recording artist Lucas Hoge celebrates four nominations with nods from the Inspirational Country Music Association (ICM).

In keeping with the spirit of his music, Hoge returns to the 2013 ICM ballot for the third consecutive year –in 2012 Hoge was nominated for Best Male Vocalist Of The Year and in 2011 for New Artist of The Year.

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Leadership Music’s Digital Summit Evolves

By on June 27, 2013 in In The Press

“Digital Solutions Powered by the Entrepreneurial Spirit” Provides Theme for Renamed 2013 Event

Leadership Music SummitLeadership Music’s annual Digital Summit returns this fall with a new title, new direction, and a renewed focus on educating and connecting music industry and digital marketing leaders. The nine-year-old conference is being renamed and rebranded as the Leadership Music Summit, a move that will allow for the theme of the event to address and incorporate the hot-button issues of the moment from year-to-year. Slated for Tuesday, September 10 at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works, the 2013 summit is subtitled “Digital Solutions Powered by the Entrepreneurial Spirit.” Co-chairs for this year’s event are Leadership Music alumni Heather McBee (“America’s Morning Show,” Cumulus Media) and Cameo Carlson (Borman Entertainment).

“Our goal with this year’s event is to introduce members of the music community to the growing number of digital marketing and platform opportunities that are being developed by entrepreneurs,” says McBee. The Leadership Music Summit: Digital Solutions Powered by the Entrepreneurial Spirit will utilize panels, case studies, analytics, keynote speakers and networking to help educate, connect and bond these two communities. The 2013 event is targeted to attendees and participants ranging from college students to movers-and-shakers of the entrepreneurial community across the Southeast to a variety of music industry leaders and decision-makers, including artist managers, record label staff and executives, attorneys, business managers and members of the media, marketing and publicity communities.

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Little River Band Set To Release New Album Cuts Like A Diamond On August 27th

By on June 27, 2013 in In The Press

Cuts Like A Diamond

New Single “The Lost and the Lonely” set for release July 8

Legendary hit-makers LITTLE RIVER BAND are gearing up for their latest album release of AOR masters Cuts Like A Diamond for Frontiers Records on August 24th in Europe and August 27th in North America. The group will be releasing a digital only single “The Lost and the Lonely,” on July 8th.

Formed originally in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, LITTLE RIVER BAND started enjoying their success in their home country before becoming radio staples in the United States with good songwriting, powerful vocals, and guitar harmonies. They immediately claimed their place as one of the great vocal bands of the ‘70s…and the ‘80s.

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George Strait’s “Give It All We Got Tonight” #1 Party Celebration

By on June 25, 2013 in In The Press
Give It All We Got Tonight

Pictured (l-r): UMG Nashville’s Mike Dungan, ASCAP’s Michael Martin, HoriPro Entertainment’s Butch Baker, co-writers Mark Bright and Tim James, Tony Brown, BMI’s Perry Howard, co-writer Phil O’Donnell, Delbert’s Boy Music’s Kirsten Wines, and Warner/Chappell’s Alicia Pruitt and Ben Vaughn. Photo by Ed Rode.

ASCAP, BMI and the CMA hosted a #1 Party on Monday, June 24th to celebrate the team behind George Strait‘s 60th #1 single, “Give It All We Got Tonight.” The ballad became Strait’s 115th career single and was the first release from his 40th studio album, Love Is Everything, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart. Label MCA Nashville’s “60for60” promotional campaign, designed to give Strait 60 #1 songs while he was still 60 years old, pushed “Give It All We Got Tonight” to #1 on the Mediabase charts for the week of May 12th – 18th, 2013 — just days before Strait’s 61st birthday.

Written by ASCAP member Mark Bright and BMI’s Tim James and Phil O’Donnell, and produced by Tony Brown, the song marked the first #1 as a songwriter for Bright, who is perhaps best known for his success as Carrie Underwood’s longtime producer. Publishers Delbert’s Boy Music, HoriPro Entertainment and Warner/Chappell, as well as label MCA Nashville, were also on hand to congratulate the group.

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Manuel American Designs Announces Move To New Retail Location

By on June 24, 2013 in In The Press

“Rhinestone Rembrandt” Opens Lower Broadway Boutique to House “New Vision” Collection

Manuel CuevasManuel Cuevas, renowned fashion designer and master of celebrity couture, is pleased to announce the July 15, 2013 opening of a new retail space at 800 Broadway in downtown Nashville. The 3100 sq. ft. space is currently under renovation to accommodate the iconic couture designs Manuel is known for as well as the studio for designing and manufacturing the first run of products from the forthcoming “New Vision” collection.

The current fashion house at 1922 Broadway, which Manuel opened in 1988, will remain open until July 8, 2013. A final Music Showcase is slated for June 26, 2013 featuring musician and visual artist Amanda MCoy, who is celebrating her most recent recording THE HURT, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The boutique will close its tenure with a fashion show on July 11, 2013.

“We are excited about this move and all that it represents for the brand and the launch of the ‘New Vision’ collection,” stated Manuel. “The Nashville tourism, music and fashion communities have stood behind me for so many years and many fond memories have been shared at the boutique. I am positive just as many will be made in the new location as we open up our new home to friends and visitors who love Nashville as much as I do.”

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CMA Music Fest Outtake Reel

By on June 21, 2013 in Special Events

Just because the finished product looks good doesn’t mean it always goes smoothly. FOCUS on the 615 had a few moments filming during CMA Music Festival that were a little awkward, embarrassing or just plain weird…

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Joel Crouse’s “If You Want Some” Video Debuts On Rollingstone.com

By on June 20, 2013 in In The Press, The Latest

Joel Crouse

First Music Video from Young Singer Who is Opening 16 Stadium Shows for Taylor Swift This Summer

Show Dog Universal Music recording artist Joel Crouse will debut his first music video, “If You Want Some,” on RollingStone.com TODAY. The video, directed by Chris Hicky, features Crouse and his band setting up to perform and party with friends outside a convenience market after their tour van breaks down.  Check out the worldwide video premiere teaser here. Pick up a copy of Crouse’s new single “If You Want Some” on iTunes here.

“I can’t really describe how exciting this is for me,” said Crouse, who recently turned 21 on June 14.  “First, I have a record deal and I’m working on my album, which is the fulfillment of a dream I’ve had since I was a kid.  Then, I’m touring stadiums with Taylor Swift, which is awesome. And now, I’ve filmed a music video and RollingStone.com is playing it first!  It just doesn’t get much better than that.”

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Striking Matches Interview | CMA Fest

By on June 18, 2013 in A Closer Look @, Artists to Watch, Special Events

Talented young duo Striking Matches talk to Matt at CMA Fest about their music, their incredible year and their new album!

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Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge | CMA Fest

By on June 13, 2013 in Community, Special Events

Highlights and interviews from the first annual Craig Campbell Celebrity Cornhole Challenge to benefit the TJ Martell Foundation in the fight against colon cancer. The event will be held each year during CMA Music Fest in Nashville, TN. Interviews include Campbell, Jerrod Niemann, Dean Alexander, The FARM, Love and Theft, LoCash Cowboys, Rob Bironas from the Tennessee Titans and more!

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4th Annual “Darius And Friends” Benefit Concert and Celebrity Golf Tournament Raised Over $95,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

By on June 13, 2013 in In The Press

Darius And Friends

Darius Rucker lit up the stage at the Wildhorse Saloon in downtown Nashville on June 3 for his fourth annual “Darius And Friends” concert to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital presented by Transitions® lenses and Visionworks®. The concert, auction and golf tournament raised $95,260 to help St. Jude provide the best care possible to children with cancer at no cost to their families.

The benefit concert line-up included an introduction from GAC’s Suzanne Alexander and performances from Luke Bryan, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Radney Foster, Mallary Hope, Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch and Justin Moore. Joel Crouse, who is opening 16 stadium dates for Taylor Swift this summer, was a surprise guest. The artists treated the audience to a few of their own hits before singing a cover duet with Rucker – all backed by Rucker’s band, the Carolina Grey Boys. Rucker then invited all of his friends on stage for a group rendition of Hank Williams, Jr. classic “Family Tradition” before he closed out the night with an encore performance of his two-week No. 1 hit single “Wagon Wheel” from his chart topping May 21 album, True Believers.

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