Friends, please welcome Christopher Fite Williams to the world. This adorable nubbin arrived on 7/31 to parents Mary Catherine Rebrovick (whom you may know as Warner Music Nashville's PR ace) and hubby Ryan Williams.
Young Christopher, the pair's second child, weighed in at 8 lbs., 2 oz. and measures 20 inches long. We're told these are excellent dimensions. Word is that both mama and child are in fine fettle.
Rumors that Christopher has already gathered a team of pros to co-write a nostalgic tune about Gerber's pureed carrots couldn't be confirmed at press time.
Jerry Owen Bradley, the Nashville executive whose credits include the creation of country’s first platinum album, Wanted: The Outlaws, and the signing of Kenny Chesney to his first publishing deal, died Monday (7/17) at his home in Mount Juliet, Tenn. He was 83.
The Country Music Hall of Fame member was best known for running RCA’s Nashville Operations for a decade before becoming GM of Opryland Music Group, which was created when Gaylord purchased the Acuff-Rose catalog. He got his start engineering sessions at Forest Hills Music Studio aka Bradley Barn, the famous studio owned by his father, Owen, working with artists such as Loretta Lynn, Mickey Newbury and The Who.
He spent 1970-1973 as an RCA staff producer until he was named VP of Nashville Operations, guiding the recording careers of Ronnie Milsap, Alabama and Charlie Pride while producing hits by Pride, Dottie West and Jimmie Dean.
On the heels of Willie Nelson’s 1975 hit album Red Headed Stranger, Bradley saw an opportunity to capitalize on country’s Outlaw Movement with the release of a compilation featuring songs by RCA act Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, Tompall Glaser and Nelson. The album went to #1 on the country chart for six weeks and in November became the first country album to be certified platinum by the RIAA.
He also helped Dolly Parton emerge as a solo artist, after being brought to the label by Porter Wagoner, and created early homes for Steve Wariner and Gary Stewart.
After stepping down from RCA, Bradley became vice president at Opryland USA, ultimately working as GM of Opryland Music Group, which owned the Acuff-Rose catalog.
While the catalog had classics from Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, Don Gibson, John D. Loudermilk and others, Bradley reinvigorated the company by signing new writers such as Dean Dillion (the single most recorded songwriter in George Strait’s catalog), Casey Beathard and Chesney.
In 1990, Opryland Music Group became the first Nashville publishing company to win both ASCAP and BMI’s Song of the Year honors.
Bradley retired in 2003 when Sony/ATV Music purchased Acuff-Rose/Milene Music. In retirement, Bradley continued in leadership capacities at the Country Music Association, having had a key role in the creation of Fan Fair in the mid-1970s.
He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2019.
Singer-songwriter Hailey Whitters has dropped her latest offering, “I’m in Love,” alongside a music video.
Arriving via Pigasus/Songs & Daughters/Big Loud, the track—penned by Nicolle Galyon, Lee Miller and Cameron Bedell—is her first taste of new music this year and will be featured on her upcoming six-song EP of the same name.
Slated for 7/28, the EP—produced by Jake Gear and Whitters—follows her rise after winning New Female Artist of the Year at the ACM Awards in May, where she performed her now gold-certified single “Everything She Ain’t.”
“My last two LPs were concept records - The Dream being about my Nashville experience, and Raised was a love letter to the heartland I'm from,” said Whitters, who is co-managed by Make Wake and Range. “Along the way I've lived a lot of life and learned a lot about myself, and I'm excited to get more personal and straight from the heart with this next chapter.”
Whitters—who’s in the midst of a festival-packed summer with performances at Country Thunder, Country Jam and more—is also gearing up to hit the road in September with Eric Church, followed by a run of dates supporting Luke Bryan.
For a full list of tour dates, click here. In the meantime, peep the vid below.
Stagecoach has set its 2024 dates and announced its advance passes.
The Goldenvoice-produced festival will return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif. from 4/26-4/28, with the advanced ticket sale beginning Friday (7/14) at 11am PT for only 48 hours.
Additionally, Stagecoach will also see the expansion of viewing areas from the sides of the reserved corral seating, a dedicated saloon for seated and standing corral pass holders, an expanded rhinestone saloon and more.
Three-day general admission begins at $399, and payment plans will be available.
For more info on tickets, hotel packages and more, click here.
Singer-songwriter McCoy Moore has inked his first global publishing deal with SMACKSongs, in partnership with Worktape Music.
Not long after moving from Lakeland, Fla. to Nashville, Moore hit writers’ rounds and started releasing songs independently before landing cuts for artists like Shane Profitt (“Am Who I Am) and Bryce Mauldin (“Life’s a Beach” and “I Need You”).
“McCoy is not only an incredible talent but a great person as well,” said Lee Krabel, vp of publishing, SMACK. “The SMACK team is a proven developer of talent and their enthusiasm for McCoy and his songs has been truly palpable,” added Travis Gordon, Worktape Music.
“I’m super thankful for Lee and Travis, and my whole SMACKSongs/Worktape family,” shared Moore. “I couldn’t be more excited to write songs and be surrounded by hardworking people every day in this next chapter of my career.”
Seen above wishing they could smack us are (l-r) Carly Sater, Krabel, Moore, Gordon, Sam Sarno and Jeremy Groves.
Big Machine Music has upped Mike Molinar to president, effective immediately. He will continue reporting to BMLG CEO/chairman, Scott Borchetta.
Molinar has led BMM since inception in 2011, overseeing the company’s continued growth of a diverse roster and dynamic catalog, as well as the addition of a West Coast division based in L.A.
Among other accolades, the Leadership Music Class of 2015 graduate was selected for the Nashville Cohort of the Harvard Young American Leaders Program in 2021. He currently serves as a board member on the NMPA, MLC designated by the U.S. Copyright Office, MHA, ACM and Country Music Hall of Fame Education Council.
Additionally, BMM advances key senior executives Alex Heddle to svp of publishing and Grayson Stephens to vp, overseeing royalties and finance. They will both continue reporting to Molinar.
Heddle, whose prior stops include Love Monkey Music, Writer’s Den Music, Propoel Music Publishing and Ash Street Music, recently celebrated a decade at BMM. Meanwhile, Stephens has nearly 14 years of publishing admin experience and joined BMM in 2017 after holding positions at Sony/ATV.
“I’m so proud to announce that Mike Molinar has been appointed President of Big Machine Music. His leadership, vision, artist relations and song sense are unmatched,” said Borchetta. “We are also acknowledging the outstanding work and accomplishments of BMM’s Alex Heddle and Grayson Stephens as they continue to power the Machine to new heights.”
“Big Machine Music is my home; our incredible team and world-class songwriters are my family,” added Molinar. “In that spirit, I can’t understate how important Alex Heddle and Grayson Stephens have been through these past several years of transition and growth. I’m so happy to see their efforts recognized with such well-deserved promotions.”
Seen just before deleting us from their phones are (l-r) Stephens, Molinar and Heddle.
Photo Credit: Alex Ferrari
Emerging Nashville-based singer-songwriter Tanner Adell has returned with a new music video for her single, “Trailer Park Barbie,” via Columbia.
In addition to the new release, Adell has announced her debut mixtape, Buckle Bunny, will arrive on 7/21 and will be accompanied by the long-awaited viral single of the same name.
Earlier this year, the up-and-comer gained traction with tracks like "I Hate Texas," "FU-150," "Throw It Back" and "See You in Church,” showcasing her versatility and penchant for blending elements of pop, R&B and trap with country music.
Peep the new vid below and pre-save Buckle Bunny here.
UMG Nashville has appointed Charlene Bryant its svp of business development & strategy.
With a portfolio traversing Country, hip-hop and Christian music, the Ohio native joins the label following a successful five-year tenure at Riveter Management, which she founded in 2018.
“As Universal Nashville is investing deeper to expand our growth in partnering in innovation with entrepreneurs, the independent label sector as well as our sister labels, Charlene is the perfect person to help merge those worlds and cultures to help build the next era of Universal Music Group Nashville,” said UMGN Chair/CEO, Cindy Mabe.
Among other accolades, the Belmont graduate was also part of CMT and mtheory’s inaugural Equal Access Development Program and was recognized with the Women in Music City Award by Nashville Business Journal in 2018 and 2019.
Photo Credit: Thomas Crabtree
