I love any excuse to go to Nashville and this years CMT Awards June 6th and CMA Fest June 7th to 10th provided the perfect storm of productive fun in Music City!
During my trip to visit friends and partners old and new, I found myself alongside newly crowned 2018 Billboard Country Power Players and super-partners of The Orchard, David Macias of Thirty Tigers and CEO of Black River Entertainment, Gordon Kerr. Spending time with both during the CMT Awards ceremony was awesome and seeing Kelsea Ballerini perform her new smash hit “I Hate Love Songs” to a packed arena was a treat. During the same week “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” by David Lee Murphy and Kenny Chesney climbed to the #3 spot on Country Radio. It was a pleasure to celebrate the news with Reviver label heads David Ross and “Gator” Michaels.
On Thursday, The Orchard’s rising stars Levi Hummon, Dillon Carmichael and Abby Anderson performed to a crowd of their adoring fans. Levi performed his hits “Stupid” and “Don’t Waste The Night” on the Hard Rock Hotel Stage and Abby Anderson and Dillon Carmichael performed that afternoon at Nashville’s newest Broadway venue Ole Red Nashville. Ole Red and Spotify joined forces this year to present over 50 acts at the venue. Abby did a great version of her new single “Make Him Wait” and Dillon killed it doing tunes from his highly anticipated Dave Cobb-produced album Hell On An Angel due out August 17th via Riser House Entertainment.
Finally, I was inspired and excited about the future after spending time with new Nashville GM Jessica Phelps who, along with Dewayne Brown, are a sensational combination of experience, talent, energy and knowledge to lead our efforts there…
Needless to say, it was all a blast and I can’t wait until next year.
