Music News 10/14/2010

Gator Michaels

Longtime label executive Gator Michaels is setting up shop as General Manager of the newly established Davis Music Group. Started by Texas based entrepreneur Jim L. Davis, the company will offer artist development, management, publishing and production services.

The first artists signed to Davis Music Group are singer-songwriter Jacob Lyda and Texas artist Kelly Kenning. Joining Michaels in the Nashville offices are Management/Marketing Directors Ashley Jennings and Mallory Opheim, handling day-to-day for Kenning and Lyda, respectively.

“Davis Music Group is a full-service artist development and publishing company,” explains Michaels. “Our goal is to develop our roster of acts to their highest potential, assisting in all areas of their career. We will find them the right producer, the right songs, the right images and ultimately, find the right home for their music.”

“I am extremely excited to open our doors in Nashville, Tennessee,” says Davis. “We have a talented and passionate team of industry professionals and we are eager to get started in the development of such amazing talent.”

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Tony Conway (L) has signed newcomer Matt Gary (R).

17 Music Entertainment’s Matt Gary continues building his team and has signed with veteran agent Tony Conway’s Conway Entertainment Group for exclusive touring representation.

Under the Conway Entertainment Group umbrella (which encompasses management, a full-service talent agency, touring and live event production company), Gary joins Lorrie Morgan, LoCash Cowboys, Flynnville Train, Mandy Barnett, The Cleverlys, Sweethearts of the Rodeo and more.

Gary’s new single, “I’m Just Sayin’,” goes for radio adds on Oct. 25. Penned by Frank Myers, Gary B. Baker and Billy Montana, it is the title track of his six-pack album coming in November.

He is seeking the most creative “I’m Just Sayin'” video at JustSayin.me and the winner will get to appear in the music video.

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Dierks Bentley

The talent keeps piling up for Dierks Bentley’s “Miles & Music for Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and benefit concert, taking place Sunday, Oct. 17 in Nashville. Joining already announced Miranda Lambert and Jerrod Niemann, are Luke Bryan, Heidi Newfield, Del McCoury and Laura Bell Bundy.

The hour-long motorcycle ride will kick off at the Harley-Davidson of Columbia, TN, and end at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville for the star-studded concert.

Tickets for the family-friendly event are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Tickets for the ride, concert and commemorative T-shirt are $50, or $20 for the concert only. Special VIP packages are also available. Sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, proceeds from the Nashville event will benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

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Trace Adkins

Trace Adkins will perform an intimate concert at Nashville’s Hard Rock Cafe to benefit Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit organization that brings live music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities. The show on Mon., Oct. 25 is part of MOC’s Month of Music initiative, a series of events in New York, Nashville, and Miami during the month of October. Tickets are on sale at www.TicketAlternative.com. Tickets start at $25 and VIP packages are available.

Adkins also has plans to travel to the Middle East to visit and perform for troops on his third USO/Armed Forces Entertainment tour.

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The first group of performers for the ReTune Nashville Benefit Concert and Art Auction Event have been announced. Warner Bros. Jeremy Lister, Anthony Smith, Eddy Raven and Kentucky Thunder, Jonell Mosser, Etta Britt, Sheila Lawrence and Vickie Carrico will perform at the Oct. 23 event at Nashville’s Soundcheck.

The event will help raise money for Nashville’s uninsured musicians affected by the May floods and will include an art opening showcasing more than 70 pieces of artwork created from flood damaged instruments, a full evening of live music, a live and silent auction, and complimentary beverages and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Tickets for the Benefit Concert and Art Auction Event are on sale now and can be purchased for $35 by visiting ReTune Nashville’s website, retunenashville.org.

Proceeds from ticket, merchandise and artwork sales will directly benefit Nashville’s uninsured musicians through MusiCares Nashville Flood Relief and the Nashville Musicians Association Flood Relief Fund.