Morgan Wallen Donates $140K To Gibbs Youth Sports In Hometown
Pictured (L-R): MWF Program Director and Wallen’s mother, Lesli Wallen; MWF Executive Director, Kathleen Flaherty; Gibbs Youth Sports Baseball Commissioner William Lynam and Gibbs Youth Sports President Nate Stachey. Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Morgan Wallen Foundation
Ahead of Morgan Wallen’s return to his hometown and shows at University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Neyland Stadium this evening (Sept. 20) and Sunday (Sept. 22), The Morgan Wallen Foundation donated $140,000 to Gibbs Youth Sports. During a press briefing held at Neyland Stadium, MWF Executive Director, Kathleen Flaherty and MWF Program Director and Wallen’s mother, Lesli Wallen, presented a check to Gibbs Youth Sports (GYS) President Nate Stachey and Baseball Commissioner William Lynam to renovate Ruritan Park.
“Being a baseball mom, this is very special to me that my son is able to give back to the community that blessed us so much and that he played sports in,” says Lesli. “Nate sent in an application to our foundation asking for any help—that’s all he asked for. I walk up there sometimes at the Gibbs Youth Sports Ruritan Park and I see how in disrepair the park is. So, we started conversations asking what we can do to make this park a better park – and a special place – for our kids to be proud to go to.”
Greg Eisenberg Launches Get A Worm Entertainment
Greg Eisenberg
Music industry veteran Greg Eisenberg has launched Get A Worm Entertainment with initial clients Jay Webb and Eddie And The Getaway. The artist management firm based in Nashville will focus on career strategy, tour coordination, promotion and record release strategy.
Eisenberg’s experience includes working with Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group. Upon signing Eddie And The Getaway he helped him grow to over 400,000 monthly Spotify listeners, sign a global joint venture publishing deal with Sony ATV/Electric Feel and sign with WME for booking. Webb caught the attention of Eisenberg after collaborating with Eddie on a song called “Cobain.” Webb currently generates over 12 million monthly streams, signed with CAA and is heading out on tour with Chase Matthew.
Willie “Prophet” Stiggers Receives SESAC’s Visionary Award
Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Sam Kling, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers and SESAC’s Mario Prins. Photo: mèShell studio
Black Music Action Coalition co-founder, president and CEO, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers was presented with SESAC’s Visionary Award at The Highlight Room in Hollywood Sept. 17 in recognition of the organization’s ongoing work championing artists and creating equity within the music industry. The event was attended by several top music industry execs, artists, songwriters and publishers including Bryan Michael Cox, Prophet, Alex Isley, Knox and Kenyon Dixon, among others. “
Prophet’s dedication to equality and racial justice has inspired us all to do more and build a stronger, more equitable creative community. I’m proud to call him a friend,” says Mario Prins, VP, Creative Services.
Nashville Briefing Hosts Second Annual Artists To Watch Showcase
Just Jayne performs. Photo: Samuel Harris
The Nashville Briefing held its second annual Artists To Watch showcase Sept 17, which coincided with the release of its 25 Artists To Watch list, and Nashville Briefing’s third print issue, which features Shaboozey on the cover. The showcase highlighted Dawson Anderson, Karley Scott Collins, Christian Hayes and Just Jayne, who were all featured in this year’s list.
Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.