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Lee Rucks Named New President, Leadership Middle Tennessee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 28, 2016) – Leadership Middle Tennessee, Inc., the regional leadership organization that encompasses a 10-county collective of community leaders in Middle Tennessee, is pleased to announce that Mrs. Lee Rucks accepted the role as president effective April 18, 2016. Rucks is a Sumner County resident and graduate of North Georgia College. She is also a graduate of two leadership programs: Leadership Anderson (South Carolina) and Leadership Sumner.  Rucks has a strong work history with nonprofits including the Sumner County Family YMCA and the Anderson Area YMCA.

Rucks relocated in 2010 to Sumner County, Tennessee from Anderson, South Carolina. She moved with her husband, Matt and two children, to open Christian Brothers Automotive franchise in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Rucks has been an active part of the Sumner County and Middle Tennessee region since making this region her home. She serves on the Board of Directors of Leadership Sumner County, Sumner County YMCA, and the Hendersonville Rotary Club.

“The Leadership Middle Tennessee Board of Directors recently conducted a region-wide search for its new President, and Ms. Lee Rucks was selected from among dozens of highly qualified applicants. While she certainly has big shoes to fill as she takes the baton from Ms. Patti James, the board is extremely confident in this selection and knows that she will provide the exceptional leadership required to continue to expand both the influence and impact of Leadership Middle Tennessee throughout the Middle Tennessee region,” comments incoming Leadership Middle Tennessee board chair, Dr. Paul Stumb.

In conjunction with Rucks’ announcement, the Leadership Middle Tennessee office will now be located in Wilson County on the campus of Cumberland University, 1 Cumberland Square, Lebanon, Tennessee, 37087.

To learn more about Leadership Middle Tennessee, please go to www.leadmt.org.

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For additional information contact:                                                                                                               

Jordan Osborne, 615.545.6760; josborne@robertsonchamber.org Executive Committee Member/Volunteer

Lee Rucks 615.934.8262; president@leadmt.org President - Leadership Middle Tennessee                                                          

Thirty Five Graduate from Regional Leadership Program

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 14, 2016) – Thirty five community and business leaders from Middle Tennessee have graduated from Leadership Middle Tennessee, Inc., a regional leadership institute. The 2016 class is from the 10-county area which includes Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson.

The 2015 Leadership Middle Tennessee (LMT) graduates and their respective counties are: CHEATHAM COUNTY: Stacy Pennington, Community Outreach Director, AARP; Dr. Tara Watson Tiller, Chief Academic Officer, Cheatham County School Board; DAVIDSON COUNTY: Fabian Bedne, Metro Council Member, Metropolitan Government of Nashville; Dr. Katherine Y. Brown, President/CEO, Roberta Baines Wheeler Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Group; Mark Cleveland, Owner/CEO, Hobby Express; Maura Cunningham, Founder/ Executive Director, Rock The Street, Wall Street ; Laura Moore, Education Liaison, Mayor’s Office, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County; Keith Simmons, Vice Chair, Cumberland Region Tomorrow; Douglas Small, CEO, Blue Dog Merch; Patricia Smith, Director of Public Affairs, Tennessee Housing Development Agency; Blaine Strock, Executive Vice President & Middle Tennessee Market President, Bank of Tennessee; Donna Yurdin, President, Credo Management Consulting; DICKSON COUNTY: Heath Larkin, Financial Advisor, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.; Dr. Arrita Summers, Director, Tennessee College of Applied Technology- Dickson; MAURY: Doug Burgess, Director of Power Operations, Columbia Power and Water Systems; Wil Evans, President, Maury County Chamber & Economic Alliance; Chaz Molder, Attorney, Mounger & Molder, PLLC; MONTGOMERY: Keith Lampkin, Director of Housing and Community Development, City of Clarksville; Jeff Truitt, Chief of Staff, Montgomery County Government; Joel Wallace, Attorney, Cunningham, Mitchell & Rocconi, and Clarkesville City Councilmember; ROBERTSON: Kathy Raglin, Executive Director, YMCA Middle Tennessee; RUTHERFORD: Anne Davis, Director, Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation; Veronica Terrell, Sr. Manager-Engagements, Deloitte; Carolyn Tumbleson, Development Director, Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University; SUMNER: Kee Bryant-McCormick, Attorney, Bone, McAllester, Norton; Leisa Byars, Franchise Owner, The Goddard School; Daisy Casey, Community Bank President, First Tennessee Bank; Dewayne Scott, President/CEO, SRS, Incorporated; WILLIAMSON: Matthew Bourlakas, President/CEO, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee; Galen Hull, Consultant, Hull International; Justin Lowe, Principal/ Owner, Centric Architecture, Inc.; Tara Myers, Sr. Design Manager/ Risk Manager, Earl Swensson Associates, Inc.; Michael D. Williams, Jr, Senior Vice President/ Relationship Manager, Renasant Bank; WILSON: W. Paine Bone IV, Owner, Wilson County Hyundai; John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO, First Freedom Bank.

The nine month program highlights historic and contemporary perspectives on relevant regional themes and features presentations by leading experts and key community leaders. Sessions employ a mix of interactive presentations, facilitated dialogue, behind-the-scenes visits and more.

Leadership Middle Tennessee was formed in 1999 as an initiative of Partnership 2000 to contribute to future planned and sustainable economic and community growth and development in the fast-growing 10-county area through the participation of community leaders in an annual regional leadership program. According to Deborah Varallo, LMT chair of the Board of Directors, “Leadership Middle Tennessee was founded before the word ‘regionalism’ was incorporated into the middle Tennessee leaders’ vocabularies. We are very pleased to have been at the forefront of encouraging our business, government, community and nonprofit leaders to collaborate, support and work together on regional issues.”

Leadership Middle Tennessee is overseen by a regional board that is comprised of the Leadership Middle Tennessee alumni and business and community leaders. Leadership Middle Tennessee operates through the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at MTSU. Patti James is executive director. Deborah Varallo, founder of Varallo Public Relations, is chair of the Board of Directors. Visit www.leadmt.org for more information.

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2016 Commencement photos: VIEW HERE Photo credit: Beth Gwinn Photography

For additional information contact: Patti James 615.904.8207; Email: Patti.James@mtsu.edu Executive Director, Leadership Middle Tennessee        

Alabama Bred Indie Rockers The Pollies Hit the Road with Dylan LeBlanc Debuting at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival June 11

The Pollies' releaseNOT HEREon Single Lock Records offers listeners a dose of reality in compelling storytellingWortman Works Media & Marketing tapped as management

“There’s an awful lot we could say aboutNOT HERE– the most important thing being that it’s a fantastic, genre-bending experience, but it’s best heard with your own ears.” –Southern Living Magazine

The Pollies

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 6, 2016) – The Pollies will join Dylan LeBlanc on his summer tour billed ‘Dylan LeBlanc with The Pollies' set to kick off on June 11 at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee.  The Florence, Alabama-based band, lead by songwriter/vocalist Jay Burgess is in the midst of promoting its latest release, Not Here, on Single Lock Records. Additionally, the band has tapped Wortman Works Media & Marketing’s management division as its management team. For further information, please visit, The Pollies website.

The Pollies Jay Burgess says, “It is gonna be a hot summer as we head out on tour with our good friend Dylan. To kick off the tour at the cat daddy we know as Bonnaroo is the way it should be and we look forward to introducing our music to a new audience on the road this summer and we thank Dylan for this great opportunity."

The Pollies are no stranger to accolades, as their latest release, Not Here, massaged the ears of many top critics. Here is what they are saying about the music:

Jay Burgess’s voice is ragged enough to sound like he’s been a few places, but sweet enough to make your heart clean a little. – No Depression

This is absolutely album-of-the-year material. – Adobe and Teardrops

In an ideal world, discovering a band like The Pollies wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but then again, in an ideal world, every band would be able to seamlessly blend and arrange the root element of rock and roll while forging into new territory to create songs that sound so natural and effortless that you don’t notice the intrinsic complexity and massive undertaking that each track represents. – Last FM

They sound like a classic band living in their own time zone. Maybe a little different from the one you check into regularly, but still worth checking out. – Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes)

Drawing comparisons to Wilco, The Pollies continue to bolster the region’s reputation for producing great musicians. – Paste Magazine

More accolades can be found on the band’s website.  Find their music here:

iTunes

Amazon:"Where The Lies Begin" – MP3  $7.99, CD $8.98

"Not Here" - MP3 $9.49, CD $10.49, Vinyl $21.48

The Pollies webstore:http://www.pollies.net/merch/

The Pollies Summer Tour: 2016:  

*Pollies only

6/11   Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival | Manchester, TN

6/12   3rd & Lindsley | Nashville, TN

6/14   The Evening Muse | Charlotte, NC

6/15   The Pinhook | Durham, NC

6/16   Jammin Java | Vienna, VA

6/17   Boots & Sadie | Philadelphia, PA

6/18   Rough Trade | Brooklyn, NY

6/19   Club Helsinki | Hudson, NY

6/21   Beachland Tavern | Cleveland, OH

6/22   Southgate House Revival | Newport, KY

6/23   Barley’s Tap Room | Knoxville, TN

6/24   Eddie’s Attic | Decatur, GA

6/25   116 Mobile | Florence, AL

6/27   Rooftop* | Atlanta, GA

6/29   Waterfront Park | Louisville, KY

6/30   The Bishop | Bloomington, IN

7/01   Daytrotter | Davenport, IA

7/16   Sloss Music & Arts | Birmingham, AL

7/19   Thirsty Hippo | Hattisburg, MS

720     Gasa Gasa | New Orleans, LA

7/21   McGonigel’s Mucky Duck | Houston, TX

7/22   Austin City Limits | Austin, TX

7/23   Three Links | Dallas, TX

730     Bragg Jam Music Festival | Macon, GA

8/06   The Cave* | Chapel Hill, NC

8/17   Music City Roots | Nashville, TN

The Pollies are managed by Wortman Works Media & Marketing that will also handle all public relations in house. The band’s live performance booking agent is Mike Duncan.

Management contact:  Jules Wortman, Wortman Works, jwortman@wortmanworks.com

Booking agent:  Mike Duncan, normworks@gmail.com

Public Relations:  Elyse Wiser, Wortman Works, ewiser@wortmanworks.com

Ally Financial Launches New Splurge Alert App in Beta, Inviting Consumers to Come Clean on Overspending Habits with Help of Friends HGTV’s Drew Scott and country music group Big & Rich join campaign to share their splurge tendencies and urge consumers to examine their own

DETROIT, June 1, 2016 – Ally Financial announced in April the beta release of a new app, “Splurge Alert,” designed to help consumers better identify and manage their spending habits, ultimately giving them more control over their personal finances. Splurge Alert asks users to identify stores and areas where they tend to overspend and then select friends and or family who can help them avoid overspending pitfalls. The app uses geolocation technology to determine when users approach a “splurge zone,” and then sends an alert message to a designated buddy in hopes that they will lure the user away from the problem area. Through Splurge Alert, Ally aims to help consumers navigate a world where the temptation to spend money is prevalent, making it hard to save for financial goals. According to a recent survey commissioned by Ally and conducted online by Harris Poll, the vast majority of Americans (85 percent) admit to splurging, which most Americans (71 percent) define as buying an item that is not needed, regardless of price. The survey also revealed that the food and beverage category and the clothing, shoes and accessories category tied among the top items on which Americans who admit to splurging typically overspend (44 percent each).

“Many people believe that large one-time expenses can throw their budgets off track,” said Andrea Riley, chief marketing officer of Ally. “But it’s actually the everyday purchases – coffee drinks, smoothies, clothing items – that tend to be a problem area. The intent of this fun and insightful tool is to raise awareness for consumers about spending habits that may be keeping them from attaining their savings goals.”

Ally has enlisted the help of several influencers, including HGTV’s Property Brothers co-host, Drew Scott, and country music duo, Big & Rich to test Splurge Alert and share how they spend their money. Through a series of unique videos and social media posts, consumers will learn that even these celebrities are guilty of splurging. Overspending on everything from smoothies to antique swords, the influencers’ actions and commentary encourage consumers to engage in conversation around overspending and identify their own spending habits. Visit www.ally.com/SplurgeAlert to view the celebrity content and learn more about Splurge Alert.

Splurge Alert Encourages Social Support

The Splurge Alert app is the first app of its kind to combine geotracking and social interactions to help consumers change their spending habits. This could be extremely helpful in changing behavior, since Ally’s survey found that only 30 percent of consumers who admit to splurging actively avoid potential splurge locations and even fewer tend to ask friends and family for support (just 5 percent). The Splurge Alert app not only alerts the user that they are getting close to temptation, but also engages a support network of up to five family members or friends to help users break bad habits.

Commitment to Financial Literacy

While more than half of consumers who splurge (54 percent) acknowledge splurging when they encounter deals, sales and promotions that seem too good to pass up, less than one third (30 percent) of them include flexibility in their monthly budget for this additional spending, according to Ally’s survey. Splurge Alert helps consumers recognize their habits, and the potential need to make changes or realign budgets to accommodate for spending patterns.

Ally’s Wallet Wise program is dedicated to financial education and offers free online and in-person courses on topics like budgeting, credit and banking. The Wallet Wise website offers free tools, such as budget and financial goal worksheets for consumers looking to better manage their finances.

For more information, tips or tools visit AllyWalletWise.com.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Ally Financial from April 4-6, 2016 among 2,143 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please reach out to the listed media contact below.

About Ally Financial

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading U.S. financial services company. Ally's automotive services business offers a full spectrum of financial products and services, including new and used vehicle inventory and consumer financing, leasing, vehicle service contracts, commercial loans and vehicle remarketing services, as well as a variety of insurance offerings, including inventory insurance, insurance consultative services for dealers and other ancillary products. Ally Bank, the company's direct banking subsidiary and member FDIC, offers an array of deposit products, including certificates of deposit, savings accounts, money market accounts, IRA deposit products and interest checking. Ally's Corporate Finance unit provides financing to middle-market companies across a broad range of industries.

With approximately $158.6 billion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2015, Ally operates as a financial holding company. For more information, visit the Ally media site or follow Ally on Twitter: @Ally.

Contact: Sari Martin 646-781-2539 Sari.martin@ally.com

Salt Life Announced as Sponsor for Florida Skin Diver's Association's Super-Series Spearfishing League

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 26, 2016) – Outdoor lifestyle brand Salt Life is sponsoring the Super-Series Spearfishing League, announced Salt Life President Jeff Stillwell. Presented by the Florida Skin Diver’s Association (FSDA), the Salt Life Super-Series combines multiple established tournaments throughout Florida, giving scuba divers, free divers and teams a chance to compete for prizes, sponsorships and national recognition in the world of spearfishing. “For everyone from world-class athletes to novice ocean enthusiasts, Salt Life embodies a spirit of adventure and passion for the outdoors. We are proud to sponsor the Super-Series Spearfishing League and encourage people to live the ‘Salt Life’ through the exciting sport of spearfishing,’ Salt Life president Jeff Stillwell said.

"Spearfishing is an incredibly extreme-sport with top athletes that deserved to be recognized like NASCAR or Bassmaster sportsmen" says Courtland Hunt, FSDA Super-Series Chairman.

Proceeds from Super-Series tournaments benefit over a dozen different charities. The prize for "Top Team" is a full boat-wrap graphic presented by Sign-Zoo Graphics, and there are individual cash prizes up to $15,000.

The 2016 Season kicked off in April with more than 220 shooters in the Tampa Bay Spearfishing Challenge. The next event is the FSDA's Southern Open on June 4. For more information, visit the Super-Series website here.

About Salt Life: Salt Life is an authentic, aspirational and lifestyle brand that embraces those who love the ocean and everything associated with living the “Salt Life”. Founded in 2003 by four avid watermen from Jacksonville Beach, Florida, the Salt Life brand has widespread appeal with ocean enthusiasts worldwide. From fishing, diving and surfing, to beach fun and sun-soaked relaxation, the Salt Life brand says, “I live the Salt Life”. From its first merchandise offerings in 2006, Salt Life has grown to more than $30 million in annual sales, with distribution in surf shops, specialty stores, department stores and sporting goods retailers.

Salt Life, LLC is operated as an operating subsidiary of Delta Apparel, Inc., where it has been managed since 2011. The flagship Salt Life retail store, which opened in Jacksonville Beach, Florida in 2012, serves as a vision for retail customers to see product placements they can utilize in their stores and across multiple platforms. Salt Life's corporate office is located in Columbus, GA and their distribution center was recently relocated to Fayetteville, NC. Numerous professional athletes and sportsmen have an alliance with the brand in cross-marketing partnerships.

About Delta Apparel, Inc.: Delta Apparel, Inc., along with its operating subsidiaries, M. J. Soffe, LLC, Junkfood Clothing Company and Art Gun, LLC, is an international design, marketing, manufacturing and sourcing company that features a diverse portfolio of lifestyle basic and branded activewear apparel and headwear. The Company specializes in selling casual and athletic products across distribution tiers, including specialty stores, boutiques, department stores, mid-tier and mass chains, college bookstores and the U.S. military. The Company’s products are made available direct-to-consumer on its websites at Soffe, Junk Food Clothing, Salt Life and Delta Apparel. The Company's operations are located throughout the United States, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico, and it employs approximately 7,000 people worldwide. Additional information about the Company is available here.

Superstar Toby Keith to Perform Merle Haggard Tribute at the "2016 American Country Countdown Awards"

SUPERSTAR TOBY KEITH TO PERFORM MERLE HAGGARD TRIBUTE

AT THE “2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS”

Academy Award^® Winner Matthew McConaughey to Introduce Tribute

2^nd Annual Country Music Awards Show Airs Live Sunday, May 1, On FOX

LOS ANGELES (April 21, 2016) — Superstar singer/songwriter Toby Keith will perform a heartfelt tribute in celebration of his friend and musical hero Merle Haggard at the 2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS airing live from The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, May 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Oscar^®-winning actor Matthew McConaughey will introduce the tribute to the late legendary songwriter who inspired countless musicians and who is one of country music’s greatest icons.

Haggard’s longtime back-up band, The Strangers, will join Keith as part of this memorable performance. In addition, Haggard’s widow, Theresa, will be in attendance along with other members of the Haggard family, including son Ben, who also will perform with The Strangers.

Keith joins previously announced performers Kelsea Ballerini, 2016 NASH Icon Award recipients Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Cam, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Sam Hunt, Martina McBride, Thomas Rhett, Cole Swindell and Carrie Underwood.

From his first No. 1 smash "Should've Been A Cowboy" to his new album 35 mph Town, Toby Keith has been one of the most consistent self-directed hit makers of his era. His single, "Made In America" (from the album Clancy’s Tavern) topped the charts as one of the fastest rising songs in a long line of his chart burners. The second hit, "Red Solo Cup," has become one of the most commercially successful country singles with a viral video garnering more than 30 million views while having topped the top downloaded country songs charts. The first single from 35 mph Town, "Drunk Americans," debuted at No. 1 Most Added on both the Billboard and Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts.

At the core of Keith's unparalleled success is his songwriting, with an astounding succession of hit songs to the tune of more than 87 million BMI performances on commercial radio stations worldwide. In June 2015, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, and he has been honored by the Nashville Songwriters Association International with its Songwriter/Artist of the Decade distinction. He is a three-time BMI Country Songwriter/Artist of the Year and was named the American Country Awards' Artist of the Decade. His albums have sold more than 40 million copies, ranking him among the top-selling all-genre artists on Billboard's Top 200 Artists of the Decade; he is also Billboard's No. 1 Country Artist of the Decade and No. 1 Country Songwriter of the Decade. His tours have drawn more than one million fans each year for the last decade. This year's tour, Interstates & Tailgates presented by Ford F-Series, kicks off in May with dates scheduled throughout North America. However Keith’s most rewarding experiences come from giving back. Whether it's helping sick children and their families in his native Oklahoma through the Toby Keith Foundation and the cost-free home OK Kids Korral, or supporting US Troops, including 11 USO Tours throughout the world, Keith has never lost touch with the most important things in life.

Matthew McConaughey will next be seen in the June 24^th release of Free State of Jones, an epic action-drama set during the Civil War that tells the story of defiant Southern farmer, Newt Knight, and his extraordinary armed rebellion against the Confederacy. In 2016 he will also lend his voice to Kubo and the Two Strings and Sing as well as star in Gold, directed by Stephen Gaghan.

The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS is based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show (43 years), “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks,” and honors country music’s biggest stars, based on album sales and radio airplay. Finalists and winners for all categories are based on radio airplay charts, sales and streaming data from April 1, 2015 to March 28, 2016 provided by BuzzAngle Music. Touring data is from Pollstar “The Concert Hotwire.”

Tickets for the AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS at the “Fabulous” Forum are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS is produced by dick clark productions.  Allen Shapiro (CEO, dick clark productions), Mike Mahan (President, dick clark productions), Mark Bracco (Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, dick clark productions), Kix Brooks, Richard Godfrey and Tom Forrest are executive producers.

About dick clark productions

dick clark productions (dcp) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming, with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Country Countdown Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Hollywood Film Awards” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes “So You Think You Can Dance, from 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries, with more than 55 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com.

About Cumulus Media

A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, Cumulus Media (NASDAQ:CMLS) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people reached each week through its 454 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 90 U.S. media markets (including eight of the top 10), more than 8,200 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus/Westwood One platforms make Cumulus Media one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. Cumulus/Westwood One is the exclusive radio broadcast partner to some of the largest brands in sports and entertainment, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards and Miss America. Additionally, it is the nation's leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, NASH Country Daily, concerts, licensed products and television/video. For more information, visit www.cumulus.com.

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SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION:

Cheat Tweet: .@TobyKeithMusic to perform a @merlehaggard tribute at the @ACCAs. Don't miss it May 1 on @FOXTV: bit.ly/ACCAsTribute

Twitter: @ACCAs

Instagram: @ACCAs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americancountrycountdownawards/

Tumblr: http://theaccawards.tumblr.com/

Snapchat: ACCAwards

Vine: ACCAwards 

Sundy Best Set to Release It's So Good Live! on Friday, April 22

SUNDY BEST SET TO RELEASE IT'S SO GOOD LIVE! ON FRIDAY, APRIL 22

WATCH THE VIDEO STREAM FROM THE LIVE CONCERT LAST FALL ON ALBUM RELEASE DAY

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 21, 2016) - To celebrate the release of their new live album It's So Good LIVE, Sundy Best will offer fans the opportunity to watch the video stream from the Louisville, Kentucky, concert where the album was recorded last fall. On Friday, April 22, nearly two hours of concert footage filmed by Americus True Productions will be released online. RSVP to get your invite to watch the stream here: http://bit.ly/1MHbdM8

It’s So Good LIVE features the Kentucky duo during a sold-out show in Louisville, Kentucky offering up crowd favorites such as “These Days,” “I Wanna Go Home,” “Drunk Right” and other songs from their three previously released collections on eOne Music. The 24-song set includes 23 original songs written by the duo’s Kris Bentley and Nick Jamerson and a cover of Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance.” Pre-orders are available now on iTunes and Amazon.

“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to capture our music in a way that truly represents us,” says Nick. “It was a very special year for us and the live recording is essentially the show we played all year all over the country. We just felt like these were the songs we could play the best, collectively. I'm very proud of the band and our performance as well as the rest of our team for making this record possible.”

“It was tough to decide what tracks to include,” adds Kris. “The crowds on both nights were optimal for a live recording, and we went with what felt most comfortable.”

Since 2013, the unconventional duo has generated a solid following with their three previous releases, Door Without a Screen, Bring Up The Sun and Salvation City. From the first note heard by many tastemakers, the band has garnered significant airplay on Sirius XM, CMT and various other outlets. Aside from being a part of the CMT “Listen Up” program, they have played with the Steve Miller Band at The Ryman, to over 75,000 at various Kentucky Wildcat events, and have received numerous accolades from national media outlets. Sundy Best went from the cajon and acoustic to adding the electric guitar and keyboard on this outing, proving that their music and message is full whether it is stripped down or full blown, as evidenced on It’s So Good LIVE!

Track Listing: 

1. Count on Me
2. Shotgun Lady
3. Lotta Love
4. Smoking Gun
5. It’s So Good
6. Southern Boy
7. NOYA
8. Jimmy Crider
9. Fishin’
10. Rock N Roll Baby
11. Summit City Slowdown
12. Drunk Right
13. Mary Jane’s Last Dance (written by Tom Petty)
14. Uneven Trade
15. Lily
16. Hindman
17. Piece Of Work
18. Swarpin’
19. Until I Met You
20. These Days
21. Four Door
22. Thunder
23. I Wanna Go Home
24. This Country (BONUS TRACK)

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Jules Wortman 

Wortman Works Media & Marketing

jwortman@wortmanworks.com

615.260.9985

The GMA Foundation Announces its 2016-17 Board of Directors

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THE GMA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ITS 2016-17 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Industry leaders oversee the legacy and educational aspects of Gospel and Christian music

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 11, 2016) –The GMA Foundation is proud to announce its 2016-17 Board of Directors.  The GMA Foundation’s mission is to continue to educate, preserve and invest in the Gospel and Christian music industry. 

GMA Foundation President Jackie Patillo states, “The GMA Foundation serves our community by focusing on our history and legacy as well as investing in education for our future creative leaders. These two pieces are so important to the growth and long-term success of our industry. I'm grateful to have this diverse group of men and women at the helm and leading the charge.  Great things are ahead." 

GMA Foundation Board 2016-17:

Barry Jennings, Gaither Music Group

Brian Mason, The Brian Mason Show

Cedric Dent, Middle TN State University

Charles Dorris (Chairman), Charles Dorris & Associates

Cheryl Moore, Thirty Tigers

Ed Harper, The Harper Agency

Jody Mainello, Lone Oak Entertainment

Loren Mulraine, Bone McAllester Norton PLLC

Mike Atkins, Mike Atkins Entertainment

Susan Riley, Amplify Entertainment

Tina Morris, Jason Crabb Ministries

Walt Leaver, Lipscomb University

About the GMA Foundation:

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit educational institution (501c3) working in connection with the Gospel Music Association (GMA). The GMAF is dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the historical development of gospel music and its impact on our culture by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections for a global audience, as well as honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to gospel music.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Jules Wortman

Wortman Works Media & Marketing

jwortman@wortmanworks.com

615.260.9986

“2016 American Country Countdown Awards Adds Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Dan + Shay, Sam Hunt, Martina McBride, and Cole Swindell to Star-Studded Lineup of Performers

“2016 AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS” ADDS

KELSEA BALLERINI, CAM, DAN + SHAY, SAM HUNT, MARTINA MCBRIDE

AND COLE SWINDELL TO STAR-STUDDED LINEUP OF PERFORMERS

The 2^nd Annual Country Music Awards Show Airs Live

From Los Angeles, Sunday, May 1 on FOX

Los Angeles, CA (April, 7 2016) – Country’s biggest stars and rising newcomers including Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, Dan + Shay, Sam Hunt, Martina McBride, and Cole Swindell will join previously announced powerhouse performers Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and more on the star-studded “American Country Countdown Awards” airing Sunday, May 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. This year’s host and additional performers will be announced shortly.

Breakout artist Kelsea Ballerini is the latest recipient of the 2016 ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year award with two consecutive No. 1 smashes — the Gold-certified "Love Me Like You Mean It” and the infectious follow-up “Dibs” — from her critically acclaimed debut album “The First Time.” The country sweetheart is the first solo female artist in 15 years to hit No. 1 with her first two country singles and one of only 11 women to have ever hit the top of the charts with a debut. The Black River Entertainment recording artist is a two-time 2016 ACCA finalist for Female Vocalist Of The Year and Breakthrough Female Of The Year.

Shining newcomer Cam is a two-time 2016 ACCA finalist for Female Vocalist of the Year and Breakthrough Female Vocalist of the Year. Her No. 1 smash “Burning House” was certified Platinum by the RIAA and remains the only single by a country female to achieve more than 1 million downloads the past year. When Cam’s debut album “Untamed” was released in December, it earned 2015’s best first-week sales by a debut country artist.

Critically acclaimed duo and current two-time ACCA finalist Dan + Shay (Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney) hit No. 1 on Billboard's Country Albums Chart with their first album “Where It All Began.” Racking up more than 26 million YouTube views, they are the only new country duo in SoundScan recorded history to debut at No. 1. Dan + Shay have been nominated for both the CMA’s and ACM’s Vocal Duo of the Year for two years in a row, and were previously nominated for a CMT Music Video Award.

Standout newcomer Sam Hunt is a current five-time ACCA finalist including coveted categories Artist Of The Year and Album Of The Year. His Grammy-nominated debut album “Montevallo” topped the Billboard Country Albums Chart in its first week and remains the best-selling debut album for a country artist since 2011.

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Multiple Grammy® Award nominee and vocal powerhouse Martina McBride has sold over 18 million albums to date, including 20 Top 10 singles and six No. 1 hits. Recently, she released her

new single, Reckless,” the title track from her 13^th studio album due out April 29. She has earned more than 15 major music awards, including four wins for Female Vocalist of the Year from the Country Music Association and three Academy of Country Music Awards for Top Female Vocalist.

Rising singer/songwriter Cole Swindell just hit the top of the country singles charts for a record- breaking fifth consecutive time with the title track “You Should Be Here,” from his forthcoming album, following four No. 1 singles off his Platinum-certified debut. The 2015 ACM New Artist Of The Year and Billboard Top New Artist has earned over 250 million streams and sold over 4 million tracks. Additionally, he has co-written eight of the biggest No. 1 songs in country music for some of the format’s hottest stars, including Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line and Thomas Rhett.

The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS is based on country music’s longest-running radio countdown show (43 years), “American Country Countdown with Kix Brooks,” and honors country music’s biggest stars, based on album sales and radio airplay. Finalists and winners for all categories are based on radio airplay charts, sales and streaming data from April 1, 2015 to March 28, 2016 provided by BuzzAngle Music. Touring data is from Pollstar “The Concert Hotwire.” The NASH Icon Award is chosen by The American Country Countdown.

Tickets for the AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS at the “Fabulous” Forum in Inglewood, CA are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

To apply for press and publicist credentials, please visit: http://www.dickclark.com/shows/american-country-countdown-awards. Deadline to apply is Friday, April 15, 2016, 5:00 PM PT.

The AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS is produced by dick clark productions.  Allen Shapiro (CEO, dick clark productions), Mike Mahan (President, dick clark productions), Mark Bracco (Executive Vice President, Programming and Development, dick clark productions), Kix Brooks, Richard Godfrey and Tom Forrest are executive producers.

About dick clark productions

dick clark productions (dcp) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming, with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS, “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Hollywood Film Awards” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE, from 19 Entertainment, a division of CORE Media Group and dcp; and “World’s Funniest,” from Jukin Media and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries, with more than 55 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com. 

About Cumulus Media 

A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, Cumulus Media (NASDAQ:CMLS) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the 245 million people reached each week through its 454 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 90 U.S. media markets (including eight of

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the top 10), more than 8,200 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus/Westwood One platforms make Cumulus Media one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. Cumulus/Westwood One is the exclusive radio broadcast partner to some of the largest brands in sports and entertainment, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards and Miss America.

Additionally, it is the nation's leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, NASH Country Weekly magazine, concerts, licensed products and television/video. For more information, visit www.cumulus.com.

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SOCIAL MEDIA INFORMATION:

Cheat Tweet: @KelseaBallerini, @SamHuntMusic, @coleswindell and MORE announced to PERFORM at the @ACCAs: bit.ly/ACCAsPerform

Twitter: @ACCAs

Instagram: @ACCAs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/americancountrycountdownawards/

Tumblr: http://theaccawards.tumblr.com/

Snapchat: ACCAwards

Vine: ACCAwards

CONTACTS:

AMERICAN COUNTRY COUNTDOWN AWARDS

Lisa Chader                                         615-428-7223              lisa@wortmanworks.com

dick clark productions

Liz Morentin                                        310-255-4602              lmorentin@dickclark.com

Lydia Baskharoon                               310-255-0319              lbaskharoon@dickclark.com

FOX

Alyssa McGovern                              310-369-5361                 Alyssa.mcgovern@fox.com

Kelley Kirkpatrick                               310-369-5820                 Kelley.Kirkpatrick@fox.com

Nicole Gonzales                                310-369-0827              nicole.gonzales@fox.com