WSM Presents Music City Mentors – WSM News

February 7, 2019 By Nicole Judd In Articles, Events /

650 AM WSM ANNOUNCES

INAUGURAL MUSIC CITY MENTORS EVENT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — 650 AM WSM will host Music City Mentors on Saturday, March 23. Pairing entertainment professionals with individuals who dream of a career in the music industry, Music City Mentors will take place at the Factory in Franklin. This inaugural event will provide music education and professional development opportunities to aspiring music professionals ages 15 and over. The day will feature 45-minute sessions focusing on songwriting, artist management, tour life, publicity and everything in between. SVP Artists Relations and Grand Ole Opry GM, Sally Williams, will give the keynote address. Attendees will conclude the day of unique professional development with “speed networking” opportunities from best-in-the-business professionals.

“It’s extremely important for us to invest in the next generation of industry professionals,” shared Chris Kulick, General Manager of 650 AM WSM. “We hope this is just the beginning of this chapter and finding new ways to mentor and engage young professionals.”

Tickets for the event are on sale HERE for $20.00 through February 15. After February 15, ticket prices will rise to $40.00. Lunch tickets will be available for purchase when registering.

“WSM has been a staple of the music community here in Franklin and there’s no better organization to connect music professionals with those aspiring to get into business,” said Ellie Westman Chin, President & CEO of Visit Franklin.

650 AM WSM’s Music City Mentors is sponsored by Durango Boots, Zaxby’s, Beacon Capital Management, Les Paul Foundation, Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism, Lyft, Silent Events, Songwriting University, and Green Iris Records/Still Working Music. Throughout the day participants will also have the opportunity to take part in a job fair featuring local venues, companies, and entertainment employers.

Attendees should plan to dress in business casual attire. Parking is provided at the Factory at Franklin.

About 650 AM WSM:

650 AM WSM’s first official broadcast day was October 5, 1925. The station is the radio home of the Grand Ole Opry, which has been broadcast live over the WSM airwaves since its inception, as well as the 24/7 Americana streaming channel, ROUTE 650. 650 AM WSM is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP). A weekly listing of all 650 AM WSM programming and online directory for all streaming channels can be found at wsmradio.com.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Judd | WSM Radio | 615-458-9429 | nicole@wsmradio.com

Vince Gill – I Played The Ryman – Interview

January 15, 2019 By Nicole Judd In Live Interview, Videos /

Thanks for checking out 650 AM WSM’s I Played The Ryman – a series of interviews and videos surrounding the stories and memories from artists who have had the opportunity to headline a concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Check out Charlie Mattos’ interview below with the one and only Vince Gill!

Rodney Crowell – I Played The Ryman – Interview

December 14, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Live Interview, Videos /

Check out the video of Eric Marcum’s interview below with Rodney Crowell!

For the full audio-only experience, click HERE!

WSM Presents Music for Kids – WSM News

October 2, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Articles, Events /

650 AM WSM TO HOST MUSIC FOR KIDS NOVEMBER 3

Event Will Provide 1000 Free Music Lessons to Children Ages 5-16

NASHVILLE, TN (October 2, 2018) – 650 AM WSM will host its first Music for Kids event on Saturday, November 3, at Studio A in the Grand Ole Opry House from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Presented by Springer Mountain Farms, Music for Kids is a day-long family event packed with activities designed to make music accessible and fun for youth from all over Nashville. The event centers around providing children ages 5-16 with free, age-appropriate music lessons from local professionals and opportunities to engage, learn, and get inspired in fun new ways.

Music for Kids puts real instruments into kids’ hands, encouraging them to explore and experiment with creativity and sound. Children will choose the instrument they would most like to explore– voice, violin, guitar, bass, piano, drums, mandolin, banjo and more – when they sign up online. Registration for these free lessons are open now and must be reserved in advance via http://wsmradio.com. Lesson slots are expected to fill up fast, so early registrations are advised. A guardian is required to attend with the child receiving lessons.

Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor will be on hand to read from his new children’s book “Lorraine”, Illustrated by renowned artist and Tennessee resident, Higgins Bond. With this story, Secor has created a sweeping, epic Americana story about the power of music and family, story and song. Secor is a parent and Grand Ole Opry member who cares deeply about education and actively supports many related causes in and around Music City, notably helping to launch the Episcopal School of Nashville in 2016.

650 AM WSM expects 500-600 children and teens to attend the free event sponsored by Zaxby’s, Nashville Parent, Guitar Center, Durango Boots, and songgame.com. Over the course of the day, the historic radio station is expected to donate 1000 lessons to young budding musicians with an overall value of $25,000.

“Our goal with Music for Kids is to spark the musical creativity in the children of Nashville,” said Chris Kulick, 650 AM WSM general manager. “We can’t wait to get instruments in these kids’ hands and watch them get inspired. Music is such a vital part of our whole community, our local economy, and our culture as a city. Inspiring people to make and appreciate music is part of our mission and our rich history as a station.”

About 650 AM WSM:

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Media Contact:

Nicole Judd | WSM Radio | 615-458-9429 | nicole@wsmradio.com

Register your child/teen HERE!

Elizabeth Cook – I Played The Ryman – Interview

September 27, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Live Interview, Videos /

Check out the video of Eric Marcum’s interview below with Elizabeth Cook!

For the full audio-only experience, click HERE!

Margo Price – I Played The Ryman – Interview

August 9, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Live Interview /

In honor of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Ryman Auditorium, 650 AM WSM has launched I Played The Ryman – a series of interviews and videos surrounding the stories and memories from artists who have had the opportunity to headline a concert at the historic Ryman Auditorium.

Check out Charlie Mattos’ interview below with Margo Price!

Bobby Bare & Friends – New Podcast

August 1, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Live Interview / -1

Route 650 & WSM have teamed up with Country Music Hall of Famer Bobby Bare to bring you Bobby Bare & Friends.

From 1983 to 1988 Bobby Bare hosted the TV show “Bobby Bare and Friends” on TNN: The Nashville Network. Thanks to Bare’s easy-going manner, the series captured American musicians and songwriters in an intimate way that few televised programs had at the time. The show was based on what Bare called “guitar pulling”: “That’s where somebody plays and then someone can’t wait to pull the guitar away and sing his song.” Some of the artists featured included Toy Caldwell, Charlie Daniels, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, David Allan Coe and more.

Now, more than 30 years later, Bare is creating a new podcast of the same name featuring conversations with Jamey Johnson, Trace Adkins, Jessi Colter, Ray Stevens, Billy Joe Shaver, Joe Ely, Delbert McClinton, Bill Anderson and more. “Bobby Bare and Friends” launches today on podcast networks and on wsmradio.com. “Bobby Bare and Friends” is produced by 650 AM WSM in association with 117 Entertainment. New episodes will be released twice a month and will air on Route 650, 650 AM WSM’s Americana centric digital streaming station, at 3 p.m. CST on release days along with highlights being played throughout the week on the historic radio station itself

Subscribe to the podcast on Libsyn, Apple Podcast, Spotify and your favorite podcast outlet.

New episodes released every other Wednesday starting August 1!

More info and episodes found HERE!

Route 650 Pre-Show Shindig – WSM News

July 12, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Articles, Events /

A new roots music tradition starts this summer! Americana at the Ryman brings newcomers and veterans to the mother church each Sunday night, from July 15 through August 19, for a musical revival like no other!

Join WSM each week on the Ryman Plaza starting at 4:30pm for a FREE Pre-Show Shindig with Route 650 before Americana at the Ryman. We’ll have live music featured each week, WSM personalities and giveaways, a Hatch Show Print display, a “Good Ole Fashioned Cookout” and specials from Cafe Lula, and a pop up shop. You don’t want to miss out on all the FREE fun and festivities sponsored by Yazoo Brewing Company!

The 2018 Pre-Show Shindig performance schedule features:

July 15 – The Carmonas
July 22 – Hogslop String Band
July 29 – Blue Mother Tupelo
August 5 – Roanoke
August 12 – TBA
August 19 – Don Gallardo & Wild Ponies

The 2018 Americana at the Ryman performance schedule features:

July 15 – Buddy Miller & Friends: Lee Ann Womack, Tony Joe White, McCrary Sisters, Parker Millsap, and Elizabeth Cook
July 22 – Jim Lauderdale with William Fitzsimmons and The Secret Sisters
July 29 – Mark O’Connor Band and Brandy Clark
August 5 – Alejandro Escovedo, Hayes Carll, and Caroline Spence
August 12 – Amanda Shires with Caitlin Rose
August 19 – Justin Townes Earle with Band of Heathens

Individual tickets and series passes are on sale now. Click HERE for tickets and info!

Route 650 presents Americana at the Ryman

May 23, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Articles, Events /

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium is set to host a new annual series this summer. “Americana at the Ryman” presented by Route 650, will celebrate American roots music with six talent packed shows throughout July and August.

The series kicks off on Sunday, July 15 with multi-award-winning Americana Artist and Instrumentalist of the Year, Buddy Miller along with special guests Lee Ann Womack, Tony Joe White, The McCrary Sisters, Elizabeth Cook and Parker Millsap. Other artists appearing during the series’ run include The Band of Heathens, Brandy Clark, Jim Lauderdale, Mark O’Connor, Caitlin Rose, Amanda Shires, Hayes Carll, The Secret Sisters, Caroline Spence and Justin Townes Earle with more performers to be announced soon.

“Americana at the Ryman” Schedule:
July 15: Buddy Miller and Friends Lee Ann Womack, Tony Joe White, The McCrary Sisters, Elizabeth Cook and Parker Millsap
July 22: Jim Lauderdale, William Fitzsimmons, and The Secret Sisters
July 29: Mark O’Connor and Brandy Clark
August 5: Hayes Carll and Caroline Spence
August 12: Amanda Shires and Caitlin Rose
August 19: Justin Townes Earle and The Band of Heathens

“The Ryman Americana Series is modeled after our Bluegrass Nights Series which will kick off its 25^th season this summer,” said Sally Williams, Senior Vice President of Programming and Artist Relations. “Over the course of six weeks, Americana and roots legends will take the stage for the inaugural Americana Series as will the most exciting new artists. With Bluegrass Nights, we see the same season pass holders come back to the same seats year after year. A lot of deep friendships have been formed by bluegrass fans sitting together in Ryman pews. We look forward to the same happening with the Ryman Americana Series.”

The iconic venue has a long history of showcasing roots music as well as partnership with the Americana Music Association (AMA). In September the AMA’s Americana Honors & Awards Show will return to the Ryman once again. In addition, the storied music hall continues to program multiple night runs with celebrated Americana artists including Jason Isbell, John Prine and Margo Price, all of whom are proud champions of the Mother Church and its historical contribution to music.

“We’re thrilled the Ryman has created a series to show off Nashville’s Americana community to the world. It’s the heart and soul of this town and there is no greater venue in the world to see this talent,” said Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association.

The new series will feature performances each Sunday evening July 15 through August 19, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Attendees can enjoy a pre-show celebration each week beginning at 4:30 p.m. featuring live music on the Ryman plaza and specialty menu items from Ryman Auditorium’s Café Lula.

Similar to the venue’s beloved, two-decade-long running series “Bluegrass Nights at the Ryman,” “Americana at the Ryman” will partner with 650 AM WSM. Route 650, the 24/7 streaming station created by the legendary radio station to showcase Americana, folk and bluegrass music, will be a presenting partner. Before each show, fans can enjoy free live music on the plaza from the latest Americana talent, presented by the station.

Ryman Auditorium’s legacy, both in Nashville and nationwide, is unmatched. The treasured, historic venue continues to showcase talent across all genres of music and entertainment, and recently took home its eighth consecutivePollstar Theatre of the Year award.

Series passes for “Americana at the Ryman” are on sale now. Individual show tickets are available for purchase beginning June 4 at 10 a.m.With purchase of an “Americana at the Ryman” concert ticket, patrons have the option to add on a daytime tour ticket for a discounted rate of $15.00.

For tickets, visit ryman.com/americana.

Gruhn’s Vault – New Podcast – WSM News

March 22, 2018 By Nicole Judd In Live Interview / 1

Route 650 has teamed up with Gruhn Guitars to bring you Gruhn’s Vault: Conversations with the Masters. George Gruhn has been selling guitars to the greatest musical performers since 1970. Now, he sits down with those friends to chat guitars, music history, and life. Be listening for more of Gruhn’s Vault: Conversations with the Masters on Route 650.

Subscribe to the podcast on Libsyn, Apple Podcast, Spotify and your favorite podcast outlet.

New episodes released every other Thursday starting March 15!