Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS MAY 24, 2021 | PAGE 1 OF 19 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
[email protected] INSIDE THIS ACM Eyes New Nashville Hub — And An End ISSUE To Its Emotional COVID-19 Initiative Eric Church’s ‘View’ As signs increasingly point to the abatement of the pandemic, going to bring them back,” says Lifting Lives executive director From The Top the West Coast-based Academy of Country Music spent por- Lyndsay Cruz. “But I doubt anyone’s going on any sort of tions of May solidifying its connection to its future in Nashville. payroll yet.” >page 4 The ACM announced the addition of three new Music City- The COVID-19 benefits are an extension of an initiative based staff members — vp digital strategy and engagement that started last April. The relief fund has thus far paid out Rory Levine, manager of nearly $4 million to about Gabby Barrett: awards and membership 2,200 individuals who Three Times Haley Montgomery and needed assistance due executive assistant to the to coronavirus-induced A Winner CEO David Sassano — on economic hardship. >page 11 May 13, strengthening its Through the end of workforce in Nashville as 2020, nearly two-thirds CEO Damon Whiteside of the recipients (see pie prepares to open a chart, page 2) were crew Makin’ Tracks: Tennessee office on a to- members, musicians and Joe Nichols Hits be-determined date. And concert executives who A ‘Home Run’ the Academy’s charitable make their living directly >page 16 foundation, ACM Lifting from live shows, most Lives, spent the week of which were scuttled of May 17 parceling out to avoid spreading a $311,000 from its COVID- contagious disease that has Country Coda: 19 Response Fund to thus far killed over 585,000 Doug Stone’s unemployed professionals Americans, according to WHITESIDE CRUZ ‘Different’ No.