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. 1 in the country music the Centers for Disease >page 19 business. The majority of Control and Prevention. those recipients are waiting for the touring sector to fully get The ACM handed out $3.5 million in two waves during 2020, back into gear so they can once again collect paychecks, many depleting the fund at that time. Through corporate assistance of which are funneled through corporate hubs in Music City. and a first-ever fundraising effort during the CBS telecast of the “Some of these tours don’t start until August or September, ACM Awards on April 18, which raised $40,000, the Academy SHEARER JOHN WHITESIDE: so I think they’re probably starting to notify people that they’re accumulated $311,000 for its recent redistribution. ACM LIFTING LIVES COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND ACM Lifting Lives has responded quickly and effectively to the growing needs in the Country Music Industry due to the coronavirus by creating the ACM Lifting Lives COVID-19 Response ACM LIFTING LIVESFund. COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND ACM Lifting LivesThis fundhas helpsresponded to alleviate quickly the burden and that effectively many of the to behind-the-scenes the growing needsprofessionals in the such Country as touring personnel and musicians, songwriters and developing artists are facing. 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