Buddy Lee Attractions, Inc. (BLA), one of Nashville’s oldest and largest privately owned talent agencies, serving the needs of country music’s live entertainment industry worldwide, commemorates its 50th year anniversary celebration with an expansion of its global services. Throughout the past 5 decades, BLA has developed and represented the biggest names in country music (including George Strait, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks and Jason Aldean). BLA’s integrity, collective knowledge base and solid work ethic have garnered the agency numerous industry awards, including three “Talent Agency Of The Year” Country Music Association awards, two “Tour Of The Year” Pollstar awards, and recently the 2014 Pollstar Touring Industry Award as” “Independent Agency Of The Year.”
Historic to the company’s character, and in keeping with the ever-changing landscape of the music and entertainment industry, BLA has revisited its agency services to be “all-encompassing” once again to cater to the livelihood and longevity of the artist’s career. The objective is to return to the business practice of the past to meet and address the demands of the performing artists’ needs for the future.
Under the BLA umbrella now resides 38 Music Artist Development and 38 Music Publishing. Putting years of expertise to work, the 38 Music Artist Development Division will utilize its team and resources to assist talent (indie singers, songwriters, bands, etc.,) in cultivating a “career artist business plan that works.” Addressing the artist needs from all career levels and facets, 38 Music Artist Development will assist in coordinating introductions to the key professionals vital in the blueprint of an artist foundation (including attorneys, business managers, managers, producers and web creators and more) and oversee day-to-day activities that encompass career development including songwriting, publishing, booking and promoter relations, new product awareness campaigns (web launches, single and CD release campaigns), artist branding, tour scheduling and more.
“This is not a novel or innovative transition, this is a Buddy Lee Attraction business standard and service that our company was founded upon,” said BLA owner Donna Lee, who acknowledged her new appointment as Chief Executive Officer (following in the footprint of her father Buddy Lee and most recently, “Miss Rita” Lee). “BLA has never been ‘just a booking agency;’ we are an artist career and relations group and our passion is to help the artist become valuable to the market–to sustain a long life in music and entertainment–and it all starts with a solid organizational plan with a solid team supporting the artist.”
The company has also announced, as official, its Professional Speaker & Guest Appearances Division representing book authors, business leaders, clinicians, actor/entertainers and renowned professionals. The newly formed BLA Professional Speaker and Guest Appearances Division (October 2013) is headed by Mike Meade. The roster caters to business, campus, community and entertainment where the represented clients appear as event emcee/host, in special appearances and product endorsements, at on-site seminars, workshops and retreats, corporate, educational and motivational forums and keynote speaking engagements.
“By diversity alone, this new division brings added value to the Buddy Lee Attractions arena of services,” said Meade. “It’s a wide open area that can be explored by even the music entertainers on our roster as an alternate forum to share his or her individual talents while affording an alternate income.”
The BLA Professional Speaker & Guest Appearances Division currently works alongside Duck Dynasty’s Mountain Man–(A&E) • American Hoggers’ Krystal Pistol Campbell–(A&E) • American Pickers’ Lauren Wray– (History Channel) • The Gold Family of Hardcore Pawn–(TruTV) • Swamp People’s “Gator Queen,” Liz Cavalier Choate, Bruce Mitchell, Troy, Jacob and Chase Landry– (History Channel) • Lyssa Chapman- book author (formerly of Dog The Bounty Hunter) • Nicholas Pollacchi/The Whisky Dog—whiskey expert entertainer • Lisa Wysocky—author, horse clinician, keynote and motivational speaker • Sam Powell—horse clinician and author • Shelia Shipley Biddy—author and music/entertainment business professional and Shelley Sarmiento—fashion industry entrepreneur/consultant, to name a few.
BLA speakers are also available for consulting, television commercials and other unique engagements.
The announcement of BLA’s expansion is paralleled with the departure of the agency’s former President, Kevin Neal, who has stepped down to pursue alternate career goals more closely suited to his vision and areas of interest and expertise.
As a music and entertainment business mainstay in the Nashville community and abroad, BLA looks ahead to reinforce the walls and relationships built by Buddy Lee in 1964 with the highest level of service and commitment through the teamwork of dedicated professionals. Faithful to its company values, BLA strives to uphold its “client-comes-first” objectives in a tumultuous environment with its expanded services and top-notch talent agency expertise. The BLA talent agency currently represents: Jason Aldean, Florida Georgia Line, Rhett Akins, Parmalee, Jared Ashley, Colt Ford, LoCash Cowboys, Will Hoge, Steve Holy, Cledus T. Judd, The McClymonts and many more.
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