Billboard, the leading global destination for charts, news, trends and innovations in music, has announced that Brantley Gilbert will headline its popular annual Artist Development Case Study panel at the 2014 Billboard Touring Conference and Awards, taking place in New York City on November 19.
The Artist Development Case Study each year seeks to make an example of one fast-rising artist’s road strategy, as the demands of touring — festival and support opportunities to digital campaigns — are ever rigorous, complex, and vital to the musician’s overall profile and success. In so doing, the panel anoints an artist to watch in the year to come.
Gilbert, a Georgia native who scored his first #1 Billboard Country Albums debut in 2013 with JUST AS I AM, has taken a unique path to stardom, significantly impacting musical trends and, in effect, broadening country’s audience through his compelling blend of rock and urban influences with traditional country themes and musicality. On the touring front, Gilbert started off playing in Georgia clubs in the early 2000s, and by 2010, he was selling out small venues throughout the country. In 2012 he joined Toby Keith and Eric Church as direct support on their respective national tours, and launched his first headline tour in arenas. This year, Gilbert has headlined festivals, arenas and small sheds on the Let It Ride Tour, with the second leg launching September 19 in Austin.
Among Gilbert’s other credits, he has racked up five #1 singles, impressive album sales, multiple award show nominations, and was named 2013 ACM Awards New Male Artist of the Year.
“Country music is developing new headliners at a remarkable pace, and Brantley Gilbert is poised to be the next major talent to move up to the arena/amphitheater level,” says Ray Waddell, Billboard’s Executive Director of Content and Programming for Touring and Live Entertainment,
who will moderate the session. “In a competitive marketplace, Brantley and his team are breaking out through great performances and strategic moves, and drilling down into this career—past, present and future—with Team Brantley will make for an entertaining and informative discussion.”
Gilbert will be joined on stage for the discussion by his management (collectively known as “Team Gilbert”): Rich Egan of Hard 8 Management, Aaron Tannenbaum of Creative Artists Agency, and Darin Lashinsky of National Shows 2 (NS2).
As one of the Touring Conference & Awards most popular panels, the Artist Development Case Study has previously featured top industry leaders from FUSE, Live Nation, William Morris Endeavor, Paradigm Talent, Bowery Presents, and 4fini Presents.
The annual Billboard Touring Conference & Awards, in its 11th year, takes place at The Roosevelt Hotel, November 19 and 20. More about the 2014 Billboard Touring Conference & Awards to be announced closer to event date.
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