Photo ID left to right: Ted Ellis, Mike Meade, Amy Aylward, Chuck Rhodes
Tom Cross, Wayne Halper
Not pictured: Bob Frank, Chuck McDowell III
Music Row veterans Chuck Rhodes, Mike Meade, Amy Aylward and Wayne Halper along with Bob Frank (BFE/Audium Nashville), Ted Ellis and Tom Cross (Creator Ventures CO, LTD.) and Chuck McDowell III (Wesley Financial Group) have launched Fusion Entertainment Company (FUSENTCO) in Nashville. The new company will operate as a booking agency and will offer management and label services to select clients. Additional company staffers include seasoned industry agents Tayler Bock and Joan Saltel.
"I have known and worked with Mike Meade and Amy Aylward for many years," says Rhodes. "When the opportunity arose to merge their booking agency Acceleration Music Group into our Fusion launch, I jumped at the chance."
Meade and Aylward had been operating their own company, Acceleration Music Group (AMG), since their departure from Buddy Lee Attractions in 2018. The initial artist roster for booking will include Darryl Worley, Ty Herndon, John Schneider, Michelle Wright, Danielle Peck, country duo Smith & Wesley, Billy Gilman, Brody Ray, Trent Tomlinson, Keith Anderson and Jason Michael Carroll. Additional artists will be announced soon.
"We had an incredible year with AMG in 2019 and are looking forward to the future with this new venture, Fusion Entertainment Company," says Meade. "Our long history with this team in other facets of the industry and the relationships we all share with our clients and friends will prove to be the perfect merger."
"Mike and I would like to thank Darryl Worley, Ty Herndon and Michelle Wright who initially showed faith and encouraged us to start AMG," adds Aylward. "We are looking forward to continuing to grow with them and the talented additions to our roster."
Rhodes will serve as Executive Vice President/General Manager and oversee day-to-day operations along with Vice Presidents/Agents Meade and Aylward. Halper, who brings his extensive record label and legal experience to the organization, will handle legal affairs and business development.
The management division of FUSENTCO launches with GRAMMY®-nominated guitarist Denny Jiosa.
Frank, Founder and CEO of BFE and Chairman/Co-Founder of Fusion, notes, "Chuck Rhodes and I have been discussing this opportunity for a long time now. We work with so many artists who we feel are underserved in this space. Fusion will now super-serve these same artists, and we are thrilled to be able to put together such an experienced team."
For more information, visit fusentco.com.