“Captain Jack” Aponte has announced his retirement from radio after more than 50 years in the industry.

“The last few months have been very difficult due to various health issues that have included a cancer scare, two major surgeries, and weeks of recuperation,” Aponte shares with MusicRow. “I have had to put our important business on hold while working on getting well. Thank God no cancer was found. All that time, while I sat in the hospital bed and at home, I looked at my 50 years in this business. I realized I had accomplished a lot. In many cases I dared go where others had not.”

Aponte’s beginnings start in the New York metro area, which helped shape his major market mentality all while keeping his down home values front and center. His long-time love of country music is what drove him to make Music City his home over a decade ago.

In 2011, Aponte launched internet radio station, Renegade Radio Nashville, and within 6 months RRN became the first and only internet radio station in music history to be given legitimate “reporting” status on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart.

The veteran’s passion has always revolved around the Nashville scene and country music. Throughout his career, Aponte strongly believed in exposing new country songs and breaking new country artists to his audiences. As a contemporary country music programmer, he always went the extra mile to find a sound unique to his format.

In 2019, he moved back to his home state and settled in Seaside Heights, New Jersey where he set up a new online station covering the tristate areas of NJ, NY, and PA which also broadcasted live from the beach. Named Jersey Shore Country, this became the primary reporting station on the MusicRow Radio Chart.

Aponte states, “From moving to a new town, changing work hours to accommodate mine or just spending days, nights and weekends alone while I built up radio station listenership, my wife and family have cheered me on giving up so much of their lives to support me. After weeks of careful consideration, I have made the hard decision to retire.

“This wonderful experience that Music Row has afforded me and the opportunity to work with the best professionals in the music business will be something I will cherish forever,” he continues. “I don’t know what the future holds, as none of us do, however these are decisions I will make with my family in mind. I wish you all the best life has to offer and I will never forget our amazing relationships.”

He sums, “I hope growth and success is in all our futures.”

MusicRow wishes Aponte all the best in his retirement.

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George Strait has added a second Nissan Stadium date in Nashville due to overwhelming demand. Slated for July 28, the second show will also feature Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town as special guests. The second Nissan Stadium show joins the initial Music City date on July 29.

News of the show follows the announcement earlier this week of Strait’s six one-off stadium dates in Phoenix, Seattle, Denver, Milwaukee, Nashville and Tampa. Tickets to all shows go on sale next Friday, Nov. 4 at GeorgeStrait.com. American Express cardmembers can purchase tickets to the newly-added date through Thursday, Nov. 3.

Strait will also perform in his home state of Texas at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena on Friday, Nov. 18-19. Additionally, he’ll once again return to Las Vegas for his “Strait to Vegas” series, gracing the stage at his T-Mobile Arena home away from home for the 35th and 36th time on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3.

George Strait 2023 Stadium Show Dates:
May 6 – Glendale, Ariz. || State Farm Stadium
June 3 – Milwaukee, Wisc. || American Family Field
June 17 – Seattle, Wash. || Lumen Field
June 24 – Denver, Colo. || Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
July 28 – Nashville, Tenn. || Nissan Stadium
July 29 – Nashville, Tenn. || Nissan Stadium
Aug. 5 – Tampa, Fla. || Raymond James Stadium

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Billy Dawson has signed a joint venture publishing deal with Rodney Clawson, Boom Music Group, and Warner Chappell.

A West Texas native, Dawson is a singer, songwriter, and producer who has collaborated with many of Music City’s top writers including Clawson, Chris Tompkins, Lee Miller, Jessie Jo Dillon, Jon Nite, Matt McGinn, and many more. He is currently writing and producing a new military-inspired album co-written with veterans that will benefit Sierra Delta, which empowers veterans and provides purpose and community through the love of service dogs. Dawson also wrote and produced music for the newly-released Bollywood movie Rocketry with R. Madhavan, marking the first American country song to be featured in a Bollywood movie.

“Billy’s signature is his positive influence on everyone around him,” shares Warner Chappell’s Will Overton. “He knows how to get the best out of his cowriters and always puts others first. It’s an honor to be a part of his creative journey!”

“Billy is a great collaborator and a great guy,” adds Clawson. “We’ve been working together for years, and now we’re happy to make it official with Boom and Warner Chappell.”

“Billy Dawson is probably the nicest and most accommodating guy you’ll ever meet,” says Boom’s Shaina Botwin. “His positive attitude is infectious and he brings great energy to every co-write he’s in. We’re excited to represent him alongside Rodney and Warner Chappell!”

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The Country Music Association has revealed that country music superstar Alan Jackson will be awarded the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jackson will accept the honor during the 56th Annual CMA Awards, broadcasting live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 9 on ABC. Dierks Bentley, Jon Pardi, Carrie Underwood and Lainey Wilson will take the CMA Awards stage for an all-star tribute to the Country Music Hall of Fame member.

The CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award goes to an iconic artist who has achieved both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances, humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, streaming numbers, record sales and public representation at the highest level. The artist receiving this award has positively impacted and contributed to the growth of the genre throughout a course of years that have proven to have an unprecedented historical impact on fans and industry alike.

Throughout his impressive career, Jackson has released more than 20 albums and collections, nine of which went multi-Platinum with 2 million or more in sales. He has charted 35 No. 1 hits, sold nearly 60 million albums and is among the genre’s most decorated figures with more than 150 awards, including three CMA Entertainer of the Year Awards and two Grammy Awards.

Jackson has also gained membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Grand Ole Opry, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He was given the first ASCAP Heritage Award in 2014, recognizing him as the most performed country singer-songwriter of the last 100 years.

“We are thrilled to honor Alan Jackson this year with the CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “A three-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, he is responsible for so many iconic moments in CMA Awards history. Just as Alan has been influenced by many country legends throughout his career, he too has inspired a generation of artists to stay true to the authenticity of country music. We are so excited to bring Dierks, Jon, Carrie and Lainey together on the CMA Awards stage for what will surely be an incredible and touching tribute to an artist they each deeply admire. Having had the great fortune of working with Alan over the years, I am delighted we are honoring him with this milestone award next month.”

Previous recipients of the 2022 CMA Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award include Nelson (2012), Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), and Loretta Lynn (2021).

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Dalton Dover has signed with Universal Music Group Nashville, and will release new music on the label’s Mercury Nashville imprint.

Dover first achieved prominence following his appearance on Season 16 of The Voice, where he earned a chair turn from judge Blake Shelton. Two years later, Dover has continued to build his fan base on TikTok, garnering millions of views with his #CatchMeOffGuard series of cover song mashups.

Dover’s songs “You Got A Small Town” and “Baby I Am,” which has earned nearly 500,000 streams, helped the 23-year-old Georgia native earn a place on Spotify’s Hot Country 2022 Artists to Watch, along with a spotlight as Billboard’s February Country Rookie of the Month and a nod as MusicRow’s 2022 Discovery Artist of the Year.

“All of us at UMG have been fans of Dalton for a long time,” says Mike Dungan, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group Nashville. “For months our staff has filled the rooms at almost every one of his live performances in Nashville. As we worked our way through the legal process, our four label promotion teams were fighting over which label he would go to and who got to work with him. We are thrilled that he chose to be a member of our family and anxious to release the first taste of music with the Mercury logo on it.”

“I’m so excited to join the Mercury and UMG Nashville family,” shares Dover. “I wouldn’t be here without the support from my wonderful wife and family, my team, and the fans who have listened to and shared the songs we’ve released so far. This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on!”

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