Press Release

Tennessee Alliance for Kids announces virtual singing competition fundraiser, 615 Sings

Nashville— 10/1/2020 Tennessee Alliance for Kids (TAK) is excited to announce the first-ever virtual singing competition to come to TAK. 615 Sings will celebrate and recognize great musical talent across Tennessee while bringing awareness to vulnerable children in foster care. The virtual singing competition and fundraiser is for local bands and musicians in Tennessee. All money raised during competition voting will benefit TAK’s mission to meet the emergent and ongoing needs of children in foster care, those at risk of coming into foster care, and those aging out.

Aspiring artists can enter at https://tnallianceforkids.org/615sings right now!

The Grand Prize winner of 615 Sings will receive:

  • $2,500 cash prize
  • Recording session at Oceanway Studios with multi-award-winning Music Row Producer, Steve Ivey
  • Gibson Guitar
  • an Ernie Ball String Prize Pack

AND

  • Performance at an upcoming Tennessee Alliance for Kids event

QUOTE

“We are thrilled to partner with MyFanRaiser and utilize their innovative platform to leverage all that Music City has to offer, all while bringing awareness and support to vulnerable children in foster care throughout Middle Tennessee.  During these difficult times, we are looking forward to seeing what the power of music can really do!!” says TAK Board President and Williamson County resident, Kelley Campbell.

615 Sings will be organized in a single-elimination, bracket tournament organized by a selection committee. Musicians/bands must submit registration for the tournament by October 18th at 7 am. The bracket and first round match-up dates will be announced soon after. The winner of each match-up is based on the number of votes in the Tennessee Alliance for Kids fundraiser. Each $1 contributed counts as one vote! 

For eligibility requirements and to enter the competition, musicians and bands can visit https://www.tnallianceforkids.org/615sings.

About Tennessee Alliance for Kids:

Established in 2016, TAK works with community partners in Middle Tennessee to provide support to foster families and biological families working towards reunification.  TAK meets the tangible needs of children in foster care through financial contributions, monthly drives and fundraising events.  Many of these needs include beds, mattresses, hygiene products, clothing, school supplies, car seats, comfort items, food and gift cards.

TAK is located in Nashville, Tennessee and serves the Davidson County Department of Children’s Services (DCS), Mid-Cumberland DCS, Office of Independent Living and Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes.

Tennessee Alliance for Kids

P.O. Box 40221

Nashville, TN 37204

Contact:

Fran Maynard

(954) 551-1388

franmaynard@tnallianceforkids.org

Student wins 478 Sings United competition, will record at Capricorn

When Mercer University student Bailey Grace Pattison submitted her first video for the 478 Sings United competition, her goal was just to advance past the first round.

It was Pattison’s first time releasing music on her own. She never anticipated winning first place, and as she started to gain more votes each round, she later recalled thinking, “This is weird.”

“I was totally prepared to take second place home with me,” she said.

On June 12, Pattison was named the winner of the contest, in which she faced Macon musician Blane Dunnam in the final round.

Pattison, a junior majoring in accounting and marketing, is a member of Mercer’s softball team. She said head coach Stephanie DeFeo encouraged her to enter the competition. 

Pattison said she has loved singing her entire life. A Florida native, she got her start singing in worship groups at her church back home. She joined the New City Church worship team after moving to Macon.

But since she’s focused on softball most of the time, stay-at-home orders this spring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic gave her a rare chance to devote time to her music.

“With everything going on, I just felt like it was a good opportunity for me to try to step out of my comfort zone and really pursue singing in some way,” she said.

Pattison considers herself a singer-songwriter but said her music spans the genres of alternative country and soft pop. Since the competition was held remotely due to COVID-19, creating videos added a new element to her music.

Friends and family helped her get creative. One friend edited all of Pattison’s submissions, and her parents are featured dancing in the background of her video for Round 2.

“All the different things I got to do with some of the most important people in my life was super cool,” she said.

The 478 Sings United competition started out with over 20 contestants. The collaboration, which included the United Way of Central Georgia, Mercer University, Visit Macon and 100.9 the Creek, raised a total of $84,131 for the Central Georgia COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, according to the event’s Facebook page. Each dollar contributed to the fund in the name of a contestant counted as one vote for that contestant.

Funds will help nonprofit organizations, local businesses and community members who have been affected by the pandemic, said Laura Stauter, communications director for the United Way of Central Georgia.

The money will allow organizations such as food banks to continue their operations, she said. The United Way also runs a hotline in which people can call 211 for assistance with issues like utility bills or putting food in the fridge.

“The need is vast,” Stauter said. “We had no idea what to expect as to what (the contest) could actually accomplish, and we’re blown away with the result.”

As the winner, Pattison will record a track at Capricorn Sound Studios at Mercer Music at Capricorn and perform at the 2020 Ford Concert Series before the first home Mercer football game in September. She also was awarded a $2,500 prize.

Pattison said the contest has given her a chance to pursue music beyond just a hobby. 

“I think this year is going to be an awesome year for me to see if music is a career move, or if it’s something I want to pursue more seriously, or if it’s just something I want to keep doing for fun,” she said. 

478 Sings United shakeup occurs with ‘redemption round’

Macon,GA– As if the 478 Sings United competition couldn’t get any crazier, now contest officials have added a “Redemption Round”!

Currently, the contest has reached its third round with eight contestants.

Initially, the contest began with 32 artists/bands, and now eight of those eliminated musicians will be competing for a chance to open one of the concerts in the 2021 Cherry Blossom Festival and record a track at Capricorn Studios in Macon with the extremely talented music producer, Steve Ivey.

Musicians/bands will return May 25th-29th for the ?Redemption Round.?

The returning artists are:

  • Ashton Smith
  • Ethan Payne
  • Hindsight
  • JGC Kool
  • Lizzy Driggers
  • Watch For Deer
  • Water Street
  • Zach Butler

Players for the ?Redemption Round? had the highest average votes for the number of rounds they participated in the main contest. Officials have yet to announce the artist returning to redeem themselves.

In the ?Redemption Round,? each vote will cost voters $1 and those dollars benefiting the Central Georgia COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund.

?478 Sings United? created by United Way of Central Georgia, Mercer University, Visit Macon, 100.9 The Creek, WGXA, and local singers have already helped raise over $37k to benefit the Fund.

There are two more rounds before a Grand Prize Winner is announced!

For more information on 478 Sings United, visit?www.unitedwaycg.org/sings.

SOURCE: https://wgxa.tv/news/entertainment/478-sings-united-shakeup-occurs-with-redemption-round

Fund created to help support local musicians

MACON,GA–Businesses have been hit hard with the Covid-19 pandemic and that includes artists and entertainers.

Right now the ?478 Sings United? competition by United Way of Central Georgia, Mercer University, Visit Macon, 100.9 The Creek, and FOX24ABC16, local singers have helped raise over $30,000 to benefit the Central Georgia COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund which will provide the entire community with assistance.

To help artists specifically the Jazz Association of Macon announced a relief fund for local musicians struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In that announcement, JAM pledged to match individual donations up to $2,000 during the month of May.

In support of this effort, the Central Georgia COVID-19 Fund has pledged up to $4,000 of the funds raised by 478 Sings United to help many of the local musicians experiencing uncertain times.

The fund will also match the first $2,000 that is donated to the Musicians Relief Fund this month. In addition to the match, the fund will make a $2,000 contribution to the fund.

For more information on 478 Sings United, visit www.unitedwaycg.org/sings.

SOURCE: https://wgxa.tv/news/local/fund-created-to-help-support-local-musicians