Press Release
NASHVILLE MEETS WORLD TEAMS UP WITH UK’S BELLES & GALS TO PRESENT UK COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT AWARDS
NASHVILLE Tenn. – The launch, in September, of web-tv show Nashville Meets World was accompanied with the mandate to not only introduce great talent coming through or based in Nashville but to actively search for rising indie artists around the world. To that end, Nashville Meets World has teamed up with the UK’s “Belles & Gals” to present the 2020 UK Country Spotlight Awards.
The UK Country Spotlight Awards, in association with Belles & Gals, presented by Nashville Meets World, will take place in the United Kingdom in early February, dates TBA. The awards, which have been running since 2017, were originally called “The BGA’s” and were only open to artists underrepresented in country music at all stages of their careers, primarily female artists, but also including members of the LGBTQ+ community and those in ethnic minorities—a mission which Belles and Gals will continue to uphold.
For 2020, however, the UK Country Spotlight Awards will also include categories for male artists. According to Samantha Melrose of 
Belles & Gals, “Being based in the UK, Belles and Gals has a special place in our heart for the burgeoning UK scene. We devote a good percentage of our organization to UK artists, as well as running a sponsorship scheme to highlight some of the best talent in the UK. Belles and Gals is dedicated to the live music scene too, promoting many gender and race balanced gigs with the intention of showcasing and supporting talent. We feel that Nashville Meets World, which is gaining a stronger foothold in the UK, shares our enthusiasm in these endeavors, and we’re thrilled to have them as our media partner for the 2020 UK Country Spotlight Awards.”
Nashville Meets World’s host Camo (Cameron Wallace) agrees. “While I lived in England, I was watching the early development of many British country artists. When I moved to Nashville, I was still connected to these artists and I’ve watched the British Country Music scene explode. I’m really proud of how far the industry has come in recent years, and we’re extremely proud to join up with Belles & Gals for the 2020 UK Country Spotlight Awards.”
About Nashville Meets World: Nashville Meets World TV airs on Facebook every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 2 pm Eastern/1 pm Central/19:00 in the UK and Ireland (and is repeated on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday on YouTube’s Nashville Meets World TV.
Nashville Meets World is hosted in Nashville by Camo, and while the show had previously courted an international audience, the addition of singer/songwriter Zoee as a semi-regular host—an Australian ex-pat based in Glasgow, Scotland—sent a strong message of a trans-Atlantic connection. Nashville Meets World is very much a British/American production. Cameras and editing on the show are done by Amy Westney, a talented British singer/songwriter ex-pat.
The addition of international “correspondents” for the show fits into the fully international strategy. Show host Camo explains, “I’m originally from Canada and lived in England for many years before moving to Nashville. I’ve always had an ‘international ’mindset and want Nashville Meets World to reflect that. I also feel that there are incredible artists around the world who may never be discovered outside of their home country. Our ever-growing group of international correspondents will help solve that situation.”
Here are the talented reporters:
Toronto, Canada—singer/songwriter Nicole Rayy
New York/Philadelphia—singer/songwriter Kendal Conrad
Kendal Conrad Nashville (Music of Black Origin)—Michelle Houston-Campbell Buenos Aires, Argentina—entertainer Anita Rey
Dublin, Ireland—entertainer Mags McCarthy
Glasgow, Scotland—singer/songwriter Zoee
London, England—musician/journalist Samantha Melrose
About Belles & Gals: This outlet is a UK-based organization designed to champion the under-represented in the British Country Music field, which includes primarily female artists, but also including members of the LGBTQ+ community and those in ethnic minorities. www.bellesandgals.com
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For information about Nashville Meets World, contact camo@nashvillemeetsworld.com,+1 615 947-0855.
For information about Belles & Gals and UK Country Spotlight Awards, email contact@bellesandgals.com.
