Gay Nashville Publicist Joey Amato Quoted in Billboard Magazine After Announcement of Mike Huckabee to Country Music Association Board of Directors
Huckabee Has Since Resigned from the Board Amid Industry Protest
In an article published by Billboard Magazine, Nashville-based LGBT publicist Joey Amato is quoted criticizing the decision of the Country Music Association for inviting Mike Huckabee to join its Board of Directors. Historically known for being conservative, Nashville’s country music industry was outraged by this decision and some industry executives threatened to pull funding of the organization due to Huckabee’s stance on the LGBTQ community.
The first person to speak up against the CMA was Jason Owen, head of Sandbox Entertainment whose clients include country artists Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves and Faith Hill. Owen sent the CMA Foundation a letter Thursday declaring that neither he nor his artists would support the association in any way going forward.
Owen then told Billboard: “All the labels are really supporting my stance, with the loudest being [founder of Big Machine Label Group, and CMA Board Director at Large] Scott Borchetta. He has called for an emergency meeting [of the CMA Board] to get this rectified ASAP. Props to him for sure.”