Brian Rhoades Joins EMI Nashville Promotion Staff

/by

Senior Vice President Promotion Steve Hodges has announced the hiring of Brian Rhoades as Director of Promotion, Northeast for EMI Records Nashville. Rhoades, along with the other previously announced promotion staffers Chuck Swaney (Mid/Southwest), Trudie Daniell (Southeast) and Ron Bradley (West Coast), will work as a liaison between the label and country radio stations across the U.S. Rhoades will be based in Nashville.

“Brian brings an extensive promotion background to EMI,” says Hodges. “He will be a great asset to this team adding to an exciting future. Hold on tight, it’s going to be a fun ride!”

Rhoades most recently owned his own independent marketing company, working with clients such as CBS Records, Sony Music, IDJMG and A&M/Octone.

EMI Records Nashville Staff Contact Information:
Steve Hodges, SVP/Promotion                      / 615-269-2033 /          [email protected]
Angela Lange, VP/Promotion                         / 615-269-2085 /          [email protected]
Chuck Swaney, Dir Promotion, MW/SW       / 615-269-2084 /          [email protected]
Brian Rhoades, Dir Promotion, NE                / 615-269-2083 /          [email protected]
Trudie Daniell, Dir Promotion, SE                  / 770-253-1784 /          [email protected]
Ron Bradley, Dir Promotion, West Coast       / 702-334-1898 /          [email protected]

Stars Come Out For Best Cellars Dinner

/by

Dierks Bentley, Mike Diamond, Danny Gokey, Jewel, Julianne Hough, Big Kenny, Gary Allan, Sarah Buxton, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, Blake Shelton and Phil Vassar will be in attendance to assist the T.J. Martell Foundation with celebrating the Eco-Energy Best Cellars Dinner on Monday, April 26 at the Hutton Hotel.

The event, sponsored by Eco-Energy Inc., is one of the Foundation’s signature events that is known for pairing Best Sellers (country music’s top selling artists and other celebrities) with Best Cellars (Nashville’s top wine collectors) and an extraordinary gourmet meal prepared by a world renown guest chef.

“This is one of the premier events of the T.J. Martell Foundation that raises significant funds for the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center,” says Bill Hearn, President of EMI Christian Music Group and Co-Chairman of the Best Cellars Dinner. “It is a great opportunity to enjoy some world class wine, savor an incredible meal prepared by one of the leading chefs in the country and socialize with some of music’s best known artists and other guests in an intimate setting.”

This year’s guest chef is Josiah Citrin, award-winning chef/owner of Mélisse Restaurant in Santa Monica, California, and co-owner of Lemon Moon Café in West Los Angeles. Citrin has been featured on several television food shows, and his restaurant and his recipes have been written up in numerous national food publications.

“We thought it would be fun to invite some different wine collectors from around the country to be involved as Wine Hosts this year,” says Tom Black, owner of The Tom Black Center for Selling and Co-Chairman of the Best Cellars Dinner. “Some of the wine hosts are winery owners, artist managers, top restaurant owners in the country and business professionals.”

The wines that will be poured will be from the cellars of some of the top wine collectors in Nashville and the United States. The featured Best Cellars include Black, Larry Beckwith, Jim Clendenen, Bruce Fingeret, Billy Ray Hearn, T.K. Kimbrell, Irv Lingo, Tom Milam, Eliza Kraft Olander, Keith Pitts, Bill Shea and Dave Sokolin.

More information is available here.

Ben Vaughn To Head EMI Music Publishing

/by

EMI Music Publishing announced today (4/15) that Ben Vaughn has been appointed to run its Nashville operations. As Executive Vice President and General Manager of EMI Music Publishing Nashville, Vaughn will lead the company’s creative, administrative, and commercial business in the country music capital. Vaughn, who was previously Vice President of Writer & Artist Development, will report to EMI Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Roger Faxon in his new role.

“Ben is one of the most talented executives working in Nashville today, and after more than eight years of working alongside Gary Overton, this is not only the natural next step for him – it is the right step,” says Faxon. “I am personally grateful to Gary, who over fifteen years has helped to make EMI Music Publishing such an important force in country music. I have no doubt that Ben is the right man to help take the Nashville business and the songwriters it represents on to even greater heights.”

Vaughn joined EMI Music Publishing in 2002, and has played a key role in the signing and development of the company’s roster of writers including Rhett Akins, Guy Clark, Dallas Davidson, Jerry Flowers, Alan Jackson, Jamey Johnson, Kelley Lovelace,  Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, Tom Shapiro, and Jeremy Stover. EMI Music Publishing’s songwriters have helped the company win numerous industry awards, including the ASCAP Country Music Publisher of the Year prize which it picked up in October. Before joining EMI, Vaughn ran Big Tractor Music, the successful independent publishing company owned by Scott Hendricks.

“It has been a dream of mine to lead EMI Music Publishing’s Nashville business, and I appreciate Roger Faxon’s trust and empowerment,” Vaughn says. “It’s my great fortune to have found some real mentors & friends in my 14 years in the publishing business. It’s been a real honor to work beside Gary Overton, and I wish him all the best in the future. Our goals at EMI Music Publishing are to serve our songwriters, protect their interests, and grow their careers, and I’m excited about working with the team here to continue that important work.“

Overton is leaving the company after fifteen years to become CEO of Sony Music Nashville.

“It’s difficult to leave EMI Music Publishing after so many years, and to say goodbye to my staff and the writers who I care so deeply about,” Overton says. “However I know they will be in good hands under Ben’s leadership. I could not think of anyone better than Ben Vaughn to lead the company and its writers. I’m certain that he will be a huge success, and I’m looking forward to working with him in my new role.”

Judds To Open CMA Festival

/by

Superstar duo The Judds will kick off 2010 CMA Music Festival with the opening daily concert on the Riverfront Park Stage at 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 10.

“The Judds performing on the Riverfront Park Stage – that is something worth waking up for!” says Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “We are so excited to have Naomi and Wynonna reunite at CMA Music Festival and kick off all the festivities. We know this will be a one-of-a-kind performance as only The Judds can do.”

“We are totally psyched to get to kick off CMA Music Fest this year on the Riverfront Park Stage,” said Naomi and Wynonna Judd. “We can’t wait to be live with fans and music lovers from across the country. It’s such a privilege to partner with CMA to spread the word about our final tour. Plan your life around it. The Judds are coming back.”

This will be The Judds’ sixth time to perform together at CMA Music Festival. They previously performed together at the event in 1984, 1985, 1990, 2003 and 2009. Wynonna has also performed solo at the Festival seven times in the past (1992, 1995, 1999, 2004-2006, and 2009). The Judds won a total of nine CMA Awards, including four consecutive wins as Vocal Duo of the Year (1988-1991), three consecutive wins as Vocal Group of the Year (1985-1987), Single of the Year (1985 for “Why Not Me”), and the Horizon Award (1984).

In preparation for The Judds’ highly anticipated 2010 final tour later this year, the duo has invited fans to submit names for the Name That Tour Contest. The winning name will be selected by The Judds and awarded credit in the 2010 Commemorative Judds Tour Book, a thank you video from The Judds, and $500 in tour merchandise. The contest ends on April 23. For details, visit www.wynonna.com.

Sweet Tweets: Ads Come To Twitter

/by

When Twitter launched four years ago it was a social networking idea without much of a business model. But the brains behind the microblogging site didn’t seem to mind, instead they focused on growing users— now up to 20 million users per month (comScore data)—and building venture capital—now over $100 million in the bank.

Yesterday Twitter launched its first profit spinning initiative, a promising advertising component called Promoted Tweets. A handful of big name advertisers including Starbucks, Sony Pictures, Virgin America, and Best Buy are the first on board.

With a growing number of marketers and music artists using Twitter as a promotional tool, advertising will be a significant new option when it is opened up to other companies. In fact, so many artists use Twitter to reach fans, MusicRow started a Twitter chart, ranking artists by the number of Followers. Until yesterday, Twitter users could only communicate with their Followers, but with Promoted Tweets, marketers will be able to push their message.

Ads appear when a user searches Twitter, similar to the way Google filters ads. For example, search for “coffee,” and if Starbucks sprung for that keyword, a Starbucks ad will appear at the top of the search results.

According to Twitter’s web site, “If users don’t interact with a Promoted Tweet to allow us to know that the Promoted Tweet is resonating with them, such as replying to it, favoriting it, or Retweeting it, the Promoted Tweet will disappear.”

Currently, ad prices are based on every 1000 impressions, but the Wall Street Journal predicts an evolving model that eventually leads to charging based on how users interact with the messages.

Twitter draws some revenue from licensing partnerships with Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo, where Tweets appear in each company’s respective Internet search results. This ties into later plans for Promoted Tweets to show up across the Web. Other future plans may place ads in the stream of posts users see when they log in to the site.

Overton to Head Sony Music Nashville

/by

Sony Music Nashville will announce Gary Overton as its new CEO this afternoon, sources tell Billboard.biz.

Overton, currently EMI Music Publishing’s executive VP and GM, will replace Joe Galante who announced yesterday that he is exiting his position of chairman of Sony Music Nashville. Galante is expected to assist during a transition period.

In turn, Ben Vaughn will be tapped to lead EMI Music Publishing, replacing Overton. Vaughn was previously VP of writer and artist development and will be named executive VP and GM. He’ll report to EMI Music Publishing chairman and CEO Roger Faxon.

Writer’s Den Adds iPhone App

/by

Nashville’s Writer’s Den Music has become the first known music publishing company to launch an iPhone Application. Designed by Writer’s Den Music Group Internet Marketing staff member Adam Moore, the app allows subscribers to hear the latest demos from the company’s writers, find out where and when their writers are playing around Nashville, watch exclusive videos of their writers’ shows and read the current buzz on the company and writers. In addition, followers over 21 years of age will have the chance to score a free beer at one of their writer’s showcases if they find any of the company’s staffers; Bobby Rymer, Janice Jackson, Laura Wright or Adam Moore, and show them that you’ve got the app. Anyone who hasn’t met them can find pictures of them on the app.

“I’m excited that music industry insiders, artists and songwriters will have a new way to hear our catalog anytime, anywhere 24/7,” says Moore. “Literally having the latest demos at their fingertips!”

The app is available for free. With an iPhone or iPod Touch, users can download by searching the app store for Writer’s Den.
The Writer’s Den’s current roster of songwriters includes Bonnie Bishop, Ben Cooper, Tami Hinesh, Trent Jeffcoat and Adam Wright. The company has secured cuts and TV placements, including “Taillights Blue” from Alan Jackson’s new album Freight Train; “Rains Here Too” (Tami Hinesh with Kate York) recently featured on the CW Network’s One Tree Hill; “Courageous” (Ben Cooper and Melinda Schneider) recorded by both Olivia Newton John and Australian artist Melinda Schneider; and “I’m Gonna Make You Want To” (Tami Hinesh with Betsy Ulmer and Kelly Archer) recorded by Nathalia on Universal Records in Brazil.

Warner Adds Four to Promotion Staff


/by

Warner Music Nashville has added four people to its promotion staff. The four will join Warner West Coast regional rep Rhonda Christensen, who was hired in March. The new team members are part of a new two-team promotion department that will report directly to Warner’s Senior Vice President Promotion Chris Stacey. The new promotion staffers are Nathan Cruise (South East Regional); Carolyn Drosey (Promotion Coordinator); Ray Vaughn (South West Regional); and Lindsay Walleman (Mid West Regional).

Cruise comes to Warner Music from Stroudavarious, where he served as Midwest Regional, Drosey was formerly Promotion Manager for Capitol Records Nashville, and Walleman joins Warner Music from CO5 Music, where she was Mid West Regional. Vaughn was formerly Southwest Regional Promotion Director at Universal Republic Records.

The new structure breaks down along the following lines: Warner Music Group’s Nashville division is called Warner Music Nashville and is headed by President/CEO John Esposito. Warner Music Nashville breaks down into three imprints – Atlantic, Reprise and Warner Bros. Nashville (WBN). Warner Music Nashville and its three imprints will share two promotion teams, which are headed by Senior Vice President Promotion Chris Stacey.

Artist News: Luke, Brad, Dierks, Bucky & More

/by

Luke Bryan And Longhorn Team For Sweepstakes
Live at LongHorn and Luke Bryan have teamed up to host a new sweepstakes to give fans the chance to win the ultimate country music experience. Two grand prize winners will get to meet Bryan and ride on a tour bus with him throughout the Midwest. They’ll also receive VIP passes to his concerts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and at Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, WI, as well as round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations. Click here to enter the Cross Country With Luke Bryan Sweepstakes.

• • •

Jypsi Plays “Grammys On The Hill”
Arista Nashville’s Jypsi will be among the special guests participating in the two-day Grammys on the Hill event today (4/14) and tomorrow (4/15) in Washington, D.C.  Today, Jypsi will perform the national anthem to open the Grammys on the Hill Awards. Hosted by songwriter Paul Williams, the annual event honors outstanding legislators who work to improve the environment for music makers, as well as artists who use the power of music to improve all our lives. This year’s honorees will include country superstar Garth Brooks, U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Darrell Issa.

• • •

Chicks Pick The Hits
The Dixie Chicks will release a compilation of their own favorite material on June 1 as part of Legacy Recordings’ Playlist series. Titled Playlist: The Very Best of Dixie Chicks, the 12-track album includes two songs from Wide Open Spaces, three songs from Fly, three songs from Home and four songs from Taking the Long Way. The 12 songs were remastered for the CD release. The band is getting ready to join the Eagles on an eight-city tour in June.

• • •

Bucky Gives Back
Bucky Covington is among the American Idol finalists who will be volunteering at a Nashville food bank on April 21 to coincide with the charity-themed episode of the series, Idol Gives Back. Covington, who was a season five finalist, will be volunteering with Bo Bice and Mandissa (from season four) as well as Melinda Doolittle and Phil Stacey (from season six). As previously reported, Carrie Underwood (winner of season four) will perform during the episode. Feeding America, a nonprofit organization, is one of the beneficiaries of American Idol’s charitable activities.

• • •

In keeping with his latest single, “Water,” Arista Nashville artist Brad Paisley will headline the AquaPalooza 2010 signature event with a concert at The Reserve on Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas, on July 10. Smaller AquaPalooza festivals are held throughout the U.S. as part of the promotions sponsored by Sea Ray boats. Paisley’s concert is free, although there will be no land access to the concert which is expected to attract thousands of boaters. Paisley’s H20 World Tour begins May 21 in Virginia Beach, Va.

• • •

Capitol Records Nashville artist Dierks Bentley has announced a few of the Texas artists who will join his Miles & Music for Kids celebrity motorcycle ride and concert in Dallas-Fort Worth on Sunday, Apr. 25. Joining Bentley for the post-ride jam at Billy Bob’s Texas will be Brandon Rhyder, Kristen Kelly & The Modern Day Drifters and Roger Creager along with a few more surprise guests. All proceeds will benefit the Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Cook Children’s Medical Center of Fort Worth. Since it began in 2006, Miles & Music for Kids has raised over $1 million. Tickets for the event start at $20 and are available through Ticketmaster.

Disney Confirms Phased Closure For Lyric Street—Flatts To Remain

/by

NASHVILLE, TN – April 14, 2010 – Disney Music Group (DMG) announced today that they will close operations at Lyric Street Records, DMG’s label presence in Nashville.

“The Lyric Street team has had an amazing run, building a slate of well-known artists including the superstar act, Rascal Flatts,” said Bob Cavallo, Chairman of Disney Music Group.  “But given the changing nature of the music business and the more streamlined priorities of the Studios, we need to find alternative ways to create and market new artists and their music to consumers. I’m tremendously proud of what the team has accomplished.”

The closure of Lyric Street will be phased, keeping a core promotions team in place to continue to market and promote the label’s current records. Rascal Flatts will be transitioned to another DMG label in order to focus attention on the successful launch of their upcoming fall album.

Since opening in 1997, Lyric Street Records has been the home to multi-platinum artists Rascal Flatts and SHeDAISY. Other artists include Aaron Tippen, Love & Theft, Sarah Buxton and newcomers Tyler Dickerson and Kevin Fowler as well as American Idol alums Josh Gracin and Bucky Covington.

The Disney Music Group encompasses all of the Walt Disney Studios’ recorded music and music publishing operations, including Hollywood Records, Walt Disney Records and Walt Disney Music Publishing.

Friday (4/16) will be the last day for the following Lyric Street staffers:

Kirk Boyer can be reached at 615-417-1285 or [email protected]
Randy Goodman
Cindy Heath can be reached at 615-429-2203 or [email protected]
Ashley Heron can be reached at 615-828-7180 or [email protected]
Doug Howard
Katie McCartney can be reached at 615-995-4614 or [email protected]
Chris Palmer can be reached at 615-417-7486  or [email protected]
Jackie Schwarz can be reached at 615-636-9989 or [email protected]