Industry Ink: Stanley Generation Records Opens

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Laura Dodd


Performer and producer Nathan Stanley, grandson of Ralph Stanley, is launching his own Stanley Generation Records with the signing of flagship artist Laura Dodd. Sony/RED is expected to handle distribution and Larry Pareigis of Nine North Records has been tapped to oversee radio promotion. Dodd’s first single will arrive at radio in June.
Nathan Stanley grew up performing with his grandfather’s Clinch Mountain Boys. Last year at age 18, he released his fourth album, My Kind Of Country, which he co-produced with guests appearances by Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Patty Loveless and more. Now he is producing a tribute album to his grandfather which will be released on Stanley Generation.
Laura Dodd was named New Artist of the Year at the 2010 Inspirational Country Music Awards. The Alabama native has opened for George Jones, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner, and also performed at the White House.

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Thinking Bee Productions, a Nashville company which produces unscripted series, music videos, documentaries and web content for social marketing, has announced three hirings. Joining the team are Production Manager Sara Foster, and Editors Stephen Shiveley and Joey Von Haeger. They are working under President Bill Filipiak and EVP Jo Hunt.

Pictured (L-R): Joey Von Haeger, Sara Foster and Stephen Shivley

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Janie Fricke


Third Coast Talent has signed Janie Fricke for exclusive booking representation. The singer charted numerous hits during the late seventies and into the eighties, including several No. 1s. Carrie Moore-Reed will be the responsible agent. She can be reached at 615-685-3331 and [email protected].

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MusicRow’s thoughts are with Keith Burns (Burns & Poe) and his family as daughter Savannah Leigh undergoes cancer treatment. The 18-year-old college student was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this month. She had been in the ICU in Atlanta but her condition was recently upgraded. More here.

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Alyssa Drew Taylor


Congratulations to Warner Music Nashville’s Sr. Coordinator of Brand Management Danielle Taylor and husband Shane on the birth of their daughter. They welcomed Alyssa Drew Taylor on Monday, April 11, weighing 8 lbs and measuring 20 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great.

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Congrats to industry vet Allen Butler who scored his first hole-in-one on the golf course recently. He was on the No. 6 hole at Old Natchez Country Club in Franklin.

Adams and Reese Music Row Office Celebrates 10th Year

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Adams and Reese recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the opening of their Music Row law office. (L-R) Music Row Partners Linda Edell Howard, left, and Lynn Morrow, joined by Sam Bartholomew the Founding Partner and visionary who started the Nashville law offices of Stokes Bartholomew, the predecessor to Adams and Reese.


Adams and Reese recently celebrated the tenth anniversary of its Nashville Music Row office with a festive event and presentation to founding partner Sam Bartholowmew. Bartholomew, current Of Counsel with Adams and Reese, saw the need to service the entire Nashville Music Row community by starting an entertainment practice and presence there.
“Only someone as wonderful and well-respected as Sam Bartholomew could have enticed me away from Loeb & Loeb 10 years ago to start a law office from scratch,” said Linda Edell Howard who now serves as the firm’s Entertainment and New Media Team Leader. “The challenge was exciting and the last 10 years have been incredibly rewarding.”
Howard opened the Music Row office in 2001 under the name of the law firm Stokes & Bartholomew. Lynn Morrow, who currently serves as serves as the Partner in Charge of the Music Row offices, joined a few months afterwards. In 2005, Stokes Bartholomew completed a merger with Adams and Reese and a year later added attorney John Ouellette to the team. Before joining Adams and Reese, Ouellette worked with Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing as Director of Business Affairs and Copyright Administration.
“We are very proud of the success we’ve had and look forward to continuing that success for many years to come,” added Morrow. Morrow and Howard’s 10-year entertainment and intellectual property law work on Music Row have helped the full-service firm amass a client roster that includes Grammy winners, award winning songwriters and artists, the estates of deceased legendary celebrities, key industry executives,  music publishers,  personal managers,  producers,  authors and more.
Adams and Reese ranked No. 1 in Entertainment and  Media Law in Tennessee by Chambers USA and was named Entertainment Law Firm of the Year in 2010 in Corporate INTL Magazine. The firm also ranked No. 3 in Nashville in most entertainment cases handled in 2009 and 2010, a listing created by the Nashville Business Journal.

Capitol Promotes Allison Hardy

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Allison Hardy


Capitol/EMI Records Nashville has promoted Allison Hardy to Manager, Media & Public Relations. She has been part of the label’s team since interning with the company in 2008 and has worked in the promotion and marketing teams over the last three years. Her most recent stint was Coordinator of the Marketing Department, reporting to Cindy Mabe, SVP, Marketing.
“Allison Hardy is such a valuable team member at Capitol, having experience within promotion, marketing, and digital and social media,” explains Mabe. “Her work ethic, love for the music and artists and desire to learn and grow make her the perfect candidate for the job. I really believe she will bring a unique perspective and skill set to our aggressive media team. I am really excited and proud to have Allison join Lori and Taryn as we take the media department in a new focused direction with our incredible roster of talent.”
In her new role, Hardy will report to Lori Genes Christian, Senior Director, Media & Public Relations and help to oversee media campaigns for the artists on Capitol/EMI Nashville which include Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Walker Hayes, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Jennette McCurdy, Troy Olsen, Jon Pardi, Eric Paslay, Roy D. Mercer, Kenny Rogers, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban and Tim Wilson.
Hardy can be reached at [email protected] or 615-269-2031.
Capitol/EMI is now looking to fill the New Media Coordinator position. Resumes can be sent to [email protected].

Flying Island Entertainment Plans For Launch

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Entertainment attorney Nancy Eckert and booking veteran Louis Newman have announced the formation of Flying Island Entertainment, a Nashville-based artist services company to address the needs of both up-and-coming and established artists.
GrassRoots Promotion’s Nancy Tunick will oversee the staffing of Flying Island’s radio division, as well as serving as its label and promotion consultant. Tunick will also maintain her role as managing partner and co-owner of GrassRoots.
“We are excited to have someone with Nancy Tunick’s experience and reputation to guide our promotion efforts,” says Eckert. “We are developing some strategic partnerships that we will announce very soon, but right now we are looking for several highly-motivated radio promotion vets to round out our in-house staff.”
Those interested in applying should direct inquiries and resumes to Nancy Tunick at: 615-353-2778 or [email protected].

"Rolling Stone" Declares Nashville "Best Music Scene"

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In its new Best of Rock issue, Rolling Stone lists Nashville as the nation’s Best Music Scene. The one-page spread covers Music City restaurants, bars, venues, shopping and record stores, with quotes from local rockers about their favorite hangs.
Kings of Leon’s Caleb Followill prefers Losers, and Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney can be found at the Station Inn or the 12 South Taproom.
Taylor Swift shares her love for yogurt parfait from Fido.
And most of the interviewees agree that Grimey’s is the best record store, except for Jack White’s wife Karen Elson who prefers Third Man for obvious reasons.
See the complete PDF article here.

Photo Spread: Judds, Lunabelles, SOLID

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The Judds donated proceeds from VIP packages sold during their final farewell tour, The Last Encore, to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Naomi Judd and manager Kerry Hansen were on hand to present the donation to St. Jude representatives.

(L-R): Kerry Hansen of Big Enterprises, Jackie Profitt of St. Jude, Naomi Judd, Teri Watson of St. Jude Photo: Aaron Crisler/The Judy Nelon Group

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Show Dog-Universal President Mark Wright appeared as a guest speaker at the Society of Leaders in Development’s (SOLID) General Assembly meeting recently at Belmont University. Wright shared with the group of young music business professionals the challenges of record label consolidation while managing a team, his perspective on the producer of the future, and his experience of balancing being a songwriter, producer and label head.

(L-R): Show Dog- Universal Music A&R/Production Coordinator Laurel Kittleson, Show Dog-Universal Music President Mark Wright, SOLID President Ian Wolczyk, and SOLID Vice President Jon Romero

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The Lunabelles, BNA Records newest act, stopped by the April 4 meeting of the Belmont University chapter of CMA EDU. Comprised of Alex Kline and sisters Dominque, Gabby, and Olivia Arciero, the group gave the students an inside look at what it is like to be a new act on a major label.

(L-R) The Lunabelles' Olivia, Dominque, and Gabby Arciero, CMA Sr. Coordinator of Partner Programs Sarah McGrady, The Lunabelles' Alex Klein, and Producer Jeff Coplan. Photo: Ben Bennett/CMA.


 

Nine North Adds Two Staffers

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Will Robinson (L) and Jim Dorman (R)


Nine North Records has added Jim Dorman and Will Robinson to its staff, effective May 2. Dorman takes over the Director of Promotion, West Coast/Southwest region from the departing Dave Collins and Robinson will be Director of Promotion, Northeast/Midwest region as Stan Marczewski exits.
Dorman has over 21 years experience in radio including stops at KTOM/Monterey, KRLL/Sacramento and KMIX/Modesto, and another 12 years on the records side with Epic, Atlantic, Warner Bros. and Black River.
Robinson brings 16 years of radio experience to the, including gigs with WRBQ/Tampa, WNEW/New York, WCAT/Harrisburg and WFRE/Frederick, MD.
Reach Dorman at [email protected] and Robinson at [email protected]

Sugarland Added To CMA Music Fest Lineup

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Sugarland joins the growing list of performers for the 2011 CMA Music Festival’s Nightly Concerts at LP Field. The award-winning Mercury Records duo will take the stage Friday, June 10.
Special guests are also expected to make appearances during the Nightly Concerts. American Idol winner and multi-platinum artist Kelly Clarkson is scheduled to join Jason Aldean during his Thursday, June 9 performance for their duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” The same night, Alan Jackson is slated to join Zac Brown Band for their hit “As She’s Walking Away.”
CMA Music Festival takes place June 9-12 in downtown Nashville. Previously announced performers for the Nightly Concerts include Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Lady Antebellum, Easton Corbin, Martina McBride, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton and many more.

Kenny Chesney Joins BMI

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Pictured at Texas Stadium during the Dallas stop on Chesney’s 2011 Going Coastal Tour are (l-r): Phil Graham, Senior Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI; Clay Bradley, Assistant Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI Nashville ; Kenny Chesney; Troy Tomlinson, President & CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville; and Jody Williams, Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI Nashville. Photo by Glen Rose


Kenny Chesney has joined the BMI family of songwriters. The superstar has been building a repertoire of hits for more than a decade, leading to his recent twenty-first No. 1 “Somewhere With You.”
His long list of hits includes “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems,” “The Good Stuff,” “I Go Back,” “Don’t Blink,” “There Goes My Life,” “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy,” “Living in Fast Forward,” and “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven.”
After taking a break from full-scale touring last year, Chesney recently launched his biggest outing to-date with numerous stadium shows on the schedule.

Study Finds DVDs And BluRay Discs Dominate Digital Video Options

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Consumers are still using DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BD) more than all other digital  video options combined reports market research group NPD. According to the company’s March 2011 study that included 9636 completed surveys from U.S. consumers, 77% of those surveyed reported watching a movie via DVD or BD for an average of four hours per week, unchanged from last year. 68% watched a movie on a TV or cable network, 49% at a theatre and 21% used paid video on demand (VOD) on their TV.
“With the well publicized struggles of Blockbuster and retail video stores closing around the country, and with media attention increasingly focused on the newest digital home-video offerings, the value and importance of physical formats to the home video industry and to consumers is often overlooked,” said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for The NPD Group. “Even though DVD sales and rentals are slowing, there is no evidence that consumers are abandoning physical discs for watching movies, even as the choices for viewing are expanding.”
With regard to spending, the study reports that 78% of home video budgets are spent for purchase/rental of DVD and BD. Video subscription services like Netflix offering a mix of VOD and physical discs accounted for about 15%. Digital video downloads, paid streaming, paid transactional video on demand (VOD), and pay per view (PPV) comprised the remaining 8 percent. Overall per-capita spending on home video fell by 2 percent.
“We expect strong growth from many digital sectors, driven by connected devices, improving selection, and the consumer’s endless quest for convenience,” Crupnick said. “For now, though, physical discs continue to lead overall engagement and spending by home video viewers; and even with increasing use of VOD and other digital formats, the primacy of DVD and Blu-ray in home video will continue for the foreseeable future.”