Swift to Receive Symphony’s Harmony Award

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Taylor Swift will receive the Nashville Symphony’s 2011 Harmony Award during the Symphony Ball on Sat., Dec. 10 at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The honor is bestowed on an individual who exemplifies the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s thriving musical community.

“We are proud to call our home Music City, and Taylor Swift is the perfect person to receive this award, because she has contributed so tremendously to promoting this amazing community of which we are all a part,” says Nashville Symphony CEO and President Alan Valentine. “From classical to country to pop, a wide variety of genres of music thrive in Nashville, and Swift embodies the all-encompassing spirit that makes our city such a uniquely special place.”

Now in its 27th year, the Symphony Ball is Nashville’s premier winter social event and one of the Nashville Symphony’s two annual fundraisers. Since its inception in 1985, the ball has raised a total of more than $6.5 million for the Symphony. This year’s event is chaired by Laurie Eskind and Vicki Horne.

Past recipients of the prestigious Harmony Award include Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Michael W. Smith, Mike & Linda Curb, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, The Judds, Steve Winwood, Vince Gill, Wynonna and Naomi Judd, Chet Atkins, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood and Marty Stuart.

Signings: Odie Blackmon, Garret Noel, Coy Taylor

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MPR Entertainment Group subsidiary Root Forty-Nine Music has signed Grammy-nominated songwriter Odie Blackmon to a multi-year publishing and songwriting agreement. “We could not be more excited to have Odie join us here at Root 49 Music,” says MPR COO Matthew Beckett. “He brings a talent and a reputation that is second to none. We look forward to a lasting and successful relationship.” Blackmon wrote Lee Ann Womack’s 2005 CMA Single of the Year and No. 1 “I May Hate Myself In The Morning,” co-wrote George Strait’s “She’ll Leave You With A Smile,” and co-wrote Gary Allan’s “Nothing On But The Radio.” His songs have also been recorded by Martina McBride, Del McCoury, Tracy Lawrence and more. He recently released his instructional DVD The Craft of Writing Hit Songs and is a music lecturer at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

(L-R) Front: Root Forty-Nine creative director Mark Brown; Odie Blackmon; and MPR Entertainment Group president Carolyn Miller; Back: attorney Chip Petree; ASCAP’s Leann Phelan; and MPR Entertainment Group chief operating officer Matthew Beckett

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Actor/director Garret Noel and actress Terin Alba have signed with BMI for performance representation. Noel’s onscreen credits include Jon Favreau’s Iron Man and this summer’s Cowboys Vs. Aliens. As a director, he has finished a documentary called Desert Saints which will be released internationally. He also wrote and directed feature length drama Promised Land, which will premiere at Sundance Film Festival. Noel has been in Nashville working on post production and the soundtrack with BMI writer/associate producer Paul Reeves, who has been working with female lead Terin Alba on songs for the soundtrack.

(L-R) Seated: Jody Williams, BMI; Garret Noel; Standing: David Preston, BMI; Terin Alba; Paul Reeves

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Coy Taylor

Country artist Coy Taylor has signed with Flying Island Entertainment to promote his single “Fall For You” at country radio. The song was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville with an all-star cast of session players and the accompanying video was shot by director Thien Phan. Since arriving in Nashville two years ago, Cincinnati native Taylor has worked with Brady Seals and Little Jimmie Dickens and opened shows for Jason Aldean, Mark Chesnutt, Craig Morgan and Joe Diffie.

DISClaimer Single Reviews (9/7/11)

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This edition of DisClaimer has exactly the right mixture of superstars, mid-levels and unknowns.

In the first column, we have Vince Gill, Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band, the last-named of whom wins our Disc of the Day award.

Strong second-tier acts with winners in this stack of platters include Kevin Fowler, Lantana, Coldwater Jane and Ashley Gearing. All are worth your spins.

The three unknowns vying for this week’s DisCovery Award are Roy Solis, Jessica Caylyn and Tim Foust. I’m going with rumble-tonsiled Tim, whoever he is.

ROY SOLIS/Tailgate Party
Writer: Roy Solis/Johnny Garcia/Troy Powers; Producer: Johnny Garcia; Publisher: Avenue 1/Busy at Play/Mia’s Pub, BMI/ASCAP; RSM (www.roysolismusic.com)
—Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: It’s about parking the four-wheel drive pick-up out in the country with beer and friends and girls. The electric guitar work rocks righteously. Maybe that’s because producer Garcia is a top-notch guitarist, noted for his longtime work with Trisha Yearwood.

ZAC BROWN BAND/Keep Me In Mind
Writer: Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette/Nic Cowan; Producer: Keith Stegall & Zac Brown; Publisher: Weimerhound/Lil’ Dub/Angelika/Souhern Ground, BMI; Atlantic (track)
—Their trademark group harmonies are right up front-and-center. And they get to the hook almost instantly, in a matter of seconds. It has a delightfully funky little back beat that bops infectiously up to a strikingly languid bridge, then returns brighter than ever. The whole thing, including the closing guitar solo, is dazzling.

LANTANA/A Few Little Things
Writer: Aimee Mayo/Tommy Lee James; Producer: Beau Bedford; Publisher: Universal Careers/Silverkiss/Still Working for the Man/Ballad Boy/BMG Chrysalis, BMI; Millijewel  (www.lantanamusic.com)
—This female Texas trio harmonizes brightly on this chugging toe tapper with a lyric of love lessons. Pleasant, if not exactly life changing.

VINCE GILL/Threaten Me With Heaven
Writer: Vince Gill/Amy Grant/Will Owlsley/Dillon O’Brian; Producer: Vince Gill, John Hobbs & Justin Niebank; Publisher: Vinny Mae/Grant Girls/The Loving Company/Willie-O/Dillon O’Brian, BMI; MCA Nashville (CDX)
—Deeply soulful. Gooebump inducing. I reviewed this last spring, but now is its time. To recap: This gorgeous meditation would be heart melting even acoustic and unadorned. As it happens, the production swells with inspiring choral backing, celestial guitar work and echoey ambiance. If it doesn’t produce a lump in your throat, you are made of stone.

TIM FOUST/You’re So Yesterday
Writer: Tim Foust/Joe Bilotta/Biran Pothier; Producer: Brian Pothier; Publisher: Soaring Swans, BMI/ASCAP; Flying Pig (CDX) (www.flyingpigproductions.com)
—He has one of those Josh Turner low-dipping vocal registers. The track thumps in all the right places, and as you might guess from the title, the lyric is a clever one. Recommended.

COLDWATER JANE/Marionette
Writer: none listed; Producer: Kevin Kadish & Wayne Kirkpatrick; Publisher: none listed; Mercury (track)
—I was quite fond of this act’s debut single, “Bring on the Love.” The follow-up sophomore effort has a little less crunch but a lot more breeze. Their vocals are enchanting, and the production sails along over the audio waves with marvelous clarity and energy. I remain a fan.

ASHLEY GEARING/Me, My Heart And I
Writer: Brian Davis/Ashley Gearing/Kyle Jacobs; Producer: The Fringe; Publisher: Mike Curb/Melrose Nashville/Curb Songs/Jacobsong, BMI/ASCAP; Curb
—So long, buster: She’s hitting the road, and rocking righteously while she’s at it.

JASON ALDEAN/Tattoos On This Town
Writer: Neil Thrasher/Wendell Mobley/Michael Dulaney; Producer: Michael Knox; Publisher: Warner Tamerlane/Boatwright Baby/Desert Treasure/Feet in the Creek/BMG Gold, BMI/ASCAP; Borken Bow (track)
—The follow-up to the mega crossover hit “Dirt Road Anthem” is a power ballad with a mighty audio undertow. His drawled vocal is mixed hot, the better to deliver the nostalgic message, yet the guitars are screaming and the rhythm is pounding right behind him. Strong stuff. Completely undeniable.

KEVIN FOWLER/That Girl
Writer: Kevin Fowler/Trent Willmon/Clint Ingersol; Producer: David Lee Murphy; Publisher: Kevin Fowler/Mayes County/Happy Cattle, BMI/ASCAP; Average Joes (track) (www.kevinfowler.com)
—I dig this guy’s voice with its slight touch of grit. The song is super solid. But the real star here is a frothing, lathered-up, ferocious, whiplash-rocker production. This thing will pin your ears back, for sure.

JESSICA CAYLYN/Just Can’t Help Myself
Writer: Emily Shackelton/Jessica Caylyn/Boh Cooper/Steffon Hamulak; Producer: Steffon Hamulak; Publisher: Liz Rose/Kobalt/Oceanwaveheart/Little Boh/Mousam River/Sea the Desert, BMI/ASCAP; JC (track) (www.jessicacaylyn.com)
—She tackles the melody and stays atop the crashing track like a pro. It’s not an especially memorable voice, but this is still a promising debut.

Discovering BossRoss Web Read

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Imagine BossRoss Web Read as being your own personal information curator quietly selecting articles of interest  from varied sources around the internet. Topics include all facets of the music world plus technology, social networking, business, touring and more. It’s all linked so you can glance down the headlines and travel fast to investigate. A good short cut is to click first on the View All link at the bottom —you’ll see why.

As this article is written, Amazon’s new website design test is at the top of the list, followed by the news that Groupon, after turning down Google’s $6.5 billion offer a few months ago (completely crazy) are finding the IPO market more complex than they imagined. In fact Groupon’s IPO has now been postponed due to “market volatility.”

Also on the list are fascinating reads from Wired magazine and Vulture about the recent Starz-Netflix divorce and what the future may hold for Netflix’s streaming business. If you’ve been following the WebRead then you already know about the recent content renewal negotiations breaking down.

“It’s not about age, it’s about how you present yourself,” says an article from FINS.com titled, Age Proofing Your Job Application. Good advice if you are on the hunt for a new chair, and worth a quick read…

How Do I Find BossRoss Web Read?
You’ve probably already found it, but if not, a sample is pasted below. You can also find it about half way down the right side “widget” column on MusicRow.com…

If there are additional topics you’d like to see included or general comments, please leave ‘em below… Thanks


Dude, Where’s My CMA Nomination?

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Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean both earned their first CMA Award nominations for Entertainer of the Year.

Nominations for the 45th Annual CMA Awards are here, and there are a few discussion-worthy items, including new entries in Entertainer of the Year, the lengthening time of artist development, and the omission of Miranda Lambert from two expected categories.

First let’s examine the Entertainer of the Year Category.

It’s obviously a big year for Jason Aldean, who scored five total nominations. The Entertainer of the Year nod (his first) might seem surprising, but Aldean has been on this trajectory for some time. His Album of the Year-nominated My Kinda Party was the No. 1 selling country album for the first half of 2011 and No. 4 in all genres, and the My Kinda Party tour has sold out major markets nationwide. Yet his only nominations to date have been the Horizon Award in 2007 and 2008. Today’s results, particularly the Entertainer of the Year acknowledgment, affirm his status as one of country music’s brightest new stars.

Also getting his first Entertainer of the Year nomination is reigning Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton, who also earned five nominations. While Shelton’s sales and touring statistics may not match all the other Entertainer contenders, his judging role on NBC’s The Voice has made him a highly visible personality and might signal that CMA voters are starting to place more weight on media celebrity in addition to the usual criteria.

But Aldean, Shelton, Taylor Swift, and Keith Urban will all face some heavy-duty competition from reigning Entertainer of the Year Brad Paisley. Also with five nominations this year, Paisley maintains his status as the third most nominated artist in CMA Awards history. He’s been nominated every year since 2000, making 57 total. Only George Strait and Alan Jackson have more.

Curiously absent from the Entertainer category is Kenny Chesney, whose recent spate of hits (“Somewhere With You,” “Live A Little,” “You and Tequila”) and gigantic Goin’ Coastal stadium tour are compelling arguments in his favor.

The New Artist of the Year category (formerly the Horizon Award) also presents an interesting discussion on artist development.

Nominees Luke Bryan and Chris Young previously received New Artist nominations in 2010 but they, along with 2011 nominee Eric Church, are all currently supporting their third albums. While they technically don’t meet the definition of a “new” artist, all three are beginning to experience widespread commercial success for the first time. Does this indicate  the development period for new artists is increasing?

Filling out the New Artist category are Thompson Square, whose breakout success with “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” makes their inclusion a no-brainer, and The Band Perry, who were strangely omitted from the ballot in 2010. The New Artist criteria states that an artist can only be included in the category twice, so win or lose this will the last year for Bryan and Young.

Finally, there’s Miranda Lambert.

She had major CMA wins in 2010, including Album of the Year (Revolution) and Female Vocalist, and a nomination for Entertainer of the Year. This year she’s only up for two awards: Musical Event for “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and Female Vocalist of the Year. All well deserved, but her success has only continued upward in 2011. She had yet another No. 1 with “Heart Like Mine,” which could have been a Single of the Year hopeful, and mounted her first headlining tour. Additionally, the Video of the Year category seems incomplete without the clever clip for “Only Prettier” which placed Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Hillary Scott and Laura Bell Bundy in dual good girl/bad girl roles. Then again, Revolution was over a year old at the 2010 awards and “Heart Like Mine” was its 5th single, which may explain her reduced visibility.

The show goes on November 9, live from the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville.  No doubt, we’re in for a night full of surprises…

BMI Names SVP/General Counsel

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Stuart Rosen

BMI has promoted Stuart Rosen to Senior Vice President and General Counsel, overseeing global operations of the BMI legal department, directing the organization’s legal affairs and positions, as well as all attorneys working within the company. He was previously Vice President, Legal at the performing rights organization and is based in the New York office.

Rosen will report directly to BMI President & CEO Del Bryant. In making today’s announcement, Bryant said, “Stuart has been a key member of the legal department since joining BMI in 1996. He has played an instrumental role in a wide range of activities, representing BMI in rate court litigation, leading the litigation team in key infringement actions, advising our information services group and human resources areas, and representing the legal department in a variety of company-wide initiatives.”

Rosen joined BMI in 1996 as Associate Attorney, and has steadily risen through the ranks. Since 2004, he has also served the board of directors and the company in his capacity as corporate secretary. Prior to BMI, Rosen was in private practice. He received his undergraduate degree from Brooklyn College in 1981, and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1984.

SESAC Promotes Connell to VP Post

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J.D. Connell

SESAC today announced the promotion of J.D. Connell to Vice President and Counsel, New Media Licensing. Formerly Director, New Media, he will be responsible for negotiating and executing license agreements, with special focus in the area of new media.

Based in the organization’s Nashville office, Connell will also work with SESAC’s senior management in creating and implementing licensing strategies.

“J.D. has proven himself to be an effective and forward-thinking executive, particularly in the digital licensing space,” said Bill Lee, SESAC’s Senior Vice President, Licensing Operations. “He has been an integral part of SESAC’s success in the evolving realm of digital music licensing and I am excited for him to play an even bigger role in SESAC’s continuing growth.”

When Connell first joined SESAC in 2005, he was charged with negotiating and drafting musical composition public performance licenses.

Connell received a Bachelor of Science degree from Union University before obtaining his Juris Doctorate from Mississippi School of Law where he co-founded the Mississippi College Sports and Entertainment Law Section.

Headquartered in Nashville, SESAC also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Miami and London.

Songwriter Owen Davis Passes

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Nashville singer-songwriter Owen Davis has died of cancer at age 64.

He is perhaps best known for the song “The Other Side of Nashville.” It was the title tune of an acclaimed 1983 documentary film in which he appeared alongside such luminaries as Kris Kristofferson, Bobby Bare, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris and Hank Williams Jr.

Among his other notable compositions are “Border of the Quarter,” recorded by Leon Redbone, and “Play Me or Trade Me,” which became a minor 1982 hit duet by Mel Tillis and Nancy Sinatra.

Gerald “Owen” Davis was a native of Kansas City, MO and a Navy veteran who came to Nashville in the 1970s. In addition to his entertainment activities, he also worked in the tourism industry and for Stage Hand Productions.

He passed away on August 19. He is survived by his wife Deborah, daughter Shaela Wolken and brother Jack. The family requests donations to the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation in his memory.

 

Aware Records/A-Squared Management Open Nashville Digs

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Aware Records/A-Squared Management is opening a satellite office in Nashville later this month (9/26) headed by manager Josh Terry. The Chicago-based company was created by CEO Gregg Latterman in 1993 and enjoyed early success launching careers for John Mayer, Five For Fighting and Train.

Aware Records has a joint venture with Universal Republic & currently represents Mat Kearney and Guster. In 1999, Aware also started an artist management company, A-Squared Management, which today represents the careers of A Rocket To The Moon, Brandi Carlile, Jack’s Mannequin, This Providence, Mayday Parade, Motion City Soundtrack, Mat Kearney, Anya Marina, Cary Brothers, Five For Fighting, Jason Lehning, Matthew Mayfield, Rachel Platten, and Vedera.

The new offices will be located at 124 12th Ave. S. Ste. 410. Terry can be reached at [email protected].

 

CMA Tickets On-Sale Info

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Tickets for The 45th Annual CMA Awards and CMA Country Christmas will go on sale to the public Saturday, Sept. 24 (10:00 AM/CT). Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or Ticketmaster outlets; by calling (800) 745-3000; or in person at the Bridgestone Arena Box Office.

Eligible CMA members can purchase tickets through an exclusive pre-sale via Ticketmaster through Friday, Sept 16.

The CMA Awards will be hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. CMA Country Christmas will tape the following day, Thursday, Nov. 10, also at the Bridgestone Arena, for an ABC Television Network special.

Ticket prices for the CMA Awards start at $110 for Upper Level seating. Tickets for CMA Country Christmas are $25 for general admission Upper Level seating. These prices do not include service fees.