Photo Monday (1/9/12)

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(L-R) Producer Scott Hendricks, Dave Barnes, Razor & Tie's Beka Tischker, ASCAP's Marc Driskill and Ryan Beuschel. Photo Credit: Ed Rode

ASCAP celebrated Christian singer/songwriter Dave Barnes and the success of his song “God Gave Me You,” recorded by Warner Music Nashville artist Blake Shelton, with a No. 1 Party at last week (1/6). The song topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart for three weeks, and also earned Barnes his first Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. Barnes is signed to the label Razor & Tie and his No Gang Music is administered worldwide by Razor & Tie Music Publishing.

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(L-R) Republic Nashville National Director of Promotion Matthew Hargis, Republic Nashville Resource Manager Megan Knutson, Big Machine Records VP of Promotion Jack Purcell, BMLG President and CEO Scott Borchetta, Valory Music Co. VP of Promotion George Briner, Thomas Rhett, WSIX's Jon Anthony, Republic Nashville President Jimmy Harnen, Valory Music Co. National Promotion Director JoJamie Hahr, Valory Music Co. Label Coordinator Brooke Yancey and Republic Nashville Southeast Promotion Director Stacy Blythe.

Last Thursday (1/5), WSIX Nashville Program Director Jon Anthony stopped by the Big Machine Label Group office to meet Thomas Rhett, Valory Music Co.’s newest artist.

Gary Nicholson Teams With Nashville Ballet For Unique Show

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Gary Nicholson

Gary Nicholson is teaming with the Nashville Ballet for its winter performances. The noted songwriter will be onstage singing some of his most recognizable tunes including “One More Last Chance,” “More Love” and “Choose Love” during the shows at TPAC. The genre-crossing writer has had cuts by Bonnie Raitt, Vince Gill and the Dixie Chicks.

Salsa Dreams is the name of the entire ballet, with Nicholson’s segment titled “Cryin’ Out.” It will be presented at TPAC’s Polk Theater on Feb. 10, 11 and 12.

Nashville Ballet Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling chose three segments (“Salsa Dreams,” “Billy the Kid,” “Cryin’ Out”) for their popularity and contribution to American culture. Nashville Ballet is the largest professional ballet company in Tennessee.

“A performance like this that profiles a very different kind of ballet allows us to teach people that there is a style of music and dance for everyone,” explains Vasterling. “Even people who don’t think they can dance or don’t think they have any rhythm find themselves literally moving to this music. It also allows us to profile the versatility of our company members who can master many different styles of dance—even in one performance.”

Details at www.nashvilleballet.com. Click here for a 20% discount on tickets.

Waters Changing Course At Sony Music Nashville

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Chris Waters

The regional promotion manager shuffle continues with the announcement that Chris Waters has moved to another regional post under the Columbia/BNA banner. Waters was previously working the SW Region for Arista Nashville, which he assumed in August 31 following the company’s restructuring.

Waters’ move follows the elevation of RJ Meacham to Columbia/BNA National Promo Director after Buffy Cooper departure for Morris Management. Rounding out the Arista promotion staff is Renee Leymon, who recently joined the imprint for a regional gig. Waters originally joined Sony Music Nashville in 2008 as a regional promotion manager under the standalone BNA imprint. Reach out to him here.

Decosimo/Vaden Names Jennifer Lane Principal

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Jennifer Lane, CPA, has been named Principal for Decosimo/Vaden’s Nashville regional public accounting and advisory firm.

Lane has more than 20 years experience in public accounting specializing in multi-state taxation, Canadian entertainment taxation, tax planning and royalty accounting for artists, songwriters, athletes and other professionals in the music and sports industries.

Lane is a graduate of Portland State University and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, Lane is a member of the ACM, NSAI, Source, Inc. and the treasurer of the Board of Governors for the Nashville/Midsouth NATAS Chapter.

“Serving many of country music’s biggest names, Jennifer is an essential part of our entertainment practice led by Mike Vaden,” said Nick Decosimo, Managing Principal of Decosimo. “We’re grateful to her for her hard work in continuing to maintain long-lasting relationships with our clients and grow that part of our firm’s practice in Nashville.”

Decosimo is an independent firm associated with Moore Stephens and has 41 active principals across the firm’s nine locations.

Moontoast Secures $6 Mil For Funding

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Moontoast has secured $6 million in a round for future funding, the Nashville Business Journal reported yesterday (1/5). The Martin Companies, a Nashville venture capital firm, led the round, in which other investors are participating as well.

“We believe there is a fundamental shift occurring in digital commerce,” said Les Wilkinson, managing director of The Martin Companies and a member of Moontoast’s board. “Consumers expect opportunities for engagement and commerce to be delivered to them and brands are struggling to determine how best to respond. We continue to be impressed with Moontoast’s approach to this shift.”

Moontoast, which launched in 2010, is a tech company that has offices in Nashville and Boston. A social commerce platform, Moontoast helps facilitate the relationship between brands and their target audiences by encouraging interaction through social and advertising networks.

Rascal Flatts To Play Caribbean Cruise

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Rascal Flatts has been selected to perform an intimate acoustic concert for guests on-board a Norwegian Spirit cruise that begins Feb. 26. The seven-day Caribbean journey departs from New Orleans, with the Flatts show taking place in Cozumel, Mexico in the ship’s Stardust Theater. In addition to Cozumel, stops include Costa Maya, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; and Bay Islands, Honduras.

Two levels of ticketing are available and not included in the cruise fare. VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend a private cocktail meet and greet with Jay, Joe Don and Gary, where photos will be taken. Standard tickets are available for $50 on a first come, first served basis. More info here.

In other Flatts news, the new Grand Ole Opry members recently hosted the 2011 America’s Opry Weekend Year-End Special and got a Gold certification for hit single “Easy” with Natasha Bedingfield. Prior to joining the cruise in late February, the trio has several winter tour dates scheduled with guest Sara Evans.

Friday Photos (1/6/12)

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ZZ Top's Billy F Gibbons and Willie Nelson, Photo: Gretchen Barber

ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons joined Willie Nelson& Friends’ big New Year’s Eve bash at Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater. Gibbons did the countdown to midnight with Nelson, followed by “Auld Lang Syne” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” after which Nelson took the lead on a new tune called “Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I’m Gone.”

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The staff of Capitol Records Nashville gathers to celebrate and honor Betsy Morley (in colorful hat and sash) at their 6th Annual Cinco de Betso.

Capitol Records Nashville staffers gathered yesterday (1/5) for the 6th Annual Cinco de Betso celebration, the label’s own home grown holiday, to honor their longest tenured employee, Betsy Morley. The Sr. Dir A&R Admin celebrated 22 years with the label. The Capitol staff collectively issued this statement – “We dress her up real silly, and present her with a unique and memorable trophy, and tell her how much we love her. Then we drink.”

More Details On Waylon Tribute

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As we mentioned yesterday Average Joe’s Entertainment, in conjunction with Scatter Records, will be releasing The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated To Waylon Jennings, Volume II. Digital versions will be available January 24, with physical copies hitting shelves February 7.

The 11 track album is the second part of a Waylon tribute trilogy that started over three-and-a-half years ago under the guidance of Jennings’ widow Jessi Colter, his son Shooter, guitarist Reggie Young and producer Witt Stewart. Volume I, featuring Jamey Johnson, Alabama, and more, was released in early 2011 via Big Machine Records. A third installment is also planned, but no date has been set. A full track list for Volume II is included below.

“I feel like this project could very likely break another sound barrier,” says Colter. “Waylon was so original. For his songs to be sang by other people and to take me somewhere else is not an easy task.”

Colter and Jamey Johnson will appear on CMT’s Southern Fried Flicks with Hazel Smith Saturday, Jan. 7 at 7 PM/CT to talk about the project.

The Music Inside: A Collaboration Dedicated to Waylon Jennings, Volume II Track Listing:
1. Lonesome, On’ry and Mean – Dierks Bentley
2. Waymore’s Blues – Hank Williams Jr.
3. Good Ol’ Boys – Montgomery Gentry
4. I Ain’t Livin’ Long Like This – Justin Moore
5. Bob Wills Is Still The King – Jack Ingram
6. Only Daddy That’ll Walk The Line – Colt Ford
7. Rainy Day Woman – Pat Green
8. Love of the Common People – Josh Thompson
9. Mama – Jessi Colter
10. Dreaming My Dreams With You – Jewel
11. A Long Time Ago – Wyatt McCubbin (Bonus Track)

Tin Pan South Submissions Due

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NSAI members interested in participating or submitting a team for consideration for the 2012 Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, scheduled for March 27-31 in Nashville, will be able to do so through the organization’s website until Friday, January 13.

The festival selection committee will determine who receives performance slots. Not all teams that apply will be given a slot, as opportunities are limited.

The Tin Pan South website has not been updated for the 2012 schedule yet, but passes to gain priority access to all shows go on sale Wednesday, March 7 on NSAI’s website while supplies last.

Tin Pan South is presented by Regions Bank and is a fund raiser for NSAI’s legislative efforts on behalf of all songwriters.

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

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It’s a new year, and change is in the air. New projects, new possibilities, a new No. 1 song… wait a second, I’m being told that last part isn’t true.

Okay, not everything changes when the year rolls forward, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Especially if you’re Luke Bryan, whose “I Don’t Want This Night To End” has spent two weeks at the top of MusicRow’s CountryBreakout Chart with the first edition of 2012. Understandably, Bryan also might not want 2011 to end, considering it was one of the biggest of his career. His “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” became a huge radio hit, he participated in one of the most successful CMT On Tour events ever, and held a special six city “Farm Tour” to raise scholarship funds for local students. But 2012 is already looking up, because he’ll join Jason Aldean and guest Lauren Alaina on Aldean’s massive My Kinda Party Tour starting January 20, in Greenville, SC.

Check out the “I Don’t Want This Night To End” video here, and get more information on Bryan’s tour dates here.