Industry Ink (5/10/12)

Belmont University’s experiential learning offerings are growing to include touring, as 10 juniors and seniors from the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business will join professor Mark Volman, a founding member of the Turtles, on part of the band’s “Happy Together Tour.” Students will spend two and a half weeks on the road in a tour bus, working with live music professionals on each stop of the band’s journey, and will receive a grade at the end of the experience. The tour begins June 8 in Columbus, GA and also features popular ‘60s artists Gary Puckett & the Union Gap and Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz.

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The National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) announced its 2012-2013 board of directors during Music Biz 2012, which wraps up today (5/10) in Los Angeles. Rachelle Friedman has been re-elected Chair of the board, and joining her are new Vice Chair Brent Muhle (iTunes), Secretary Craig Pape (Amazon), and new Treasurer John Trickett (immergent). The board also welcomes new members Jonathan Dworkin (Nokia) and Steve Savoca (Spotify).

Other 2012-2013 NARM board members include:
Len Cosimano, Director at Large
Mike Davis, Alliance Entertainment
Steve Harkins, Baker & Taylor
Adam Klein, eMusic
Mike Fratt, Homers
Christina Calio, Microsoft
Alyssa Vescio, Target

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The Americana Music Association has partnered with Sound Healthcare to offer all domestic AMA members health insurance coverage at affordable prices. Known as Americana South Healthcare, the program will address the needs of members who are self-employed or involved with small businesses that can’t easily offer coverage. Sound Healthcare has also partnered with the Country Music Association, the Musicians Union, the IBMA and more for similar offerings. More info here.

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Bill Cody, host of WSM radio’s mornings, GAC TV’s Master Series, and Tennessee’s Wild Side on PBS, recently spoke at the monthly luncheon for SOURCE members.

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Congratulations to songwriters Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr, who were recently married in a private ceremony at their home in Nashville. Burr and Middleman are also (along with Kenny Loggins) two-thirds of the new group Blue Sky Riders.

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Popular rock group The Wallflowers is back in the studio recording a new studio album that will be released in fall by Columbia Records. Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Emmylou Harris) is producing the album, which is being recorded at Black Keys leader Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound in Nashville. The band also has a few live dates scheduled starting in July.

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ONErpm, a global digital music distribution company and social commerce platform, provides a way for labels and artists to sell music on Facebook. The growing company recently inked deals with INgrooves, Naxos, and IRIS Distribution. INgrooves manages a catalog of one million tracks. Naxos is the world’s largest record label specializing in classical music with 35,000 albums. And IRIS is a top tier distribution company serving the independent label community.

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Online retailer CD Baby has announced a partnership with Alliance Entertainment, the United States’ largest wholesale distributor of home entertainment audio, video and software. Alliance will be able to offer CD Baby’s catalog of nearly 400k titles to all affiliated online and brick & mortar outlets such as Best Buy, Overstock.com and more.