Photo Show: City National Salutes SOURCE, Creative Nation, WMBA

/by

Creative Nation Showcase at The Basement
Monday night (6/25) Creative Nation songwriters Luke Laird and Barry Dean rounded up co-writers Rhett Akins, Brett Eldredge, Ashley Gorley, Natalie Hemby, Matt Jenkins, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Jonathan Singleton for a performance at The Basement. The group debuted 10 songs to an industry crowd during the event that marked Creative Nation’s first show since the company announced its grand opening last month.

Pictured (L-R): Beth Laird, Creative Nation Co-Owner and General Manager; Luke Laird, Creative Nation Co-Owner and Songwriter/Producer; Kacey Musgraves; Natalie Hemby; Shane McAnally; Brett Eldredge; and Barry Dean, Creative Nation Songwriter. Photo: Thomas Gentry

 

City National Salutes SOURCE Honorees
City National Bank celebrated this year’s SOURCE Award recipients with a fun Nash Trash tour of Music City followed by dinner at Virago. The awards, honoring pioneering females in the music business, will salute Shelia Shipley Biddy, Connie Bradley, Karen Conrad, Judy Harris, Pat Rolfe, Kay Smith and Judy Wray. All of this year’s honorees are founding members of the organization. The 10th annual SOURCE Awards will be held Aug. 23 at the new home of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum at Municipal Auditorium.

Pictured (L-R) Back Row: Sarah Brosmer, Bebe Evans, Debbie Linn, Betty Sanders, Lisa Palas, Linda Payne, Judi Turner, Martha Henderson, Susan Myers, Karen Morgan, Kay Clary, Sally Williams, Holly Bell, Lainie Allbee, Trina Smith, Sherri Lynn - Jugg Sister, Courtney Crist, Pamela Johnson, Erika Wollam Nichols, Diane Pearson; Front Row: Mary Unobsky, Lori Badgett, Jessica Rogers, Brenda Kay - Jugg Sister, Shelia Shipley Biddy, Karen Conrad, Judy Harris, Kay Smith, Judy Wray, Pat Rolfe, Laurie Hughes, Katie Plauche Morris and Mandy Gallagher.

 

WMBA Meeting Welcomes Cindy Heath
The Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) welcomed Monarch Publicity’s Cindy Heath as the guest speaker for the organization’s monthly membership meeting at NSAI last week. Heath, who also serves on WMBA’s Board of Directors, shared her experience of navigating the music business and gave insight on being a female entrepreneur.

Pictured (L-R): Front Row: Amery Fridenstine, Trina Lloyd-Weidner, Becky McIntosh; Middle Row: Brandi Simms, Cindy Heath, Becky Lynn Street; and Back Row: Kama Upton, Leona Edwards

Walker to Host 5th Annual Charity Classic Golf Tournament

/by

Clay Walker will host his 5th Annual Clay Walker Charity Classic golf tournament June 29-July 2 at California’s renowned Pebble Beach Resort.

Celebrity participants will include former NBA players Clifford Robinson and John Starks, WFAN’s Ann Liguori, T Bone Burnett, singer/songwriter Sarah Marince, and actor Anthony Anderson. Proceeds from the event will go toward Walker’s Band Against MS initiative, to raise awareness of the disease.

“This is going to be an incredible few days and Pebble Beach is one of the most beautiful places in the world!” says Walker. “I am thrilled and grateful to be able to raise awareness and funds for a disease that affects so many by combining two of my favorite things, golf and music.”

More info here.

Dustin Lynch Plans Debut Album

/by

Broken Bow Records rising artist Dustin Lynch will release his self-titled debut album on Tuesday, August 21.

Produced by Brett Beavers and Luke Wooten, Dustin Lynch will feature 13 tracks, 10 of which were written or co-written by Lynch himself. A full track listing is included below.

Lynch’s debut single “Cowboys and Angels,” which the artist co-wrote with Tim Nichols and Josh Leo, is currently climbing all the charts. In MusicRow’s most recent CountryBreakout Chart, it gained 103 spins and hit No. 21, and the video has already surpassed one million views on YouTube. Additionally, the track has sold over 250,000 downloads since its release.

For Dustin’s tour dates, visit dustinlynchmusic.com.

Dustin Lynch track listing:
1. “She Cranks My Tractor”  — (Dustin Lynch, Brett Beavers, Tim Nichols)
2. “Waiting”  — (Justin Weaver, Dustin Lynch, Kelly Archer)
3. “Cowboys and Angels”   —  (Dustin Lynch, Josh Leo, Tim Nichols)
4. “Wild in Your Smile”  — (Rhett Akins, Ben Hayslip, Marv Green)
5. “Last Lap”   — (Dustin Lynch, Kelly Archer, Justin Weaver)
6.  “Sittin’ Pretty”  — (John Edwards, Jason Sever, Steve Bogard)
7. “Yeah Yeah Yeah”   — (Phil Barton, Jaron Boyer, Rodney Clawson)
8. “Rock You Sweet”    — (Dustin Lynch, Jason Sever, Tim Nichols, Brett Beavers)
9. “Unwind It”   —  (Dustin Lynch, Brett Beavers, Jim Beavers)
10. “Hurricane”  — (Steve Bogard, Dustin Lynch, Jason Sever, Will Doughty)
11. “Dancing in the Headlights”   — (Josh Leo, Tim Nichols, Dustin Lynch)
12. “Name On It”    —  (Dustin Lynch, Justin Weaver, Kelly Archer)
BONUS TRACK:   “Your Plan”   —  (Dustin Lynch)

Forbes Names Nashville One of Best Places for Business

/by

Nashville ranks No. 10 on Forbes’ list of Best Places for Business and Careers, released this week. One major factor in Nashville’s favor is that business costs here are 18 percent below the national average. Music City also benefits from a projected annual job growth rate of 2 percent.

The 200 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. are considered for the rankings. Nashville’s metro population is 1,620,600. Ranking factors include job growth, costs (business and living), income growth, educational attainment, projected economic growth, crime rates, cultural and recreational opportunities, migration patterns, and the number of highly ranked colleges in an area.

Topping the 14th annual list is Provo, Utah with a $16 billion economy boosted largely by Brigham Young University. Most of the top-ranked cities were from America’s heartland, not the coasts.

Roots Three/ole Sign Hit Producer/Writer Jeff Coplan

/by

Pictured (L-R): Gilles Godard, Chief Creative Officer/ole; Ron Kitchener, President Roots Three Music; Jeff Coplan and Denny Carr, Director of A&R, Roots Three Music

Roots Three Music and ole have entered a worldwide co-publishing deal with hit songwriter/producer Jeff Coplan. The deal also includes a futures component.

Coplan has helped develop and produce RCA recording artists Love and Theft, and co-wrote the band’s current hit “Angel Eyes.” It is the lead single from the band’s upcoming release. Coplan is also working with BlackjackBilly, who is busy touring and finishing its first album.

Coplan, a Montreal native living in Nashville, is a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. With international hits on the pop, rock, dance, and country charts, he has written and/or produced songs that have collectively sold over 6 million copies. Coplan has worked with The Moffatts, The Bahamen, Amber, Lindsay Lohan, Bowling for Soup, Nick Carter, and She Moves.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be signing with Roots Three Music/ole,” says Coplan. “Their passion for songs, multi-genre approach and international reach make them the perfect fit for me.”

Director of A&R for Roots Three Music/ole Denny Carr states, “I’m overjoyed to welcome Jeff Coplan into the Roots Three/ole family. The synergies between his artist development skills, songwriting and producing chops are perfect for our model moving forward.”

Music City Fourth of July Festivities

/by

Big & Rich teamed up with After MidNite’s Blair Garner to co-host a commercial-free, three-hour Fourth of July radio special. Pictured in the After MidNite studio in Nashville.

MUSIC CITY 4th of JULY
Nashville’s 4th of July celebration has a new location this year. The “Let Freedom Sing!” free concert and fireworks show on July 3 and July 4 will be held at The Lawn at Riverfront Park (the grassy field south of the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge).

July 3—festivities begin at 4:00 p.m., followed by live music at 5:30 p.m. Set to perform are Ayla Brown, and Ten out of Tenn singer-songwriters Erin McCarley, k.s. Rhoads, Andy Davis, Matthew Perryman Jones, Tyler James, Gabe Dixon and Griffin House. Sirius XM/GAC’s Storme Warren will emcee. Fireworks will begin at approximately 9:00 p.m.

July 4—the main show begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes Barry Scott, Ayla Brown, Sarah Darling, Craig Morgan, The Mavericks, and Music City Hitmakers Hillary Lindsey and Brett James with the Nashville Symphony with orchestral scores by Charles Judge. The McDonald’s Free Family Fun Zone will open at noon on Second Avenue and Broadway. From noon – 5 p.m. entertainers include Madison Cain, Jason Eskridge, Tyme, Striking Matches and This is She. The fireworks show is supposed to be the longest and biggest in Nashville history and will be choreographed to music from the Nashville Symphony beginning at 9:45 p.m.

• • • Randy Travis will host the holiday special, Red, White, and Randy 4th on Sirius XM. The program is set to air throughout July 4 on Prime Country (Channel 58).

• • • Alan Jackson will kick off the Fourth of July celebration early for members of the military and their families at Fort Sill, Okla. On Sat., June 30 Jackson will perform at the base and the show is open to the public. Special guests include Easton Corbin and Gloriana.

• • • Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic will be held at the Historic Ft. Worth Stockyards. Set to perform are Nelson, Lukas Nelson, Corey Smith, Jamey Johnson, Stoney LaRue and Bill Anderson, who was tapped to fill in for Ray Price who cancelled due to health issues.

• • • A Capitol Fourth will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on PBS, Wed., July 4 from 8 – 9:30 p.m. ET. Set to perform are Josh Turner, American Idol winner Phillip Phillips, Matthew Broderick, Javier Colon (winner of The Voice), Kool & The Gang and more. Olympic medalist Apolo Anton Ohno and legendary composer John Williams will lead a patriotic send off to Team USA.

• • • The Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular will be air at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Television icon Regis Philbin will host the all-star line-up of performances, including superstars Kenny Chesney and Katy Perry.

• • • Kix Brooks is set to headline the Summer OilPatch Festival in Drumright, Okla. on July 4. Also performing will be Shawna Russell, LiveWire and more.

• • • Jennifer Hudson will join the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra for the Fourth of July celebration, broadcast on CBS.

• • • Lee Greenwood will perform his signature song “God Bless the USA” on Tuesday (7/3) on the nationally syndicated midday show Daytime, and is set for an appearance that night on Fox News Channel’s Hannity. Also, an exclusive interview with CNN.com’s “The Red Chair” spotlights Greenwood’s book, Does God Still Bless the USA: A Plea for a Better America.

Blaster Signs Jared Ashley

/by

(L-R): Jim Rosenberg (President of Epiphone), Grady Saxman (Drums), Jared Ashley, Dave Berryman (President of Gibson) and Michael Elsner (Guitar).

Up-and-coming country artist Jared Ashley has signed an exclusive management agreement with Ohio-based Blaster Entertainment, and landed endorsement deals with Epiphone Guitar and Hick Stuff Apparel.

“Jared Ashley is an incredibly talented writer and performer,” said Blaster Entertainment CEO Tom Porter. “We are thrilled to have such a hard-working young artist on our roster.”

Ashley got his start as a finalist on Nashville Star, and has since built up a following through steady touring. A native of Newnan, Georgia, Ashley was recently nominated as Country Male Artist of the Year at the Georgia Music Awards.

Blaster Entertainment comprises four divisions including music, sports, media & marketing, and merchandise. Artists signed to Blaster’s record label division include Hank Williams Jr., Neal McCoy, Aaron Lewis, and Brother Trouble.

Zac Brown Band Joins Road to the Ram Jam Sweepstakes

/by

Zac Brown Band joins previously announced artists Kellie Pickler, Brantley Gilbert and Easton Corbin as the fourth artist on the Road to the Ram Jam sweepstakes.

The Road to the Ram Jam, presented by the Ram Truck brand, features a total of five country artists providing fans an opportunity to win prizes including trips for two to an invitation-only 2012 Ram Jam concert event December 29 in Nashville, where all five artists will perform.

Zac Brown Band is also offering fans who enter the sweepstakes a chance to win a free download of new single “The Wind,” from the group’s forthcoming July 10 album, Uncaged.

All five artists will receive a lease on a 2012 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn truck. The trucks will then be auctioned off in early 2013 with all proceeds going to benefit a charity of each artist’s choice.

Proceeds from Zac Brown Band’s Ram truck will be donated to Camp Southern Ground, which is Zac Brown’s passion project. Brown donated 500 acres in the farmlands of Georgia, set to open in 2014 and become a state-of-the-art facility serving children ages 7-17 with both typical and special needs. For more information visit http://www.campsouthernground.org.

“To me, there’s nothing more important than helping kids and it’s a great to know that with support from our friends and fans, this camp is going to make a huge difference in the lives of each and every camper,” said Brown.

The Ram Truck brand and Zac Brown Band first worked together in 2010 on “Letters to Lyrics,” a national appreciation letter-writing campaign aimed at U.S. soldiers deployed around the world.

Americana Music Association Announces Promotions, New Staff

/by

The Americana Music Association has made several appointments and promotions to its Nashville-based staff, it was announced today (6/27) by AMA executive director Jed Hilly.

Danna Strong, currently the AMA’s Director of Operations, will add Conference Producer to her title. Michelle Aquilato has been named Director of Marketing. Whitney Holmes has been named Operations Coordinator. Two Dog Media’s Kim Fowler has been retained to handle the AMA’s publicity efforts.

Danna Strong

“These appointments truly reflect the growing significance of our genre and the health of what is clearly a resurgent and vital music business landscape,” said Hilly. “Our membership has gone up 30% in the last year, the number of artist submissions to perform at our festival is at an all-time high, and the caliber of our conference panels rivals any event I have ever attended. Danna, Michelle, Whitney and Kim’s commitment to Americana will only help us service our artists and fans even better.”

Strong initially began working with the AMA by volunteering at the organization’s founding meeting, before it was named. She became a full-time employee in 2003 and was instrumental in building the non-profit’s infrastructure. Strong now manages daily operations and oversees all aspects of the Americana Music Conference.

In Aquilato’s new role, she will oversee all of the AMA’s marketing, social media, and radio station relations, including management of the Americana Airplay Chart. She has 25 years experience in the industry, including 15 in Sales & Marketing at Sony Music in Los Angeles. Most recently, she managed day-to-day operations for Jim Lauderdale.

Holmes initially began as an intern before serving as the AMA’s Administrative Assistant for two years. She also serves as coordinator for the Chris Austin Songwriting Contest and as a sales associate for Ernest Tubb Record Shops. In her new role, she will provide operational support for staff and members.

Fowler opened her publicity firm in 2007 after eight years with Sugar Hill Records where she worked with artists including Dolly Parton, Nickel Creek, Tim O’Brien, Guy Clark and more.

The annual Americana Music Festival and Conference is scheduled for September 12-15, 2012 in Nashville, TN. Nominees were recently announced for the Americana Honors & Awards show, which takes place September 12 at the Ryman Auditorium.

Grand Ole Opry Adds Wednesday Night Summer Shows

/by

For four weeks between July 18 – August 8, the Grand Ole Opry will add Wednesday evening shows to its current Summer lineup. Opry member group Rascal Flatts is scheduled to perform along with others on Wed., July 25.

The Wednesday shows will supplement the current Tuesday evening Summer schedule, which runs through Dec. 11. Friday and Saturday performances take place year-round. Thursday Night Opry Country Classics shows will return Oct. 4 for a four-week run.

All Opry performances begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets available here: opry.com.