BBR Management Hires Stephen Linn

Stephen Linn

The Broken Bow Music Group has announced the appointment of industry veteran Stephen Linn as Sr. VP of BBR Management. Effectively immediately, Linn will represent country rock foursome Parmalee.

“Stephen is one of the brightest minds in the business with the work ethic to match,” said Jon Loba, SVP of Broken Bow Music Group. “He is the perfect compliment to Shawn Pennington, who has done such an amazing job with Thompson Square, to help continue the growth and development of BBR Management.”

In addition to Parmalee and Thompson Square, BBR Management also oversees the career of Kristy Lee Cook.

Linn most recently served as Sr. Director of Music Programming and Promotion for CMT where he developed music content, integrated promotions and new music initiatives. Linn also developed the network’s growing social media program which currently reaches more than 2 million people.

Prior to CMT, Linn worked as a television reporter and author. His marketing and media work has been recognized with multiple awards including W3, TELLY and ADDY wins.

Linn can be reached at stephen@bbrmgmt.com and 615-306-9407.

John Ettinger Expands Company

John Ettinger

John Ettinger, who opened his Ettinger Talent Associates in 2010, is expanding and renaming the company The Talent Associates (TTA).

TTA launches with management clients Emerson Drive and Matt Gary, and consulting client Momentum Label Group. Momentum is led by Jimmy Murphy and noted artist Jamie O’Neal, and is home to flagship artist Rachele Lynae.

A TTA publishing entity begins operation immediately.

Through TTA, Ettinger continues his partnership with Chris Allums in label services company Quarterback Records.

TTA has several new Associates. Bradley Banning moves over from his coordinator position at Quarterback to become an Associate at TTA. He is joined by fellow Associates Chris Allums, singer and artist development head Brad Mates, broadcast executive and attorney Jessica Gottesman, and producer, songwriter, and guitarist Danick Dupelle. Mates and Dupelle are members of Emerson Drive.

“We’re putting together a terrific group of ‘Associates,’ and we plan to be very active from all angles, including production and publishing,” said Ettinger, who’s best known for his 20 years as a label executive and successful work with Sugarland, Shania Twain, Toby Keith, Bon Jovi, Love & Theft, and Billy Currington. “There is plenty of confusion among artists as big companies contract and close, and as radio continues to tighten and new marketing options arise. We offer one stop for ideas and acumen, from almost every angle required.”

Artist News: Darius Rucker, Lady A Cover “Wagon Wheel”

The Bellamy Brothers were recently named honorary Texas Rangers and presented with plaques, badges, and pins.

• Darius Rucker tapped Capitol labelmates Lady Antebellum to duet on a cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s famed hit “Wagon Wheel” for his next album.

Dierks Bentley’s version of the Weeds theme song “Little Boxes” will open an episode of the Showtime series later this season. Bentley is a fan of the show, now in its final season, and over the years the theme has been recorded by Elvis Costello, Death Cab for Cutie, Ben Folds, Steve Martin, the Shins and the Decemberists. To preview Bentley’s version click here.

Amy Grant and Vince Gill will perform their annual Christmas at the Ryman shows on Wed., Dec. 19 and Thurs., Dec. 20. Tickets start at $39.50.

• Two concerts performed by Hank Williams were recorded in the months before his death and will be released for the first time as Hank Williams: The Lost Concerts Limited Collector’s Edition on Oct. 2 by Time Life. Included are 19 tracks, Williams’ conversations with the audience, and a 1951 radio interview.

Steel Magnolia will join the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall for the North American debut of Sir Paul McCartney’s “Nova,” written in honor of this late wife. The show will benefit children’s cardiac research.

Mockingbird Sun opened for Huey Lewis and The News in Omaha, NE recently at the pre-Independence Day celebration with attendance of 70,000. Mockingbird Sun is on the "We've Never Heard Of You Either" tour, which included recent shows with Eli Young Band, Martina McBride and Eric Church. The band’s single “That Girl Tonight” is climbing the Texas Music Chart. Photo: Mockingbird Sun's Brett Taylor, Adam Gardner, Truck Roley, Huey Lewis, Charlie Berry, and Barret Holloway.

Sony Promotes John Johnson

John Johnson. Photo: Alan Poizner

John Johnson has been promoted to Associate Dir., A&R, Sony Music Nashville, it was announced today (7/16) by VP A&R Jim Catino and Sr. Dir. Lisa Ramsey-Perkins.

“John has been with the company for 14 years, and is a tremendous asset to the A&R department, and the company,” shares Catino and Ramsey-Perkins. “John has built great relationships with all the artists, producers and managers that we work with, and is extremely helpful with getting all the tools we need for approval on our records.”

Johnson was most recently Manager, A&R. The Louisiana native holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Belmont University in Nashville.

Aldean Debuts Lead Single From Upcoming Album

Jason Aldean released the lead single “Take A Little Ride” from his upcoming fifth studio album today (7/16). The track is available for purchase at iTunes, and physical singles will hit Walmart shelves nationwide beginning Aug. 7.

The single about a carefree summer night spent driving down country roads with a summer love and a six-pack, was written by Dylan Altman, Rodney Clawson and Jim McCormick.

“I tried to find the best songs that I could and also ones that fit what I do in my live show,” said Aldean of the forthcoming album. “There’s a little bit of everything, including some more traditional country stuff and some songs that might raise a few eyebrows.”

Aldean’s new album, due out this fall, is the follow up to the double Platinum My Kinda Party, which spawned five consecutive No. 1s and won CMA and Billboard Album of the Year. His tour, which runs through October, has sold out every date so far this year, including its first stadium show in Columbus, OH.

Aldean celebrated over the weekend when tickets to his upcoming tour stops in Indianapolis, IN (9/15) sold over 24,000 tickets in two minutes and over 20,000 tickets in St. Louis (9/14) in just four minutes.

To preview the new single, click here.

Snapshots: Luke Bryan, Kellie Pickler

Luke Bryan performed his platinum hits “Drunk On You” and “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” in New York City’s Central Park Friday (7/13) as part of Good Morning America’s “Summer Concert Series.” “We had a blast playing for all the fans who came to the park this morning and for the ones watching at home too!” exclaimed Bryan. “Our Good Morning America friends treated us well.”

(L-R): Lara Spencer, Luke Bryan, Josh Elliott, Amy Robach, and Sam Champion. Photo: Michael Monaco

• • • •

After recently returning from her fifth USO Tour in Kuwait and Afghanistan, Kellie Pickler performed “God Bless America” at the MLB 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City, MO on July 10. Pickler’s rendition of the patriotic tune aired live on FOX during the seventh inning stretch. To view the full performance, click here. That evening Pickler tweeted, “The last time I sang ‘God Bless America’ was in Afghanistan on Memorial Day for our military. Excited and proud to sing it at the All-Star Game.”

Kellie Picker. Photo: Rob Vesely

Mansfield Will Chronicle Cancer Fight In Blog

Brian Mansfield with wife Nancy and children Nick, Annalise, Gracelyn and Zac.

Journalist Brian Mansfield will chronicle his fight with colon cancer in a weekly column on USAToday.com. He recently posted the first installment of My Semicolon Life which discusses his diagnosis at age 48.

He is having surgery today (7/16) to remove all but six inches of his colon.

The first blog also discusses how cancer changed the way he hears music and includes a list of songs that “make him want to live.”

As USA Today’s Nashville music critic and American Idol blogger, Mansfield is a much loved member of the music community. We’re pulling for you Brian!

CountryBreakout No. 1 Song

Even as The Band Perry works on the follow-up to its self-titled Platinum debut album, the fifth single from that project garners the No. 1 spot on this week’s CountryBreakout Chart. “Postcard From Paris,” written by Kimberly Perry, Neil Perry, Reid Perry, Kara DioGuardi and Jeff Cohen, is an earnest story of lost love and how nothing can ever match the real thing. Produced by Nathan Chapman, the song’s poignant lyrics include;

I remember when my heart caught the fever.
You were standing all alone in the summer heat.
I was with my boyfriend, my new boyfriend;
He was as sweet as he could be.
But one look at you and I was through
My heart switched up on me.

Like a postcard from Paris when I’ve seen the real thing.
It’s like finding out your diamond is from her old promise ring.
A call back from your fortune teller, she read your cards upside down.
The meanest thing you ever did is come around
And now, I’m ruined.

Never slowing down, The Band Perry is working on their new album with legendary producer Rick Rubin, who has worked with everyone from the Dixie Chicks to Adele to Jay-Z as well as producing Johnny Cash’s acclaimed late period American Recordings albums.

The Band Perry has partnered with Schick Hydro Silk brand for its 2012 summer tour dates and will join Brad Paisley this November on his Virtual Reality World Tour when it visits Sweden and Norway. TBP was recently nominated for a 2012 Teen Choice award for Choice Country Group and fans can cast their vote now at www.teenchoiceawards.com.

Martin Guitars Debuts Retro Series at NAMM

Martin & Co. Retro Series

Summer NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) kicked off in the Nashville Convention center yesterday (7/12) to a crowd of interested participants. The three-day event, which runs through Saturday (7/14), consists of business seminars and a trade show offering the latest innovations in music technology.

One major product debut came from the Chairman and CEO of C.F. Martin & Co. Guitars, Chris Martin, who held a special press conference to reveal a four guitar Retro Series. “We took the voice from vintage instruments and transplanted them in the Retro Series with overwhelming success,” said Larry Fishman, who teamed with Martin and Nashville’s Grammy Award-winning Producer Bil VornDick to create the series.

Showroom floor at NAMM.

At Nashville’s Mountainside Studios they recorded a series of museum instruments in rare microphones ranging from the 30s to today. The acoustic and plug-in tone of the Retro Series instruments are based on these recordings.

Martin’s “tone-donor” guitars included a 1942 D-45; 1941 D-28; 1937 D-18; and a 1934 OOO-28 long-scale. The golden-era acoustics travels from the new instruments through specially designed F1 Aura + pickups, which use mathematical algorithms to electronically translate resonating tone for plug-in systems.

Martin’s modern “High Performance Neck” taper and modified low oval profile make these new instruments modern in playability while maintaining the vintage tone from years’ past.

The Retro Series includes D-18E, HD-28E, D-45E and an Orchestra Model 28E. Prices range from $3,399-$11,999.

Hunter Hayes was also on the NAMM floor visiting with interested Martin customers. Hayes, who played every instrument on his Atlantic Records self-titled debut album, is the newest Brand Ambassador for the company.

Additional exhibitors included Future Sonics Ear Monitors, Larrivee Guitars and Casio America.

On Saturday (7/14) the showroom floor is open to the public for $15 from 10 AM- 6 PM.

Pictured (L-R): Bil VornDick, Larry Fishman, Hunter Hayes and Chris Martin

NAMM 2012 Business Seminar

 

 

KJ97 Wins Underwood Video Premiere

San Antonio’s KJ97 won a nationwide contest for the Private World Premiere of Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away” music video. The prize package for KJ97 includes a “red carpet” event for listeners which will be attended by Underwood and video director Randee St. Nicholas.

Among the hundreds of country radio stations that participated, KJ97 had the largest number of listeners who voted for their station to win this event.

“Be it raising tons of money for the Kids of St. Jude or helping to bring the biggest stars to KJ Country, our listeners have always been up to the challenge,” enthuses KAJA PD Travis Moon. “I am so proud to work at KJ97, a radio station with such active and passionate listeners. This is their event!”

“Blown Away,” the second single release from Underwood’s 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville new album of the same title, was written by Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.