Artist Pics (7/8/14)

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Sony Music Nashville Chairman & CEO Gary Overton recently presented Miranda Lambert a plaque in recognition of her new album Platinum, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums Chart.

Pictured (L-R): Lambert, Overton and Miranda’s manger Marion Kraft of Shopkeeper Management.

Pictured (L-R): Lambert, Overton and Lambert’s manger Marion Kraft of Shopkeeper Management.

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Lucy Hale debuted her new single, “Lie A Little Better,” during a live performance last week on Good Morning America. The up-tempo track is from the singer’s first album Road Between, released by DMG Nashville and produced by Mark Bright and Mike Daly.

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Lucy Hale performs on Good Morning America.

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Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson earned a standing ovation at the Grand Ole Opry House on July 1 with his rendition of “Deck of Cards,” which he performed in honor of Independence Day.

Bill Anderson. Photo: Lee Willard.

Bill Anderson at the Grand Ole Opry House. Photo: Lee Willard.

Mel Tillis Signs With The Bobby Roberts Company

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Pictured (L-R): Mel Tillis and Bobby Roberts

Pictured (L-R): Mel Tillis and Bobby Roberts


Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis has signed on for exclusive booking representation with The Bobby Roberts Company.
“We at the Bobby Roberts Company are pleased and excited to exclusively represent the great Mel Tillis,” says BRC CEO, Bobby Roberts. “Mel is a true country music legend and icon that continues to thrill his audiences throughout the United States and Canada with his incredible shows, hits and comedy. Besides all of that, he is one of the nicest entertainers that has ever set foot onstage. We are elated that Mel has chosen us to handle his touring!”
Tillis recently returned to performing following open heart surgery in early March.
“A little heart surgery isn’t slowing me down,” notes Tillis. “I’m back on the road with my band the Statesiders and I know that Bobby Roberts is our man for the job.”

Childs, Mandile Launch Veritable Music

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Pictured (L-R): Steve Mandile and Andy Childs


Nashville musicians Andy Childs and Steve Mandile have launched music publishing and production company Veritable Music, LLC. Funded by Memphis businesswoman Leigh Shockey, the company is housed in the Parlor Recording Studio building, located at 1317 16th Ave. S. Music publisher and songplugger Stephanie Greene represents Veritable’s catalog of songs through her own independent firm, while Mark Ahlberg handles administration.
Veritable’s roster of songwriters includes Willie Mack, Danielle Lauderdale, and Seth Cook. Mack’s songs have been recorded by Sara Evans, Collin Raye, the Oak Ridge Boys, and others. Lauderdale was featured on CMT’s Next Superstar series.
Childs and Mandile co-formed the band Sixwire. Together and separately, they have had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, John Michael Montgomery, Chris Cagle, Ronnie Dunn, Craig Morgan, Mark Wills, Cliff Richard, George Canyon, and Carolyn Dawn Johnson.
Childs and Mandile each rank as managing partner at Veritable, with Childs overseeing all operations as CEO, and Mandile supervising all creative activities. Shockey serves as CEO of Drexel Chemical Co. in Memphis, and is the current chairperson of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, visit veritablemusic.com.

Americana Music Association Names Lifetime Achievement Winners

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Screen shot 2014-07-08 at 10.40.56 AMLoretta Lynn, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, and Flaco Jiménez have been selected as Lifetime Achievement Award winners by the Americana Music Association. The awards will be presented at the organization’s 13th annual Honors and Awards ceremony, presented by Nissan, on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
The Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting goes to Loretta Lynn. During Lynn’s decades of hit songs, her compositions including “The Pill,” “Don’t Come Home A Drinkin’ (with Lovin’ On Your Mind)” and “Rated ‘X’,” confronted sexism and double standards. Lynn has received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award and a Kennedy Center Honor.
Jackson Browne will receive the “Spirit of Americana Award, Free Speech in Music” co-presented with the First Amendment Center. Brown has sung on the behalf of Farm Aid, Amnesty International, MoveOn.org’s Vote For Change and was a co-founder of Musicians United for Safe Energy and nukefree.org. The Rock and Roll Songwriter’s Hall of Fame member’s songs include “Running On Empty,” “The Pretenders,” “For A Rocker,” and others.
Flaco Jiménez will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award as an instrumentalist. As one of the most accomplished conjunto tejano accordion players, the San Antonio, Texas-born Jiménez has collaborated with dozens of artists including Doug Sahm, Ry Cooder, Dr. John, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones. He’s won several Grammy Awards, including one with super-group Los Super Seven. His accordion lines can be heard on “Streets of Bakersfield” by Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens.
In the category of Lifetime Achievement for Performance, the honor goes to Grammy award-winning blues musician Taj Mahal. Mahal has worked with the Rolling Stones, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Lightnin’ Hopkins, and many others.
The awards will be included in ACL Presents: Americana Music Festival 2014, which will air on PBS later this year.

All Five Garth Brooks Comeback Concerts Canceled

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garth brooks11

Garth Brooks


By: Laura Hostelley
In a statement made today, July 8, by Aiken promotions, all five Garth Brooks Comeback Special Event shows, scheduled at Dublin Ireland’s Croke Park have been canceled. No concerts will take place.
“Aiken Promotions have exhausted all avenues regarding the staging of this event,” a press release read.
Dublin City Council refused licensing for two of Brooks’ shows at the venue. In news that broke last week, Brooks responded to the Council’s decision by saying he would play all five shows or none at all.
Today’s statement notes the return process for the 400,000 fans who purchased tickets for the Dublin events will be “outlined tomorrow.” A previously announced, rescheduled press conference for Brooks is expected to take place Thurs., July 10, live streamed on garthbrooks.com at 11am CT.

Womack and Douglas to Host 25th IBMA Awards

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Jerry Douglas, Lee Ann Womack

Jerry Douglas, Lee Ann Womack


By: Laura Hostelley
Lee Ann Womack will host the 25th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards, part of the 2014 World of Bluegrass event. Womack will be joined by Dobro player Jerry Douglas as they honor outstanding achievement in the genre.
The Oct. 2 award show will take place at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh, N.C. and is part of IBMA’s five-day event, running Sept. 30 – Oct. 4.
“Last year, I came as a fan—and I loved every moment of World of Bluegrass!” said Womack. “To be a part of the IBMA Awards is such an honor, and to get to co-host with Jerry Douglas? How lucky can one girl get?”
The week include four parts: the IBMA Business Conference (Sept. 30-Oct. 2), the 25th annual International Bluegrass Music Awards (Oct. 2), the Wide Open Bluegrass Music Festival (Oct. 3-4) and the Bluegrass Ramble, a series of bluegrass showcases (Sept. 30-Oct. 2).
The festival lineup this year includes Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder with Bruce Hornsby, Gibson Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers and many more.
Last year’s World of Bluegrass welcomed a total estimated attendance of more than 154,000 to witness over 300 performances from more than 160 different artists. The events, which moved from Nashville two years ago, were estimated to generate $10 million in direct visitor spending in 2013.
Tickets for the Award Show, as well as for the ticketed portion of Wide Open Bluegrass (which takes place at Red Hat Amphitheater and Raleigh Convention Center Ballroom Stages), Bluegrass Ramble Showcase passes, and IBMA Business Conference registration can be purchased at ibma.org.

2014 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees Announced

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Pictured, (back row, L-R): Nashville Songwriiters Hall of Fame Board Chair and Hall of Fame member Pat Alger; inductees John Anderson and Gretchen Peters and Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford. Front row, (L-R): Inductees Paul Craft and Tom Douglas.

Pictured, (back row, L-R): Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Board Chair and Hall of Fame member Pat Alger; inductees John Anderson and Gretchen Peters and Hall of Fame executive director Mark Ford. Front row, (L-R): Inductees Paul Craft and Tom Douglas.


John Anderson, Tom Douglas, Gretchen Peters and Paul Craft are the 2014 inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The inductees were announced Tuesday morning (July 8) by Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame board president Pat Alger at Nashville’s Music City Center.
“This is our first anniversary of the Songwriters Hall of Fame gallery and square at the Music City Center,” said Alger. “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to introduce our 2014 inductees. There are few songwriters who write songs that linger long after they are on the chart, and these writers fit that description.”
“I am going to cry in October,” said Peters, who is known for songs including “Independence Day” (Martina McBride), “Secret of Life” (Faith Hill), and “Chill of an Early Fall” (George Strait). “I couldn’t be happier to be in this company,” she added.
Douglas, known for the hits “The House That Built Me” (Miranda Lambert), “I Run To You” (Lady Antebellum) “Little Rock” (Collin Raye) and “Love’s The Only House” (Martina McBride), among others, said, “It is a joy to be with you in this amazing space. We are standing on the shoulders of all those giants who have come before us.”
Anderson penned many of his own signature hits, including “Wish I Could’ve Been There,” “Seminole Wind,” and “Swingin.'” “How flattered and humbled I am to be here,” said Anderson.
“This is very exciting to me,” said fellow inductee Craft. “I look forward to our induction.” Craft’s songs include “Keep Me From Blowing Away” (The Seldom Scene/Linda Ronstadt), “Brother Jukebox” (Mark Chesnutt), “It’s Me Again, Margaret” (Ray Stevens), “Dropkick Me, Jesus” (Bobby Bare), and many others.
The inductions will be made during a banquet at the Music City Center on Oct. 5.

Bentley Reveals Miles And Music Line-Up

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miles and music 2014Dierks Bentley has recruited Randy Houser, Kip Moore, Jon Pardi and Chris Young to participate in his ninth annual “Miles & Music for Kids” celebrity motorcycle ride and all-star concert, scheduled for Sun., Sept. 28 in Nashville. All proceeds will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. To date, Miles & Music for Kids has raised over $2.5 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country.
The event will once again begin at the Harley Davidson of Columbia, TN for a motorcycle trek ending at Nashville’s Riverfront Park for the concert. More performers are expected to be announced as the event approaches.
To build momentum for Miles and Music and raise money for Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, plastic Riser Birds descended on Nashville yards this week (including MusicRow’s). Nashville residents can “Flock It Forward” and send Riser Birds to their friends at www.dierks.com/riserbirdmovement.
“The Riser bird symbol we’ve been using to represent this album has really come to mean something to my fans,” said Bentley. “I’ve been hearing stories about it on the road, people are getting tattoos of it. It’s a symbol of strength and resilience, and I think it’s perfect to extend into what we do for Miles & Music, especially when we are talking about the history of the event, the bikers and fans who come out every year to support it and most importantly, the children and their families being treated at Vandy. The Riser Bird Movement that started this week is a cool way to get the community involved in a deeper way and earlier this year….it’s been fun to see it start to spread across town.”
Fans can purchase a combo ticket for the ride and concert for $50 or individual concert tickets for $30. Special VIP packages and student tickets are also available. Presale tickets are available beginning tomorrow, July 9 and general public tickets go on sale this Fri., July 11 at 10:00 a.m. CT. For more ticket info, visit www.dierks.com.

[Updated]: Industry Ink (7/8/14)

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Branden Bosler

Branden Bosler


Branden Bosler has been added as Promotion Coordinator for Warner Music Nashville’s Team WMN. Bosler replaces Tyler Wall, who will exit July 25 to pursue his MBA at Vanderbilt.
Atlanta native Bosler interned with WMN through May 2013, and graduated from University of Georgia before earning his Master’s degree in Education from Vanderbilt.
He can be reached [email protected]. He will eventually assume Wall’s direct line at 615-214-1525.

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dolly parton Hope Powell

Pictured (L-R): Dolly Parton, Hope Powell


A memorial service for Nashville photographer Hope Powell will be held on Saturday, July 12.
Billed as, “A Going Home Celebration,” the event will held at Christ Church, 15354 Old Hickory Blvd. in Brentwood. It will begin with a visitation at noon, followed by the service at 1 p.m. Christ Church Choir, of which Powell was a longtime member, will sing.
One of Music City’s premiere celebrity photographers, Powell died at age 90 on July 3 after a bout with lung cancer. She created iconic album jackets for Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, Tom T. Hall, Porter Wagoner and others and won a 1974 Dove Award for her work with The Blackwood Brothers. Hope Powell was given a SOURCE Award in 2007 as a pioneering woman in the Nashville music business.
-submitted by Robert K. Oermann

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Wendy Newcomer

Wendy Newcomer


Wendy Newcomer, former Sr. Editor at Great American Country, has joined Country Aircheck in the newly created position of Managing Editor. Prior to her nine years with GAC, Newcomer was an associate editor with Country Weekly. Newcomer can be reached at [email protected].

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum honored rock and soul pioneer Buzz Cason recently during its Poets & Prophets series. Cason, a Nashville native, was a member of Nashville’s first rock band, The Casuals, and co-wrote numerous hits including “Everlasting Love” during his 60-year career. The program featured a performance by Cason as well as an in-depth interview led by museum editor Michael Gray.

Pictured are (l-r): Wayne Moss, Chip Young, Scotty Moore, Sonny Curtis, Jerry Chesnut, Buzz Cason, Bob McDill, Allen Reynolds, Dickey Lee, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael Gray, Dallas Frazier, and Bergen White

Pictured are (L-R): Wayne Moss, Chip Young, Scotty Moore, Sonny Curtis, Jerry Chesnut, Buzz Cason, Bob McDill, Allen Reynolds, Dickey Lee, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Michael Gray, Dallas Frazier, and Bergen White.

Spirit Music Group Acquires Cal IV Entertainment

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Pictured (L-R): Peter Shane (SVP, Creative Services, Spirit Music Group), Jon Singer (CFO, Spirit Music Group), Daniel Hill (Cal IV), David Renzer (Chairman, Spirit Music Group), Mark Fried (President, Spirit Music Group), Art Levy (VP of Business & Administration, Spirit Music Group), Ross Cameron (Manager of Finance & Business Development, Spirit Music Group)

Pictured (L-R): Peter Shane (SVP, Creative Services, Spirit Music Group), Jon Singer (CFO, Spirit Music Group), Daniel Hill (Cal IV), David Renzer (Chairman, Spirit Music Group), Mark Fried (President, Spirit Music Group), Art Levy (VP of Business & Administration, Spirit Music Group), Ross Cameron (Manager of Finance & Business Development, Spirit Music Group)


Spirit Music Group has acquired Nashville-based independent music publisher, production and artist management company Cal IV Entertainment, which marks the launch of Spirit Music Nashville.
This is Spirit’s first official presence on Music Row. Spirit will assume the Cal IV Nashville offices, with Cal IV head Daniel Hill being named president of Spirit Music Nashville, Billy Lynn becoming VP of Creative, and other existing Cal IV staffers remaining with the company. Hill will report to Spirit Chairman David Renzer, who was named to that post earlier this year after a long tenure leading Universal Music Publishing Group.
Along with the publishing operation, Spirit assumes ownership of Cal IV’s subsidiary Fore Artists, an artist management company overseen by Dan Harrell.
Renzer stated, “The acquisition of Cal IV represents a ‘trifecta’ for Spirit—adding great catalog including important pop and country copyrights, hot writers and artists and an incredible staff—lead by successful veterans Daniel Hill and Billy Lynn, to build upon an incredibly solid foundation. We couldn’t be more excited about this significant step for Spirit as we accelerate the company’s growth.”
Spirit becomes the publisher of an active roster that includes Eric Paslay, Jim Collins, Rose Falcon, Matt Singleton, Eric Knutson, and Britanny Taylor (Triple Run). The company’s catalog includes “Breathe” (recorded by Faith Hill), “Stupid Boy” (Keith Urban), “Big Green Tractor” (Jason Aldean) and more, as well as an extensive catalog of songs by former Cal IV writers such as Dave Berg (Billboard’s 2007 Country Songwriter of the Year, NSAI’s 2007 Songwriter of the Year, ASCAP’s 2008 Country Songwriter of the Year), Jim McBride, Odie Blackmon, Marla Cannon-Goodman, Trent Tomlinson, Holly Lamar, Georgia Middleman (Blue Sky Riders with Kenny Loggins and Gary Burr) and Ted Russell Kamp (Shooter Jennings), among many others.
Spirit purchased Cal IV from the Turner family, which includes Cal III and Cal, Jr. “I am proud of what we have accomplished over the last fourteen years at Cal IV and am very grateful to Cal, III and Cal, Jr. for their generous support. I am thrilled to be able to continue to build upon their legacy and our considerable momentum as Spirit Music Nashville,” added Hill. “Spirit and Cal IV are kindred companies and the fit between the two could not be better. Joining forces with Spirit Music will create synergies that individually we could not attain, and will enable us to take the catalog and our songwriters to a whole new level of success.”