MusicRowPics: Allison Veltz

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Allison Veltz visit

Allison Veltz visit


Blaster Records artist Allison Veltz visited MusicRow’s office to showcase songs from her upcoming project, including the uplifting current single, “The Bright Side,” and album cut “Wonderland.”
The singer-songwriter recently shot a video (directed by Justin Key) for “The Bright Side” in Nashville and Germantown, Tenn. The clip features a friendly puppy named Penny who had been adopted from the Nashville Humane Association.
“They love you no matter if you’ve been away for a while. It’s so innocent how they never get down. She finds her way home to me at the end of the video,” said Veltz. To continue the puppy love, Veltz launched the “Pennies for Penny” campaign, which runs until July 20. For every viewing of the video, an additional penny will be donated to the Nashville Humane Association.
Mobile, Ala., native Veltz was born into a family of musicians, and by the age of four, she was traveling across the country in the family band. The family talent runs deep—Allison’s sister Laura is now a chart-topping songwriter behind Eli Young Band’s hit “Drunk Last Night,” among others.
Allison’s debut project, titled Allison’s Wonderland, is produced by Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood), who discovered the singer via social media while Veltz was working as a singing waitress in New York.
Veltz relocated to Nashville to work with Bright on her forthcoming album. “In Nashville you tend to find your crew that gets you,” says Veltz. Her crew includes Dan Mukala, who co-wrote “Bright Side,” as well as songwriters including Jess Cates. “With this album, I just wanted to write my story and they really get that,” Veltz says.
She closed her three-song acoustic set with a tribute to Mobile, titled “Alabama.”
“I wanted a hometown song, even though I don’t really have a hometown because we were on the road all the time,” said Veltz.
For more, visit her official Twitter page.
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[Updated]: Vanderbilt Purchases Sony Music Nashville Headquarters

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Screen shot 2014-06-27 at 10.24.34 AM1[Updated, July 2]: According to the Nashville Business Journal, Vanderbilt University paid $12.1 million on Wednesday (July 2) to acquire Sony Music Nashville’s headquarters on Music Row.
[Original post, June 27]:
The sale of the Sony Music Nashville building, located at 1400 18th Ave. S., is expected to close as early as Monday (6/30). Though not official, Vanderbilt University is the likely buyer of the building.
The Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach main office is already located in the historic Sony Building.
The Tennessean and Nashville Business Journal have reported Sony Music Nashville is looking to move its label offices from its current location. According to their reports, the label is looking at space in a yet-to-be built 15-story tower planned by Eakin Partners, to be located at 1201 Demonbreun in the Gulch.
William Morris Endeavor Nashville previously announced it will relocate its approximately 80 Nashville staff members into the new Gulch tower at 1201 Demonbreun in 2016.
MusicRow reached out to Sony Music Nashville but they declined to comment.
Music Row-area properties have been a hot topic in the past several weeks. This week, singer-songwriter and producer Ben Folds wrote an open letter opposing the sale of Grand Victor Sound, located at 30 Music Square West, which is reportedly being sold to a commercial real estate developer. SESAC is planning a $20 million building on Music Row. The 110,000-square-foot space will be located at 35, 37, 39 and 41 Music Sq. E. SESAC is expected to use about 35,000 square feet of the complex and lease the remainder. Completion is scheduled for 2015.In April, Virgin Hotels announced plans for a luxury, 240-room hotel to open at One Music Row in 2016. It will be Virgin Hotels’ third U.S. property.
 

Covington Signs with F3 Entertainment, Buddy Lee Attractions

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Pictured (L-R): Chris Hurt (BLA), Ken Madson (F3), Bucky Covington, David Kiswiney (BLA) and Bill Moore (BLA).

After releasing his first independent single, “Buzzin’,” to MusicRow CountryBreakout reporting stations earlier this summer, Bucky Covington has partnered with F3 Entertainment for management representation, and Buddy Lee Attractions for exclusive booking representation.

Nashville-based F3 Entertainment, an artist management and television development/production company, was launched in 2013 by music industry executive Ken Madson and outdoor industry veteran J.T. Harden. “F3 Entertainment is excited to be working with Bucky Covington,” says Madson. “He’s a great performer and has an authenticity necessary for success in the country format.” F3 Entertainment’s management roster also includes artists Craig Morgan, Dee Jay Silver, Moonshine Bandits, Ira Dean, football legend Jim McMahon, and former MLB player Ryan Klesko.
Buddy Lee Attractions is a full service talent agency that has represented numerous Country artists, including George Strait, Willie Nelson and Garth Brooks and most recently Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, in the past 50 years. “We are excited to have Bucky Covington on our exclusive roster,” says David Kiswiney, VP of Buddy Lee Attractions. “America knows who he is from his hit songs on Country radio and his finalist finish on the 5th season of American Idol. Bucky is a perfect fit for our team and we look forward representing him for all live engagements including festivals and fairs for 2014 and beyond.”

No. 1 Party: 'Hometown' Throwdown

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BMI hosted a celebration honoring Eric Church's most recent #1 hit single "Give Me Back My Hometown" amongst music industry VIPs at their Nashville office yesterday afternoon. Co-written by Church and Luke Laird, "Give Me Back My Hometown" is from Church's critically acclaimed fourth studio album, The Outsiders, which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Top 200 and Top Country Albums charts. The song is the fifteenth #1 hit for BMI's 2012 Songwriter of the Year Luke Laird, and the third #1 for Eric Church. Pictured (l-r): BMI's Bradley Collins, Q Prime's John Peets, Songs of Universal's Kent Earls, Creative Nation's Beth Laird, Luke Laird, Eric Church, Longer and Louder Music's Arturo Buenahora, BMI's Jody Williams, Sony / ATV Tree Publishing's Troy Tomlinson, Universal Music Group's Mike Dungan. Photo credit: Ed Rode

BMI hosted a celebration honoring Eric Church’s most recent No. 1 single “Give Me Back My Hometown,” co-written by Church and Luke Laird. Pictured (l-r): BMI’s Bradley Collins, Q Prime’s John Peets, Songs of Universal’s Kent Earls, Creative Nation’s Beth Laird, Luke Laird, Eric Church, Longer and Louder Music’s Arturo Buenahora, BMI’s Jody Williams, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing’s Troy Tomlinson, Universal Music Group’s Mike Dungan. Photo: Ed Rode


When Luke Laird and Eric Church wrote the lyric “my friends try to cheer me up, get together at the Pizza Hut,” in “Give Me Back My Hometown,” they weren’t just trying to connect with listeners in Everytown, USA (although they did that too). Turns out Pizza Hut is one of Laird’s favorite places. His grandmother used to take him there when he returned home to Pennsylvania. So at yesterday’s (July 1) No. 1 party for “…Hometown” Laird’s wife and Creative Nation partner, Beth, handed out Pizza Hut gift cards to the team behind the song’s success, so they could celebrate “Luke Laird style.”
This was the first of many tributes to Laird’s and Church’s homegrown authenticity during the event in BMI’s lobby.
Thinking outside the (pizza) box, Beth also presented the writers with unique, handcrafted wooden plaques, carved in the shape of their respective homestates.
“…Hometown” marks Creative Nation’s third No. 1 and Luke Laird’s fifteenth. In between writing smash hits, he is also producing Native Run, Thomas Rhett and Kacey Musgraves’ next album.
Among those on hand to toast the songwriters were UMPG’s Kent Earls, who said, “Eric’s artistry never waivers.”
UMGN’s Mike Dungan saluted Church’s unconventionality. “When you boil it down, Eric is a songwriter,” he said. “A damn good songwriter.” Indeed, it Church’s third No. 1.
Also giving tributes were Sony/ATV’s Troy Tomlinson, and Little Louder Music’s Arturo Buenahora. This is the first No. 1 for Little Louder, the company founded by Buenahora, and Church, who celebrated “Eric Church style,” by wearing his sunglasses.

July 4th With Billy Currington, Striking Matches, Ashley Monroe

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Billy-Currington

Billy Currington


Middle Tennessee will host plenty of Independence Day Celebrations this weekend. Here’s a brief run-down:
Nashville will welcome locals and visitors to what MSN Living has named “one of the best Fireworks Shows” in the nation. Let Freedom Sing: July 4th in Music City will feature live music from Striking Matches, Ashley Monroe and Billy Currington. The entire event is free. There will also be an attempt at a Guinness World Records title. Since July is National Ice Cream Month, Dippin’ Dots and Warner Music Nashville artist Monroe will attempt to set a world record for the number of ice cream cups prepared in three minutes. The event will take place at approximately 1:45 p.m. just outside Bridgestone Arena in the free McDonald’s Family Fun Zone on the corner of Broadway and 5th Avenue in Nashville.
More Info HERE
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Murfreesboro’s Celebration Under the Stars will take place at McKnight Park. The event is free and open to the public. More Info HERE.
Franklin will host “Franklin on the Fourth” with activities in the downtown area from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and fireworks at Harlinsdale Farm at 9:00 p.m.
More info HERE.
Lebanon hosts an annual 4th celebration with fireworks at the James E. Ward Ag. Center. More Info HERE.
Hendersonville Independence Day Celebration features local entertainment, a kids zone, vendor and food booths, followed by fireworks at Drakes Creek Park. More Info HERE.
Mt. Juliet will host the annual 4th celebration with fireworks and other festivities at the Providence Marketplace and begins at 4:30 with the fireworks display kicking off around 9:00 p.m.
More Info HERE.
Gallatin July 4th celebration, with food, music and fireworks, at the Gallatin Civic Center is free to the public. More Info HERE.
White House Independence Day Celebration offers food, music, crafts, games, fireworks at White House City Park. More Info HERE.
Silver Point will host an Independence Day campsite decoration contest at Edgar Evins State Park. More Info HERE.
Goodlettsville invites people to join them in Moss-Wright Park on the 4th of July. Festivities will begin at 4:00 p.m. Activities will include fireman’s foam, food, games, and fireworks at 9:00 p.m. More Info HERE.

Thirty Tigers Adds Staffers

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thirty tigers logo11Thirty Tigers, which has worked with artists including Jason Isbell, Chase Rice, and St. Paul and the Broken Bones, has added Lynn Oliver, Whitney Richards and Tessa Schonder to its staffers.
Oliver, most recently of Southern Ground Artists as the VP of Publishing/A&R, will initially focus on project management for Thirty Tigers. She has previously worked at Atlantic, Virgin and BMI, and will assist Thirty Tigers’ growing client list. Thirty Tigers founder David Macias said, “Thirty Tigers is very lucky that she’s joining the team. We’re going to do good work together.”
Richards joins Thirty Tigers from CAA’s Nashville office, and is currently day-to-day manager for Trampled by Turtles. Schonder, most recently a personal assistant for pop artist Kesha, and will now serve as day-to-day manager for Jason Isbell, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, and Diamond Rugs.

IEBA Announces Hall of Fame Inductees for 2014

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TheDoobieBrothers1

The Doobie Brothers


IEBA’s Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will include The Doobie Brothers and their longtime manager Bruce Cohn, veteran manager and agent Jim Halsey, and event producers Bob and Peggy Kaltenbach of Klein’s Entertainment.
IEBA will also present its Industry Achievement award to Romeo Entertainment Group.
The Class of 2014 will be inducted at the close of the 44th Annual Conference, to be held Sept. 30 at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The private event is only for conference attendees.
The 44th annual conference will be held Sept. 27-30, 2014, at Omni Nashville. Registration is now open.
bruce cohn1

Bruce Cohn


IEBA’s Hall of Fame honors elite live entertainment industry professionals.
Over the course of four decades, The Doobie Brothers have sold more than 48 million albums, won four GRAMMY Awards and built an extremely loyal fanbase. Their relationship with Nashville continues this fall when some of country music’s top stars join them on their forthcoming Sony Music Nashville collaboration album. The record, full of their hits, also reunites them with longtime Doobie Brother Michael McDonald.

“The IEBA Hall of Fame induction is an honor in itself,” Cohn said. “I can’t tell you how much more it means to be inducted simultaneously with the band. We have accomplished so much together and will continue to achieve even more in the future. We have a brotherhood that I am proud of, and—even after 44 years together—I think some of the most exciting times are just around the corner.”

Jim Halsey

Jim Halsey


Jim Halsey founded The Jim Halsey Company talent agency in 1951. His clients included Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, The Oak Ridge Boys, Roy Clark, and many others. The Jim Halsey Company was acquired by the William Morris Agency in 1990, but Halsey remains active in the industry. As an author and educator, he launched The Jim Halsey Institute of Music and Entertainment Business, an undergraduate music business program at Independence Community College in Independence, Kan.
Carl and Margaret Klein created Klein’s Attractions in 1930. For more than 80 years and three generations, Klein’s has provided entertainment for state and county fairs, expositions, festivals, colleges, casinos, community and corporate events throughout the United States. Just as Carl and Margaret passed their love of the business onto their daughter Peggy and her husband Bob Kaltenbach, Peggy and Bob passed it to their son R.J. and his wife Patty. After Bob’s death in 1993, R.J. took the reigns as the company’s president and Peggy, though semi-retired, continues to play an active role in day-to-day operations.
Don Romeo started Romeo Entertainment Group, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, in 1954. He later joined with Hap Peebles in forming IEBA. The Don Romeo Agency steadily grew as it was passed down to Bob, Don’s son. Today, as Romeo Entertainment Group, its client list boasts over 100 names including Country Jam, North Dakota State Fair, Bands in the Backyard, Evergreen State Fair, Grand Falls Casino Resort, and Riverside Casino and Golf Resort. The company remains in the family: Don’s daughter Fran Romeo is President, and grandchildren Michelle and R.J. Romeo are Agent and General Counsel, respectively. Michelle also serves on IEBA’s Board of Directors.

Dale Morris, Marc Oswald Delve Further Into Hospitality Industry

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dale morris marc oswald fontanel

Pictured (L-R): Don Schappacher, President & COO of MORE American Hospitality; Marc Oswald, CEO of MORE American Hospitality; Dale Morris, Chairman of the Board, MORE American Hospitality; Bob Ekman, Vice President-Franchise Development-North America-IHG.

Entertainment industry powerhouses Dale Morris and Marc Oswald are expanding their resort/hospitality initiatives. Their company MORE Enterprises is teaming with Michigan based American Hospitality Management, Inc. to form MORE American Hospitality LLC.

Morris will serve as Chairman of the Board of MORE American Hospitality and Oswald will serve as Chief Executive Officer.
Morris and Oswald entered the hospitality business by developing the Fontanel mansion and its surrounding 186 acres near Nashville. They added The Woods Amphitheater, a restaurant, boutique hotel and more. Later this year, work will begin on a 150 room and suite Holiday Inn Resort at Fontanel. MORE American will work closely with Fontanel Properties CFO Sandy Medd and GM JP Dansereau to support current operations.
Morris and Oswald also have controlling interest in Deadwood Mountain Grand, a Holiday Inn Resort in Deadwood, SD which includes a casino and event center.
American Hospitality Management, which manages 26 hotels and resorts in 12 states, is headed by Don Schappacher, Fred Kindell and Chris Godfrey. AHM will also continue to own and/or operate hotels on its own. Schappacher will serve as President and COO of the newly formed MORE American Hospitality, LLC. Kindell will serve as Secretary of MORE American Hospitality.

fontanel holiday inn

Rendering of the Fontanel Holiday Inn Resort.

Limardi To Leave WSM-AM

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Joe Limardi

Joe Limardi


By: Laura Hostelley
Joe Limardi of WSM-AM/Nashville is set to leave the station where he has served as Program Director/mid-days for seven years. He will begin a new gig in New York state as Operations Manager for the Hudson Valley Townsquare Media cluster, as well as Program Director for its WPDH rock station on July 21.
“WSM has been a lesson in radio, Country music and the workings of Nashville that I will always hold with great respect and gratitude,” said Limardi. “It was time for me to start thinking about rejoining my family in New England and when this incredible opportunity came up to work with a passionate and talented group of people again the thinking about it became do something about it.”
Limardi’s prior stops have included PD of WCZX, which is also a part of Townsquare.

Google Acquires Songza

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imgresGoogle has announced that it reached a deal to acquire Songza, an internet radio streaming service. Songza recommends various playlists based on time of day and mood or activities like waking up, driving or working out.
Songza will give Google a music streaming service, which can compete with Apple’s Beats Music.
The most recognized music streaming brands are internet radio services such as Pandora. Songza is recognized by only 5 percent of consumers. However, this number is likely to improve under Google’s ownership.
With the purchase of Songza, Google aims to attract young consumers. As internet radio becomes available in more automobiles, there will be an increasing opportunity to reach older consumers as well.
It is expected that Google will explore ways to incorporate Songza into Google Play Music, YouTube and other Google Products.