Belmont University Welcomes New Music Business Dean Doug Howard

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Doug Howard addresses the crowd during a welcome reception at RCA Studio A.

Doug Howard addresses the crowd during a welcome reception at Columbia Studio A.

Belmont University faculty and alumni, as well as many Nashville music industry luminaries, welcomed Belmont alumnus Doug Howard as the new dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business during a reception held at Music Row’s historic Columbia Studio A on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Belmont president Bob Fisher first addressed the audience, reminding them of Howard’s academic and music industry achievements. Howard earned his undergraduate degree from Belmont in 1979, and went on to earn his JD from George Washington University School of Law, and his MBA at Vanderbilt. Early on, Howard served as a song plugger and studio manager for Welk Music Group. Following law school, he served as VP/GM at Polygram, and later as Sr. VP of A&R at Lyric Street Records/Walt Disney Company. He recently founded Vandermont Music Group.

Howard fills a position held for nearly 10 years by Wes Bulla. Among those in attendance were Bulla, Belmont trustee and alumnus Mark Wright, the first dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Jim Van Hook, as well as Ricky Skaggs, Don Cusic, Harry Chapman, Sarah Cates, and James Elliott.

Howard mentioned the growth projections for the Curb College of Music Business & Entertainment department, including plans to reach into every aspect of entertainment, including film.

“This is really full-circle for me,” said Howard. “I was fortunate to meet some great mentors when I attended Belmont, including Robert Mulloy.”

It was noted that the department has seen incredible enrollment growth, from 600 students when the major first began, 2200 majors this year. He was also realistic about the current stage of the music industry and hopeful for its future. “The industry is struggling, but it is changing and our students will be helping to lead the charge,” said Howard.

Howard has maintained his Belmont ties through the years, serving as the chair of the Advisory Board of the Curb College and as a member of the William G. Hall Scholarship Committee. Additionally, he serves on the Advisory Council for the Center for Popular Music at Middle Tennessee State University, the Board of the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival and the Nashville Board of Governors of the Recording Academy.

Doug Howard Reception 1

Linda Edell Howard and Doug Howard

Doug Howard Reception 2

Ricky Skaggs and Doug Howard

Doug Howard Reception 4

Doug Howard, Linda Edell Howard, and Bob Fisher

Don Cusic and Doug Howard

Don Cusic and Doug Howard

The crowd gathers to honor Doug Howard.

The crowd gathers to honor Doug Howard.

 

Weekly Chart Report (1/23/15)

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A-Squared Management Signs Marie Miller

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Marie Miller

Nashville-based A-Squared Management is proud to announce the signing of Curb Records artist Marie Miller to the roster.

Miller’s most recent single “6’2” charted at No. 26 on Billboard AC and the music video premiered on VH1 as well as receiving significant airplay on Sirius XM stations. Miller is currently working on her forthcoming full length album for Curb Records & will be represented for management by A-Squared Management Vice President Josh Terry.

“We are very excited to announce the signing of Marie Miller to our management roster and are thrilled to be partnering with Curb Records as she begins to work on her forthcoming full length album,” said Terry.

Miller will be performing a free show at The Basement in Nashville, TN on Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. to debut new material from her forthcoming album.

MusicRowPics: Old Dominion

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Old Dominion visit

Old Dominion visit

Nashville quintet Old Dominion, which includes Matt Ramsey, Trevor Rosen, Whit Sellers, Geoff Sprung,and Brad Tursi, has seen some of its members’ names on the country radio charts as songwriters with hits recorded by Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, The Band Perry (“Chainsaw”), Dierks Bentley (“Say You Do”), Tyler Farr (“A Guy Walks Into A Bar”), and others.

Now, with their independently released, self-titled EP, the members are getting a taste of working the radio charts as an artist. The EP, released in 2014, boasted production from top-shelf songwriter-producer Shane McAnally. McAnally earned a Grammy honor last year, alongside Luke Laird and Kacey Musgraves, for his work on Musgraves’ Same Trailer, Different Park project.

The quintet stopped by MusicRow’s office to showcase three songs, including “Roll Around With You,” “Shut Me Up,” and current single “Break Up With Him.” All members of the group had a hand in writing “Break Up With Him.” “I think that makes it even a little more special for us, to have this song as the first single,” says Rosen.

Thanks to early airplay on SiriusXM, “Break Up With Him” piqued the interest of radio programmers across the nation, and several stations began airing the album cut late last year. Responding to demand for the song, the band’s management is rushing out the radio single, with an official impact date of Feb. 9.

The quintet has landed an opening slot on Chesney’s upcoming The Big Revival Tour this summer. The gig makes them the first independent act to ever be part of a stadium tour.

“For months we kept joking about going on the road with him, and then they said, ‘Well now that the Kenny tour is happening…’ and we couldn’t believe it,” said Ramsey. Thus far, the band has primarily played smaller venues, including opening for Chase Rice’s Ignite The Night Tour. “There’s no way to really prepare for something like stadium dates. We are just excited to get out there and play our music.”

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RareSpark Signs Walker Hayes for Publishing

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Pictured (L-R): Christian Barker (Founder/President, Capri Nashville), Walker Hayes, Suzanne Strickland (Owner/CEO, RareSpark), Lauren Spahn (Shackelford, Bowen, Zumwalt & Hayes), Scot Sherrod (VP/GM, RareSpark)

Singer-songwriter Walker Hayes has signed an exclusive world-wide music publishing contract with RareSpark Media Group.

“We feel so lucky to be able to partner with such an extremely talented and incredibly hard-working individual,” says RareSpark’s Owner/CEO Suzanne Strickland.

“Walker is a triple-threat,” continues RareSpark’s VP/GM Scot Sherrod. “He is an amazing artist, songwriter and producer. His artistry and songwriting as a whole is at its all-time best and we are very excited to work together to help bring it to the masses.”

Of the new partnership, Hayes’ manager Christian Barker remarks, “Throughout the process of finding a new publishing home for Walker, RareSpark stuck out as an innovative, team-oriented organization with which we are thrilled to partner.”

Previously signed to Capitol Nashville, the Alabama native moved to Nashville in 2005. He has found success in writing “Eat, Sleep, Love You, Repeat” for Rodney Atkins; “Joy Like Judy,” an anthem for The Bobby Bones Show; and Colt Ford‘s “Dirty Side.” Walker has also made an appearance on the TLC series 19 Kids & Counting, performing a song he wrote commemorating the engagement of Jill Duggar.

ACM Awards Announce Partnership With Mary Kay

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MK_ACMFrom its Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn., beauty company Mary Kay has announced its partnership with the 2015 ACM Awards as the Official Beauty Sponsor. The awards show celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, capping off three days of events including the 3rd annual ACM Party for a Cause® festival held on April 17-18. The outdoor event will feature multiple stages for live country music performances and a Mary Kay booth where fans will receive product samples and learn more about how to connect with an independent beauty consultant.

Throughout the awards show on Sunday, April 19, there will also be six Mary Kay commercials that air nationwide.

“The 50th ACM Awards is a landmark event and we’re thrilled to be part of a historical country music experience at one of the biggest venues in the country in our own backyard,” said Sara Friedman, Vice President of U.S. Marketing for Mary Kay Inc. “This platform allows us to showcase our irresistible beauty products to a national audience while providing an opportunity to engage Mary Kay’s independent sales force and reach Mary Kay brand lovers, as well as new customers, through a new and different avenue.”

The Doobie Brothers To Be Honored During Music Biz 2015

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Pictured (L-R): John McFee, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers Pictured (L-R): John McFee, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers

Pictured (L-R): John McFee, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers will be honored with the Music Biz 2015 Chairman’s Award for Sustained Creative Achievement during its upcoming event in Nashville. The honor will be given during the Music Biz 2015 Awards Luncheon, set for Thursday, May 14 at 12 p.m.

“The Doobie Brothers have achieved incredible success over the years, selling an astonishing number of records and maintaining a regular presence on the Billboard charts,” said Fred Beteille, Chairman of Music Biz. “By re-envisioning their greatest hits through the filter of country music, the band has revealed new dimensions to songs that millions of people know by heart. I’m honored that they will be the recipient of my first Award as Chairman of Music Biz and am excited to celebrate the legacy of this band as they enter the next chapter of their career.”

“Receiving this Award is a great honor, as it recognizes the music from our early days together and shines a light on the music we’re creating right now,” said Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers. “We’re excited about the new creative doors we’ve opened up for ourselves by working with so many great Country musicians and can’t wait to carry that experience forward. A heartfelt thanks from the whole band to the Music Business Association for this amazing Award,” adds The Doobie Brothers member Patrick Simmons.

Previous recipients of the Music Biz Chairman’s Award include Paul Rodgers, Buddy Guy, Lionel Richie, Brian Wilson, Cyndi Lauper, Daryl Hall & John Oates, BB King, Chicago, Kool & The Gang, Carlos Santana, Liza Minnelli, Kenny Rogers, Dionne Warwick, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Nat King Cole, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, and Frank Sinatra, among others.

Music Biz 2015, which will be held in Nashville for the first time in Association history on May 12-14, will give the commerce and content sectors a place to meet with trading partners, network with new companies, and learn about new trends and products impacting the music business. Registration is available now, with early bird discounts available until March 8. For more information or to sign up for the conference, visit musicbiz2015.com.

Music Collection Service Audiam To Hold Free Nashville Seminar

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audiam logo11Audiam, a New York-based online music collection service will be hosting a free seminar and luncheon to assist the local independent music community on how to get paid from YouTube, Spotify, Rhapsody, and other digital music services. The seminar will be hosted by Audiam CEO, Jeff Price.

“Songwriters, publishers and artists’ works are being used by technology companies to sell hardware, software, gain market share and/or generate billions of dollars via IPOs,” says Price. “However, the music copyright holders are not getting paid for the use of their music. And there is no better city in the world to discuss this issue than at the heart of the songwriter universe, Nashville, TN.”

Investors in the company include Jimmy Buffett, Jason Mraz, Bill Silva, Marc Geiger and GSO Business Group. It represents the publishing catalogs of Dolly Parton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Trent Reznor, Graham Nash, Herbie Hancock, Tom Waits, Tori Amos, Aimee Mann, Pretty Lights, Puscifer and more.

The event will take place Friday, Jan. 30 from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Frist Lecture Hall at Belmont University’s Inman Center. Free parking is available on the first floor of the Belmont North Garage.

To RSVP, contact attend@audiam.com

Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley Adds Associate

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mollyshehanMargaret “Molly” Shehan has joined the law firm Milom Horsnell Crow Rose Kelley and will be practicing Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law.

Shehan is a recent graduate of Belmont College of Law and received her BBA in Music Business from Belmont University, where she was a Copyright Society of the South scholarship recipient.

Her experience includes interning for the Nashville Music Council for two years under Co-Chairs Mayor Karl Dean and Mary Ann McCready, interning for Congressman Jim Cooper in Washington D.C., and working as a research assistant for Dr. Don Cusic at Belmont University.

Shehan also contributed to an editorial feature in MusicRow’s January 2015 Next Big Thing print issue. Molly can be reached at [email protected] or (615) 255-6161.

Simpson, Lambert Top ‘Nashville Scene’ Country Critics’ Poll

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sturgill simpson11Sturgill Simpson made a notable showing atop the Nashville Scene‘s recently released 15th Annual Country Music Critics’ Poll, as the first artist without a Top 40 Country single to top the critics’ Album list. Simpson released his successful Metamodern Sounds in Country Music last year on his own label, High Top Mountain/Thirty Tigers), though he recently announced a deal with major label Atlantic Records.

Country music critics entered their nominations in a range of categories, including the top Artists of the Year, live acts, duo/group, male vocalists, female vocalists, songwriters and more.

Simpson narrowly beat singer-songwriter Miranda Lambert for the top Album title by a razor-thin margin of a single vote. Lambert’s Platinum project (RCA) earned the No. 2 ranking.

Simpson also garnered the Best Male Vocalist honor, and the top Songwriter designation this year as well.

Lambert took home the overall Artist of the Year title. She earned the title by a comfortable margin over runner-up Simpson, with Eric Church, Rosanne Cash, and Lee Ann Womack rounding out the Top 5. Lambert was also honored with the Female Vocalist honor.

Newcomers Maddie & Tae earned Song of the Year honors for the brave anti-bro country hit “Girl In A Country Song,” while Little Big Town earned top Duo/Group.

(Nicolle Galyon, Jimmy Robbins and Natalie Hemby wrote song called "Priscilla" on Miranda's new album.)

Eric Church, who recently brought his The Outsiders tour to Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, earned the top Live Act honor. He also earned nods as the runner-up to Sturgill in the Best Male Vocalist category, and No. 3 Best Artist based on the success of his album, The Outsiders.

Singer-songwriter Angaleena Presley earned the New Act of the Year, followed closely by Sam Hunt, Maddie & Tae, Parker Milsap, and Simpson rounding out the Top 5.

Here are some of the results:

Albums
1. Sturgill Simpson, Metamodern Sounds in Country Music (High Top Mountain/Thirty Tigers)
2. Miranda Lambert, Platinum (RCA)
3. Lee Ann Womack, The Way I’m Livin’ (Sugar Hill)
4. Rosanne Cash, The River and the Thread (Blue Note)
5. Angaleena Presley, American Middle Class (Slate Creek/Thirty Tigers)

Singles
1. Maddie and Tae, “Girl in a Country Song” (Republic/Dot)
2. Miranda Lambert, “Automatic” (RCA)
3. Eric Church, “Give Me Back My Hometown” (EMI Nashville)
4. Lee Ann Womack, “The Way I’m Livin'” (Sugar Hill)
5. Dierks Bentley, “Drunk on a Plane” (Capitol Nashville)

Songwriters
1. Sturgill Simpson
2. Rosanne Cash
3. Shane McAnally
4. Angaleena Presley
5. Brandy Clark

Artists of the Year
1. Miranda Lambert
2. Sturgill Simpson
3. Eric Church
4. Rosanne Cash
5. Lee Ann Womack
6. Little Big Town
7. George Strait
8. Blake Shelton
9. Angaleena Presley
10. Dierks Bentley

For the complete lists, visit Nashville Scene.