UMG Nashville Reveals Artist Lineup For CRS 2015 Luncheon

team umg logoThe lineup for “Team UMG At The Ryman” luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015 during CRS 2015 has been announced.

This year’s performers include Billy Currington, Brothers Osborne, Canaan Smith, Chris Stapleton, Darius Rucker, David Nail, Dierks Bentley, Easton Corbin, Eric Church, Josh Turner, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kip Moore, Little Big Town, Mickey Guyton and Vince Gill.

Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Nashville, Mike Dungan says, “Now in its sixth year, the UMG Ryman show has become The CRS Event. It’s an intimate musical experience, from our family of artists and staff, with the family of friends at radio. You just gotta be there.”

As in previous years, seminar registrants will receive lunch prior to the event. To register for CRS 2015, please visit www.crb.org or contact the CRS offices. The current registration rate for the three-day event is $599.

Warner/Chappell Production Features Frampton In Artist Series

hummingbird in a box peter framptonWarner/Chappell Production Music, Warner Music Group’s production music arm, has launched a new Artist Series with its first offering, Peter Frampton’s Hummingbird in a Box.

The series will highlight recording artist offerings available for license, with work from artists spanning a variety of music formats.

“We are thrilled to launch our new Artist Series collection with talented artist and good friend, Peter Frampton. Hummingbird in a Box is a work of art that will translate easily to film, television and new media licensing,” said Warner/Chappell Production Music President & CEO, Randy Wachtler.

“I’ve known Randy Wachtler as a good friend for many years. I am looking forward to working with Warner/Chappell Production Music, Randy and his worldwide team on this project,” Frampton said.

Hummingbird in a Box is exclusively available for licensing through Warner/Chappell Production Music.

Black River Publishing Adds Catalog Manager

kelly bolton

Kelly Bolton

Black River Entertainment’s Vice President of Publishing Celia Froehlig has announced the hiring of Kelly Bolton as Catalog Manager for Black River Publishing.

“Kelly’s passion for songs and love of songwriters make her a perfect fit for BRE,” Froehlig said.

Bolton previously worked with TKO Artist Management and oversaw artist social media, brand marketing, as well as brand promotion on the road with Toby Keith’s Shut Up and Hold On Tour.

Kelly joins Black River Publishing’s Creative Director Dave Pacula in reporting to Froehlig and has already started in this position.

Kelly can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 615-780-3070.

Industry Signings: SESAC, Silvercreek Records

Niko Moon Signs with SESAC

Singer/songwriter Niko Moon has signed with SESAC for representation. Moon, a Texas native who often writes with artist/writer Zac Brown, dropped by SESAC’s Nashville head offices recently to visit and celebrate.

Pictured (L-R):  SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Moon and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

Pictured (L-R): SESAC’s Dennis Lord, Moon and SESAC’s Shannan Hatch. Photo: Bev Moser/Moments By Moser

 

Silvercreek Records Signs The Lindsey Cardinale Band

Former American Idol contestant Lindsey Cardinale has inked a recording deal with Nashville’s Silvercreek Records. The Lindsey Cardinale Band (LCB). Cardinale’s deal with Silvercreek Records includes the addition of two new band members: Stafond Seago (rhythm guitar), who is president of Silvercreek Records, and Jonathan Nuccio (drums). They join Cardinale’s existing musicians Augie King (bass) and Kaleb Payne (lead guitar).

“I’m thrilled to be working with Lindsey,” said Seago, who is also the singer’s new manager. “She’s an amazing talent with a good fan base. I’m confident her popularity will take off, after she finishes her album later this year.”

Pictured (L-R): Stafond Seago (Silvercreek Records President/CEO), Kaleb Payne (vice president), Lindsey Cardinale and Steve Pope (vice president).

Pictured (L-R): Stafond Seago (Silvercreek Records President/CEO), Kaleb Payne (vice president), Lindsey Cardinale and Steve Pope (vice president).

Weekly Register: Sam Hunt Hangs At No. 1

sam hunt11

Sam Hunt is No. 1 on the country tracks and albums charts.

It’s slow in sales land this time of year. In this post-holiday draught, there aren’t any notable new country releases this week, and there are none on the immediate horizon. The album release schedule starts to warm up in March, when new product is expected from Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and Josh Turner.

In the meantime, Sam Hunt hunkers down at No. 1 on the country tracks and albums charts. An overall sales uptick is expected from Sunday night’s Grammy Awards. Stay tuned.

Top 5 Country Albums
Sam Hunt, 14K, 288K RTD
Jason Aldean, 10K, 818K RTD
Carrie Underwood, 10K, 262K RTD
Blake Shelton, 9K, 317K RTD
FGL, 7K, 548K RTD

It is worth noting that indie turned new Atlantic signee Sturgill Simpson is swimming at No. 8 with 5K/ 97K RTD.

On the total consumption albums chart, the top three slots belong to Taylor Swift (101K), Ed Sheeran (74K) and Meghan Trainor (68K). The top country stars on the list are Sam Hunt at No. 16 with 25K, and Carrie Underwood at No. 24 with 18K.

The Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars hit “Uptown Funk” dances at No. 1 on the tracks chart, selling 365K TW and 3.2 million RTD.

Top 5 Country Tracks
Sam Hunt “Take Your Time” 43K/339K RTD
Blake Shelton ft. Ashley Monroe “Lonely Tonight” 28K/ 343K RTD
Thomas Rhett “Make Me Wanna” 25K/ 405K RTD
FGL “Sun Daze” 25K/ 446K RTD
Luke Bryan “I See You” 24K/ 371K RTD

 

Martina McBride Keeps ‘Everlasting Tour 2015’ Rolling

Martina McBride performs during her Everlasting Tour during a stop in Omaha, Neb. Photo: Amiee Stubbs

Martina McBride performs during her Everlasting Tour during a stop in Omaha, Neb. Photo: Amiee Stubbs

Martina McBride is set to continue her Everlasting Tour 2015, bringing more of her soulful cover tunes from her album Everlasting to fans. Several additional tour dates have been scheduled for the coming months, including stops in Oklahoma, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Indiana.

“The band and I are having so much fun on this Everlasting Tour!” McBride said. “I really wanted to put together a show that is as visually entertaining as it is musically entertaining. The addition of the horn section and singers adds so much energy to what we do. We are enjoying the fresh take on our hits of the last 20 plus years as well as being able to play so much of the new album because it’s familiar music to my fans. I think we are all wishing this tour really would last forever!”

EVERLASTING TOUR 2015 (*newly announced dates)
Feb. 10: Hudiburg Cheverolet Center (Midwest City, OK) *
Feb. 12: Adler Theater (Davenport, IA)
Feb. 13: Swiftel Center (Brookings, SD)
Feb. 26: Spotlight 29 Casino (Coachella, CA)
March 26: Rodeo Austin (Austin, TX)
March 27: Beau Rivage Theatre (Biloxi, MS)
March 28: Billy Bob’s Texas (Ft. Worth, TX)
May 15: Star Plaza Theater (Merrillville, IN) *
May 16: Crystal Grand Music Theater (Wisconsin Dells, WI) *
June 6: Riverbend Festival (Chattanooga, TN)
June 18: Burlington Steamboat Days (Burlington, IA)
July 3: Alabama Theater (Myrtle Beach, SC) *
July 22: Last Change Stampede & Fai, Lewis & Clark County (Helena, MT) *
July 25: Medicine Hat Stampede (Medicine Hat, AB)
July 28: Sweetwater County Fair (Rock Springs, WY) *
Aug. 13: Brown County Fairgrounds (Aberdeen, SD)
Oct. 2: Norsk Hostfest (Minot, ND) *

Industry Pics: Leadership Music, Row Entertainment, Sony Music Nashville

(L-R): LM Gift of Service Chair Stacy Widelitz, LM President-Elect Mike Craft, LM President Diane Pearson and Day.

(L-R): Leadership Music’s Gift of Service Chair Stacy Widelitz, President-Elect Mike Craft, President Diane Pearson and Second Harvest Food Bank’s Jaynee Day.

Leadership Music Presents Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN with Donation

At the recent Leadership Music board meeting, Jaynee Day, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN, was presented with a check from Leadership Music for their first annual Virtual Food Drive held during the holiday season. The friendly competition among the 26 classes, raised almost $26,000 with the Class of 2012 raising the most money. Co-sponsored by Leadership Music and MusicRow Publications, and thanks to the added bonus from Nissan that doubled the proceeds, 200,000 meals were provided.

Members of Leadership Music's Class of 2012 gathered this week at Sinema Restaurant & Bar in Nashville.

Members of Leadership Music’s Class of 2012 gathered this week at Sinema Restaurant & Bar in Nashville.

Row Entertainment Holds Industry Showcase Featuring Tim Rushlow

Independent label and publishing company Row Entertainment recently hosted a party to introduce the new company Thursday night at the Rosewall in Nashville’s Gulch district. The retro-themed bash resembled a Las Vegas supper club, complete with a martini bar and a host of hors d’oeuvres, as industry members took in a performance from Tim Rushlow, former Little Texas lead vocalist.

Row Entertainment was started by songwriter/producer Jimmy Ritchey, Rushlow and businessman Kyle WaitesRow Entertainment’s offices are located at 2818 Azalea Place in Nashville.

Pictured (L-R): Kyle Waites, Tim Rushlow and Jimmy Ritchey of Row Entertainment.

Pictured (L-R): Kyle Waites, Tim Rushlow and Jimmy Ritchey of Row Entertainment.

 

Sony Music Nashville Presents New Artists to iHeartRadio

Sony Music Nashville and iHeartRadio presented Sony Nashville’s new class of artists during an event recently at Honky Tonk Central in Nashville.

(Seated, L-R): Columbia Nashville’s Steven Lee Olsen, Arista Nashville’s Cam, Columbia Nashville’s Josh Dorr and Arista Nashville’s Logan Mize;  (in the midst of the crowd) Clay Hunnicutt, Executive Vice President of National Programming Platforms, iHeartMedia; Sony Music Nashville’sChairman & CEO Gary Overton; Keith Gale, SVP, Promotion, RCA Nashville; Lesly Simon, VP, Promotion, Arista Nashville; and, Norbert Nix, VP, Columbia Nashville.

(Seated, L-R): Columbia Nashville’s Steven Lee Olsen, Arista Nashville’s Cam, Columbia Nashville’s Josh Dorr and Arista Nashville’s Logan Mize;  (in the midst of the crowd) Clay Hunnicutt, Executive Vice President of National Programming Platforms, iHeartMedia; Sony Music Nashville’sChairman & CEO Gary Overton; Keith Gale, SVP, Promotion, RCA Nashville; Lesly Simon, VP, Promotion, Arista Nashville; and, Norbert Nix, VP, Columbia Nashville.

 

 

 

 

iHeartRadio Music Awards Reveals Nominees

iheartradio awards 2015The second annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will return to NBC on Sunday, March 29. Nominees were revealed today (Feb. 4) for the show’s eleven categories.

Iggy Azalea and Sam Smith lead with five nominations each, while Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande were right behind with four apiece.

The 2015 iHeartRadio Music Awards will be televised live on NBC from 8-11 p.m. ET/PT and broadcast simultaneously on iHeartMedia stations nationwide and across the iHeartRadio digital music platform.

Fan voting will determine Best Fan Army, Best Lyrics and the first-ever Renegade Award, sponsored by Jeep. Voting will run Monday, March 3 through Friday, March 20.

The inaugural 2014 iHeartRadio Music Awards telecast showcased the year’s most popular artists and songs determined by the iHeartRadio Chart and music fans nationwide who cast more than 65 million votes using hashtags on Facebook and Twitter.

Artist of the Year
Ariana Grande
Iggy Azalea
Luke Bryan
Sam Smith
Taylor Swift

Song of the Year
“All About That Bass” – Meghan Trainor
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Happy” – Pharrell Williams
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith

Best Collaboration
“Bang Bang” – Jessie J + Ariana Grande + Nicki Minaj
“Dark Horse” – Katy Perry featuring Juicy J
“Fancy” – Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Problem” – Ariana Grande featuring Iggy Azalea
“Talk Dirty” – Jason Derulo featuring 2 Chainz

Best New Artist
Bastille
Cole Swindell
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor
Sam Smith

Country Song of the Year
“Bartender” – Lady Antebellum
“Burnin’ It Down” – Jason Aldean
“Dirt” – Florida Georgia Line
“Give Me Back My Hometown” – Eric Church
“Play It Again” – Luke Bryan

Hip Hop/R&B Song of the Year
“Don’t Tell ‘Em” – Jeremih featuring YG
“Drunk in Love” – Beyoncé featuring Jay Z
“Flawless” – Beyoncé
“Loyal” – Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Tyga
“New Flame” – Chris Brown featuring Usher and Rick Ross

Dance Song of the Year
“Animals” – Martin Garrix
“Blame” – Calvin Harris featuring John Newman
“La La La” – Naughty Boy featuring Sam Smith
“Summer” – Calvin Harris
“Waves” – Mr. Probz

Alternative Rock Song of the Year
“Come With Me Now” – KONGOS
“Do I Wanna Know?” – Arctic Monkeys
“Fever” – The Black Keys
“Something From Nothing” – Foo Fighters
“Take Me to Church” – Hozier

Best Lyrics
“All of Me” – John Legend
“Blank Space” – Taylor Swift
“Counting Stars” – OneRepublic
“Habits (Stay High)” – Tove Lo
“Stay With Me” – Sam Smith
“Thinking Out Loud” – Ed Sheeran

Best Fan Army
5SOSFAM – 5 Seconds of Summer
Arianators – Ariana Grande
Bey Hive – Beyoncé
Team Breezy – Chris Brown
Sheerios – Ed Sheeran
Church Choir – Eric Church
Directioners – One Direction
Selenators – Selena Gomez
Mendes Army – Shawn Mendes
Swifties – Taylor Swift

Renegade
Brantley Gilbert
Charli XCX
Hozier
Iggy Azalea
Meghan Trainor

Fourteen Songwriters Honored With CMA Triple Play Awards

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Michael Carter; (third row, l-r) Josh Osborne, Cole Swindell, Brett Waren, Jon Nite; (second row, L-R): Ashley Gorley, Chris Tompkins, Brad Warren, Rodney Clawson; (front row, L-R): Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group and CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and CMA Board member. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Luke Laird, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Michael Carter; (third row, L-R) Josh Osborne, Cole Swindell, Brett Waren, Jon Nite; (second row, L-R): Ashley Gorley, Chris Tompkins, Brad Warren, Rodney Clawson; (front row, L-R): Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group and CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and CMA Board member. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Fourteen of Nashville’s top tunesmiths were honored Tuesday (Feb. 3) with the CMA Triple Play Awards during the sixth annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon, held at Nashville’s Marathon Music Works.

These writers each penned at least three songs which reached No. 1 within a 12-month period. The songwriters and songs honored during the event include (in alphabetical order):

Rhett Akins: “It Goes Like This,” “When She Says Baby,” “Get Me Some Of That”
Michael Carter: “Get Me Some Of That,” “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight,” “Roller Coaster”
Rodney Clawson: “American Kids,” “Dirt,” “Burnin’ It Down,” “Helluva Life,” “Lettin’ The Night Roll,” “Bartender”
Dallas Davidson: “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Play It Again,” “I Don’t Dance”
Ashley Gorley: “Hey Girl,” “That’s My Kind Of Night,” “Rewind”
Josh Kear: “Helluva Life,” “Drunk On A Plane,” “Neon Light”
Luke Laird: “Downtown,” “Beat This Summer,” “Give Me Back My Hometown”
Jon Nite: “We Were Us,” “Whatever She’s Got,” “Beachin’”
Josh Osborne: “Drunk Last Night,” “My Eyes,” “We Are Tonight”
Jason Sellers: “If I Didn’t Have You,” “Sunny And 75,” “Goodnight Kiss”
Cole Swindell: “Chillin’ It,” “Get Me Some Of That,” “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight”
Chris Tompkins: “Redneck Crazy,” “Helluva Life,” “Drunk On A Plane”
Brad Warren: “Highway Don’t Care,” “Little Bit Of Everything,” “Drink To That All Night”
Brett Warren: “Highway Don’t Care,” “Little Bit Of Everything,” “Drink To That All Night”

Pictured (L-R): Kerri Edwards, President of KP Entertainment and CMA Board member; Triple Play Award recipient Cole Swindell; and Sara Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, gather at the Sixth Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon Tuesday at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Pictured (L-R): Kerri Edwards, President of KP Entertainment and CMA Board member; Triple Play Award recipient Cole Swindell; and Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, gather at the Sixth Annual CMA Songwriters Luncheon Tuesday at Marathon Music Works in Nashville. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

“It’s an honor to host this event that shines the light on songwriters,” said Troy Tomlinson, former CMA Chairman of the Board and President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Nashville. “Songwriters are the foundation of country music and today we get to honor their creative contributions.”

“Songwriters touch lives with their craft,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “It is their words and melodies and stories that connect with the millions of fans of country music. I want to congratulate all of the Triple Play Award winners for their amazing accomplishments.”

Also in attendance were hit tunesmiths from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC, as well as songwriter members of CMA and representatives of some of the most successful publishers in Music City.

Pictured (L-R): Brian O'Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring and CMA Membership Committee Chairman; Kerri Edwards, President of KP Entertainment and CMA Board member; Frank Bumstead, Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy and CMA Board Chairman; Victoria Shaw, CMA Artist Relations Committee Chairman; Shane McAnally, CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Vice Chairman; Sara Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group and CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Chairman; and Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and CMA Board member. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

Pictured (L-R): Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring and CMA Membership Committee Chairman; Kerri Edwards, President of KP Entertainment and CMA Board member; Frank Bumstead, Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy and CMA Board Chairman; Victoria Shaw, CMA Artist Relations Committee Chairman; Shane McAnally, CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Vice Chairman; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Jon Loba, Executive Vice President of BBR Music Group and CMA Awards and Recognition Committee Chairman; and Troy Tomlinson, President and CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing and CMA Board member. Photo: Donn Jones / CMA

MusicRowPics: James Carothers

James Carothers artist visit

James Carothers artist visit

Independent artist James Carothers displays a whiskey-soaked brand of country music and craggy vocals hardened from years of struggle and barroom performances. His style of singing and songwriting is more akin to the likes of Jamey Johnson, Steve Earle, and country’s famed Outlaws than to the hip-hop and rock-flavored country music favored by today’s radio listeners. The native Southerner was raised in the Tennessee dirt of Selmer, and recently relocated to Nashville after several years of living with his family in Los Alamos, N.M.

During a recent visit to the MusicRow office, Carothers demonstrated his witty, devil-may-care banter alongside acoustic versions of tracks from his project Honky Tonk Land.

“New Country Singers” highlights the disarming honesty and sharp observations in his songwriting. A lighthearted shot at “modern” country music, the tune questions the authenticity of today’s popular drinking songs: “They don’t get caught cheatin’/And they don’t wreck their cars/So I’ve come to the conclusion/That they don’t drink as much as me.”

Carothers penned each of the eight tracks on Honky Tonk Land, with the exception of “Trouble in Paradise,” which was written by his father and fellow songwriter, Jim Carothers.

“I always wanted to have something to keep me interested in music,” he says of his foray into songwriting. “You can observe all the funny behaviors of people in a way that they don’t know you are writing about them.”

The acoustic performance proved Carothers is equally deft at sarcasm and sentimentality, with a rendition of “Where Did We Come From,” a nostalgic song with lyrics about trading farms for big box stores, and outsourcing production. The song’s theme of contemplating the price paid for so-called progress could easily translate to today’s country music, making it a fitting finale for Honky Tonk Land.

James Carothers artist visit

James Carothers artist visit