Leigh Nash Signs Publishing Agreement With BMG in Nashville

Pictured Left To Right: Kevin Lane (BMG, Creative Director);  Chris Oglesby (BMG, VP – Creative); Ashley Wilcoxson (Thirty Tigers – Manager); Leigh Nash; Daniel Lee (BMG, Senior Creative Director); Kos Weaver (BMG, Executive Vice President); Sara Knabe (BMG, Senior Creative Director)

Pictured Left To Right: Kevin Lane (BMG, Creative Director); Chris Oglesby (BMG, VP – Creative); Ashley Wilcoxson (Thirty Tigers – Manager); Leigh Nash; Daniel Lee (BMG, Senior Creative Director); Kos Weaver (BMG, Executive Vice President); Sara Knabe (BMG, Senior Creative Director)

Songwriter Leigh Nash has signed an exclusive publishing agreement with BMG through the company’s Nashville office.

Nash scored several worldwide hits as part of the group Sixpence None The Richer, such as “Kiss Me.” In September, she released a new full-length solo album, The State I’m In, produced by Brendan Benson, in conjunction with Thirty Tigers.

Nash has been featured in numerous global advertising placements and will continue her work as a recording and performing artist as she strengthens her ties within the Nashville songwriting community.

LifeNotes: Industry Member Darcy Miller Lashinsky Passes

Darin and Darcy Lashinsky and son Philip.

Darin and Darcy Lashinsky and son Philip.

Industry member Darcy Miller Lashinsky passed away unexpectedly of unknown causes on Friday, Dec. 4. Lashinsky was most recently freelance writer, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Nashville Humane Association. Her work history includes time at WIVK, RCA Nashville, BMLG and Warner Brothers Nashville.

A service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 at St. Henry’s Church, located at 6401 Harding Pike in Nashville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Darcy’s name to the Nashville Humane Association or the Renewal House.

Lashinsky is survived by her husband Darin Lashinsky of NS2 and son Philip.

Chris Stapleton Announces Two Ryman Shows

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is confirmed for two concert dates at the Ryman Auditorium next year. He will headline shows there on Feb. 18 and 19.

Tickets are $50, $35, and $30 plus applicable service charges. The on-sale date is Friday (Dec. 11) at 10 a.m.

Stapleton opened a sold-out concert at the Ryman for Jason Isbell on Oct. 26. His next concert date will be Dec. 31 at the Jack Daniel’s Bash on Broadway in downtown Nashville. That’s followed by sold-out shows in Birmingham, Alabama, on Jan. 1; Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Jan. 2; Atlanta on Jan. 7-8; and Knoxville, Tennessee, on Jan. 9.

On Monday morning, Stapleton received four Grammy nominations: Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance. In November, he claimed CMA Awards in the album, male vocalist and new artist categories.

WMBA Hosting Tunes for Tots Event on Monday

WMBA Tunes for Tots

Women’s Music Business Association (WMBA) is hosting a Tunes for Tots event on Monday night (Dec. 7) at South. Marines will be in attendance to collect new and unwrapped toys on behalf of Toys for Tots. Admission is $5 or free with a toy.

The lineup includes Karen Waldrup, Alex Dooley, Danniel Kleindienst and Shelby Lee Lowe.

Sponsors include ASCAP, Banner Music and Toys for Tots.

Industry Ink: Buddy Lee Attractions, NMPA, Workshop Management, Splash! PR

Mike Curb Foundation Purchases Buddy Lee Attractions Building

BLA December 2015

Buddy Lee Attractions building in Nashville. Photo: MusicRow

The Mike Curb Foundation has purchased the Buddy Lee Attractions building, located at 38 Music Sq. E in Nashville, for $2.9 million.

“We are pleased in the Mike Curb Foundation sales transaction,” said Donna Lee, Owner/CEO of Buddy Lee Attractions. “Mike Curb and Buddy Lee worked together in the past and it was a natural progression. Buddy Lee Attractions will conduct ‘business as usual’; our agency will remain in the historical building.”

 

NMPA Promotes Sellmyer To Sr. VP, External Affairs

Charlotte Sellmyer

Charlotte Sellmyer

The National Music Publishers’ Association has promoted Charlotte Sellmyer to Senior Vice President, External Affairs. Ms. Sellmyer previously served as Vice President of Communications. Since joining NMPA in June of 2014, her role has expanded and in her new position she will oversee all of NMPA’s public relations, special events, songwriter engagement and web presence as well as continuing to manage the NMPA Gold & Platinum Program which awards the writers of RIAA-certified hits and the NMPA SONGS (Supporting Our Next Generation of Songwriters) Foundation.

“Charlotte’s efforts to engage and educate music consumers, creators and policymakers about the challenges faced by songwriters today have been extremely effective, and we want these efforts to increase even further,” said NMPA President and CEO David Israelite. “From planning songwriter town halls across the country to ensuring the songwriter’s unique perspective is promoted in the press and communicated to the public, this new position recognizes the central role she has, and will play in making sure the publishing and songwriting industries are vocal and recognized in their fight for fairness in the Digital Age.”

Prior to joining NMPA, Charlotte worked on Capitol Hill in several committee positions, most recently as communications director for the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security and previously as press secretary to the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary which oversees intellectual property law. She is a 2008 graduate of Texas A&M University.

 

Workshop Management Signs Glen Phillips

Glen Phillips

Glen Phillips

Nashville-based, full-service artist management company Workshop Management has signed singer-songwriter Glen Phillips.

Phillips is best-known as songwriter and frontman of ’90s alternative rock group Toad The Wet Sprocket. In 2004, Phillips collaborated with Nickel Creek to form Mutual Admiration Society, which released a self-titled project on Sugar Hill. In 2005, he released a project, Winter Pays for Summer, on Lost Highway Records. Workshop Management’s Josh Terry is co-managing Phillips, with Steve Smith of HQ Management in Chicago.

“I’ve been a fan of Toad and Glen’s music for quite some time, so we’re honored to be able to represent him as we work to build upon his efforts as a songwriter, expand his touring base & further exploit his vast catalog of music,” said Workshop Management founder/CEO Terry.

 

Splash! PR Promotes Miriam Friday

Miriam Friday

Miriam Friday

Splash! Public Relations has promoted Miriam Friday to Senior Publicist and Office Administrator. Friday handles day-to-day tour press and overall publicity for clients..

“Miriam first came to us as an intern and then officially joined our staff two years ago. With her positive attitude, adept instincts and skills, she has become a great asset to the company,” says Vanessa Davis, President and Owner of Splash! Public Relations.

Originally from England, Friday studied at Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia, and finished up her Bachelors in Public Relations at MTSU, where she was awarded their 2012 Outstanding Senior in PR Award. Friday can be reached at miriam@splashpublicity.com.

Weekly Register: Ace Vocalists Carrie Underwood, Adele, Barrett Baber Top Charts

Carrie Underwood featured size

Carrie Underwood tops the country albums rankings this week, with her project Storyteller in the No. 1 slot (and No. 14 overall) with 35K sold, thanks to a heavy week of promotional appearances and digital sales. Underwood’s Storyteller experienced a 51 percent gain this week, including a 243 percent gain in digital album sales.

Following Underwood this week on the country album rankings is Chris Stapleton‘s Traveller (32K), Blake Shelton‘s Re Loaded (30K), Eric Church‘s Mr. Misunderstood (19K), and Sam Hunt‘s Montevallo (18K).

Adele 25

Adele

Adele continues her dominion over the overall albums and tracks charts this week. The singer-songwriter’s album 25 sold 1.162 million this week, bringing her two-week album sales total to more than 4.5 million.

The top overall album debut this week goes to Erykah Badu‘s But You Cain’t Use My Phone, which lands at No. 14 and sold 35K units.

Total album sales dropped 5.1 percent YTD, with 210.873 million sold so far this year, vs. 222.294 million last year. Digital album sales dropped 1.6 percent, with 94.662 million sold YTD, vs. 96.204 million last year.

This week last year, Taylor Swift‘s 1989 sold 339K, topping the overall albums sales rankings, while Garth Brooks’ Man Against Machine topped the country album sales rankings with 63K sold.

Barrett Baber

Barrett Baber

In the top country tracks this week, The Voice contestants are riding high, taking the No. 1, No. 3, and No. 5 spots. Barrett Baber‘s rendition of Conway Twitty’s “I’d Just Love To Lay You Down” moved 47K this week, enough to rank at No. 1. Emily Ann Robert‘s rendition of the Patsy Cline classic, “She’s Got You,” is at No. 3, with 41K, and Shelby Brown‘s take on Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain” is at No. 5, with 21K. Thomas Rhett‘s “Die A Happy Man” lands at No. 2 with 45K, and Sam Hunt‘s “Break Up In A Small Town is at No. 4, with 27K.

Elsewhere on the tracks rankings, Kane Brown (a former contestant on The X Factor) debuts at No. 8 with “I Love That I Hate You,” which moved 17K.

Adele’s “Hello” tops the overall tracks rankings, selling 233K. In total, the track has moved 2.9 million to date. The top overall track debut goes to another The Voice contestant, with Jordan Smith‘s “Hallelujah” selling 69K and ranking at No. 4 overall.

Overall, track sales are down 11.8 percent YTD, while country track sales are down 16 percent. This time last year, the top-selling track overall was Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space,” which moved 342K. The top-selling country track at that time went to another contestant on The Voice. Craig Wayne Boyd ‘s rendition of “I Walk The Line” moved 46K this time last year.

Info according to Nielsen Soundscan

TuneCore Hacked, Users Advised to Reset Passwords

tunecoreTuneCore—music distribution and publishing administration company—CEO Scott Ackerman notified users on Friday (Dec. 4) after becoming aware of a security breach that happened in November.

“We recently discovered suspicious activity on TuneCore’s servers…and that on Nov. 17 an individual illegally collected information from our servers,” Ackerman was quoted by Hypebot.

No music files were accessed, however the data involved was cited to potentially include customer names, addresses, emails, last four digits of a credit card and their expiration dates, last four digits of bank account numbers, the last four digits of bank routing numbers, account numbers, and TuneCore passwords.

The company has since invalidated all user passwords and reports the issue has been resolved, although it is asking users to reset their passwords with TuneCore and any other website or account that may share that same password.

TuneCore says it is working with a leading cybersecurity firm to enhance security in the coming months in addition to federal law enforcement to identify the attackers.

Grammy Nominees Revealed: Sam Hunt, Chris Stapleton and More

58th Grammy Logo

Sam Hunt, Chris Stapleton, and Meghan Trainor landed Grammy nominations in major categories on Monday morning (Dec. 7).

Hunt and Trainor will compete for Best New Artist, while Stapleton’s Traveller is up for Album of the Year.

Hunt’s Montevallo and Stapleton’s Traveller are joined by Little Big Town’s Painkiller, Ashley Monroe’s The Blade and Kacey MusgravesPageant Material in the Best Country Album category.

sam hunt montevallo

In addition, “Girl Crush” is nominated in the overall Song of the Year category, an award that is presented to songwriters. Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna and Liz Rose – also known as the Love Junkies — are the writers of “Girl Crush.”

In the category of Best Country Solo Performance, nominees are: Cam’s “Burning House,” Stapleton’s “Traveller,” Carrie Underwood’s “Little Toy Guns,” Keith Urban’s “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16” and Lee Ann Womack’s “Chances Are.”

Nominees for Best Country Duo/Group Performance are: Brothers Osborne’s “Stay a Little Longer,” Joey + Rory’s “If I Needed You,” Charles Kelley, Dierks Bentley and Eric Paslay’s “The Driver,” Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush” and Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe’s “Lonely Tonight.”

Contenders for Best Country Song are: “Chances Are” (written by Hayes Carll), “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools” (written by Barry Dean, Luke Laird and Jonathan Singleton), “Girl Crush,” “Hold My Hand” (written by Brandy Clark and Mark Stephen Jones), and “Traveller” (written by Chris Stapleton).

Chris Stapleton Traveller

Taylor Swift is nominated in a multitude of categories, including: Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for 1989; Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Blank Space”; Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Bad Blood,” featuring Kendrick Lamar; and Best Music Video for “Bad Blood.”

Dave Cobb is nominated in the Producer of the Year category. Cobb produced Stapleton’s Traveller, as well as A Thousand Horses’ “Smoke” and Southernality and Jason Isbell‘s Something More Than Free. Also nominated in the Producer of the Year category is Jeff Bhasker, whose credits include Cam’s “Burning House” and “Runaway Train.”

Final-round Grammy ballots will be mailed Dec. 16 and awards will be presented Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and broadcast on CBS.

See the full list.

NASH Next Label Signs First Artist, Breaking Southwest

Pictured (L-R): Mike McVay, Senior VP/Content & Programming, NASH/Cumulus; Scott Borchetta, President & CEO, Big Machine Label Group; Lauren Hall, KentBell and Kyle Gaston, Breaking Southwest; Elaina Smith and Shawn Parr, hosts of NASH Nights Live with Shawn Parr. Photo: Tyler Andrews/NASH Country Weekly

Pictured (L-R): Mike McVay, Senior VP/Content & Programming, NASH/Cumulus; Scott Borchetta, President & CEO, Big Machine Label Group; Lauren Hall, KentBell and Kyle Gaston, Breaking Southwest; Elaina Smith and Shawn Parr, hosts of NASH Nights Live with Shawn Parr.
Photo: Tyler Andrews/NASH Country Weekly

Cumulus’ NASH Next label has signed Dallas-based band Breaking Southwest as its first artist, after the band won the NASH Next artist development competition last night (Dec. 3) at Nashville’s Wild Horse Saloon. The Top 10 finalists and the winner will begin the Nash Next Tour in February 2016, joined by Season 2 The Voice finalist RaeLynn.

Judges included producer James Stroud, artist and radio personality Kix Brooks, and Cumulus’ Sr. VP of Content and Programming Mike McVay. In October, BMLG president/CEO/founder Scott Borchetta was named as a surprise mentor.

The NASH Next nationwide talent search included an extensive series of competitions that challenged contenders to showcase their musical and creative talents. This included a cover song performance, multiple songwriting competitions and the creation of an original Instagram video, a PicCollage project and a fully produced original music video. The winner was decided based on a combination of feedback from the music industry judges, online fan voting and an original “Spin Index” of social media activity.

“This innovative talent competition showed the strength of the Country music fan community. We are delighted that we were able to connect with millions of enthusiastic Country music lovers and will now be able to take 10 artists and bands on the first NASH Next tour in just a few months,” said McVay.

“The entire NASH Next process has been incredible from start to finish and being the first winner is an honor. We want to thank Cumulus and NASH Next for taking this concept and making it a reality,” said Breaking Southwest members Lauren Hall, Kent Bell and Kyle Gaston. “We want to thank our families, fans and friends for listening, watching, sharing and voting. Thank you for supporting us and please continue to hold us to the highest standard…We’re ready to go to work!”

Chris Stapleton Ineligible For Best New Artist Grammy Nomination

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton

The Recording Academy has confirmed to MusicRow that Mercury artist Chris Stapleton is ineligible for a Best New Artist nomination, due to previous nominations while lead singer for the bluegrass group The SteelDrivers. Final nominees will be revealed Monday (Dec. 7).

The SteelDrivers’ “Blue Side of the Mountain” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals in 2008, the same year they released their self-titled debut album on Rounder Records. That was followed by nominations in 2009 for Best Bluegrass Album (Reckless) and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals (“Where Rainbows Never Die”). Stapleton departed the group in 2010.

However, Stapleton could potentially earn nominations in other Grammy categories, including best country album for Traveller, which was released in May.

At the CMA Awards in November Stapleton swept every category he was nominated in, taking home trophies for New Artist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year. His duet performance with Justin Timberlake made additional headlines and launched Stapleton’s single “Tennessee Whiskey” to the top of the country digital tracks charts. Traveller has sold nearly 350,000 copies since that CMA broadcast, closing in on almost 450,000 units so far.

As the music industry waits in anticipation for Monday’s reveal of those final Grammy nods, chatter inevitably turns to speculation of which other country artists may contend as a final nominee for the all-genre Best New Artist award, as Stapleton seemed to be a frontrunner.

In 10 out of the past 11 years, a country artist has earned a nomination slot for Best New Artist. Four country artists have won the honor including Bobbie Gentry (1968), LeAnn Rimes (1997), Carrie Underwood (2007) and Zac Brown Band (2010). Current country entertainer Darius Rucker earned the award in 1996 when he was lead singer of Hootie & The Blowfish. The Recording Academy’s Best New Artist award has been given since 1959.

The 2016 Grammy Awards will take place on Monday, Feb. 15 airing on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.