CMA Announces New Board of Directors

/by
Pictured (L-R): John Esposito, incoming Chairman of the CMA Board and President and CEO of Warner Music Nashville; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Frank Bumstead, outgoing CMA Board Chairman and Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.; Sally Williams, incoming CMA Board President and General Manager of Ryman Auditorium; and Bill Simmons, incoming CMA Board President-Elect and Vice President at The Fitzgerald Hartley Company. (Not pictured: Jessie Schmidt, returning CMA Board Secretary/Treasurer and President of Schmidt Relations.) Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA

Pictured (L-R): John Esposito, incoming Chairman of the CMA Board and President and CEO of Warner Music Nashville; Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Frank Bumstead, outgoing CMA Board Chairman and Chairman of Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.; Sally Williams, incoming CMA Board President and General Manager of Ryman Auditorium; and Bill Simmons, incoming CMA Board President-Elect and Vice President at The Fitzgerald Hartley Company. (Not pictured: Jessie Schmidt, returning CMA Board Secretary/Treasurer and President of Schmidt Relations.)
Photo: Christian Bottorff / CMA

The Country Music Association announced Wednesday (Dec. 16) its newly elected Board of Directors. The appointments are effective Jan. 1, 2016.

Frank Bumstead completes his term as Chairman of the CMA Board and current CMA Board President John Esposito, President and CEO of Warner Music Nashville, assumes that post. CMA President-Elect Sally Williams, General Manager of Ryman Auditorium, will become President. Bill Simmons, Vice President at The Fitzgerald Hartley Company, has been named President-Elect. Jessie Schmidt, President of Schmidt Relations, returns as Secretary/Treasurer of the CMA Board.

It’s been an honor to be Chairman of the CMA Board,” said Bumstead. “Serving an industry I love, with people I respect, has been a career highlight. I may be stepping down as Chairman, but I’m not stepping away from the critical work of this Board and the important goals of this organization and I am very confident in John Esposito and Sally Williams to continue this important mission.”

“Chairing the CMA Board at this important point in our history is a privilege,” said Esposito. “2016 is a pivotal time as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the CMA Awards, expand the footprint of Country Music internationally, and develop ways to keep CMA Music Festival fresh for our fans. I’m thankful to my tenacious and passionate colleague Frank Bumstead for his valuable tutoring and look forward to working alongside President Sally Williams as we tackle new, exciting opportunities that will hopefully benefit the entire industry.”

Following is a list of 2016 CMA Directors and Directors at Large:

Directors By Membership Category
Carryover Directors, who are serving the second year of a two-year term, are followed by newly-elected Directors (indicated in bold).

Advertising/Public Relations/Media
Lon Helton, Country Aircheck

Affiliated
Joe Galante, Galante Entertainment Organization
Bill Mayne, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.

Artist
Brett Eldredge
Kix Brooks

Composer
Jim Beavers
Bob DiPiero, Love Monkey Music

Entertainment Services
Stacey Schlitz, SchlitzLAW
Frank Bumstead, Flood, Bumstead, McCready & McCarthy, Inc.

International
Ted Ellis, CMT Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Maria Molin Ljunggren, Capitol Music Group Sweden

Marketing/Digital
Jennie Smythe, Girlilla Marketing
Sally Seitz, iTunes

Music Publisher/Performing Rights Organization
Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Michael Martin, ASCAP

Musician
Kenny Greenberg, Greenberg Music
Biff Watson, Biff-Bangs Productions, Inc.

Personal Manager
Kerri Edwards, KP Entertainment
Ann Edelblute, The HQ

Producer/Engineer/Studio
Mark Bright, Mark Bright Productions

Radio
Kurt Johnson, Townsquare Media, Dallas, Texas
Jeff Garrison, Cox Media Group, San Antonio, Texas

Record Company
Mike Dungan, Universal Music Group Nashville
Randy Goodman, Sony Music Nashville

Talent Agent
Rob Beckham, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC

Talent Buyer/Promoter
Brian O’Connell, Live Nation Nashville
Tony Conway, Conway Entertainment Group

Touring Personnel
Scott Scovill, Moo TV, CenterStaging, and Moo Creative Media
Terry Calonge, Richards & Southern

Venue
Ed Warm, Joe’s Bar, Chicago, Ill.

Lifetime Directors
J. William Denny, Denny Properties
Ralph Peer II, peermusic

Ex-Officio Members
Jim Free, The Smith-Free Group, LLC, Washington, D.C.
Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Butch Spyridon, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

Directors at Large:
Marcie Allen, MAC Presents, LLC, New York, N.Y.
Becky Brenner, Albright & O’Malley & Brenner Country Radio Specialists, Seattle, Wash.
Scott Borchetta, Big Machine Label Group
Luke Bryan
Steve Buchanan, Opry Entertainment Group
Pat Collins, SESAC
Gil Cunningham, Neste Event Marketing
Ansel Davis, Martingale Entertainment, LLC
Virginia Davis, G-Major MGMT
Jay DeMarcus, Rascal Flatts
Chris DuBois, Sea Gayle Music
Kent Earls, Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville
John Esposito, Warner Music Nashville
Karen Fairchild, Little Big Town
John Hamlin, Switched On Entertainment
Ed Hardy, Hardy Media and Entertainment Group
Clint Higham, Morris Higham Management
Mary Hilliard Harrington, The GreenRoom
John Huie, Creative Artists Agency
Clay Hunnicutt, Big Loud Records
Brett James, Cornman Music
Marion Kraft, ShopKeeper Management
Vivien Lewit, YouTube
Jon Loba, BBR Music Group
John Marks, Spotify
Shane McAnally, Smack Songs, LLC
Deb McDermott, Media General
Ebie McFarland, Essential Broadcast Media
Mike McVay, Cumulus Media, Atlanta
Mike Moore, Entercom Communications, Portland, Ore.
Charlie Morgan, Emmis Communications, Indianapolis, Ind.
Jim Ed Norman, The Curb Group
Milly Olykan, AEG Europe, London, United Kingdom
Jason Owen, Sandbox Entertainment
Brian Philips, CMT/MTV Networks
Rod Phillips, iHeartMedia, Cincinnati
Rob Potts, Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, Five Dock, Australia
Sherod Robertson, MusicRow Enterprises
David Ross, BossRoss Media
Darius Rucker
Jessie Schmidt, Schmidt Relations
Victoria Shaw, Songalicious Publishing
Bob Shennan, BBC, London, United Kingdom
Bill Simmons, The Fitzgerald Hartley Company
Clarence Spalding, Maverick
Jeff Stevens, Jeff Stevens Music
Larry Vallon, AEG Live, Los Angeles, Calif.
Ben Vaughn, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Troy Vollhoffer, Premier Global Production Company, Inc.
Dwight Wiles, Smith Wiles & Company
Jody Williams, BMI
Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium
Chris Young

Group Tour Operators Give Nashville Top Honors

/by

 

Nashville, courtesy Nashville Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Nashville, courtesy Nashville Convention and Visitor’s Bureau

The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC) has been named the top destination marketing organization in North America by members of the National Tour Association. The decision by the country’s tour operators to name Nashville the Gold recipient is a reflection of the city’s strength with group travelers.

“This outstanding honor for the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp not only recognizes the organization as a whole, but it particularly highlights the great work that the tourism sales team is doing,” said Ken Levitan, Board Chair of the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp and Co-President of Vector Management. “We know we’ve been hitting convention sales out of the park, so this recognition is validation of our long-lasting appeal to the group tour segment. We know that being successful in all market segments is the key to sustained success.”

The award is voted on by National Tour Association tour operators based on the quality of product, level of customer service, value to customers and dedication to relationship building. Winners will be featured in the January edition of Courier, the official monthly magazine for members of the National Tour Association. Nashville also will be recognized at the association’s annual convention in Atlanta.

The NCVC has a three-person tourism sales team that focuses on groups of 10 or more visiting Nashville. The city also was recognized in the Theater/Show Venue category with The Grand Ole Opry Entertainment Group being named the Silver recipient.

Industry Ink: CAA, TuneCore, ASCAP, SOLID

/by

CAA Promotes Six

caa_logo

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) promoted six trainees to agent or executive.

In Nashville, Justin Cahill has been promoted to the role of Agent in CAA’s Music Department.

The company’s Los Angeles office has five promotions. Joe Della Rosa and Luke Rodgers have been upped to Agent roles in CAA’s Film Finance and Sales department. Meanwhile, Monique Francis and Amanda Jimenez have been promoted to Executive in CAA Marketing, and Ryan Vogt has been promoted to Agent in CAA’s Licensing department.

 

TuneCore Names VP, Marketing

Andreea Gleeson

Andreea Gleeson

Digital music distribution and publishing administration provider TuneCore announced Andreea Gleeson as Vice President, Marketing.

Gleeson joins TuneCore from Lord & Taylor where she led the omni-marketing strategy for the department store chain. In her tenor at Lord & Taylor and its sister store Hudson’s Bay Company, Gleeson held multiple leadership roles in the e-commerce team where she drove the digital strategy and grew the Lord & Taylor and Hudson’s Bay sites from the ground up, surpassing the volumes for the flagship stores for both chains.

In her new role, Gleeson will be assuming the leadership of TuneCore’s global multi-channel marketing initiatives focused on growth and retention of the company’s artist customer base. Further, Gleeson will oversee all areas of marketing including branding, creative, paid media, content, social and analytics, ensuring all marketing campaigns are consumer focused and drive toward a larger 360-degree marketing plan.

 

ASCAP Songwriters Bring Hits to NYC

ASCAP songwriters took to NYC last week, when Chris DeStefano, Matt Jenkins, and three-time ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley performed during the CMA Songwriter Series at Joe’s Pub with fellow writer Leslie Satcher.

​Pictured (L-R): ASCAP's Mike Sistad, Chris DeStefano, Matt Jenkins, Leslie Satcher and Ashley Gorley.​

​Pictured (L-R): ASCAP executive Mike Sistad with Chris DeStefano, Matt Jenkins, Leslie Satcher and Ashley Gorley.​

 

SOLID Names Board Members for 2016

Nashville-based music industry organization, Society of Leaders in Development (SOLID), recently appointed its 2016 Executive Board of Directors and inducted 82 new members.

Board Members include:
President Basak Kizilisik (Morris Higham Management)
Vice President Eric Wright (Music Data Analytics)
Secretary Rachel Cunningham (The Collective)
Treasurer John Huelsman (Big Enterprises)
Social Chair Johnny Cloherty (WME | IMG)
Social Co-chair Kelsey McMahan (Modern Management)
Communications Chair Jason G Zinser (So Good Entertainment)
Communications Co-chair Matt Pramstaller (Naxos of America)
Education Chair Juliana Lee (Notes for Notes)
Education Co-chair Lucia Kaminsky (Warner Music Nashville)
University Outreach Chair Tim Gray (Grayscale Entertainment)
Community Outreach Chair Courtney Kruckeberg (Clearbox Rights)
Community Outreach Co-Chair Ben Boyd (Music Services)
University Outreach Co-Chair Lisa Nolan (For the Record Entertainment)
Yard Sale Chair Kari Barnhart (Fifth Third Bank)
Yard Sale Co-Chair Carli McLaughlin (Rebel Engine Entertainment)
Alumni Chair Emma Tur (Warner Music Nashville + Word Entertainment)

Pictured (L-R): Treasurer, John Huelsman, President, Basak Kizilisik, Vice President, Eric Wright, Secretary, Rachel Cunningham

Pictured (L-R): John Huelsman, Treasurer; Basak Kizilisik, President; Eric Wright, Vice President; Rachel Cunningham, Secretary.

[Updated]: Nashville Music Venue 12th & Porter To Reopen in February 2016

/by

12th & PorterLongtime Nashville music venue 12th & Porter will reopen its doors on Feb. 5, 2016, with a performance from Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys, JP Harris, and The Howlin Brothers.

12th & Porter has nearly two dozen shows slated through May 2016, including performances from Anthony Smith, Coolio, O-Town, Skid Row, and Andrew Ripp.

The venue is now owned by Infinity Restaurant Group, which took over ownership of 12th & Porter in early 2015. The venue closed for remodeling, including improvements to sound and production, as well as interior remodeling and an expanded menu for customers.

Infinity Hospitality Group co-owner and Executive Chef Tabor Luckey worked with the culinary team to develop a menu featuring everything from regular bar fare to more unique offerings including fish tacos with chipotle Crème fraîche, the meatloaf sandwich with caramelized onions, and Jack Daniels chocolate bread pudding. The menu will also feature bone and boneless wings with a number of flavors including mango habanero, dry rub, green onion sriracha and other house specialties.

12th & Porter’s upper mezzanine has been expanded to provide a better view of the stage for guests. They have partnered with 4Wall Entertainment to install an upgraded sound/lighting system throughout the entire venue. The new remodel includes a five-camera HD video setup with recording and streaming capabilities. The bar in the restaurant has been adjusted to provide more room for guests.

“We are thrilled to re-open such an iconic space in the Nashville music community and provide the city with another elite venue,” says Infinity Hospitality Group’s president and co-owner Nathaniel Beaver. “We look forward to working with all types of artists to host events that really make this city special.”

Since its opening in the 1980s, 12th & Porter has welcomed performers including Vince Gill, Neil Young, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Run-DMC and more.

Underwood, Bentley, Chesney to Headline ACM’s Party For A Cause

/by

acm party for a causeThe Academy of Country Music will bring numerous stars to Vegas for its fourth ACM Party For A Cause, slated for April 1-3, 2016 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds on the Strip.

Full-set performances will include headliners Carrie Underwood (Friday, April 1), Dierks Bentley (Saturday, April 2) and Kenny Chesney (Sunday, April 3).

Additional performers include Frankie Ballard, Kelsea Ballerini, Lee Brice, Cam, Sam Hunt, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Kip Moore, Kellie Pickler, Chris Stapleton, Chris Young, Maddie & Tae, Old Dominion and more to be announced.

The Party Stage will feature more hit makers and rising stars including Lauren Alaina, Kelleigh Bannen, Chase Bryant, Lindsay Ell, Jana Kramer, Chris Lane, Jackson Michelson, Granger Smith, Brothers Osborne , with more artists to be announced soon.

Underwood is also slated to host a special “ACM Women of Country Night.” More details on the evening will be announced soon.

Ticket proceeds from the ACM Party For A Cause Festival benefit the Academy’s charitable arm, ACM Lifting Lives. Generous giving from fans, and partnerships with artists, has allowed ACM Lifting Lives to support military programs that use music therapy to aid our veterans and wounded warriors, while providing funding to help them ease back into civilian life. Over $400,000 has been donated to various military organizations in just three years.

“We’re excited to bring the ACM Party for a Cause Festival back to our home-away-from-home in Las Vegas,” said Bob Romeo, CEO of the Academy of Country Music. “As we continue to raise the bar in country music entertainment, we’re also educating guests on the causes they’re contributing to. It’s because of the fans buying tickets and joining us for this event, that we’re able to support and give back to those that serve and protect our country.”

Three-day passes are on sale now at www.ticketmaster.com.

‘Nashville: On the Record 3’ Will Air Wednesday on ABC

/by

Nashville logo
A one-hour music special featuring the cast of Nashville will air Wednesday night (Dec. 16) at 10 p.m. ET on ABC. The one-hour special follows Clare Bowen, Chris Carmack, Charles Esten, Sam Palladio, Aubrey Peeples and Lennon and Maisy Stella, as they traveled the country on a nine-city tour earlier this year. They will perform music from Nashville as well as original material they have written.

Nashville: On The Record 3 also includes cast members’ personal stories about touring and writing, and reveals some of their pre-performance rituals. The music special features interviews with Steve Buchanan, executive producer of Nashville; Lennon and Maisy’s parents, Brad and Marylynne Stella; bandleader Colin Linden; and musician Brandon Young.

On Dec. 4, The Music of Nashville: Original Soundtrack Season 4, Volume 1 was released on Big Machine Records to digital retailers and Target. The soundtrack is produced by Big Machine Records, ABC Studios, Lionsgate and Opry Entertainment. In addition, 4.8 million digital tracks from the previous Nashville soundtracks have been sold to date.

Cumulus: Grimes Will Lead Westwood One, Tommy Page Will Oversee NASH

/by

cumulus-logo

In an memo to staff, Cumulus Media CEO Mary Berner has announced that Suzanne Grimes will join Cumulus in a dual role, as President of Westwood One Division, as well as Executive VP of Corporate Marketing, effective January 1. Grimes is former President/COO for Clear Channel Outdoor North America.

Steve Shaw, President of Westwood One, will continue to lead ad sales, and Charles Steinhauer, Chief Operating Officer of Westwood One, will continue to lead operations, both reporting directly to Grimes.

In her capacity as EVP of Corporate Marketing for all of Cumulus, Grimes will lead efforts in developing marketing strategies designed to drive more revenue. Chief Marketing Officer Pierre Bovard and VP of Social Media Lori Lewis will now both report to Grimes.

Meanwhile, Tommy Page, leader of  platform events initiatives and brand partnerships, has been named SVP of Brand Partnerships & NASH. Page will continue to play a key role in the Corporate Marketing function, and will begin the development and execution of the NASH brand strategy, including the NASH Next talent competition.

Finally, Berner announced a newly developed Office of Programming. Mike McVay, SVP of Content & Programming, was formally appointed to lead content strategy across the platform, including talent recruitment and development and label relations. Tom Schurr, SVP of Operations, will partner with McVay in a new role, overseeing the business aspects of programming, including organization and prioritization, resource allocation, and budget responsibilities.

“Over the past two months, the team and I have been listening to your feedback and actively developing strategies that will result in better operational blocking and tackling; growth in our ratings; and a focused, responsible, collaborative and empowered corporate culture,” said Berner in the memo. “Collectively, we will get Cumulus back on track and begin the evolution into a true next-generation radio business.”

 

Big Deal Music Acquires Administration Company Words & Music

/by
Pictured (L-R): Pete Robinson, Sr. Vice President/GM Nashville; Kim McCollum-Mele, President, Words & Music; Kenny MacPherson, President, Big Deal Music

Pictured (L-R): Pete Robinson, Sr. Vice President/GM Nashville; Kim McCollum-Mele, President, Words & Music; Kenny MacPherson, President, Big Deal Music

Big Deal Music has acquired Nashville-based administration company Words & Music. Words & Music will continue to provide independent administration services, and will assume most of Big Deal Music’s domestic administrative duties beginning January 1, 2016. Big Deal’s extension with BMG will remain in effect for territories outside North America.

Big Deal’s Kenny MacPherson stated, “The foundation built in Nashville by Kim McCollum-Mele and her staff are a testament to those classic old-fashioned values we treasure: tenacity, independence, honesty and hard work. We have a unique opportunity to expand upon the base they’ve built, while continuing the steady, organic growth that Big Deal has enjoyed our first three years. While such a move was a natural and inevitable step in our evolution as full service publishers, we’re very fortunate to be able to take such a critical next step with Words & Music.”

Kim McCollum-Mele, President of Words & Music, commented on the acquisition, “I am very excited to be joining forces with Kenny and his amazing team at Big Deal. At Words & Music, we have always prided ourselves in our service and honest relationships with our songwriters and publishers. This move allows us to expand upon that foundation in new and creative ways, growing what we’ve built over the past 13 years into a vibrant new business.”

 

Industry Ink: UMG Nashville, Turnpike Music & Management, Given Music Publishing

/by

Blain Rhodes Hired at UMG Nashville

Blaine Rhodes

Blain Rhodes

UMG Nashville has expanded its A&R department with new hire Blain Rhodes as Director of A&R. Rhodes’ most recent experience includes nearly four years as a manager with Warner/Chappell Music in Nashville, where he provided creative support across the company’s roster, assisting in the discovery of new talent and the development of the publisher’s signed songwriters.

While there, Rhodes placed songs with Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Frankie Ballard, Lee Brice, Craig Campbell, Billy Currington, Scotty McCreery, Jon Pardi and many more.

“I’m very excited to have Blain join our UMG team,” says Brian Wright, SVP A&R. “His track record of finding hit songs and great songwriters will be a huge asset to our A&R staff and artists.”

 

Justin Mason Signs to Turnpike Music & Management

Pictured (L-R): Kevin Mason, Turnpike Music EVP of Operations; Justin Mason; Larry Pareigis, Turnpike Music/Nine North Label Group President

Pictured (L-R): Kevin Mason, Turnpike Music EVP of Operations; Justin Mason; Larry Pareigis, Turnpike Music/Nine North Label Group President

Justin Mason has signed an exclusive deal for management, marketing and social media oversight with Turnpike Music & Management in Nashville. Mason is a native of Fort Worth, Texas, and worked for six years as a police office in Arlington, Texas, before forming a band. Prior to that, he served five years in the U.S. Navy.

“Justin exemplifies the brash artistic independence that I am always looking to amplify,” said Larry Pareigis, President, Turnpike Music & Management. “The road to success for Mr. Mason begins here!”

Turnpike Music & Management is a part of the Nine North Records Label Group.

Naima Adedapo Signs to Given Music Publishing

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP; Naima Adedapo; Cindy Owen, Partner, Given Entertainment. (Back row, L-R) Wayne Milligan, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group; Mike Sebastian, VP/General Manager, Given Music Publishing

Pictured (Front row, L-R): Denise Stevens, Partner, Loeb & Loeb LLP; Naima Adedapo; Cindy Owen, Partner, Given Entertainment. (Back row, L-R) Wayne Milligan, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group; Mike Sebastian, VP/General Manager, Given Music Publishing

Naima Adedapo has signed a publishing deal with Given Music Publishing in Nashville. She was a Top 10 finalist on American Idol in 2011. She released an EP titled Beautifully Made in 2015.

“Naima is a very talented young writer/artist, who we are all excited to have as a part of our Given family,” said VP/GM Mike Sebastian. “With her upbeat, positive attitude, dedication and love for the music, good things are definitely headed her way.”

Given Music Publishing, a division of Given Entertainment, LLC, was formed in 2013 by music industry veteran Cindy Owen and business partner Jim Kacmarcik. Tri Star Sports and Entertainment is the exclusive administrator of Given Music Publishing.

Mary Hilliard Harrington Will Join Red Light Management in January

/by

Mary Hilliard Harrington

Mary Hilliard Harrington will begin a senior management position at Red Light Management in January, according to Billboard. Her management clients include Dierks Bentley and newcomers Tucker Beathard and Aubrie Sellers. She will also be involved in launching Charles Kelley‘s solo project in early 2016.

Harrington sold her prior company, GreenRoom PR, in September to two former employees. She has been co-managing Bentley with Red Light founder Coran Capshaw. Harrington and her staff of four will be working from Red Light’s Nashville offices.

Stephanie Johnson, who is Bentley’s day-to-day manager, and Kevin Grace, who handles digital and creative content, will follow Harrington to Red Light. New hires are Taylor Lee, who will handle day-to-day for Beathard and Sellers, and Heather Young, who will work Harrington’s clients to radio.

Read the full story at Billboard.