Sony/ATV, Tree Vibez Sign Songwriter James McNair

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Pictured (L-R): Bradley Collins, BMI; Jody Williams, BMI; Tom Luteran, Sony/ATV; James; McNair, Leslie Roberts, BMI; Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, Tree Vibez; Hannah Williams, Sony/ATV; Schmidt; Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony/ATV.

Pictured (L-R): Bradley Collins, BMI; Jody Williams, BMI; Tom Luteran, Sony/ATV; James McNair; Leslie Roberts, BMI; Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, Tree Vibez; Hannah Williams, Sony/ATV; Dane Schmidt, Tree Vibez; Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony/ATV.

Sony/ATV and Florida Georgia Line’s Tree Vibez have signed James McNair to a worldwide publishing deal.

The South Carolina native moved to Nashville in 2013 and has immersed himself in the creative community.

Tree Vibez is a publishing and artist development company started by Florida Georgia Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard earlier this year.

Dane Schmidt, creative director of Tree Vibez, runs the day-to-day management of the company.

McNair said, “Working with these two amazing companies is a dream come true! I am so grateful for Big Tom and Dane Schmidt giving me a shot. I’m excited for the future and what it holds. With these two teams, the sky is the limit.”

“James was born to be a songwriter. He’s constantly working on his craft and his positivity for music and life is infectious. He’s the songwriter’s songwriter. His grind and ability to manage two other jobs while writing and making a name for himself blew us away. We are humbled and thankful to be able to work with James and know he’s got a bright future ahead of him!” stated Kelley.

Tree Vibez’s Schmidt remarked, “It is such a pleasure to be working with James and we’re excited to welcome him to the Tree Vibez family. His exceptional work ethic and positivity are second to none, and his passion for songwriting is truly inspiring. We are thrilled to be working alongside our friends at Sony/ATV with this promising writer and look forward to what the future has in store.”

Sony/ATV’s Tom Luteran said, “We are thrilled to be working with James and help guide him through this next chapter of his writing career. His commitment to excellence along with his unbridled creative drive is a great combination. We are excited to be working with Dane, Brian and Tyler in this musical endeavor. They are all about cutting-edge creativity and together, it’s an amazingly strong team.”

Ryman Auditorium Adds Moon Taxi, More Shows

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Moon Taxi

Moon Taxi

Nashville rock band Moon Taxi, a collaborative concert with Ry Cooder, Ricky Skaggs and Sharon White, and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band are among the latest additions to the Ryman Auditorium’s 2016 calendar.

Moon Taxi will perform on April 1 in support of their newest album, Daybreaker. That’s followed by The Songs For Good People Tour with Cooder, Skaggs and White on April 5. The on-sale date for these shows is Friday (Jan. 29).

In addition, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band will play the Ryman on June 19. Those tickets go on sale on Feb. 12.

Other newly-announced concerts include Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds on July 2, and Brian Wilson Presents Pet Sounds With Special Guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin on Sept. 17. The on-sale date for these two shows is Friday (Jan. 29).

12th & Porter Announces Upcoming Shows After Reopening

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12th & Porter

12th & Porter

Nashville music venue 12th & Porter has confirmed dozens of artists, with an emphasis on local talent, following its reopening on Feb. 5.

Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys, JP Harris, and The Howlin’ Brothers are set for Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. Humming House and Jill Andrews will perform on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m.

Stephen Salyers, Stella//James, Sammi Moore, Bonnie Bishop, Trailer Choir, American Young and Jer Gregg are all on the lineup for a Super Bowl party to be held Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. Shows are currently scheduled through mid-April at the newly-renovated club.

Prior to opening, the 12th & Porter owners will be hosting an industry-only open house on Feb. 3 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. with complimentary food and drinks. RSVP here.

Once one of Nashville’s leading music venues, 12th & Porter closed in early 2015 after a change in ownership. The club has been a longtime favorite for artist and songwriter showcases due to its proximity to Music Row. The venue plans to serve a full menu until 3 a.m.

Additional Upcoming 12th & Porter Concerts:

Feb 8: Anthony Smith, Apollo’s Crown, 9 p.m., $15, 18+
Feb 9: Kenny Vaughan and Dave Roe, 8 p.m., FREE, 18+
Feb 10: Andrew Ripp, Swear and Shake, 9:15 p.m., $15, 18+
Feb 12: Elliot Root, 8 p.m., $12, 18+
Feb 13: The Big Rock Show, Once Free, 9 p.m., $5, 18+
Feb 14: Morgan Myles, Jenn Bostic, Stephen Salyers, Kyshona Armstrong, 6 p.m., FREE, 18+
Feb 16: Lawrence, 8:45 p.m., $10, ALL AGES
Feb 17: The Cavalry, Red Wine Hangover, Black Market Research, 7 p.m., $10
Feb 18: Girlpool, Idle Bloom, Bobby T, 7 p.m., $10, ALL AGES
Feb 21: Haden Carpenter, Adley Stump, Anthony Billups, Jay Allen Band, George Shingleton, 6 p.m., FREE
Feb 23: Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime, 9:15 p.m., $27, 18+
Feb 24: Dumpstaphunk, 8 p.m., $15, 18+
Feb 25: Josh Dorr, Adam Craig, Sarah Allison Turner, 8 p.m., $12, 18+
Feb 26: Shemekia Copeland, Jonny P, 9:30 p.m., $23, 18+
Feb 27: Big Sam’s Funky Nation, The Smooth Dialects, 9 p.m., $12, 19+
Feb 28: Michael Shaun Brown, Lewis Brice, Brian Davis, Austin Jenkes, Ward Guenther, 6 p.m., FREE, 18+

March 1: Elvis Monroe, 7  p.m., $10
March 2: Trent Tomlinson, 8 p.m., $15
March 4: Dom Flemons, Ben Caplan, WHEATS, 9:45 p.m., $12
March 5: Nappy Roots, 8 p.m., $18
March 6: David Adam Burns, Jeremy McComb, 6 p.m., FREE
March 7: Bobby Pinson & Petty Cash, Leith Loftin, 9 p.m., FREE
March 8: John 5 & The Creatures, 8 p.m., $17
March 13: Second Hand Soul, Brennin Hunt, Daphne Willis, Fiona Culley, 6 p.m., FREE
March 15: Cabinet, Strung Like a Horse, Billy Strings, 8 p.m., $10
March 19: Sam Lewis, Lilly Hiatt, John Mann, 8 p.m., $10
March 20: Jonathan Timm, Josh Paige, Autumn Reynolds, 6 p.m., FREE
March 22: Kung Fu, Charge The Atlantic, 8 p.m., $12
March 26: Coolio, 10 p.m., $18
March 30: O-Town, 9 p.m., $20

April 6: The Ragbirds, 8 p.m., $12
April 11: Charlie Parr, Ryan Joseph Anderson, 8 p.m., $8
April 16: Eleanor Friedberger, 8 p.m., $15

Maggie Rose Prepares Back-To-Back EPs

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Maggie Rose EP 1

Nashville songwriter Maggie Rose will release an EP titled The Variety Show – Volume 1 on Feb. 26, followed by The Variety Show – Volume 2 on May 27. Her new single is “Broken.”

Rose is signed to Play It Again Music Publishing and her manager is Play It Again’s Austin Marshall. The projects are being released without a label.

“The words I apply to myself are ‘dynamic’ and ‘intentional,’” she says. “Often times artists are encouraged to focus on one genre, but that’s not for me. I want to experiment. That’s how I grow. That’s what has allowed me to start writing with Mannie Fresh and Big Boi. That’s why I’ve started exploring what I can do as a producer. I want to perform all over the world. My proclivity is to step out of my comfort zone every day. That’s how I learn, by breaking my own barriers. That’s why I feel, for the first time, that I can really be an artist I was meant to be.”

“Maggie Rose is evidence of the growth of the new Nashville sound. She’s not only got a powerhouse voice with a broad and fierce range, but she’s got a rare talent for lyrics and melodies that I haven’t seen in a long time. She’s a natural,” says songwriter Dallas Davidson, who owns Play It Again Music Publishing.

Rose released her full-length debut album, Cut To Impress, in 2013 via RPM Entertainment. Her country singles included “I Ain’t Your Mama,” “Better,” and “Looking Back Now.”

Pilgrimage Music Festival To Return For Second Year

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Pilgrimage Music Festival

Pilgrimage Music Festival

Pilgrimage Music Festival will return for a second year at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm in Franklin, Tennessee, on Sept, 24-25. The lineup of performers, on-sale ticket dates, and vendor list will be announced during the coming months.

At last year’s inaugural Pilgrimage Music Festival in Franklin, Tennessee, attendees witnessed unique musical collaborations including Holly Williams with Sheryl Crow on “Strong Enough,” Ruby Amanfu joining Weezer for “Go Away,” and Willie Nelson welcoming Holly Williams and Ben Jaffe for “I Saw The Light.” Other artists performing last year included Wilco, Chris Stapleton, Steven Tyler, Band of Horses and more.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival back to Franklin for round 2!” says co-producer and Franklin resident Kevin Griffin. “It has been a pleasure working with the community to make this festival unique, memorable and show off the very best Franklin has to offer.”

“We are very excited the Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival has decided to return again to our beautiful Park at Harlinsdale Farm!” say City of Franklin Mayor Dr. Ken Moore. “The 2015 festival was a huge success from entertainment, to traffic and parking, this family-oriented festival is bringing a lot of attention to America’s best hometown. This is a true top-notch experience and we are anticipating more folks will make the Pilgrimage to Franklin, Tennessee, this year for this one-of-a-kind festival and venue!”

For highlights from the Pilgrimage Music Festival’s debut year, watch below:

Industry Ink: SESAC, Sony/ATV, Chris Keaton Presents, ole

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Glen Phillips Upped At SESAC

Pictured (L-R): Glen Phillips with Nikki Sixx

Pictured (L-R): Glen Phillips with Nikki Sixx

Glen Phillips has been promoted to Associate Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, at SESAC. Phillips, who is located in the company’s Los Angeles office, will report to Sam Kling, SESAC’s Senior Vice President, Creative Operations.

 

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Promotes Jennifer Knoepfle

sonyatv11Sony/ATV Music Publishing has promoted Jennifer Knoepfle to the role of Senior Vice President and Head of West Coast A&R, based in the company’s Los Angeles office.

At the same time, Amanda Berman-Hill has been elevated to the new role of Senior Vice President and Head of West Coast Writer Relations, also based in Los Angeles. Both take up their new roles effective immediately and report into Sony/ATV Co-President, U.S. Rick Krim.

Knoepfle, who was previously Senior Vice President, Creative, joined Sony/ATV in May 2009 in the role of Senior Director of Creative and has gone on to sign acts such as Grammy-winning songwriters Jack Antonoff and Andrew Dost of the bands Bleachers and fun., along with Grammy-nominated artist Leon Bridges, Grimes, Clams Casino, Band of Skulls, Lord Huron, Broods, up-and-coming artists Grace Mitchell and Kelela, as well as signing multi-platinum songwriter Tim Pagnotta jointly with Berman-Hill, .

 

Heather Holland Signs With Chris Keaton Presents

Pictured (L-R): BMI's David Preston, Heather Holland, Chris Keaton

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s David Preston, Heather Holland, Chris Keaton

BMI writer/artist Heather Holland stopped by the BMI office to celebrate signing a management agreement with Chris Keaton Presents.

 

ole Inks Co-Pub Deal, Catalog Purchase With Songwriter Jeff Trott

Pictured (L-R): David Weitzman, VP Business Development, ole; songwriter Jeff Trott; Bennett Kaufman, Maverick Entertainment

Pictured (L-R): David Weitzman, VP Business Development, ole; songwriter Jeff Trott; Bennett Kaufman, Maverick Entertainment

ole has signed a co-publishing agreement and catalog purchase with songwriter Jeff Trott. Jeff’s credits include chart-topping singles “If It Makes You Happy,” “Every Day Is a Winding Road,” Soak Up the Sun,” “My Favorite Mistake,” and “There Goes the Neighborhood” for Sheryl Crow and numerous other successful co-writes.

“Jeff Trott is a musician’s musician who writes songs that connect with artists and music lovers worldwide. He is one of those writer/musicians that when other musicians see his name in the credits, they know it’s quality,” said David Weitzman, Vice President of Business Development at ole. “We are so pleased to welcome Jeff to the ole family, and with his versatile songwriting abilities being fluent in pop, country, and indie rock, he has connected with our creative staff and our existing songwriter roster. We very much look forward to being Jeff’s publishing partner in the next chapter of his storied career.”

“I’ve been kicking around the songwriting scene for a while now and have always been impressed by ole’s song-first philosophy,” said Trott. “I know they will do everything they can to keep my music alive so I can focus on making more.”

Artist Updates: Miranda Lambert, Thomas Rhett, Brett Eldredge, Brad Paisley

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Miranda Lambert Headlines At Nashville’s City Winery

Pictured (L-R): Steve Hodges, EVP Promotion & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville; Jim Catino, A&R VP, Sony Music Nashville; Miranda Lambert; Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Ken Robold, EVP & COO, Sony Music Nashville; Taylor Lindsey, A&R Senior Director, Sony Music Nashville; Caryl Healey, Sales VP, Sony Music Nashville; Keith Gale, Sr. VP National Promotion, RCA Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Pictured (L-R): Steve Hodges, EVP Promotion & Artist Development, Sony Music Nashville; Jim Catino, A&R VP, Sony Music Nashville; Miranda Lambert; Randy Goodman, Chairman & CEO, Sony Music Nashville; Ken Robold, EVP & COO, Sony Music Nashville; Taylor Lindsey, A&R Senior Director, Sony Music Nashville; Caryl Healey, Sales VP, Sony Music Nashville; Keith Gale, Sr. VP National Promotion, RCA Nashville. Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

RCA Nashville artist Miranda Lambert headlined a sold-out show at Nashville’s City Winery on Jan. 20, playing an acoustic benefit for her Women Creators Scholarship at Belmont University.  The event also featured Ashley Monroe, Shane McAnally, and Nicolle Galyon.

 

Thomas Rhett Celebrates Six-Week Chart Topper

Pictured: Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta (center left) leads celebrations with The Valory Music Co.’s SVP Promotion George Briner (far right), VMC promo staff and fellow BMLG staffers.

Pictured: Big Machine Label Group President/CEO Scott Borchetta (center left) leads celebrations with The Valory Music Co.’s SVP Promotion George Briner (far right), VMC promo staff and fellow BMLG staffers.

Following the news of his six-week No. 1 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart, Thomas Rhett celebrated the success of “Die A Happy Man” with his label team, Big Machine Label Group. The platinum-selling singer-songwriter called to share congratulations with his team on the way home from a show as direct support for Jason Aldean’s We Were Here 2016 Tour.

 

Brett Eldredge To Perform at Music Biz 2016

Brett Eldredge

Brett Eldredge

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) has announced that Brett Eldredge will perform at the Music Biz 2016 Awards Breakfast on Tuesday, May 17, at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in Nashville. Sponsored by the Country Music Association (CMA) to spotlight the 50th anniversary of the CMA Awards, the breakfast will also feature the presentation of the Presidential Award for Outstanding Executive Achievement to John Esposito, President and CEO of Warner Music Nashville and Chairman of the CMA Board of Directors, and the Independent Spirit Award to Redeye, a leading physical and digital distributor and label services provider for some of the biggest independent artists and labels in the world.

Music Biz 2016 will take place in Nashville from May 16-18. For more information or to sign up for the conference, visit musicbiz2016.com.

 

Brad Paisley Brings Country Nation College Tour to Ole Miss

Photos: Ben Enos

Photos: Ben Enos

On Monday night (Jan. 24) Brad Paisley performed the last show on his Country Nation College Tour presented by Zaxby’s as part of the grand-opening season for The Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi.  The University of Mississippi became the tenth IMG College-partner school to welcome Paisley this school year as he provided free entertainment for the campus community. Grammy-nominated artist Cam was special guest.

View highlights from the show below:

The Stellas Ink New Publishing Deal With Warner/Chappell

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Pictured (L-R): Genevieve Jewell, Manager; Ben Vaughn, Warner/Chappell; Alicia Pruitt, Warner/Chappell; Marylynne Stella, Brad Stella, Phil May, Warner/Chappell

Pictured (L-R): Genevieve Jewell, Manager; Ben Vaughn, Warner/Chappell; Alicia Pruitt, Warner/Chappell; Marylynne Stella; Brad Stella; Phil May, Warner/Chappell

Warner/Chappell Music has signed a worldwide publishing agreement with Canadian country duo, The Stellas. Brad and Marylynne Stella wrote the majority of material on their 2011 self-titled album. They are the recipients of the 2013 Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Group or Duo of the Year award, the 2013 Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO) Group or Duo of the Year award, and the 2012 CCMA Video of the Year award for their song, “In This House.”

They are also parents to Lennon and Maisy Stella who are known for their roles as Maddie and Daphne on the ABC hit show Nashville.

Watershed Festival Offers Jason Aldean, Eric Church, Keith Urban On Consecutive Weekends

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Watershed Festival Logo

The Watershed Music and Camping Festival will be the first-ever country music festival to host two consecutive weekends, with Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Keith Urban slated to headline the festival both weekends this summer.

With a history of selling out in just minutes, due to the dedicated fans known as ‘Shedders, the fifth annual festival will take place at The Gorge in George, Washington, on July 29-31 and Aug. 5-7. Passes will go on sale Friday (Jan. 29) at 10 a.m. PT on the festival website.

Other confirmed performers for the festival (though not necessarily on both weekends) include: A Thousand Horses, Brothers Osborne, Brett Eldredge, Tyler Farr, Merle Haggard, Neal McCoy, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves, David Nail, Jon Pardi, RaeLynn, Travis Tritt and more.

“The ’Shedders and my team know how special Watershed is to me and I can’t believe we’re coming back in only our fifth year for two weekends,” said Brian O’Connell, President of Live Nation Country Touring. “I’m so excited to see first-timers like Jason, Keith and Eric’s reaction when they arrive at The Gorge, as the view is just out of this world, and all the artists and fans getting to experience the truly unique vibe of this festival. ”

The first to be established in Live Nation’s family of premier country music festivals, Watershed was quickly followed by the launch of four other destination festivals: Faster Horses in Brooklyn, Michigan; Route 91 Harvest in Las Vegas; Windy City LakeShake in Chicago; and FarmBorough in New York City.

Charles Esten, Don Henley, Ronnie Milsap Added To T.J. Martell Foundation Gala

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Charles Esten

Charles Esten

The T.J. Martell Foundation will welcome Charles Esten again as host of the 8th annual Nashville Honors Gala, which is slated for Monday, Feb. 29, at Nashville’s Omni Hotel.

Additionally, Don Henley and Ronnie Milsap have been added as performers for the evening, which will pay tribute to outstanding community leaders.

This year’s previously-announced honorees are:

Aubrey Harwell: Spirit of Nashville Award
Brian Philips: Frances Preston Outstanding Music Industry Achievement Award
Jennifer Pietenpol, Ph.D.: Medical Research Advancement Award
Kenny Rogers: Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award
FedEx Corporation: Outstanding Global Citizenship Award with Frederick W. Smith accepting on behalf of more than 350,000 team members around the world

Honors Gala co-chairs this year are board members, Dave Berryman, president of Gibson Guitar Corporation, and Leslie Fram, CMT’s senior vice president of music strategy. The evening is produced by Martin Fisher and Edie Hoback of High Five Entertainment.

The Honors Gala has raised over $3.5 million since its inception in 2009.