Phil Vassar, Amy Millslagle Launch Management Company

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Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar

Phil Vassar has teamed with Amy Millslagle to launch management company i 81 Entertainment. The management company’s first artist signing is Sarah Darling.

Among 81 Entertainment’s offerings are internal publicity, social media, recording, and production teams, available for artists on a full-time or ad-hoc basis. The company aims to build lifestyle brands around artists in the country and Americana genres, holistically supporting careers via traditional and non-traditional mediums.

Sarah Darling

Sarah Darling

As an artist and songwriter, Vassar has notched 10 No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 songs during his career, including the singles “Carlene,” “Just Another Day In Paradise,” and “That’s When I Love You.”

Millslagle earned her chemical engineering degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and has her MBA from Harvard. She practiced brand management at Procter & Gamble and served as Marketing VP of the Olympic Operations Unit at Dow Chemical. Following that, she started and later sold Frosted Affair, a gourmet bakery in the Green Hills area of Nashville.

Granger Smith Takes “Backroad” To Multiple No. 1 Parties

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Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins, songwriter Frank Rogers, Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill, BMI songwriter Granger Smith, Wheelhouse’s Jon Loba, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, BBR’s Benny Brown and BMI’s David Preston. Photo: Erika Goldring

Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Bradley Collins, songwriter Frank Rogers, Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill, BMI songwriter Granger Smith, Broken Bow Records’ Jon Loba, Warner/Chappell’s Ben Vaughn, Broken Bow Records’ Benny Brown, BMI’s David Preston. Photo: Erika Goldring

Granger Smith’s “Backroad Song” has led the singer-songwriter to his first No. 1 parties as a recording artist. The single marks the first radio release under BBR’s newest imprint, Wheelhouse Records.

Industry members gathered at BMI on Monday (June 13) to celebrate. Smith was presented with a BMI Epiphone guitar to commemorate his inaugural No. 1 song.

Co-written by Smith and Frank Rogers, the song marks Rogers’ 39th chart-topper. Rogers is an ASCAP writer; that PRO also hosted an event for Smith the same day.

Among the BMI partygoers were Warner/Chappell’s Executive VP Ben Vaughn, BMI’s Bradley Collins and David Preston, Lon Helton, Broken Bow Music Group’s Benny Brown and Jon Loba, Country Radio Broadcasters’ Holly Lane, and more.

“You can tell how special this day is. It’s a Music Row party and no one is talking,” said Vaughn. The day was a full-circle moment for him; he previously worked with Smith while leading EMI Publishing’s Country Division.

“I was struck by his work ethic,” said Vaughn. “He was so relatable that everyone liked him.”

Loba recalled how younger members of the BBR Music Group staff were already well-versed in Smith’s music before he was signed with the label group. Loba reported that when he presented the idea of signing Smith, BBR leader Benny Brown didn’t need much prompting to add Smith to the label.

“He had stayed up until about 2 a.m., listening to all of Granger’s music,” said Loba. “He said, ‘You don’t have to sell me on this. I’m in. Let’s go get him.’”

“I’ve been to so many of these No. 1 parties in this building,” said Smith, “and I’ve dreamed of being on this stage.”

He then spoke of the hard work put in by various team members, including those in radio promotion, management, publicity, his touring band, and more. His speech was peppered with references to the importance of teamwork, something Smith said he learned from his childhood days spent playing football in Texas.

“This is our No. 1,” he summed up. “It says my name on it, but this is our No. 1.”

ASCAP #1 Granger Smith_078

Pictured (L-R): Sea Gayle’s Marc Driskill, Spirit Music Nashville’s Daniel Hill, songwriter Frank Rogers, Granger Smith, Wheelhouse’s Jon Loba, ASCAP’s Mike Sistad

Pictured (L-R): "Backroad Song" writers Frank Rogers and Granger Smith

Pictured (L-R): “Backroad Song” writers Frank Rogers and Granger Smith

Tin Pan South Makes $2,500 Donation To Bonaparte’s Retreat

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Pictured (L-R): NSAI's Krista Darting and Jennifer Turnbow; Kelly Sharber, Bonaparte's Retreat; NSAI's Shelby Yoder and Bluebird Café's Erika Wollam Nichols.

Pictured (L-R): NSAI’s Krista Darting and Jennifer Turnbow; Kelly Sharber, Bonaparte’s Retreat; NSAI’s Shelby Yoder and Bluebird Café’s Erika Wollam Nichols.

Representatives of Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival donated $2500 to Nashville dog shelter Bonaparte’s Retreat this week.

The organization donated proceeds from the door of one show at the festival, which was presented in April by Regions Bank.

Founded by Emmylou Harris and named in memory of her dog, Bonaparte’s Retreat focuses on rescuing dogs whose time has run out at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville Signs Lindsay Rimes

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Pictured (L-R): Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville; Lindsay Rimes; Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony/ATV Nashville; Noah McPike, Almon & McPike, PLLC.

Pictured (L-R): Troy Tomlinson, Sony/ATV Nashville; Lindsay Rimes; Josh Van Valkenburg, Sony/ATV Nashville; Noah McPike, Almon & McPike, PLLC.

Sony/ATV Music Publishing Nashville has signed award-winning producer and songwriter, Lindsay Rimes. Rimes was previously signed to Sony/ATV Music Publishing Australia but has since relocated to Nashville.

Sony/ATV’s Josh Van Valkenburg stated, “Lindsay is a special talent who is already making a name for himself in Nashville. We are proud to be his publishing family and look forward to watching his career grow.”

Since moving to Nashville, Rimes has had cuts by Canaan Smith, Jana Kramer, The Cadillac 3, Adam Craig, Drake White and Locash. He also produced Locash’s I Know Somebody, which included the single “I Love This Life.”

Rimes remarked, “I’m thrilled to officially be part of the Sony/ATV family with Josh, Troy and the whole Sony/ATV team in my corner. I’ve made Nashville my home and couldn’t be prouder to be part of this amazing community.”

While in Australia, Rimes was in-demand as both a producer and songwriter, working in the rock, pop and country genres.

Industry Ink: BMI, RedJett Artist Management, H20 Artist Agency

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BMI Teams With Retail Association Of Maine

Pictured (Standing, L-R): BMI Songwriters Dave Pahanish, Hugh Mitchell Kneeling: Reny's Store Manager Carl Hodge, BMI's Dan Spears, Retail Association of Maine Executive Director Curtis Picard.

Pictured (Standing, L-R): BMI Songwriters Dave Pahanish, Hugh Mitchell. Kneeling: Reny’s Store Manager Carl Hodge, BMI’s Dan Spears, Retail Association of Maine Executive Director Curtis Picard.

BMI joined forces with the Retail Association of Maine on Friday and Saturday (June 10-11) to help celebrate their Shop Second Saturday campaign by bringing two award-winning Nashville songwriters to the state. BMI songwriters Dave Pahanish and Hugh Mitchell performed at three different locations in support of the initiative aimed at supporting Maine retail stores. Among the venues was Reny’s, a family-owned chain of Maine department stores with 16 locations that have been in operation since 1949.

BMI’s 8th Off 8th At Mercy Lounge

Pictured (L-R): Walking Man's Jonathan Draper, songwriter Chloe Kat, Walking Man's Mick Utley, BMI's Nina Carter and songwriter Ron Gallo.

Pictured (L-R): Walking Man’s Jonathan Draper, songwriter Chloe Kat, Walking Man’s Mick Utley, BMI’s Nina Carter and songwriter Ron Gallo.

BMI hosted an iteration of the weekly 8 off 8th showcase at Mercy Lounge on Monday (June 13), featuring eight of the best up-and-coming indie acts from around town, including Walking Man, songwriter Chloe Kat, and songwriter Ron Gallo. Other performers included Blinds, Jess Nolan, Shannon LaBrie, Mote and Brandon Watson and the IKB Sound.

Holt, Flack Team For Redjett Artist Management

Pictured (L-R): Kendra Flack, Lauren Daigle, Blanca, Leigh Holt

Pictured (L-R): Kendra Flack, Lauren Daigle, Blanca, Leigh Holt

Music executive Leigh Holt has teamed with Red Barn founder Kendra Flack to develop new artist management agency Redjett Management. Based in Franklin, Tennessee, the company offers day-to-day artist management and tour management/logistics services. Their clients include Christian artists Lauren Diagle and Blanca.

Holt, a former Warner Music Nashville VP of Strategic Partnerships, launched maddjett, a full-service agency designed to build brands, businesses, and partnerships, in 2013.

Flack’s career includes work in show production, set design and tour management for tours including Winter Jam and for artists including Kari Jobe.

H20 Artist Agency Relocates To Brentwood

Scott Huie

Scott Huie

Longtime Christian music booking agent Scott Huie has relocated his H2O Artist Agency to Brentwood, Tennessee. The office is now located at 7106 Crossroads Blvd., Ste. 215 in Brentwood.

Huie also returns as the exclusive booking agent for Newsboys, after previously representing the band for 15 years. H2O Artist Agency’s roster also includes Peter Furler; singer/songwriter Ryan Stevenson; band Rush of Fools; hard rock mainstay Seventh Day Slumber; singer/songwriter Trevor Morgan; Classic Imperials; and vocalist Karyn Williams.

Since beginning his career in Christian music in 1985, Huie spent six years at the H1 Agency and International Creative Management in New York, as well as nine years at Nashville-based Vanguard Entertainment. He founded the H2O Artist Agency in 1999, where he initially represented Newsboys.

Huie can be reached at 615-454-3635 and [email protected].

 

CMA Music Festival Sees 88,500 Daily Visitors, Social Media Boom

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Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

Photo: Donn Jones/CMA

The 2016 CMA Music Festival has set a record for daily attendance, with an average of 88,500 fans participating each day. The event was held June 9-12 in downtown Nashville.

Attendance figures for 2016 include four-day ticket packages and promotional tickets, as well as attendance in Fan Fair X and free areas downtown. In all, more than 500 artists and celebrities participated in more than 250 hours of concerts on 11 stages, seven of which were free.

The 2016 CMA Music Festival sold out months in advance prompting large, enthusiastic crowds at the Festival’s numerous stages and event areas with a record-setting daily attendance of 88,500 fans.

“The advance sell out speaks to the strength of the event, but great weather, the addition of two new, free stages at Ascend Amphitheater, and record crowds at Fan Fair X at the Music City Center contributed to our attendance hike,” said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. “We continue to see strong local and regional support for this event, which is a boon to the city of Nashville.”

For the first time since moving to downtown Nashville in 2001, Chevrolet Riverfront Stage reached capacity twice on opening day. Official CMA Music Festival merchandise sales increased 16 percent over 2015. The Festival’s two newest stages at Ascend Amphitheater hosted 5,000 fans each day.

2016-CMAMusicFestival-Logo-Badge-4CIn addition, the CMA Music Festival app saw 48,800 active users, a 21 percent increase in usage over 2015. There were 118,00 downloads, more than double last year. The new app featured CMA Fest Fan Access, Fest Pay and Pandora Radio’s CMA Country Experience. The Fan Access portion had nearly 15,000 registered users.

First-time Facebook Live broadcasts with over 20 artists generated over 1.3 million views. Snapchat artist takeovers increased views 260 percent over last year. Screens at five stages powered by Postano generated 55,000 social interactions resulting in 1.2 billion impressions. CMA website views were up 25 percent partially due to the fan social hub powered by Postano. Giphy hosted more than 400 artist GIFs for fans to use in their social feeds.

Corporate brand partnerships are a key element to the marketing, fan experience, and support of the festival with more than 50 different brand experiences activating at CMA Music Festival.

“This year’s Festival brought new and bigger immersive partner activations that enhanced the experience for both fans and brands and continued to differentiate our Festival as a global leader in music festival brand partnerships,” said Damon Whiteside, CMA Senior Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships. “The increased attendance and fan engagement showcases the passion and loyalty of our country music fans and artists in addition to the dynamic opportunity for brands to reach this meaningful audience and create lasting impressions.”

Charity News: Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Musicians On Call

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Alan Jackson, Ply Gem Dedicate Habitat For Humanity House

Alan Jackson with new Rutherford County Area Habitat homeowner Keosha Hendricks and her daughter Akori' Yahah after receiving keys to her new home


Alan Jackson with new Rutherford County Area Habitat homeowner Keosha Hendricks and her daughter Akori’ Yahah after receiving keys to her new home

Alan Jackson and Ply Gem, a manufacturer of building products, helped dedicate a house built with a local family in La Vergne, Tennessee, as part of the Habitat for Humanity national Home Builders Blitz week.

“This is the reason why I love this country so much – we step up and we give of our time. Thank you Ply Gem and Habitat for Humanity,” Jackson said before giving the house keys to new Rutherford County Area Habitat homeowner Keosha Hendricks, and her daughter Akori’ Yanah. “This is just a house, but you and Akori’ will make it a home.”

“I’m so grateful to be a part of this program,” said Hendricks. “The experience has been amazing and my daughter is going to have a stable, healthy home,” Hendricks said through tears. “Thank you Habitat, Ply Gem and Alan. We finally have a home to call our own.”

Habitat’s Home Builders Blitz included professional builders in 31 states working this week alongside nearly 250 Habitat homeowners to build or repair their homes. The sponsorship is one component of the Home for Good project—a multi-year initiative that includes the donation of more than $1 million of performance siding and windows and funds for Habitat for Humanity to use to help families build nearly 300 homes in 2016, alone.

Alan Jackson hands the keys to new Rutherford County Area Habitat homeowner Keosha Hendricks and her daughter Akori' Yahah

Alan Jackson hands the keys to new Rutherford County Area Habitat homeowner Keosha Hendricks and her daughter Akori’ Yahah

 

Carrie Underwood’s Calia Line, Dick’s Sporting Goods Foundation Donate To Sports Matter

Carrie Underwood presents first Sports Matter grant of $100,000 to girls sports teams in her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma

Carrie Underwood presents first Sports Matter grant of $100,000 to girls sports teams in her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma

DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and fitness brand CALIA by Carrie Underwood have donated $500,000 in Sports Matter grants to girls youth sports teams across the country.

Since 2014, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation has pledged over $50 million to support teams and raise awareness of the importance of youth sports across the country through its Sports Matter initiative. CALIA is a fitness and lifestyle brand created in partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods and Carrie Underwood,

To launch the partnership in Underwood’s hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and Underwood herself surprised unsuspecting Checotah Middle School and High School female student-athletes during a summer practice to present a Sports Matter grant of $100,000 to the Checotah School District Girls Athletic Programs.

“I am so honored to partner with The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation to give back to my high school’s girls sports teams,” said Underwood. “Being active in youth sports while growing up helped set the foundation and passion for making fitness an important part of my life today. Participating in sports also taught me important life lessons about dedication and teamwork. Through this donation, we want to make sure there are plenty of opportunities for girls to play sports in Checotah for years to come.”

Musicians On Call Launches Summer Moments Auction

Musicians on Call Half a Million Moments

Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in hospitals across the country, launched its Summer Moments Auction. The auction, in partnership with eBay, will run through June 22 and will include VIP experiences and memorabilia from over 25 artists including some of the biggest names in music.

The Summer Moments Auction is a part of MOC’s Half a Million Moments campaign, celebrating the milestone of performing for half a million patients, families and caregivers.

Music fans can bid on memorabilia from Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Sara Evans, Gavin DeGraw, Ingrid Michaelson, Andy Grammer, Nick Jonas & Demi Lovato, Clay Walker, Clint Black and more. Bids start at $99 and fans can place their bids by going to www.ebay.com/moc. Fans have the opportunity to support MOC in all their eBay purchases through “Give at Checkout,” a site-wide donation promotion.

“As we celebrate the milestone of performing for half a million individuals, we’re excited to bring ‘Summer Moments’ to music fans across the country,” said Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President.  “With the funds raised, we can bring our own unique brand of bedside ‘summer tour’ performances to patients nationwide all year long.”

 

LifeNotes: Chips Moman, Hit Producer And Songwriter, Passes

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Chips Moman

Chips Moman

Chips Moman, a songwriter and producer who made his mark in country music after a significant career in R&B, died Monday (June 13) in LaGrange, Georgia, after a long illness. He was 79.

Moman was born with the name Lincoln Wayne Moman in LaGrange, Georgia, on June 12, 1937. He received his nickname because of his skills as a poker player.

As a songwriter, his credits include 1977’s “Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)” for Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, co-written with Buddy Emmons.

With Emmons, Moman also wrote the two-week No. 1 single, “The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don’t Want to Get Over You,” recorded by Waylon Jennings. Prior to that, Moman and co-writer Larry Butler composed a two-week No. 1 country hit for B.J. Thomas titled “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.” The recording won a 1975 Grammy for Best Country Song.

R&B staples from his catalog include “Dark End of the Street” and “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” co-written with Dan Penn.

As a country producer, he won ACM Awards for Willie Nelson’s single “Always on My Mind” and corresponding album, also titled Always on My Mind. Nelson and Merle Haggard enlisted him to produce “Pancho & Lefty.” In addition, he collected a 1985 ACM Award as producer of “Highwayman,” the iconic single recorded by Johnny Cash, Jennings, Kris Kristofferson and Nelson, known collectively as the Highwaymen. Moman also produced the first two albums for the Highwaymen.

He produced a collaborative 1986 album titled Class of ’55: Memphis Rock & Roll Homecoming that brought together Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison and Carl Perkins. Interviews from that session won a 1986 Grammy for Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording.

Elvis Presley fans know Moman as the producer of standards like “In the Ghetto,” “Suspicious Minds” and “Kentucky Rain.” Presley recorded those songs at American Sound Studio for the 1969 album, From Elvis in Memphis.

Moman had strong ties to Memphis by working at Stax Records and producing the label’s first hit single—Carla Thomas’ 1960 release, “Gee Whiz.” Within a few years, after leaving Stax, he opened American Sound Studio in Memphis, where Dusty Springfield recorded her enduring 1969 album, Dusty in Memphis. Moman was also an accomplished guitarist who played numerous sessions in Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

Only making occasional appearances in the last few decades, Moman had lived in LaGrange since 1994. In 2012 he gave a public interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Pictured (Back row, L-R): Museum Editor Michael Gray, Gene Chrisman, Bobby Emmons and Weldon Myrick; (Front row, L-R): Bobby Wood, Chips Moman and Reggie Young. Photo: Donn Jones

Chips Moman after a Country Music Hall of Fame program in 2012. Pictured (Back row, L-R): Museum Editor Michael Gray with musicians Gene Chrisman, Bobby Emmons and Weldon Myrick; (Front row, L-R): Musicians Bobby Wood, Chips Moman and Reggie Young. Photo: Donn Jones

LeAnn Rimes Inks Recording Deal With RCA UK

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LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes has inked a worldwide recording deal with RCA UK, and is set to release a new single, “The Story,” on Aug. 5. The track is from her 16th studio album, due later this year in the United Kingdom. Plans for a U.S. release will be announced at a later date.

Colin Barlow, President of RCA UK, said, “LeAnn Rimes is one of the music business’s finest singers, and it’s an absolute pleasure to welcome her to the RCA UK family.”

“’The Story’ is a song that resonates with me as WE are all a part of one collective, universal story,” said Rimes. “I fully embrace the journey I am on in life and the events that have gotten me to where I am today. This song is not only a love song but a song of self-acceptance and appreciation for life.”

She added, “I am elated to have Colin and the family at RCA UK by my side, as we share the same vision and passion for the future. Being surrounded by fantastic, forward thinking collaborators, I’ve never felt so comfortable and supported in my artistry. I feel like I found a true home.”

 

 

CMT Music Awards Receives Record-Setting Ratings

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CMT Music Awards

The 2016 CMT Music Awards rated as the network’s most-watched awards show ever. Airing live from Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, the ceremony was broadcast across CMT, TV Land and Nick@Nite on June 8.

The show attracted 3.6 million total viewers (live plus three days) across the three networks, rising 20 percent over last year. The rating for the target demo notched a 1.47 (live plus three days).

The awards also made an impression through social media, with #CMTawards trending worldwide for five hours to rank as the No. 1 Series/Special on Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings for the day, according to Nielsen Twitter TV Ratings.